Production Update
Ossu!
As the year comes to a close, we wanted to provide a small summary of what you might expect in the full version of the game, which will be released in Spring 2025.
Your feedback, comments, and DMs since the launch of JDM: Rise of the Scorpion was an immense help to our development process. We hear what you are saying and we know there’s still a lot we can improve before the game releases. To highlight a few aspects that are at the top of our priorities:
- Performance - our goal is to have the game running smoothly even on weaker GPUs or perform better on mid and high end GPUs. We’re actively improving game streaming, as well as lighting, shadows and… well basically all aspects of the game, so you can enjoy JDM on the PCs you already own.
- Input devices - steering wheels, pedal panels, handbrakes and shifters - we’re systematically adding support for additional devices and testing them in-house to be sure everything is ready for launch. That includes hardware dedicated strictly for sim racers, as well as mainstream devices you can find in electronic stores across the globe and even cheap stuff you can get online with little to no branding on them. Of course, we won’t be able to cover every single device available out there and check every single combination of devices, e.g. Logitech steering wheel, paired up with a Thrustmaster handbrake and a Moza shifter, so our robust key binding system will make a reappearance. It will be updated and will contain more settings so that with a little bit of time you will be able to bind anything to play JDM with.
[h2]Story[/h2]
Racing games rarely have an engaging plotline assigned to them. With a game inspired by Japan and its culture, it felt almost obligatory to implement manga into the gameplay. And so we did! With a full team of manga artists in-house we’re drawing the story page by page, all of which will tie to every single story event that you will encounter in the game.
Each story event will push the manga forward and at any time you will be able to read the unlocked pages via your smartphone, a feature you could already see in our prologue-demo JDM: Rise of the Scorpion.
JDM: Rise of the Scorpion introduced a prequel story to the game, which you won’t find in the full game. It’s set a few years earlier and introduces some important characters that will shape the story of JDM. The prologue is free to play, so if you haven’t done so already, you might want to check it out.
Our fictional prefecture - Guntama - will see a lot of racing very soon. You will meet colorful characters, some of them will become your friends, others fierce rivals. Expect a lot of action, drama and even some romance. We’ll get back to you with more details, early next year!
[h2]Open World [/h2]
When we started the development of JDM: Japanese Drift Master we had one goal in mind - recreating Japan as precisely as it was possible. Starting with the architecture and surrounding nature and ending with the roads you will drive on. Let’s stop here for a second and talk about the latter.
If you’ve played enough racing games in your life, you might have noticed that they place you either on racing tracks or city streets where every road is as wide as a highway. Japan is known for its narrow, winding passes, extremely tight streets and even more extreme mountain corners, so this approach just wouldn’t cut it. Aiming for credibility, we wanted to recreate Japan roads as they are in reality, adding additional layers of experience to the game - one of authenticity so that roaming around our fictional Guntama feels like the real deal and one of gameplay complexity. In JDM you just won’t be able to go 200 miles per hour at all times - controlling your speed, the gear you're in and when you need to break will be as crucial as learning and understanding drifting (to cut those corners faster). We believe our game is the only title out there that provides such an experience.
Of course, we are continually working on expanding the Guntama prefecture, populating it with various, recognizable landmarks and architecture. Some are generally known to the global populace, some will have a deeper meaning for automotive fans - legendary car spots will find their way into JDM! Stay tuned next year for more precise information on the subject. For now, take a look at some examples from JDM: Rise of the Scorpion.
The Machi-no-Eki Yusuhara building might not be a hotel in-game, but it’s still a recognizable landmark, whose purpose has been tied to the story and mood aspects of JDM: Japanese Drift Master.
Haruna Lake is called Haikama Lake in JDM. See and decide for yourselves if we gave justice to this location.
Throughout the development of JDM, we strived to bring characteristic Japanese landmarks to the game and the examples above only scratch the surface of the content you will be able to uncover, as you drive around Guntama. If you’re a Japanese resident or a frequent tourist you will definitely recognise some spots. If you haven’t done so already, launch JDM: ROTS and see how many references you can find and let us know in the comments! :)
[h2]Tuning[/h2]
Before we close this devlog, let us say a few words about tuning, as it’s one of the most frequent subjects you ask about. It’s happening and growing by the day, both in terms of visual and technical tuning. Speaking of the latter - you will be able to buy new parts for each car. Those parts will come in tiers - each tier more expensive, but providing better performance. For as long as you can afford it, you can buy any part you want. On top of that, more advanced parts will unlock the ability to fine-tune your car's performance. We’re not ready to go into details, but expect an update focused on the subject next year.
And as for visual tuning, let the images speak for themselves:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Again, we will share more details on visual tuning with you next year.
That’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this little summary. Tell us in the comments what made you interested in JDM in the first place. Also, don’t forget to 📌 Hit ‘Follow’ on our Steam page and add JDM: Japanese Drift Master to your wishlist to stay up-to-date on all announcements.
[h3]PS[/h3]
We have two ongoing contests right now:
🎨 Don’t miss the chance to have your art featured in our game. Check out the Guntama Street Art Contest devlog for all the details and show us what you’ve got!
🎁 We’re also running an exciting Gleam campaign. Follow a few simple steps for your shot at a free ticket to the streets of Guntama! Join here: Gleam Contest.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1153410/JDM_Japanese_Drift_Master/
Let's Drift!
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