Time really flies: about a year ago, we’ve launched our Kickstarter campaign to collect additional funds for the development of Encased, which at that time had been going on for about nine months. It was a leap of faith, that turned out to be an exhausting marathon. While the finish line is still far, an important phase of the project is already completed: the isometric apocalyptic RPG Encased is in early access.

We are here again to thank you one more time, to remind you of our obligations and to talk about what is going to happen next.



A few words about what’s coming up in Encased. The early version of the game, released on Steam and GOG, contains a fully playable prologue storyline, an open world, a lot of equipment, weapons and modifications, more than a dozen of skill branches, crafting and cooking systems. As well as three dozen quests and about a hundred characters building a better future in the atmosphere of the alternative 70s. However, not everyone is building it: playing through the prologue till its very end is worth at least to find out what happened at the C12-Nashville facility, where the protagonist ventured towards his first mission…

The game is not limited to just a prologue – after completing the storyline, you will be able to access the part of the open world filled with random events, anomalies, battles and abandoned bunkers biding their time. Our writers, artists and scripters are already set to create content patches, so the desert will become even more lively and interesting in the nearest future. Alas, the development of the core storyline is not a quick job, and it will take us several months to tell you about the fate of the Dome on behalf of six factions. Among those you will find a democratic community of engineers building a utopian city, a group of mercenaries planning something grand, looney desert raiders pretending to be cartoon characters and a powerful totalitarian organization, galvanizing the former glory of CRONUS Corporation.



Our backers will receive their keys by email, without any doubt. Please be sure to provide the correct credentials – we will send you the key for the Steam or GOG version of the game! Some of the backers were promised physical rewards. Check your inbox once again: we’ve sent you questionnaires where you can specify the delivery address, as well as the sizes of the T-shirt and/or the hoodie, which we will send to you directly from the hot sands of the Dome. The time of dispatch for the physical rewards, as well as for the additional digital ones, will be announced later.

We would like to conclude this short update with the words of sincere gratitude. Encased release has been made possible thanks to you, your attention, your support and sincere interest in the project. Today we are asking you to support us once again: tell your friends about Encased – perhaps, thanks to you, the game will have one more loyal player.

That’s all for today. Till next time at the Dome’s expanse!



https://store.steampowered.com/app/921800/

Please Wishlist and click Follow to stay updated!

The game is still in the development so if you want to stay in touch on other channels than Steam you can follow us on social media and visit other cool resources with game updates information new artworks and lore pieces.

Encased: A Sci-Fi Post-Apocalyptic RPG

ːlwCheckPointː Character Generator - create a character that may appear in the game as NPC and get the cool story item.
ːchatː Official Discord Server
ːchecklistː Newsletter
ːchecklistː Twitter (game updates)
ːchecklistː Facebook (game updates)
ːchecklistː Youtube (trailers, livestreams and dev diaries)
ːchecklistː VK (game updates in russian)
ːchecklistː Instagram (art and stories)

Dark Crystal Games

ːRideCheckː Dark Crystal Games dev page on Steam
ːRideCheckː Press Center (presskit and publications)
ːRideCheckː Dark Crystal Games (news and jobs)
ːRideCheckː Artstation (art production and stories)

Black Tower Publishing
:tower: Black Tower Publishing on Steam
:tower: Black Tower's Blog
:tower: Submit your game for publishing

Greetings, recruits!

The time has come. The Early Access version of Encased is almost ready, and the Dome will soon be open to everyone. On September 26th, you can begin exploring the enigma that is the Dome!

Those who pledged their support on Kickstarter, or otherwise pre-ordered the game, will receive their keys via email during the Early Access launch. Over the next few days we will send out a questionnaire where you may choose your platform, Steam or GOG.



Now we will answer the biggest question posed by community: "What can we expect in Early Access?"

• Early Access will include a section of the game's main plot relating the events leading up to and during the Incident.
  
• After the prologue, you will have access to some parts of the open world, where you can explore and discover how life under the Dome changed after the disaster.
  
• Portions of the desert beneath the Dome will be obscured as anomalous zones, and temporarily inaccessible. But don't worry, regular content updates will gradually open up new sectors of the Dome for you to explore.
  
• The open world has a life of its own. Traveling through the desert, you'll meet wandering traders, bandits, wild animals, the Forefathers' machines and anomaly mazes. Sometimes you’ll encounter unique events leading to a quest or acquainting you with one of the Dome’s factions.
  
• The Early Access release will include about 40 weapons. In addition, Encased lets players craft their own weapons, which can lead to more than 100 deadly devices in total!

You will also find new side quests, characters, secrets, locations, items, weapons and armor, new animations, improved sounds and music, item crafting, etc.

Right now and until the start of Early Access, we will continue to polish and improve the game. None of the feedback you sent escaped our notice. We've fixed tons of bugs, changed some small mechanics, and improved what you told us needing improving (but nothing too crazy, we can't add a Godzilla-sized Cheburashka or anything like that).

As a reminder, you can directly report any errors you find in the game by using the "Feedback" button in the interface. You can also message us in Discord.

The Dome awaits, your patience will soon be rewarded! Join your fellow Encased players on Steam or GOG!



https://store.steampowered.com/app/921800/

Please Wishlist and click Follow to stay updated!

The game is still in the development so if you want to stay in touch on other channels than Steam you can follow us on social media and visit other cool resources with game updates information new artworks and lore pieces.

Encased: A Sci-Fi Post-Apocalyptic RPG

ːlwCheckPointː Character Generator - create a character that may appear in the game as NPC and get the cool story item.
ːchatː Official Discord Server
ːchecklistː Newsletter
ːchecklistː Twitter (game updates)
ːchecklistː Facebook (game updates)
ːchecklistː Youtube (trailers, livestreams and dev diaries)
ːchecklistː VK (game updates in russian)
ːchecklistː Instagram (art and stories)

Dark Crystal Games

ːRideCheckː Dark Crystal Games dev page on Steam
ːRideCheckː Press Center (presskit and publications)
ːRideCheckː Dark Crystal Games (news and jobs)
ːRideCheckː Artstation (art production and stories)

Black Tower Publishing
:tower: Black Tower Publishing on Steam
:tower: Black Tower's Blog
:tower: Submit your game for publishing

Hello everyone. We want to remind you that Encased is getting ready for the upcoming Early Access release.

In the meantime, we have released a second closed beta for Kickstarter backers, as well as for those who pre-ordered the game on the website. In the new version of the game you will be able to explore all levels of Magellan station, leave it and go on a mission. Among the new floors, there is a reactor room with illegal rat racing; a residential area where you can run into a fight and get acquainted with the Orange Wing headman; a roadside cafe; a swamp, and other interesting places. The following changes are also waiting for you:

• Updated skill system and new skill trees
  
• New enemy, a Forefathers relic war machine
  
• New quests and characters
  
• Several new big locations
  
• Updated visuals and effects

We also fixed a lot of bugs. However, this is an early version of the game and bugs in game mechanics, functionality and quest logic are still present. We kindly ask players to be understanding.

We’re waiting for your feedback, bug reports and words of encouragement on our social media.

VK: Link
FB: Link
Twitter: Link
Discord: Link



Also, we want to share with you great news from our colleagues and friends. Sin Slayers will be released on September 5th! Dark fantasy setting, hordes of demons and tactical fights are waiting for you on their Steam page:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/783190/Sin_Slayers/

Welcome to the Encased Beta!

Since the launch of the Encased alpha, our team’s been working really hard. Thanks to the feedback and support of the community, Encased has evolved into what we always strived for: a real old-school RPG.



Now it's time for the next step. Today we're releasing a closed beta version of the game on Steam. If your Kickstarter title is Colonel or higher, check your email, the game key is already waiting for you.

The Beta that will be deployed in the next few hours is just an improved version of the alpha. You’ll discover: a new level of Magellan Station called Reactor Unit, new NPCs and new quests. Keep in mind, the beta content is still very limited and will be further developed before the final release.



We would like to remind you that we have introduced a special system to report bugs: in all versions of the game, the player can send a bug report or suggestion. Just click on the button in the top-left corner of the screen and describe the problem. The system will automatically send us a screenshot and your description of the error, attaching your PC info (which in certain situations can help diagnose the cause of the bug). This system will help us to quickly discover and rectify any remaining problems.



Full list of changes in Beta:

• Expanded introductory event with the elevator stop;
  
• The reactor level is now open;
  
• Rebalanced main attributes of different Wings;
  
• Hand-to-hand combat branch has been significantly updated – new skills have been added, old ones have been changed;
  
• A lot of skill tree changes;
  
• A batch of new weapons has been added for sale in the armory;
  
• NPCs react to player vandalism;
  
• Fixed some errors in quests;
  
• Random events have been added to time rewind;
  
• New items, statuses and effects from consuming food and drink;
  
• Many technical and performance improvements;

Important note: With the release of the beta version of the game, your save files may become corrupted. We recommend you start a new game.

In the Beta menu you can also switch to the old version and continue your playthrough.

Prepare to be delighted yet again, recruits!

Today Encased was updated with its latest round of bugfixes. Thank you everyone for your many many suggestions and bug reports to our support email and in-game reporting system. Your input is a great help to us in refining the game.

This update has squashed a lot of bugs and added some nice visual effects as well. Be sure to visit the training grounds – we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Full list of changes:

• Added static batching to improve performance
  
• Added hit effects and bullet trails
  
• Improved combat sound effects
  
• Added new techniques to the hand-to-hand combat skill tree
  
• NPCs now use various skills in battle
  
• Rebalanced starting weapons
  
• Fixed several localization issues
  
• Fixed problems with saving and loading
  
• Improved the display of the battle grid

*Old version is also available to play, just switch to "Beta testing" in Steam for that.

Great news, recruits!

As we promised earlier, the Encased closed alpha is getting a new content update. Thanks to your feedback via the in-game bug reporting system, our social networks, and Discord, we were able to identify and resolve a whole host of problems and bugs.

This update also includes a whole lot of new content: visit new levels of Magellan Station and fight any NPC you encounter!

• Fixed a lot of bugs and problems
  
• Fixed anomalies
  
• Granted access to items and objects that the player couldn’t previously use or reach
  
• Localization improvements

• We switched to a new version of the game engine. Expect visual upgrade and performance boost.
  
• Added a small scene before the player’s arrival at Magellan Station
  
• Added Magellan Garrison
  
• Added Training Cave
  
• Now you can finish your introduction quest!
  
• You’re now able to attack NPCs at will
  
• Added many new weapons
  
• You can now use different ammunition types (AP, JHP)
  
• Added many new items
  
• Added new character skills

Important note: when you install this update, your save files may become corrupted. We recommend you to start a new game. Since the game is in the alpha version and we are going to update the game constantly, old save files can be damaged if there are big changes to the game.

“The Dome and its environs were not built in one day, and the work is far from being over. Of course, mistakes in the design and construction of buildings are made, accidents occur, Oranges die... Why am I saying this? Oh yes. The community under the Dome is a living organism, it needs time to grow and strengthen. ”


The Dark Crystal Games team that never leaves its office is once again with you, and we have some news.

The first one: we are forced to postpone the early access game release (we’ll tell you a bit later why).

The second one: we are releasing a restricted access version of the game for alpha backers on Steam. And if you are an alpha backer, then perhaps the access key for the alpha version is making it to your email inbox right now, and the alpha build itself is being uploaded to Steam!

We are well aware that delays suck, but sometimes they are necessary, and here’s why.

***
“Early access” almost always means that a game feels raw, unstable and poor in terms of content. We do not want to see Encased like this even at this stage of development, and unfortunately we have to choose between the earlier release and the quality. We choose quality.

Encased is a game with a rich atmosphere and a deep, developed world. And nothing kills all this like stuttering, crashes and bugs.



Sure there will be some bugs in the Early Access version of Encased, but their numbers will be minimized, and they will not spoil your game experience. To deal with errors (small and large), we’ve introduced a special system: in every game version there’s an option to send a bug report or a suggestion to the developers: just click the button in the corner of the screen, describe the problem, and the system will automatically send us a screenshot and your text, adding your computer stats to the message (in certain situations this will help to diagnose the cause of the bug). This system will help to make the game better as quickly as possible and even, over time, implement some of your proposals.


Button in the form of an envelope in the upper left corner of the screen

Another equally significant reason for the delay is the constant work to improve the interface, polishing game mechanics, rewriting, writing and editing the text – trust us, Encased has a lot of text. From the very start of the development we’ve set ourselves a fairly high level of quality, and now we are trying to keep up to it with everything we have.



We want you to see the game as it is intended. This requires effort and time, resources a small team often lacks. We hope you understand and ready to wait a bit longer.

And for alpha backers we have an alpha version.

***
“Alpha”, that is coming out in the next couple of hours, is an unfinished version of the game. The content of the first official version of Encased is very limited, all that the game consists of, including graphic assets, render, role-playing system, sound, interface, plot, et c. is in the non-final state and will be finalized by release date.



The alpha version of Encased is not intended for public display and sale, and is distributed exclusively for kickstarter-backers. But what is waiting for you in this “alpha”? An early version of the character editor, several large locations and quests, a lot (really, a lot!) of loot. As well as the opportunity to fry a cockroach, climb into the ventilation, make a bat with nails and look at the gloomy sands of the Dome, covered with fog.

In fact, this closed alpha is the first official release for us as a team. And we, like you, want this game to be of high quality, interesting and exciting, and hope that the adventures under the Dome will be remembered by everyone who happened to get into it.



***
Aside from the delay, our plans remain the same: shortly after the alpha, we will release the beta, which will be available to a much larger number of players. After eliminating bugs and polishing the content, the long-awaited EA-version will be released.

We cannot announce the release date yet, but be sure that this will happen soon enough. The Spire accepts shipments, the White Wing examines relics, the team works, and Encased moves towards the early access.

Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/darkcrystalgames/encased-old-school-isometic-turn-based-rpg/

CAERUS.RECORD#98943: April 1976, note

Let’s just say Mobis was unlucky that day. Crawling up out of a waste tunnel that’s mainly used to dispose of crushed rocks, it met up with a group of newbies. They panicked, of course, threw all their grenades, shot off all their ammunition, and even fired an RPG! When I have arrived at the scene, I could’ve easily fit what was left of him into my suitcase. In fact, that’s exactly what I did.

The robot’s weapons were the most interesting thing to me. It had two mechanical arms designed for melee combat, each of which could heat up to 260 degrees centigrade. More interesting still, even smashed into pieces the arms retained this ability.



_________________________________________________________________________


You’re right Ricardo, I’m a sentimental guy. It bothers me to see all those houses built by hard-working, hopeful people, now laying in ruins. I know it’s difficult to maintain the facade of order, but in many ways the facade itself is a kind of order. With the Lord as my witness, the real catastrophe wasn’t when we lost contact with the outside world, but when the “Traveller’s Inn” closed down.




_________________________________________________________________________


These CRONUS guys like to think their gear is flawless. They take a sturdy strongbox, put a combination lock on it, and think it’s all in the bag. It’s good, even great.

After all, the more people believe in their security systems - the durability of the container and the complexity of the lock - the more fun it is to disappoint them.

Okay.

Now I want my lockpicks back. I already know who did it, but it will be better for you if you just come forward!




_________________________________________________________________________


“People often ask me, ‘Teddy, what’s your secret? How did a donut scarfing nobody like you transform into the renowned destroyer of Forefathers security systems you are today?’ It’s true that not so long ago I was nothing but a simple security guard. But one perk of that job is plenty of free time, which I decided to spend reading books. This wasn’t just for entertainment, not at all! Real soldiers read all the combat manuals they can find, and Black Wing bases are full of them.”




_________________________________________________________________________


The warehouse is a place every employee visits at least occasionally. Here you will find everything you need - any vehicle, any type of equipment - for an expedition. Some employees even park their own cars here (for an additional fee, of course)!

For Orange Wing, it’s also the perfect place for a few hands of poker while the warden is busy elsewhere.




_________________________________________________________________________


In our quest for new technology, we discovered thousands of strange machines that we could neither use nor understand. We were pursuing immortality at the cost of countless lives! No one could have imagined what these wishes would cost us when the genie was loosed from the bottle...




_________________________________________________________________________



“What's the flag of CRONUS, Randy?” Obviously, the bureaucrats would never agree to it, but what I would like to see: a shotgun on the flag, a big, freaking shotgun, front and center. Why not? Every day on the radio it’s democracy, respect, equality, blah blah blah. Let me tell you something: a big gun is the best guarantee of order. All those Orange scum need to think twice before barking at honest guys like us. No, the charter definitely needs to be rewritten. And replace the flags of course, so the main graphic is a shotgun. Or better, two shotguns.




_________________________________________________________________________


CAERUS.RECORD #109697: Our Future

Today I observed some workers swapping out batteries in equipment and servoshells. I assumed the truck loaded up with old batteries was headed for the Spire so they could be transported out on the next platform. Instead, it drove out into the desert...

Claire, I'm afraid the conquest of the Dome’s frontier will end just like every other conquest in history. What was once a frontier will end up a garbage dump. There will be consequences, Claire, that no one will bother to fix.

Do you remember our questionnaire we created for players to create their own in-game character? The first fruits of this labor are ready to be shared. In a new Developer Diary, we’ll tell how you changed the world and story of Encased.

Submit your character as well:
https://cronus.darkcrystalgames.com/en/

Dev Update 3 — Involving the Community: First results

“So, Marcus, now you’re calling me a marauder? Bullshit. Calling me a historian would be closer to the truth.

“Look here, for instance: a fine pair of boots. I fished these out of an empty trash barrel at a gas station. They’re practically new. Someone hid them there is my guess, planned to come back for them at some point.

“You see now, yeah? Every thing has its history. That’s what I’m looking for, that’s what I collect. A sucker like you wouldn’t understand. Wait, what’s that sticking out of your pocket?”

We love stories too. A good story is the most important part of any classic RPG, and there are many of these little vignettes in Encased, each of which contributes to the narration in one way or another.

Narrative, along with gameplay and graphics, is one of the “whales” upon which a successful project depends. The narrative is served not only through dialogues, character cues and in-game documents. We, like our nameless marauder, love telling a story through things. A battered rifle hidden beneath the floorboards of an abandoned hut can tell you a lot about its deceased owner: twenty notches on the barrel, homemade ammo clip, and a telescopic sniper sight worth tens of thousands of combonds - a small, but complete story reveals itself to the attentive player who is prepared to look and think.

***

This experience is inspired by dozens of playthroughs of original Fallout, Planescape: Torment, and other cool games. We, like you, are players above all.

How does our tiny tale lead us to the rewards? Easy: recall the stories. In the world of Encased, one does not simply open a chest and pick up a “Kickstarter Shotgun” or “Backer Armor.” “Rewarded” items become part of the plot, with a natural and organic backstory for the players who supported our project from the very start. The origin of each reward item will be interwoven with the lore of the game’s universe.

But do not expect these rewards to make the main character an invulnerable killing machine, destroying all life in their path. Balance is of no less importance to us than storyline, and we consider “Kickstarter” items to be an interesting way to reveal secrets about the world of Encased (i.e. additional lore and quests).


***

Take, for example, this lunchbox. It will not protect you from a high velocity round (though it might stop a pistol shot). It does not give the owner immunity to high levels of radiation or grant regenerative powers to the sandwiches you keep inside. But on discovering such a thing near a dusty old skeleton, sitting by a locked door deep in an abandoned bunker, one can assume certain facts. And having examined the scratches, blood stains and wiped clean handle - one might even come to definitive conclusion or two. Also, don’t forget that sandwiches do need to be safely stored someplace.

Although our campaign is already finished, everyone has the opportunity to leave their footprint in Encased. We are still collecting CRONUS employee questionnaires. Anyone who sends an interesting and detailed character bio via the form will be included in the CRONUS employees database. And if our writers find your character interesting enough, you will have a chance to see them in the game! So act now, citizen, because when release day comes, the questionnaire will be taken offline permanently. Hurry up and you’re gonna make it!



As a last point, we’ll tell you about our rewards issuing protocol. Don’t forget to check your Inbox! In the very near future, surveys will be sent to clarify contact details and shipping addresses. In addition, we will need to clarify a couple of points: how do you want your name to appear in the credits of the game; an CD-key for which gaming platform do you need... The specifics will depend on the list of awards you have chosen. Our goal here is for both digital and physical bonuses to find their owners as quickly as possible.



At the beginning of early access period, in-game rewards and pre-order bonuses will become available to anyone who helped us with the Kickstarter campaign and also supported our game on Steam. For example, a helmet and gloves from the “Pathfinder” kit - they are associated with the history of the Dome exploration, and thus may be useful at an early stage of the game.


Keep and eye on inbox, surveys will be sent soon

As you may remember, some rewards include the participation of backers in the creation of additional content, including NPC portraits, mini-quests, personalised items and characters… The work on them will be conducted during the early access period. It won’t be long now until your own little piece of the game world, created together with our writers and designers, shall appear in Encased. So another reminder: keep a close eye on your email!

Physical rewards will be sent out shortly after the final release. We take our obligations really seriously.

Once again thanks for supporting us and stay tuned!

If you have not wishlisted Encased on Steam yet - please do! (and share with friends). If you missed KS-action there is still a chance to pre-order the game.

***

Some friends of ours recently released a free demo - the prologue of their upcoming game, Sin Slayers. Sin Slayers is a dark, dark fantasy RPG with roguelike elements.



We’ve played an early version ourselves, so let us share our impressions: these guys are creating a solid, old-school, turn-based game that’s hitting all the right notes. The “heart” of Sin Slayers is turn-based combat reminiscent of classic JRPGs and the beloved HOMM series.



The project has been in fulltime development for over a year now, and is currently in the playable alpha stage. Guys are hosting a Kickstarter campaign now and they need your help!

Sin Slayers is a worthy successor to the roguelike/RPG tradition, and the additional crowdfunded budget will help make the game experience deeper, more interesting, and more varied. So if you like classic turn-based tactics within a well-developed combat system, pay attention to this game. Perhaps because of your support, Sin Slayers will reach its full potential.