Why Early Access?

“Shmuppers unite! - If you like Danmaku (Bullet Hell) or no Bullet-Hell - Early Access is your chance to play Pterodalien and help to refine the game, as the final changes are made ahead of full launch. The Early Access is intended to gather your feedback while finishing the game and move the game in Players direction. - The game is being developed for a long time to start the Early Access with the highest quality possible.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“This depends on many things - most of all from the feedback of the Early Access Players. But anyway it is planned to release roughly in 3 weeks.”

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

“Again this depends strongly on the feedback and whishes from the players. It is intended to release a more polished version of the game and integrate user feedback that is easy to implement but has a big impact on the quality. In particular, it is intended to improve the field of sound, making the bosses explode more dramatically and add more feedback to the player. - And the most important players are welcome to bring in their own ideas.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The actual status of the Early Access version is a potential master version. It contains all playable features which are listed below:

- 48 achievements

- The player is able to earn and use upgrade points (attributes) after a Level-UP

- The player can choose between different upgrades: main-gun, lasergun, homing-missle, Rocket, Speed, Health.

- Upgrades have a trade-off... For example, the homing-missile makes an easy hit but only a hit with the main-gun brings aditionally XP for you next Level-Up. - E.g. aditionally main gun upgrades reduces the speed.

- Combo-system: you can get an XP-Bonus for 3-of-a-type 4-of-a-type and 5-of-a-type, also another XP-Bonus for a 3+2 combo.

- Ranksystem: Raise your Rank by collecting Achievements

- Bullet-Hell option: Decide between Bullet Hell or less Bullets - shoot a lot of enemy bullets - evade the rest

- 11 stunning sci-fi levels

- Alien Boss Broadcast - Aliens Characters are giving comments/taunts during the bossfights.

The game has a lot of different types of enemy spacecrafts and turrets to shoot.”

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

“It is planned to gradually raise the price as new content or features are shipped.”

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

“Users can give there feedback and whishes for small adjustments and optimizations that fit to the gameplay, scope and content of this small game from an indie-selfpublishing-studio. In this case appropriate solution will be found. - Every user should break up feedback in smallest peaces to speed up the process of improvement and use these questions. Here is an example situation for user feedback:
1. What is the problem?
Example: The game is too hard for me.
2. Where does the problem occur / where can I find the problem?
Example: I cannot pass Level 2.
3. Why is this a problem?
Example: After trying 10 times, it is too hard - I want to give up.
4. What would be a solution for this problem?
Solution 1: Less enemies in Level 2.
Solution 2: Reduce the cost of bombs.

In such case another solution which would not effect other players could be suggested and make a drop of a free shield after 10 attempts.

Here is another example of potentiell user feedback: The game is too short, please add the double of the content.

In such case it would be mentioned that this is out of scope. But the wish for more content could be taken on the backlog for a potential DLC or the sequel.

So as a result: Feedback on e. g. ballancing could be involved. Bigger wishes like enlarging the scope could be considered for sequels.

In case there would be a change request that would lead to the event that savegames would not work anymore. The best effort would be met to let the community know ahead and a democratic solution would be found.”