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Dev Journal #2 - Setting and playable races

Hey inmates,

In today’s post, we'll explore further three key aspects of the game: the setting of the Space Prison itself, the playable races within it, and the crimes you committed.

[h2]The Space Prison setting[/h2]

Space Prison is not your average hellhole. It's an experimental penitentiary located on a space station, housing the most notorious criminals from across the galaxy. Imagine being locked up—truly guilty or not—in a huge metal can with inhumane living conditions, vicious alien creatures, tough convicts, and sadistic guards. Will you survive? Will you rise in the gang hierarchy, or have the will to attempt a daring escape? Only one person has managed to pull that out before. Supposedly.

The game features a colorful cast of criminals, each with their own personal quest chain; survival mechanics like crafting and building up your prison cell; turn-based brawls for setting up arguments and a bunch of roguelite elements. But why a Space Prison, you may ask. Four years ago, when we sat at a drawing board, we already knew what kind of games we wanted to make. We strive to make distinct titles—games that offer an experience and atmosphere that no other games do. We didn’t want to make another fantasy RPG or Souls-like. From all the ideas we had, Space Prison was an obvious choice—its distinct setting, mechanics, and art style make it a unique and fun experience.

And for rest? Well, we’ll keep the mystery so you can enjoy it yourself!




[h2]The playable races[/h2]

In Space Prison, you can choose from three distinct races, each with its own background, abilities, and playstyle. We needed them to differ so strongly that it would be easy to assign various skills, perks, and stats to them. Why three races? Because three is the magic number! In all seriousness, if you get locked in Space Prison, you will see that in the game we have over a dozen various alien races. We selected the three that we believe to be the most distinct and appealing as playable races.

The races were definitely the team’s joint effort. They were born with the vision of our art team, who designed them visually. When we had these distinct and interesting looking races, then our narration and design team took them under their care to make them distinct from each other and other races we have in the game. We added their backgrounds and set them apart for different playstyles. What’s very important to us, we didn’t want any race (or sex for that matter) to define any of the characters. That’s why, even though they have distinct backgrounds, you can see that all of them have equal chances to become any type of criminal they want.
We're very interested in finding out which alien races you will like the most. Although I must admit that “muscle alien ladies” already have an impressive fanbase.

Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at these big baddies:

[h3]Ferath[/h3]
Feraths are on the verge of extinction after a gene mutation entwined a life-threatening disease with the chromosome Y. There are few male individuals left in the universe, and they are imprisoned on Ferra (their origin planet) and forced to reproduce as much as possible with selected female Ferraths, to produce more boys. They are known for having one horn, fur on their torsos and hands, and a large tail. Some of them believe that their predecessors were the infamous, intergalactic Yetis, but the theory has never been confirmed.



[h3]Nex[/h3]
Nex are cyborgs from the Nexus galaxy that are actively looking for their Inventor and answers regarding the ‘how’ and ‘why’ they were created. They undergo physical transformations to imitate their prophet, who rejected a biological body for a cybernetic one. Her reasons for doing that are unknown, because there is scarcely any knowledge left from the time she lived. Nex have cellular bodies merged with artificial parts. They modify their organisms and use various enhancements to reach individual goals. The enhancements are fueled by a special substance - one that is very efficient, however very scarce in the Nexus galaxy.



[h3]Human[/h3]
Ah, the good ol’ typical biped mammal that we all are! The human race has finally reached technological advancement, allowing them to travel between different galaxies in the universe. When they had first crawled out of the Milky Way, they started to rapidly expand their territory and appear all over the universe. Thus, some alien races began to think of them as lower evolutionary species, hardly resilient on their own, but stronger in packs.



[h2]The crimes[/h2]

In Space Prison, every character has their own criminal background, determining their skills and challenges.

[h3]Smuggler[/h3]
Smugglers are experts in the art of concealment. They are skilled in hiding contraband and avoiding inspections, however they are sometimes too slow on their feet.
  • Secret Pockets - You start your sentence with one contraband item smuggled in
  • Slow Reflexes - Takes 50% more damage from hazards

[h3]Assassin[/h3]
Assassins believe their bodies are living weapons. They rely on the momentum of their movements to kill their targets. Unsurprisingly, this way of life comes with a grim outlook on the world.
  • Deadly Maneuvers - After Moving: Next Attack +30% damage, Duration: Infinite
  • Fatalist - Hope Gain: Decreased by -20%

[h3]Saboteur[/h3]
Saboteurs use rats and other goons to wreak havoc on their targets. They believe in strength in numbers and that life is expandable. As a result, freelancers charge them higher fees.
  • Give all your rats additional combat slots
  • Fodders Hire Price: Increased by 50%

[h3]Thief[/h3]
Driven by greed and the prospect of easy money, they employ their talents to steal credits and valuable artifacts. People know not to trust them with their possessions, that is why it’s hard for them to form any kind of business relations.
  • Meticulous - Has 100% chance of double loot from Loot Boxes
  • Relation Gain: -10%

[h3]Con Artist[/h3]
Con Artists are criminals who make their living out of deception. They know how to put up a facade in front of others, but are less resilient to physical harm.
  • Relation Gain: +20%
  • Feeble: Damage +20%


Each crime offers unique bonuses and challenges, allowing you to choose the kind of criminal you want to be and customize your experience in the Space Prison.

With Space Prison, we want to create a thrilling blend of survival, strategy, and storytelling in a unique setting. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to develop Space Prison (and the Early Access release is fast approaching already)!

See you behind bars!
Wooden Alien Team

We have an Early Access release date!

[h3]Hey inmates,[/h3]

[h3]Space Prison comes to Steam in Early Access on April 10![/h3]

We promised a new teaser, enjoy this sneak peek of what awaits you in the toughest prison in the galaxy!

Watch it now!
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

We are so thrilled by this milestone that is fast approaching! After all the feedback we gathered, we can't wait for you to play the game! Thank you for sharing your ideas and input and taking part in this adventure. We’re entering a new phase with our Early Access journey together, starting soon. Prepare your escape plan, your sentence is about to begin!

Feeling tough? Reckon this prison survival experience will be the perfect trial! Craft makeshift brass knuckles for turn-based brawls, befriend inmates with RPG-social mechanics, and discover their backstories. You’ll be condemned to the worst hellhole out there, mixing dark atmosphere and humor with comic book-inspired visuals. Your free will and identity will be repressed. Don't let the system break you.

[h2]Wishlist the game, follow us on Steam and our socials![/h2]
We'll be slinging all the latest news and announcements there. Be the first to know everything about the development of the Space Prison!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1865930/Space_Prison/


Join our community of convicts on:
Discord
Twitter
Facebook

See you behind bars!
Wooden Alien Team

Dev Journal #1 - Expanding the Space Prison

Hey inmates,

In the darkest corners of the Space Prison, we’ve been working hard to make sure that you’ll have a “pleasant” stay at the prison. NPCs, quests, gang hierarchy, guards, objects, UI, and so on. Let’s review all of this together, shall we?

It was quite busy on our end with the design of a stage of progression, addition of new quests, economy, prison locations and sublocations, corridors, combat encounters, and improvement of the game and features based on the feedback you gave us.

[h2]New playable race![/h2]
Meet the Ferath—evolution's brawny marvels. It’s the face of the game in the key art, a big horned muscular alien. Menacing and ferocious, but also swift and powerful. They close in on enemies quickly to unleash their violence in a close-and-personal fashion. A perfect fit for the unforgiving confines of Space Prison.


[h3]UI and sound effects[/h3]
We're continuously improving and streamlining the UI to make sure that you have a clear and smooth onboarding process. We’ve added item categories and inventory slots for them, like Weapons, Armors, and Combat Usables. On top of that, many new sounds were added or improved, and we’re also working on the soundtrack of the game, as we shared on social media. The sound design, but the music in particular, is still experimental. So we welcome your feedback on it!

[h3]Hirelings and rats, trusty companions[/h3]
As part of the UI process, you now both have your rats and allies grouped in a "Party" screen. You can see their stats, but you can also customize their gear, changing the way they help you in combat. We’ve also upgraded the Rat Nest in Player Cell. Taming rats is not the only thing you can do now, you can craft items for them, from snacks to special tiny rat weapons. Aren’t they just adorable with their little gear? Finally, we’ve added a new crime, Saboteur, which has advantages in rat management.



[h2]Death is no excuse for a shorter sentence[/h2]

[h3]New death, new you[/h3]
Remember what the guards said? You can forget about resting in peace. Death is just a temporary inconvenience in our necks (ha, get it, collars, necks). No matter how hard you try, as long as your collar remains intact, you'll be brought back, and yours never seems to have a crack. Well, partially brought back to be exact, we can't replicate your body, so you'll have to choose and work with another meat sack among a selection of random race and crime specializations.


[h3]Permadeath mode[/h3]
Well, you can spice things up by having a faulty collar, meaning there’s no bringing you back this time. Try your luck next time with the permadeath mode and see how long you last in the dog-eat-dog world of the Space Prison. Your body's organic waste may or may not be turned into dinner if you don't make it.



[h2]More variety in quests[/h2]
NPCs and the story mean a lot to us. The game has become much richer in mechanics and content than we expected. You will have a lot to do and discover, and there is no time to stay idle. But the amount of content we added made us feel like it could be overwhelming. We came to the conclusion that it needed to be more spread out in time and space so that you could discover new quests, locations, and items at a smoother pace. This led to a more clearly segmented progression with better onboarding in order to let you get the hang of it all. We also implemented the quests to join the Hypernova and Gravity Fists gangs.


[h3]Quest chains[/h3]
We have been focusing on quests lately by adding quest chains linked to members of the gang you joined. They'll let you discover more about your fellow inmates and gang members. We are still implementing these quests, so more are on the way. We focus on and pride ourselves on crafting handmade and interesting convicts with their own backgrounds and personal stories about their time in prison. You can learn about them if you decide to befriend and help them. NPCs alone would deserve a proper devblog about them, so expect one in the future!

[h3]Threat quests[/h3]
To reinforce the gang mechanics and the impact of choosing one gang over another, we added the "threat quests". The opposing gangs will hold a grudge against you and try to intimidate you, or worse.

[h3]Universal jobs[/h3]
Need a little extra cash to gather resources, grease the wheels of justice, or hire inmates? As part of our quest process, we have been crafting a system for making procedurally-generated quests. So there will be more than enough quests to keep you busy between shakedowns!


[h2]Exploration and fast travel[/h2]
Exploration is a big part of the game. You shared that there was a lot of coming back and forth before. We iterated and found a solution: resize some locations, rework the pathing, and add a shortcut to the gang hub in the cell on top of the waypoints for fast travel.

[h3]Waypoints[/h3]
Tattooing your plan for escape and the prison map on your body is pointless here. The architect of the prison has crafted the prison so that the corridors are rearranged every day to make sure that you won't make it out. But there is something else that you can do: build secret teleporters and hidden pathways. Shave precious minutes off your sentence with these fast travel shortcuts. Just don't let the guards get wind of your little detours.

[h3]More locations[/h3]
The Space Prison is expanding! Venture beyond the confines of your cell and your regular corridors. You will be able to explore the outer ring of the prison. We've added 3 new locations with their own set of sublocations and more corridors. From the yard to the science lab to the power hub, there's a whole new segment of the prison to sneak into. But beware! The second ring is strictly forbidden to inmates. Don’t let the guards see you wandering there, or you’ll wish that you’d been in the vacuum of space instead. It would be more merciful than what they plan for you.


[h3]Combat arenas[/h3]
We've been adding more variety and life to the environments with animated elements. Get ready to duke it out in style there. Just don't get too distracted by the scenery, or you might end up on the wrong end of a fist.



[h2]Salvaging, gear durability, and collectibles[/h2]
Based on your input, we emphasized the survival aspect of the gear, which has a durability gauge and can be repaired or salvaged.

[h3]Repair system, weapon and armor durability[/h3]
If your gear's looking torn or broken, then you might as well have a target on your back, those fists ain't going to help even if you’re built like one of 'em Feraths. Swing by a repair station that we designed and patch things up before the next brawl, trust me, you'll need it. Because nothing says "dead person walking" like a broken shiv.


[h3]Processing stations[/h3]
A new addition to your prison survival handbook! From base materials to top-tier contraband, this feature has you covered. Process tier 1 materials into tier 2 ones, or the other way around, to salvage resources. Just remember to keep a low profile, weapons are prohibited.

[h3]Collectibles[/h3]
We're crafting collectible comic strips, a small form of entertainment for you, inmates, to read in peace in your cell.

[h3]Giving & buying item systems[/h3]
Regarding the buying system, each of your gang mates has a specific list of items they can trade with you. You can learn about these items by uncovering information on them with an Intel resource. As for the giving mechanic, we changed how it works. Before, each inmate wanted one specific item. Now you can experiment with what they will accept, and some items will improve your relations with them better than others.



[h2]A less welcoming prison[/h2]
We heard your feedback about the combat system. Our main goal is to motivate you to change tactics by facing a wider range of enemies and hazards. By reworking the combat system and enemies, we decided to add more encounters and limit the number of the same possible encounters per day.

[h3]New mobs[/h3]
The prison is full of monsters, and no, I'm not only talking about alien inmates or Bob. There are creatures lurking in the corridors, rival gangs, guards, and prisoners are not the only ones you need to keep an eye on. We've been designing and adding a handful of enemies, and we're not done yet!

[h3]Gang members as mini-bosses[/h3]
Speaking of gang members, they are more than your regular low-key prisoners now. Gang members aren't just small fries. They're mini-bosses, and that means that you have to prepare yourself for these battles. You should use Intel to uncover information on the convicts you will fight with to prepare better. Time to sharpen those improvised brass knuckles and beef up your rat companions.


[h3]Hazards and traps[/h3]
Who said traps are just for others to use? We decided to add more diversity to the fights with hazards and traps. As part of that decision, we've added this feature so that you and your party can arm yourself with traps to ease your wrists with all that fighting. With every fight comes its share of uncertainty and unanticipated hazards. Watch out for them, they are dangerous for you too, but there can also be special hazard loot crates during combat.



Phew, as you can see, we've been busy working on new content and polishing what you reported. It was a big devblog, but don't worry, now you're up-to-speed! Thank you for your feedback, it's like the prison chef's special burger after a good brawl: precious and thrilling. Until next time, stay out of trouble, fish, and get your hands on the prison newspaper for more information on the development process.

See you behind bars!
Wooden Alien Team

Join Space Prison playtests!

[h3]Wakey-wakey, inmate,[/h3]

You are almost late for the first Space Prison public playtest on Steam! Experience a fraction of your lifetime sentence in the biggest hole in the universe (and increase the itsy-bitsy chance of getting out of this oppressive system).

Try to survive the Space Prison - request access to our playtests taking place between January 26 and February 5 via the game’s Steam page (as shown below) and become one of the first prisoners to enter Space Prison perimeters and walk out freely afterwards…



[h3]1. Wait, but what exactly awaits me in the game? Convince me to join the playtest![/h3]
Alright, alright! You are one demanding prisoner, aren’t you? You’re going to have a hard time there… But let us give you a quick reminder of what Space Prison is really about:

You're an inmate recently sent to jail in a maximum-security prison. You can't play by the rules to survive there—use dirty tactics to work your way around and live to see another day. Well, the guards won't let you stay dead anyway. This forsaken prison is a mind-boggling maze that changes every day. Make friends (or enemies) by helping fellow convicts, earn their respect, join a gang, and trade favors. Hiding contraband, crafting items, upgrading your cell, and taming rats—seize every opportunity to escape your sentence.

[h3]2. How and when will I know if I can join the playtest?[/h3]
You will receive an email notification from Steam about the playtest being available to you after January 26.

[h3]3. Will I be able to join the playtest later, between Jan 26 and Feb 5?[/h3]
Yes. Just go to the Space Prison page on Steam and click “Request access” until February 5 (CET) to join the gang of our game testers.

[h3]4. And if I decide to help you, where should I share my feedback?[/h3]
At any given moment of the playtest, you will be able to fill out the survey in the menu options or when exiting the game. We will also ask you to fill out the survey at the end of your experience in the Space Prison. It will hugely help us enhance security systems-- uh, I-I mean enhance the game! Yes.

Apart from the survey, we would love to read your feedback in our Steam discussions or on our Discord server. It will help us fully understand what you - a player - desire the most.

Thank you in advance for joining this round of Space Prison playtests!
- Wooden Alien & Firesquid teams


Psst… Here's our fresh prison newspaper:
Twitter
Facebook

We found a publisher!

[h3]Hello inmates,[/h3]

We have a big announcement to make: we're partnering up with Firesquid to publish Space Prison!

We, at Wooden Alien, are a small indie team of 7 ambitious game-dev veterans who want to help people escape their daily lives and take part in otherworldly adventures in various parts of the galaxy. We are really glad to have found a publisher who truly connects with the Space Prison vision and who may greatly enhance your experience behind bars.

Firesquid is a developer-focused indie publisher who specializes in strategy games, which aims to modernize the genre and help various teams realize their vision and perfect it. Even though it's only the beginning of our partnership, our Firesquid partners have already added much value to our production process, while allowing us to freely unleash our creative spark. We are really happy about this Rat x Squid cooperation. They’re much nicer than the squiddy guards!



Given that some time has passed since the last Steam update (and we are cooking another one for you, to summarize what new, exciting elements you can expect in the game), for those of you who want to refresh their memory about what Space Prison is really about, we post a quick reminder:

Space Prison is a prison survival game focused on turn-based brawls and RPG-social mechanics. It mixes the dark atmosphere of a prison setting with humor and comic book-inspired visuals. The relationships with the other inmates and contraband are key. Become a powerful gang leader and escape the prison!

PS, watch our teaser trailer if you haven't already! (Psst... We are working on a new trailer coming soon...)

[previewyoutube][YT teaser][/previewyoutube]

You're an inmate recently sent to jail in a maximum-security prison. You can't play by the rules to survive there—use dirty tactics to work your way around and live to see another day. Well, the guards won't let you stay dead anyway. This forsaken prison is a mind-boggling maze that changes every day. Make friends (or enemies) by helping fellow convicts, earn their respect, join a gang, and trade favors. Hiding contraband, crafting items, upgrading your cell, and taming rats—seize every opportunity to escape your sentence.

Don't let the system break you. Survive the toughest prison in the galaxy!


Join our community of convicts on:
Discord
Twitter
Facebook

See you behind bars!
Wooden Alien Team