SLaVE for SEGA Dreamcast
"SLaVE" for SEGA Dreamcast is a new game from the GOAT Store which is limited to a total of only 484 copies. It'll release April 2015.
http://www.goatstore.com/Products/Se...tion_Preorder/
Basically, it's a FPS version of Robotron using the DOOM engine. The Super Limited Edition is already sold out.
Sounds awesome. Will it work a bit better with the 1 toggle stick then Quake 3 Arena?
June 10th Update
Ladies and Gentlemen,
If you haven't already seen the great news, Isotope Softworks was so excited about their most recent development with Jay Townsend's SLaVE that a few days ago, they posted a video about it! If you haven't seen it, you can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI2xRn79-7U
As you can see, things are close - REAL close!
We still don't have a perfect final date for production and shipment, but we wanted to update you on how the upcoming process will play out. Here's the basic overview, step-by-step:
1) We will spend the next little bit of time ensuring that there are no other minor bugs with the game. Minor bugs should all be fixable quite quickly, unlike the engine bugs that had been completely show stopping for so long. The process depends on exactly what is found, but we aren't expecting much - as we've said, the gameplay for Jay Townsend's SLaVE has been complete since we announced the game, it was only the strange engine behavior that had stopped the production.
2) At the same time, we are currently double checking that all control schemes work in actual hardware the way they do virtually. Thanks to some great supporters, we actually received requests and support for some pretty rare Dreamcast controllers, so the game will have lots of options to play. Obviously, if any of the above have slight bugs, they will be corrected. The corrections should also be quite quick compared to the engine behavior.
3) When we feel like the above is complete, we will build a "gold" copy of the game. The gold copy goes to the production house and goes through a verification process, and then will go into production.
4) When the game is finished being produced, we will receive the games back at GOAT Store HQ. We will confirm the game is working and is ready to go. We will then pack and ship ALL orders!
5) You'll have the game in your hands, ready to play!
...Now, I don't want to make any promises, as with software like this, you never know exactly what is about to happen, but if you look at the above list, it puts the game at basically where we thought it was when we made the announcement that it was coming and opened pre-orders.
Based on our original estimated timeline, as well as our previous games, we assume that steps one and two will take about two or three months, followed by a verification and production process that takes between two and four weeks generally. If that plan holds, the completed game will be on it's way well within the year.
I caution everyone again that the timeline must remain tentative, and that things could come up that would still change it at this point. We will update you on any changes that make the timing diverge from the timeline as best as possible.
So at this point expect to receive quicker updates on Jay Townsend's SLaVE over the next few weeks as we hopefully achieve the steps ahead on time, and can (finally) have some more fun things to actually say, like when certain control schemes are confirmed
As always, thank you for staying on as a supporter. The engine troubles were not in ANY way something that we were expecting, and we understand what a frustrating experience this has been for so many people (including us, the developers, and everyone who has helped with the game... we just want to get it out to you... it's awesome!) If for any reason, you do not wish to stay on at this point, please email us and we will be happy to refund your order.
Thank you!
--
Dan Loosen
GOAT Store Publishing
I've had this on pre-order for years! haha
At least GOAT Store has provided reasonable updates throughout the course of the game's buggy development.
I'm looking forward to it, and am rooting for their success.
November 11th Notice
Originally Posted by GOAT Games via its e-mail newsletter
I just pre-ordered a copy. I look forward to playing it by the end of the century.
Nz17 (12-12-2017)
Sometimes I forget what this is and then I remember ordered a copy too!
Nz17 (12-12-2017)
I've been standing by my window waiting for the postal worker to drop off my copy of slAve. It's been almost 2.5 years since I pre-ordered this game.
Yeah... the game's developmental team seems to be not very good at debugging nor communicating with the general public.
Personally, I'm still mulling over which Dreamcast games to get with my refund.
Yes, programming isn't a simple endeavor when you want to make something like a real-time, part-sprite, part-polygonal 3D action game that has to run on a 200 MHz CPU.
However, if you are having too much difficulty in getting it accomplished in a timely manner, then you ought to have better, frequent communications with your community and/or bring in a specialist that can help you with what you can't achieve by yourself.
At the very least, publish a new screenshot once per week if you don't want to write a bunch of technical posts. At least then people will have something to look forward to each week and it won't seem like your project is dead.
Last edited by Nz17; 03-29-2020 at 06:34 AM.
correct
what sucks is that it looks like a great game. reminds me of like a FPS crossed with Marble Blast Ultra crossed with Rez. if you pull your money out is that going to affect the development?
So copies are still available for sale after 5 years when they're limited to 400 copies? Just how badly is this selling? It says 400 copies from Goat Store yet 484 from the top post so did they sell 84 copies or did they change how many copies are available?
In any case I assume they aren't working much on it because they couldn't cash in on it like they hoped.
Don't worry: cancellations aren't negatively affecting the developer. I don't know the details of their agreement with the publisher, but the dev. is OK. However, it was actually the dev. - not the publisher - that chose to limit the number of copies to 84 for the Limited Limited Edition and 484 for the regular Limited Edition. (I still don't like that naming scheme, though.)
The reason for the odd (even) numbering is that the game was heavily inspired by Robotron: 2084. It is actually meant to be a "spiritual sequel" to Robotron: 2084, taking place after all of the last humans were killed by the other robots.
The dev. team actually finished most of the developmental design and content creation years ago (music, sound effects, graphics, controls, level design, power-ups, getting it to run on Dreamcast, etc.). The last several years have actually been spent basically only on debugging!
Honestly I assumed they were lying about their progress as they stated there was only one bug holding them back and it should be completed in a few months, yet years later the game isn't finished.
Unless that one bug is so significant that the only way to fix it is to rewrite the whole game over again. If it's that severe then it says more about their programming abilities than anything else.
Isn't the "development team" just one person with some ongoing health issues?
I've wondered why the code can't be released to a willing group to help troubleshoot it.
death by robots doesnt sound too bad compared to what we have now. Coronavirus: 2020
If I had to guess, then I believe what's been happening is that they have fixed a lot of bugs, but every time that happens, then they find at least one new bug. In other words, they have fixed "that one bug," but somehow they keep finding and/or making more.
The problem is that as long as the dev. doesn't communicate much about what's happening, then we won't really know. The more time that passes and the more questions and understandable impatience those kept in the dark have, the more discouraged the dev. gets to be, and things keep getting slower.
Well, I finally decided which Dreamcast games to get with my refund. They are the RPG "Evolution: The World of Sacred Device," the shooter "Alien Front Online," and the action adventure game, "Super Runabout." I figure I might as well get some games I can actually play this year instead of a cool-looking game I might never get to play.
Crowd-funded games seem to be shit most the time. are there any examples of good crowd-funded games on classic consoles?
There are good crowd-funded games on classic / retro consoles, but that's the thing: usually they are only good, not great. For example, I like Family Picross (NES) which is a game that I helped to crowd-fund. However, it is not going to make the list of Top 100 NES Games of All-Time. It is good, it is well-made, it is wholesome, and I am glad I funded it, but it is not an NES all-star.
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