(Please help proofread prior to publication: spelling, grammar, and pointing out any inconsistency or confusing section. Gameplay feedback not needed until later, we want to focus on getting the book to print).
Development Plans & Episodic Release
Crixa Labs is creating Em-8ER in stages. We use crowdfunding on a milestone basis. Each milestone is a small part of the game, such as the THMPR in-game model and animations, or the creation of the human playable characters. This way, backers can see and judge the progress of the game themselves in smaller steps, rather than waiting for a final shipping beta. The risk is managed and any triumphs or challenges are plainly visible at every stage with smaller sums at stake.
At the time of this writing, we’ve currently completed the THMPR MEK/A mining mech model with basic animations. Our next milestones include the human playable character, the Tsi-Hu “Shifters” and their beast form, and the final playable mockup.
The goal is to use these milestones to create a playable mockup of a key encounter of the game: the THMPR mining encounter. This is where a THMPR is dropped onto the ground and begins to mine, and you must defend the THMPR from Tsi-Hu aliens that attack it to attempt to disrupt your mining activity. It’s a frenetic sort of mini-game where players can push for more and rarer resources, but at the risk of losing their THMPR to more and more aggressive waves of attackers.
Playable Mockup & Kickstarter
Once completed, the playable mockup will serve as the launching point for a larger Kickstarter fundraiser. This fundraiser will aim to raise enough to transition to a small, full-time team to work on the game consistently. There will be further milestone fundraisers after that, and the intent is to build the game up in episodes after Early Access on Steam.
Episodes
The game is designed to be episodic both in content and features. The ultimate goal is to have a large world, with full scale planetary war involving more vehicles, weapons and larger Kaiju and MEK over time.
Episodes are major releases, and will likely be on a 8 or 12 month basis. They will include:
More Tiers - More crafting tiers to allow players to create more equipment and craft more gear. New tiers will have to be unlocked by the players working together to capture more territory.
More Battlegrounds - New zones will open up, with different layouts and themes. Players must terraform and repel the Tsi-Hu to unlock tiers and equipment to craft.
New Vehicles - Eventually the plan is to add tanks, aircraft and other vehicles to the player’s arsenal. As the game progresses from Early Release to more and more episodes, more vehicles will be added.
New MEKs - Being a mech vs Kaiju game, future releases will likely introduce more varied MEKs in roles and size.
New Story - Each episode will be accompanied by a new intro movie, writing and in-world flavor text and mysteries that will advance the story of humanity’s first contact with the bloodthristy Tsi-Hu.
Development Plans & Episodic Release
Crixa Labs is creating Em-8ER in stages. We use crowdfunding on a milestone basis. Each milestone is a small part of the game, such as the THMPR in-game model and animations, or the creation of the human playable characters. This way, backers can see and judge the progress of the game themselves in smaller steps, rather than waiting for a final shipping beta. The risk is managed and any triumphs or challenges are plainly visible at every stage with smaller sums at stake.
At the time of this writing, we’ve currently completed the THMPR MEK/A mining mech model with basic animations. Our next milestones include the human playable character, the Tsi-Hu “Shifters” and their beast form, and the final playable mockup.
The goal is to use these milestones to create a playable mockup of a key encounter of the game: the THMPR mining encounter. This is where a THMPR is dropped onto the ground and begins to mine, and you must defend the THMPR from Tsi-Hu aliens that attack it to attempt to disrupt your mining activity. It’s a frenetic sort of mini-game where players can push for more and rarer resources, but at the risk of losing their THMPR to more and more aggressive waves of attackers.
Playable Mockup & Kickstarter
Once completed, the playable mockup will serve as the launching point for a larger Kickstarter fundraiser. This fundraiser will aim to raise enough to transition to a small, full-time team to work on the game consistently. There will be further milestone fundraisers after that, and the intent is to build the game up in episodes after Early Access on Steam.
Episodes
The game is designed to be episodic both in content and features. The ultimate goal is to have a large world, with full scale planetary war involving more vehicles, weapons and larger Kaiju and MEK over time.
Episodes are major releases, and will likely be on a 8 or 12 month basis. They will include:
More Tiers - More crafting tiers to allow players to create more equipment and craft more gear. New tiers will have to be unlocked by the players working together to capture more territory.
More Battlegrounds - New zones will open up, with different layouts and themes. Players must terraform and repel the Tsi-Hu to unlock tiers and equipment to craft.
New Vehicles - Eventually the plan is to add tanks, aircraft and other vehicles to the player’s arsenal. As the game progresses from Early Release to more and more episodes, more vehicles will be added.
New MEKs - Being a mech vs Kaiju game, future releases will likely introduce more varied MEKs in roles and size.
New Story - Each episode will be accompanied by a new intro movie, writing and in-world flavor text and mysteries that will advance the story of humanity’s first contact with the bloodthristy Tsi-Hu.
