Why Early Access?

“Mainly because I don't feel like this game is even close to complete, some of the graphics are lacking, there are a lot of bugs, and I think it just needs more features in general. It will be out of early access when there is multiplayer and a new basketball court and great crater. I would like a few graphic overhauls to the game and better controls with more settings like different locomotion. Vive tracker support and vr treadmill support would be nice too and lastly Oculus and Windows Mixed Reality support. I also want there to be a store system with currency where you can buy different basketballs.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“I am hoping to get this game out of early access in about 3-4 months as long as I don't run into any issues like multiplayer. It would go by a lot faster if sales go well because I can not say that is has Oculus and Windows Mixed Reality support when I don't own either of those vr headsets.”

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

“In the full version there will be an overhauled Great Crater with an underground cave that has an elevator that isn't magically floating through the air. The Basketball Court will be fully overhauled to look more like a schools gym court with texture overhauls to the actual court floor so that it looks better. The anti-gravity court will be changed to an anti-gravity space station. And the room basketball will be made to look more like a bedroom. I'm currently working on and will eventually add 3 new unique maps. The "Alien Invaders" map where you are throwing the basketball at aliens as they move back and forth with super strength so that you can throw long distances without straining a muscle. A Blocky-Ball map where everything will be made out of blocks (including the basketball). And an arcade basketball map where you are in an arcade playing on one of the little basketball games. I am also hoping to have a few extra maps depending on if they give me any troubles. There will be more locomotion, graphics, and audio settings in the settings room. Full blown multiplayer will actual games, 3 point shoot-outs, a game of horse, and just normal shooting. A lot of the current bugs will definitely be fixed. There will be Oculus and Windows Mixed Reality Support with Vive tracker support and hopefully vr treadmill support depending on the success of this game. There will also be a full store system where each time you make a basket it will give you a coin and then you can buy new basketballs with those coins.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The game currently has 5 maps. The basketball court map is fully functional but has yet to be overhauled. The anti-gravity court map is the same map as the basketball court map just with a few differences... it is waiting to be turned into a space station. The Great Crater map has the map, sky, and basketballs but is also waiting to be overhauled, BlockyBall is basically complete except that the water and lava will get graphical overhauls and do special things like water will carry a basketball down the stream and the lava will destroy basketballs. The Great Crater does currently have an elevator but it is unfortunately clipping on the side of the mountain and magically floats through the air. And the room basketball map even though it is fully functional is not amazing. The room has yet to be overhauled from the small room it is right now and might even be a model of my room. The basketball has a pbr leather material and can be any other material so now all I need to do is actually code a store to get the store system up. I do have graphics settings and you can change the music genre but I am trying to make it save your choices so that the next time you're on you don't have to choose the graphics settings and the music. I know that my game is compatible with the vive but I don't know about Oculus and Windows Mixed Reality, but I will test it soon. It currently only has smooth trackpad locomotion which is where you just move your finger around your controllers trackpad to walk around. It does not have vive tracker or vr treadmill support.”

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

“The price will most likely be doubled again when it is close to early access or out of early access. And then doubled again when and if I feel it is worthy.”

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

“The game definitely needs feedback and recommendations. Because maps and a lot of other things are hard to think of doing. I already have a website at calebula.wixsite.com/calebulastudios where you can visit the forum to leave recommendations and ratings.”