Encased News

“The Dome and its environs were not built in one day, and the work is far from being over. Of course, mistakes in the design and construction of buildings are made, accidents occur, Oranges die... Why am I saying this? Oh yes. The community under the Dome is a living organism, it needs time to grow and strengthen. ”

The Dark Crystal Games team that never leaves its office is once again with you, and we have some news.

The first one: we are forced to postpone the early access game release (we’ll tell you a bit later why).

The second one: we are releasing a restricted access version of the game for alpha backers on Steam. And if you are an alpha backer, then perhaps the access key for the alpha version is making it to your email inbox right now, and the alpha build itself is being uploaded to Steam!

We are well aware that delays suck, but sometimes they are necessary, and here’s why.

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“Early access” almost always means that a game feels raw, unstable and poor in terms of content. We do not want to see Encased like this even at this stage of development, and unfortunately we have to choose between the earlier release and the quality. We choose quality.

Encased is a game with a rich atmosphere and a deep, developed world. And nothing kills all this like stuttering, crashes and bugs.



Sure there will be some bugs in the Early Access version of Encased, but their numbers will be minimized, and they will not spoil your game experience. To deal with errors (small and large), we’ve introduced a special system: in every game version there’s an option to send a bug report or a suggestion to the developers: just click the button in the corner of the screen, describe the problem, and the system will automatically send us a screenshot and your text, adding your computer stats to the message (in certain situations this will help to diagnose the cause of the bug). This system will help to make the game better as quickly as possible and even, over time, implement some of your proposals.

Button in the form of an envelope in the upper left corner of the screen

Another equally significant reason for the delay is the constant work to improve the interface, polishing game mechanics, rewriting, writing and editing the text – trust us, Encased has a lot of text. From the very start of the development we’ve set ourselves a fairly high level of quality, and now we are trying to keep up to it with everything we have.



We want you to see the game as it is intended. This requires effort and time, resources a small team often lacks. We hope you understand and ready to wait a bit longer.

And for alpha backers we have an alpha version.

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“Alpha”, that is coming out in the next couple of hours, is an unfinished version of the game. The content of the first official version of Encased is very limited, all that the game consists of, including graphic assets, render, role-playing system, sound, interface, plot, et c. is in the non-final state and will be finalized by release date.



The alpha version of Encased is not intended for public display and sale, and is distributed exclusively for kickstarter-backers. But what is waiting for you in this “alpha”? An early version of the character editor, several large locations and quests, a lot (really, a lot!) of loot. As well as the opportunity to fry a cockroach, climb into the ventilation, make a bat with nails and look at the gloomy sands of the Dome, covered with fog.

In fact, this closed alpha is the first official release for us as a team. And we, like you, want this game to be of high quality, interesting and exciting, and hope that the adventures under the Dome will be remembered by everyone who happened to get into it.



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Aside from the delay, our plans remain the same: shortly after the alpha, we will release the beta, which will be available to a much larger number of players. After eliminating bugs and polishing the content, the long-awaited EA-version will be released.

We cannot announce the release date yet, but be sure that this will happen soon enough. The Spire accepts shipments, the White Wing examines relics, the team works, and Encased moves towards the early access.

Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/darkcrystalgames/encased-old-school-isometic-turn-based-rpg/

CAERUS.RECORD#98943: April 1976, note

Let’s just say Mobis was unlucky that day. Crawling up out of a waste tunnel that’s mainly used to dispose of crushed rocks, it met up with a group of newbies. They panicked, of course, threw all their grenades, shot off all their ammunition, and even fired an RPG! When I have arrived at the scene, I could’ve easily fit what was left of him into my suitcase. In fact, that’s exactly what I did.

The robot’s weapons were the most interesting thing to me. It had two mechanical arms designed for melee combat, each of which could heat up to 260 degrees centigrade. More interesting still, even smashed into pieces the arms retained this ability.



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You’re right Ricardo, I’m a sentimental guy. It bothers me to see all those houses built by hard-working, hopeful people, now laying in ruins. I know it’s difficult to maintain the facade of order, but in many ways the facade itself is a kind of order. With the Lord as my witness, the real catastrophe wasn’t when we lost contact with the outside world, but when the “Traveller’s Inn” closed down.




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These CRONUS guys like to think their gear is flawless. They take a sturdy strongbox, put a combination lock on it, and think it’s all in the bag. It’s good, even great.

After all, the more people believe in their security systems - the durability of the container and the complexity of the lock - the more fun it is to disappoint them.

Okay.

Now I want my lockpicks back. I already know who did it, but it will be better for you if you just come forward!




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“People often ask me, ‘Teddy, what’s your secret? How did a donut scarfing nobody like you transform into the renowned destroyer of Forefathers security systems you are today?’ It’s true that not so long ago I was nothing but a simple security guard. But one perk of that job is plenty of free time, which I decided to spend reading books. This wasn’t just for entertainment, not at all! Real soldiers read all the combat manuals they can find, and Black Wing bases are full of them.”




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The warehouse is a place every employee visits at least occasionally. Here you will find everything you need - any vehicle, any type of equipment - for an expedition. Some employees even park their own cars here (for an additional fee, of course)!

For Orange Wing, it’s also the perfect place for a few hands of poker while the warden is busy elsewhere.




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In our quest for new technology, we discovered thousands of strange machines that we could neither use nor understand. We were pursuing immortality at the cost of countless lives! No one could have imagined what these wishes would cost us when the genie was loosed from the bottle...




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“What's the flag of CRONUS, Randy?” Obviously, the bureaucrats would never agree to it, but what I would like to see: a shotgun on the flag, a big, freaking shotgun, front and center. Why not? Every day on the radio it’s democracy, respect, equality, blah blah blah. Let me tell you something: a big gun is the best guarantee of order. All those Orange scum need to think twice before barking at honest guys like us. No, the charter definitely needs to be rewritten. And replace the flags of course, so the main graphic is a shotgun. Or better, two shotguns.




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CAERUS.RECORD #109697: Our Future

Today I observed some workers swapping out batteries in equipment and servoshells. I assumed the truck loaded up with old batteries was headed for the Spire so they could be transported out on the next platform. Instead, it drove out into the desert...

Claire, I'm afraid the conquest of the Dome’s frontier will end just like every other conquest in history. What was once a frontier will end up a garbage dump. There will be consequences, Claire, that no one will bother to fix.

Do you remember our questionnaire we created for players to create their own in-game character? The first fruits of this labor are ready to be shared. In a new Developer Diary, we’ll tell how you changed the world and story of Encased.

Submit your character as well:
https://cronus.darkcrystalgames.com/en/

Dev Update 3 — Involving the Community: First results

“So, Marcus, now you’re calling me a marauder? Bullshit. Calling me a historian would be closer to the truth.

“Look here, for instance: a fine pair of boots. I fished these out of an empty trash barrel at a gas station. They’re practically new. Someone hid them there is my guess, planned to come back for them at some point.

“You see now, yeah? Every thing has its history. That’s what I’m looking for, that’s what I collect. A sucker like you wouldn’t understand. Wait, what’s that sticking out of your pocket?”

We love stories too. A good story is the most important part of any classic RPG, and there are many of these little vignettes in Encased, each of which contributes to the narration in one way or another.

Narrative, along with gameplay and graphics, is one of the “whales” upon which a successful project depends. The narrative is served not only through dialogues, character cues and in-game documents. We, like our nameless marauder, love telling a story through things. A battered rifle hidden beneath the floorboards of an abandoned hut can tell you a lot about its deceased owner: twenty notches on the barrel, homemade ammo clip, and a telescopic sniper sight worth tens of thousands of combonds - a small, but complete story reveals itself to the attentive player who is prepared to look and think.

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This experience is inspired by dozens of playthroughs of original Fallout, Planescape: Torment, and other cool games. We, like you, are players above all.

How does our tiny tale lead us to the rewards? Easy: recall the stories. In the world of Encased, one does not simply open a chest and pick up a “Kickstarter Shotgun” or “Backer Armor.” “Rewarded” items become part of the plot, with a natural and organic backstory for the players who supported our project from the very start. The origin of each reward item will be interwoven with the lore of the game’s universe.

But do not expect these rewards to make the main character an invulnerable killing machine, destroying all life in their path. Balance is of no less importance to us than storyline, and we consider “Kickstarter” items to be an interesting way to reveal secrets about the world of Encased (i.e. additional lore and quests).


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Take, for example, this lunchbox. It will not protect you from a high velocity round (though it might stop a pistol shot). It does not give the owner immunity to high levels of radiation or grant regenerative powers to the sandwiches you keep inside. But on discovering such a thing near a dusty old skeleton, sitting by a locked door deep in an abandoned bunker, one can assume certain facts. And having examined the scratches, blood stains and wiped clean handle - one might even come to definitive conclusion or two. Also, don’t forget that sandwiches do need to be safely stored someplace.

Although our campaign is already finished, everyone has the opportunity to leave their footprint in Encased. We are still collecting CRONUS employee questionnaires. Anyone who sends an interesting and detailed character bio via the form will be included in the CRONUS employees database. And if our writers find your character interesting enough, you will have a chance to see them in the game! So act now, citizen, because when release day comes, the questionnaire will be taken offline permanently. Hurry up and you’re gonna make it!



As a last point, we’ll tell you about our rewards issuing protocol. Don’t forget to check your Inbox! In the very near future, surveys will be sent to clarify contact details and shipping addresses. In addition, we will need to clarify a couple of points: how do you want your name to appear in the credits of the game; an CD-key for which gaming platform do you need... The specifics will depend on the list of awards you have chosen. Our goal here is for both digital and physical bonuses to find their owners as quickly as possible.



At the beginning of early access period, in-game rewards and pre-order bonuses will become available to anyone who helped us with the Kickstarter campaign and also supported our game on Steam. For example, a helmet and gloves from the “Pathfinder” kit - they are associated with the history of the Dome exploration, and thus may be useful at an early stage of the game.

Keep and eye on inbox, surveys will be sent soon

As you may remember, some rewards include the participation of backers in the creation of additional content, including NPC portraits, mini-quests, personalised items and characters… The work on them will be conducted during the early access period. It won’t be long now until your own little piece of the game world, created together with our writers and designers, shall appear in Encased. So another reminder: keep a close eye on your email!

Physical rewards will be sent out shortly after the final release. We take our obligations really seriously.

Once again thanks for supporting us and stay tuned!

If you have not wishlisted Encased on Steam yet - please do! (and share with friends). If you missed KS-action there is still a chance to pre-order the game.

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Some friends of ours recently released a free demo - the prologue of their upcoming game, Sin Slayers. Sin Slayers is a dark, dark fantasy RPG with roguelike elements.



We’ve played an early version ourselves, so let us share our impressions: these guys are creating a solid, old-school, turn-based game that’s hitting all the right notes. The “heart” of Sin Slayers is turn-based combat reminiscent of classic JRPGs and the beloved HOMM series.



The project has been in fulltime development for over a year now, and is currently in the playable alpha stage. Guys are hosting a Kickstarter campaign now and they need your help!

Sin Slayers is a worthy successor to the roguelike/RPG tradition, and the additional crowdfunded budget will help make the game experience deeper, more interesting, and more varied. So if you like classic turn-based tactics within a well-developed combat system, pay attention to this game. Perhaps because of your support, Sin Slayers will reach its full potential.

“My father showed me my first miracle when I was a little boy. Starting with a photograph, he explained everything that went into the process of making it: lens, lamps, cuvettes, the mysterious dark room, photographic film, solutions, and finally the image, slowly emerging as if by magic from the void. It was as if I had discovered a window into a whole new world.

Sometimes I think this desert beneath the Dome works in exactly the same way. Perform the correct ritual and it will reveal its secrets. Not immediately, of course, but slowly. Be patient and in the end the picture will appear. You will not discover everything all at one...

But it is just as awe inspiring.”

(from a scrap of paper found drifting across the sands of the Southern Region.)

The graphics for Encased are slowly but steadily taking on a more polished and distinctive shape. It’s very important tous that with a single glance at the screen, players can say, “Yeah, I know that game!" Our artists and level-designers are working long and hard to fulfill that goal.

Why don’t we check on some of their work? Let’s take a look at screenshots from some of our work-in-progress locations.



Imagine that later today you’re scheduled for a serious talk with some bigshot from management. You have a feeling an assignment is coming up, something big involving new responsibilities. It’s obviously in your best interest to get as much information as possible. What’s your plan?

You could search for information on a public terminal; hack into the main servers; study the Dome’s strategic map in order to draw conclusions from key site placements; or find a Silver Wing associate and charm or intimidate them into sharing privileged information. There will be many different possibilities, and it’s up to the game to present them for you. But which solution you choose is always up to you.



The road leading to this cave is obstructed by hazardous anomalies. You don’t know what’s inside. How dangerous said anomalies might be is also a mystery to you. But due to an overheard conversation between two people from a nearby village, this site is particularly tempting. What to do...

You could attempt to find a different way in; use scientific equipment to discharge the anomalies; use your agility to cautiously squeeze past them; put your visor down and take your armor for a test run; or simply turn back. In every situation, you will have several options for finding a way in or out.



In the darkness of the alternative past, bunkers littler the desert. Along with the turrets guarding them. Here is a situation every genre-loving gamer has experienced at least once: You need to get inside, but the entrance is guarded. Problem is, you don’t know if the bunker’s inhabitants and their turrets see you as an enemy or a friend. It’s probably a good idea to double check.

But the easiest way is not always the right one. Maybe you should look around for a secret tunnel; ask an inhabitant on a smoke break about the pros and cons; use your lockpick and hacking skills; or just throw an EMP grenade and tell everyone it was a lightning strike. A motivated individual will always find a way.



What could be better than a cozy evening enjoying the warmth of a post-apocalyptic bonfire? An evening spent on nothing but quality time. Fun activities may include: scaring away a gang of raiders attracted by your fire; stealthily accessing the storeroom of a deserted filling station; eavesdropping on the latest secrets and gossip of the folks occupying the nearby ruins; or engaging in some fair (or not so fair) trade with the locals.

Don’t forget to admire the beautiful scenery on the way!



Is there anything beautiful to be found in a swamp? If you don’t mind getting your hands, legs and everything else dirty, then yes. Otherwise CRONUS wouldn’t send yet another expedition into these parts. Truth be told, all participants are currently MIA. A slightly rusty, tracked vehicle is the only sign of the expedition’s passing.

Now you have to map an uncharted, toxic swamp, fight off monsters, look for traces of survivors, search their corpses for evidence, and finally put their sad story together. Or maybe you’ll go your own way and pursue your own goals. Though the swamps will be no less unpleasant, this need not be the main episode of your gaming experience.



While conquering the Dome and its virtual territories, don’t forget about the real world. Or rather about Steam, our bridge between the digital and the material.



If you want to help spread the word about our game - check out the store page, add Encased to your wishlist, and tag it.



By doing so, you’ll help us complete several of our goals.

• First, the post-apocalyptic gaming community’s size will increase, since it will be easier to find Encased while searching.
  
• Second, Steam’s service quality will be improved. The platform will recommend our game to those who are really interested, making it much more useful to their (and our) customers.
  
• Third, it will increase the popularity of our product, improving our possibilities for growth and development- everything we need to make our game more eventful and engaging.
  

List of recommended tags:



We really want to release Encased right on the dot. We’re going all-out to deliver alpha- and beta-versions to our backers without delay. But sadly, we’re not quite making it.

Perfectionism is to blame. None of us wants to release raw product. It’s not about reputation, but simply because we respect our players, because we’re just like you. We’re making a game we ourselves would wish to play.

So the release date may be delayed, but not by much. Early Access will begin before the summer. Before that, we of course intend to keep our Kickstarter promises. Everyone who pledged for alpha and beta access will have it in due time.

Right now, we’re working hard, trying to not lose touch with our player base, remembering our promises, and relying on your support. Believe us, we really value your continued faith and support.