I just wanted to give everyone an update about where we're at with various projects. Some weeks we accomplish quite a bit, while others our projects stall a bit while we deal with real life situations (the only down-side to being a small company). For that reason, rather than weekly, we're going to try to give updates like this on or around the 15th and 30th of every month. This way you'll see what we're up to (in an almost-stalker fashion, really) when we seem like we're not releasing stuff. Since this is the first of this attempt at a committed progress blog, we'll start with an overview of the pans we currently have in the fire. Sorry for the long blog, subsequent ones will be lighter reads.
Although we have a lot more in the back burner, these are the projects we're currently working on.
Again, we have a lot of projects on the back burner ready to be brought to the forefront and worked on, but here's what we're currently spending time on.
This project was back-burnered in an attempt to build a following, gain some revenue, and commission art. In the process, we learned a lot, and those areas of learning have resulted in a large-scale modification to the FrontierSpace game as developed thus far. This means more work for us, but also means a better product. Well the project has been back-burnered for long enough and development is underway. Here's what we're currently developing (all titles are W.I.P. titles, names still forthcoming):
Our zombie apocalypse survival role-playing game of hopelessness and despair. The development of this is mostly completed, and as autumn approaches this year we'll shift our resources back to it. Interior art and layout is mostly done/settled, but there is still some playtesting and tweaks to make. Additionally, our cover art is still pending, though an artist has committed and has shown us updates. This will likely be a stand-alone product, and will include some innovations to the d00lite system that you may not see elsewhere. Making customizations to the game system to accommodate a specific setting is always something we've done. This is back-burnered until later in the year.
Being developed by an outside developer, in coordination with input from DwD Studios staff, this is an awesome RPG of modern urban horror using an adaptation of the d00lite rules set. It's coming along wonderfully and its author is quite good at presenting the genre through the rules. As we get more updates from the author, we'll see what we can do to post about them.
-Bill
So, Bill has had his say and now it is my turn. While we know that DwD is most known for our RPG games we also have a strong interest in board and card games, which we hope you will enjoy as well. We have three completed games which we will give a quick rundown on and many more in development which I will touch on quickly.
As you hopefully know Salvage Ops is a complete game currently available for purchase. We have improved the quality of the game pieces and more excitingly are working on a potential tie in game which uses many of the same pieces but creates a more tactical/strategic game than the press your luck current version. Our vision is to market the two games together in one box.
Our second game available for purchase, Dunjonworx is a fun, light, game of dungeon creation and exploration. We are currently playtesting a couple of rules variances designed to make the game play a bit quicker.
Our most complex and “meatiest” game thus far AoS has received extensive game testing and has received immensely positive responses from our playtesters as well as “common” folk that have played the game at gaming conventions where Bill, TC, and I have been running it. We are currently seeking a distributor for the game. This is a challenge in and of itself, and a whole new world of experiences and headaches.
A game built for a game contest designed for younger players, Merchant's Bay is undergoing some tweaks to make it more enjoyable for older players too. It was fairly well received and did well in the contest (it was a finalist but alas wasn't selected as winner), but we know it can be an even better game. Keep a look out for updates coming in the near future!
DwD has a number of games in development and I will discuss these over time in these bimonthly updates. The total number is almost a dozen, with at the moment two taking precedence. As a small company new game development sometimes has to take a back seat to meeting our internal deadlines concerning RPG products. As you can understand the big difference between RGPs and board games is that RPGs need continuous support in the form of modules, supplements, and ;additions. This is part of what makes them enjoyable to play, we know that, we feel that, we play them ourselves. But as a game company it creates a constant pressure that must be met, we owe that to you, our customers and fans of our RPGs. The down side is that for a small company, it takes time away from other things we would also would like to do. Game design is one of those things.
-Mark
You guys need to quit your day jobs an get busy :). A lot of good stuff up there.
I'm most looking forward to the BBF Bestiary, the Abandoned Labyrinth, FrontierSpace and the revamped Salvage Ops
Yeah, if only there were more times in the day
Wow. That's a lot more stuff than I expected to see when I clicked "read more." Very exciting.
How many pieces of art are you talking about for the Bestiary? I may know someone who aint bad and potentially willing to work within budgets.
Just wanted to add that Sigil & Shadow is going to be really good when it comes out - it will be both a good setting and a good resource for hacking.
I am looking forward to Sigil & Shadow!