[h3]Before we begin[/h3] Happy holidays and a happy new year to everyone! So sorry that it took so long to post a first update here, I am still somewhat new to this. [b]Expect such updates to be more regular.[/b] Currently aiming to have 1 at least once a week. [h2][b]A formal introduction[/b][/h2] Hello everybody! I feel like a formal introduction is due. My name is Denis. I am a 25 year old software engineer born and still living in Romania. I have been working as a software engineer for ~4.5 years now, mainly in the embedded field (With a little bit of CPP). I decided to take a dive into game development quite a long while ago. I had some initial projects that I started, fewer that I managed to work further, but only this one I was able to bring this far, and soon fully bring out to all of you. Currently, I am the sole developer for this game. It is being created in Unreal Engine 5.4. [h2][b]What is Station Haven 3 and how it begun[/b][/h2] Station Haven 3 will be my first officially released game. A story driven game where you will uncover the truth about the Haven 3 Station. Without going into any other details that could potentially spoil anything, the game itself is something that I came up with over the course of a few days! It will be a story that will try and create a "what if" scenario, based on accurate real data and historic events that have happened in the future. [b]Some of the current screenshots on the Steam Page actually have some hidden details ;).[/b] [h2]The current status of Development & future projections.[/h2] [h3]As of the 29th of December, 2024.[/h3] Currently, the fundamentals of the game have been finished for a few weeks now. Again, I cannot say too much due to spoilers as some of the mechanics are tied to the story & gameplay, but some of the details I can give are: [list] [*] Main important mechanics of the game. Polishing & details, but that's forever ongoing as it can always be better. [*] Tutorial & Ways to teach the player how to play the game [*] Optimizations & bug fixes & fail safes to make sure the player does not accidentally "escape" (from Haven). I am still confident someone [b]WILL[/b] somehow manage to do so, so take it as a challenge. [*] Hiring & Collaborating with Voice Actors. The voice actor for the Demo has already finished their job, so expect to hear a friendly and lovely voice very soon. [*] The premise of the story, the story itself and the ending[b]s[/b] [/list] [h3]Future projections[/h3] The future projections are, of course, to [b]finish the game[/b]. Obviously. However, to go into more detail: [list] [*] Asset optimizations & Options Menu. [*] Bug fixes of the bugs I know and those I don't (I fear the latter more). [*] Polishing of the game mechanics and implementing the story I wrote into the game itself. [*] The release of a Demo in the near future (January, at worst February) then seeing the game through to it's completion. [/list] [h2]The Price of the game: 3$ (three dollars)[/h2] I don't wish to start an entire paragraph here where I will mention the price somewhere randomly in the middle. So, 3$ (three dollars). This potentially can be subject to change, but I will [b]NEVER[/b] go above 5$ (five dollars). I feel like, currently, for this being my first ever published game & you guys putting trust in me, the price is fair. I am already in a way bigger negative financially ever since I started working on this game (Hiring of Voice Actors & Asset purchases etc.) and making money was never really a goal with this game, but selling it for a price instead of making it free will also help me financially to recoup. [h2]Demo release date: January (Hopefully)[/h2] Initially, when I started work on this game (~28th of October), the plan was to release a demo somewhere in the middle of December. Well, that boat sailed, did a trip around the world twice and then retired. It was an easy underestimation on my part & I underestimated how little work I'd be working during Christmas/Holiday period. However, a first demo is very very feasible to be released towards the end of January, at worst the beginning of February. So, a window between the following dates: [b]Between the 23rd of January until the 7th of February, the Demo should come out if all goes to plan.[/b] [h2]Thank you![/h2] Thank you for reading through this! Whether you read the whole thing, skimmed through it or skipped to the end, you even acknowledging this post gives me more drive to keep working on the game. I truly hope you guys will believe in me going in further. Making a game has forever been a dream of mine, and knowing that I am closer than ever to do.. honestly? Makes me very nervous... But we keep going. This was also my first ever official Announcement on Steam like.. ever. So I am unsure if there's any kind of rules or etiquettes I have to follow Until then, happy holidays and happy new year to everyone! I hope to see you guys soon aboard Station Haven 3.