In case you missed it, let me announce it here as well – The Floor is [Blank] is now up for pre-order on Itch.io. So, with that in mind I think it is a good idea to update the world on the current state of the game and what lies ahead for it. Hence this post, obviously.
In this post, I will outline the current state of the game first, then talk about what needs to be added for the different phases. In the end, I will provide a list with target dates for each of the phases. So, if you are interested in just the release date and nothing else, feel free to scroll to the bottom of the post.
The current state of the game
As of writing this blog post, The Floor is [Blank] is in Pre-Alpha version 9. What this means is that there are still features to be added. Once all the features are in, the game will move on to a short period of Alpha testing, where additional levels and content (namely, music) will be added.
So, here’s what remains to be done before the game reaches the Alpha state:
- Tutorial needs to be added.
- Remappable controls for keyboard and gamepad.
- Some additional hazards in the levels.
- Some additional sound effects need to be implemented.
- A few known bugs need to be squashed.
The Alpha stage
Once the game reaches Alpha, it will be in internal testing for a while. Some of the people who pre-ordered it could be brought on to playtest it, in order to increase the testing scope. However, the number of levels will be severely limited, so it will not be a good representation of the final content.
The game will remain in Alpha until the following points are complete:
- The majority of found bugs are fixed.
- At least 60 levels are implemented.
- All planned features are in the game and working.
The Beta stage
The Beta stage will mainly be used for further bug fixing if needed and for adding more levels. At this point, no new mechanics will be implemented until release. More levels, more bug fixes, and that’s about it.
Once we reach Beta, the game will be available to play by anyone who purchased it. Hopefully, it should be available on Steam as well.
Let’s Talk Dates
Below is a list of all the target dates (in order) for each of the stages listed so far, as well as a planned release date for the final version. Keep in mind, however, that the final release date is definitely fluid and may vary.
- Alpha Stage: Starting at 22 March 2021
- Beta Stage: Starting between 1 and 10 April 2021
- Steam Early Access Release: Somewhere in the first half of April
- Final Release: I am aiming for a 1 June 2021. However, this is very much subject to change.
Conclusion
As you can see, I am aiming for a very short development cycle. The project started life in February and I am looking at a possible June release date, which makes it about 4 months from idea to shipping. It is an intense dev cycle, especially considering I have another full-time job, but hey – no time like the present, right?
Anyway, if you would like to get the game at a 50% discount, why not pre-order it before the end of March?
