Steam Early Access Release Plan [UPDATE]

[Nick Thomadis]

Hello Admirals,

We would like to inform you that the next build is now in closed testing and the final patch is going to come out early next week, if everything is ok with no critical bugs.

Your feedback is extremely important and we assure you it is always read and considered even if not always acknowledged directly. The new Core Patch will have an early limited version of the campaign between two nations (we will post a more detailed description soon). 

With this version we focus our testing on war and victory conditions, mission generator, fleets and R&D progression. Many of the features requested by users that were discussed in our 2021 development plans are included in this limited campaign, either complete or in an early form.

Our goal remains to finalize the game with an early working version of the campaign and release within this year on Steam Early Access, before Christmas. 

Thank you for the patience and support,

The Game-Labs Team

[T_the_ferret]

That's great to hear back from the team. What about the fourth core patch? Will it also be in 2021 or in 2022?

[Nick Thomadis]

Just now, T_the_ferret said:

That's great to hear back from the team. What about the fourth core patch? Will it also be in 2021 or in 2022?

More playable nations will be added after the game is released on Steam Early Access, as we had mentioned in our first plans. It will be feasible within 2022 in the future updates of the game.

[o Barão]

Great news! I am looking forward to play/test the new update.

[madham82]

25 minutes ago, Nick Thomadis said:

With this version we focus our testing on war and victory conditions, mission generator, fleets and R&D progression. 

Nick, think it will be key to the thread created after the release that feedback should focus on these components only. Otherwise the thread will be a dumping ground for everything, not just campaign feedback. Not saying they can't provide feedback on other issues, but should be in a different thread to make it easier on your team.

Easier said than done, so all of us regulars need to help keep the focus. 

[Werwaz]

Nice

Guess ill wait till it releases

[Stormnet]

After more than a year, we finnally got it.

Although the memories of the slightly dissapointing nature of v0.5 still makes me rather skeptical, as long as there arent crippling bugs and annoying framedrops, I'm all in on this one. 

[Skeksis]

I hope issues like "Bad Parts Error" after loading is fixed before steam release, this fix is not mention in the changelog. Because our good folks over on steam won't be so forgiving with their comments! And a special mention for the no/bad gun arc's facing hull borders. There are many issues that have been reported but are not in the current changelog (I mean bugs/errors not suggestions).

Edited November 19, 2021 by Skeksis

[Commander Reed]

Looking forward to the steam release. Maybe I won't have to rely on the launcher that way.

[Gangut]

This is great news, really looking forward to the update being released.

[Danvanthevacuumman]

whos is close testing?

[davidt_man]

13 minutes ago, Danvanthevacuumman said:

whos is close testing?

not me unfortunately

 

[DougToss]

18 hours ago, madham82 said:

Easier said than done, so all of us regulars need to help keep the focus. 

Truer words were ne’er spoken.

Edited November 20, 2021 by DougToss

[davidt_man]

On 11/19/2021 at 11:16 AM, Nick Thomadis said:

Hello Admirals,

We would like to inform you that the next build is now in closed testing and the final patch is going to come out early next week, if everything is ok with no critical bugs.

Your feedback is extremely important and we assure you it is always read and considered even if not always acknowledged directly. The new Core Patch will have an early limited version of the campaign between two nations (we will post a more detailed description soon). 

With this version we focus our testing on war and victory conditions, mission generator, fleets and R&D progression. Many of the features requested by users that were discussed in our 2021 development plans are included in this limited campaign, either complete or in an early form.

Our goal remains to finalize the game with an early working version of the campaign and release within this year on Steam Early Access, before Christmas. 

Thank you for the patience and support,

The Game-Labs Team

 

Nick,

Is everything still on track for the patch to release on Monday? 

[bwc153]

15 hours ago, davidt_man said:

 

Nick,

Is everything still on track for the patch to release on Monday? 

Just to temper expectations, "early next week" could mean Tuesday as well.  Hopefully we'll hear an update though!

[SodaBit]

2 hours ago, bwc153 said:

Just to temper expectations, "early next week" could mean Tuesday as well.  Hopefully we'll hear an update though!

Cut off for "early next week" is about Thursday, Nov. 25th. After that, we'll need an update as to the revised plan to get the patch out.

[davidt_man]

3 hours ago, bwc153 said:

Just to temper expectations, "early next week" could mean Tuesday as well.  Hopefully we'll hear an update though!

If i remember correctly the devs stated the patch would drop monday if the closed group found no major bugs in the game. 

[Waruiko]

I just want this ready to move to steam if only so that I can do things like brows the internet while stuff loads

[goodsoohe]

This is a great news!!! Thank you for keeping us updated.

[bwc153]

12 hours ago, Waruiko said:

I just want this ready to move to steam if only so that I can do things like brows the internet while stuff loads

Add non steam game to launcher and you can do this

[Danvanthevacuumman]

[

[RedParadize]

Ok, so far I played it 4 times, all of them as the German. I cant say it was a pleasing experience:

1st one I restarted after 30minutes, I was losing allot transports and did not know why. I assumed it was because of my fleet composition. Somehow the British have a much stronger starting fleet. Not sure if its to be historically accurate. (Edit: it seem to be only the case if you make your own fleet)

2nd & 3rd games, tested fleet composition, to see if it change that transport lost thing. It seem to be a bit random I think. I decided to try auto-resolving battle and see how far I could go with it. Lost both games within a year.

4th game I decided to play most battle and slowly reduced British fleet to a level where it cant blockade me anymore. It was looking good, I had a clear VP advantage, but then something weird happened. Over the course of 8 month I lost over 100 transport and only got two missions. Now with all 3 economy slider at 0 I have a deficit of 2millions per month... Looks like its over. That game lasted 5 hours, I am about to lose even if I won all the battles... And I do not even have a clue why.


Outside of that, here is the thing that I found the most irritating:

1: In 1980 you have 4 hulls and almost no room for customization. And from what I have seen in the custom mission mode there isnt much before 1910. So 30 years with almost nothing to play with. I wish had get more hull... But honestly, what I would really wish is to make them myself.

2: Missions are quite repetitive, regardless if its a convoy or intercept. If the enemy isnt in superiority it will run away. Nothing wrong with that, but doing so result in 30 minutes chase in a battle you know you already won. The real issue is the time compression limit. bellow 2.5km its 3x and you need to be closer than that to have chance to hit the enemy.

Hope it will get better before it get on Steam, early negative review kills games sell really quick.

Edited November 25, 2021 by RedParadize

[Airzerg]

1 hour ago, RedParadize said:

Почему-то у британцев стартовый флот намного сильнее. Не уверен, что это исторически достоверно.

more than a strange statement

1 hour ago, RedParadize said:

В 1980 году у вас есть 4 корпуса и почти нет места для настройки.

I agree with this, I did not like it either

I started to play for GB and I have the opposite - the German fleet turned out to be larger. This is really weird.

[Cetric de Cornusiac]

Congratulations to release in early access on Steam today!