Why Early Access?

“Coldchain is a game with a lot of interconnected systems, and I've reached a point where feedback from other players would be really valuable.

I've spent a lot of time developing and testing the game myself, but there's only so much I can discover on my own. Players will approach things differently, make decisions I hadn't considered and hopefully uncover areas that could be improved.

Early Access gives me the opportunity to continue building on what's already there, improve the balance between different systems and work through issues as they come up. I'd also like the community to have some input into the direction the game takes as development continues.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“I'm currently expecting Early Access to last somewhere around 3 to 6 months, although this is only an estimate.

I'm developing Coldchain on my own, so the timeframe will depend on how testing goes, the feedback I receive and how much work the remaining features need. I'd rather take the time to get things right than commit to a release date I might not be able to meet.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“The plan is to build on the existing game rather than make major changes to what Coldchain is about.

I'd like to expand the depth of the simulation, improve the way different departments interact and give players more options as their businesses grow. I'm also working towards more opportunities for expansion, alongside continued improvements to the interface, performance and general gameplay balance.

Some areas will naturally change as development continues, particularly where player feedback highlights something that could work better. I have plenty of ideas I'd like to explore, but I don't want to promise features before I'm confident I can deliver them.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“Coldchain already has much of its core gameplay in place. Players can manage a distribution depot, purchase and maintain vehicles, recruit staff, plan delivery routes, oversee warehouse operations, manage stock and deal with the everyday challenges of running a business.

The various systems are designed to work together, so decisions in one area can have consequences elsewhere. The game also includes financial management, customer contracts and a range of operational problems that players will need to deal with.

There's still work to do, particularly around balancing, performance, presentation and longer-term progression. As with any game in active development, players should expect occasional bugs and changes to existing systems throughout Early Access.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“The price may increase as the game develops and more content is added, but I haven't made a final decision on this yet.

I want the Early Access price to reflect what's actually available at launch, rather than features that might be added in the future. Any planned pricing changes will be communicated in advance.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“I'll be using the Steam discussions to keep in touch with players, collect feedback and hear about any problems they encounter.

I'm particularly interested in seeing how people approach running their depots. Some might prefer a large mixed fleet, while others might try running an entire operation with smaller vehicles or a very limited budget. Seeing how the game handles these different approaches should be useful for identifying things I've missed during my own testing.

I'll also be sharing development updates and taking suggestions into consideration when deciding what to work on next. I won't be able to implement every idea, but I do intend to listen and keep players informed about how things are progressing.”