Might as well update the planned release on the store page.

Oh no. Not early access ((((((

Good luck, guys! You're doing a wonderful game.

Awesome news! This is just the kind of game that could benefit from a quick go through Early Access. Good to hear.

Ohhhh

Originally posted by FRB Monte:

Might as well update the planned release on the store page.

VERY valid point! Will take care of it soon :) Thanks for pointing that out!

As Much as I love the game promise so far, the developers and the discord community you've build, the early access think makes me super nervous, hopefully you'll get only the benefits of this.

I am too reluctant about early access. I don't feel game like this fits well into early access model and I would much rather have a finished experience. I am doubled worried because release of a game was for Q1 22 full release and now we are getting q2 22 and only early access. I will be observing where game is going but I will likely stay out of early access until game is finished and campaigns and units are in their final form.

Do you have estimate as for how long you are planning to run early access for?

Thank you for the update Lavapotion!

Going through Early Access can help this game a lot - I like the decision. The game will surely be complex and so can benefit from some good bug hunting by the community. You'll get a better feel for how close you are to audience expectations. This may be a delay in a way, but it may also lower the need for patches after release. Better to get stuff fixed before than after, and Early Access helps with that. It's basically a curse for any tactical turn-based game to be released buggy and need many patches, as you probably know (Pathfinder, Heroes, Wasteland, the list is long). If Early Access helps get a complete game on release, then more power to you.

Some people here are expressing concern, and rightly so considering that some games never leave Early Access. But since you guys have been putting out regular updates for a while now and the game is making good progress, I have no fears of abandonment here. Just keep the lines of communication open because we like knowing what's going on.

Other downsides to Early Access can be managed by the players themselves. People who want to only see the complete game, to keep the magic intact and avoid spoilers, can just wait. Buy when you want, and play when you want.

Please take whatever time you need to make the best game possible. You have such an awesome visual style here, and are taking inspiration from some of the best ever games, so having the game end up mediocre would be such a shame. The more polish the better. No pressure though ;)

As a player early access is a tricky thing. Normally I get more enjoyment from a full release and when I try early access games I often wont replay them after full release. But if the core of the game (for me that is the skirmish mode WITH random map generation) is a lot of fun and only the campaign is missing I'm fully on board =D. Best of luck and I can't wait to play the game!

With every new video (and new piece of information),
I get upset more and more.

A couple of months ago I was hoping
that everything will be fine.

And I'll love Songs of Conquest just as much
- how I love "Heroes of Might and Magic 3".

And "Songs of Conquest" will be that masterpiece
for which I will spend the night long.
How it was with "HoMM 3"

But as you can see, the Gods are not on my side ...: (((

Pixel graphics? - Who needs it? !!
New players who are 20 years old?
Who do not understand the "HoMM 3" tube atmosphere?

You have a group of 250 alpha testers.
Are they ALL blind? Or just very young.

Or you just heard somewhere that games were cult before.
And they think to make such a game, it must be pixelated?

Or they just don't understand what it is,
old school games?

The picture and style of "HoMM 3" was beautiful and original.
Characters, buildings, and artifacts,
could be looked at for hours !!!

For example "Disciples II: Rise of the Elves" looked different from "HoMM 3".
But also, she was beautiful in her own way. And for this she was remembered.

What do you have? - Pixels?

And how do some pixels differ from other pixels?
Pixels, they are all on the same "face".

And what will make your game stand out from thousands of similar (pixel garbage) in Steam?
How will she be remembered?

I'm not scolding you, I'm just upset.
I want to be heard.
Am I the only one and everyone loves pixels?

Do you have 30-45 year old alpha testers?
Who played at night in the kitchen on a laptop in "HoMM 3",
While your wife was sleeping in the bedroom?
What do they say about "Songs of Conquest"?

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you success.

P.S.
Sorry for my English.
("Google-translate")

Originally posted by Feniks_Gaming:

I am too reluctant about early access. I don't feel game like this fits well into early access model and I would much rather have a finished experience. I am doubled worried because release of a game was for Q1 22 full release and now we are getting q2 22 and only early access. I will be observing where game is going but I will likely stay out of early access until game is finished and campaigns and units are in their final form.

Thanks for the input! EA is not for everyone and we have nothing but respect for that. We have so much we want to do with the game and we feel it is better to get it into the hands of the users rather than waiting and delaying the release much longer. But hey, if you don't like EA, then by all means, just wait for the full release :)

Originally posted by Feniks_Gaming:

Do you have estimate as for how long you are planning to run early access for?

Nothing that I'm comfortable with sharing just yet :)

Originally posted by geertvdheide:

Thank you for the update Lavapotion!

Going through Early Access can help this game a lot - I like the decision. The game will surely be complex and so can benefit from some good bug hunting by the community. You'll get a better feel for how close you are to audience expectations. This may be a delay in a way, but it may also lower the need for patches after release. Better to get stuff fixed before than after, and Early Access helps with that. It's basically a curse for any tactical turn-based game to be released buggy and need many patches, as you probably know (Pathfinder, Heroes, Wasteland, the list is long). If Early Access helps get a complete game on release, then more power to you.

Thanks, that is exactly how we reason as well!

Originally posted by geertvdheide:

Some people here are expressing concern, and rightly so considering that some games never leave Early Access. But since you guys have been putting out regular updates for a while now and the game is making good progress, I have no fears of abandonment here. Just keep the lines of communication open because we like knowing what's going on.

We'll certainly try our best! Abandonment doesn't really feel like an option. We are going all in on this one project. If it doesn't sell any units, then I guess we might be forced to abandon it, but as a team we really want to polish the game into a true gem that will last for the test of time!

Originally posted by geertvdheide:

Other downsides to Early Access can be managed by the players themselves. People who want to only see the complete game, to keep the magic intact and avoid spoilers, can just wait. Buy when you want, and play when you want.

I agree ;)

Originally posted by geertvdheide:

Please take whatever time you need to make the best game possible. You have such an awesome visual style here, and are taking inspiration from some of the best ever games, so having the game end up mediocre would be such a shame. The more polish the better. No pressure though ;)

Thanks for the trust and we hope to make you proud!

Originally posted by Cirdan:

As a player early access is a tricky thing. Normally I get more enjoyment from a full release and when I try early access games I often wont replay them after full release. But if the core of the game (for me that is the skirmish mode WITH random map generation) is a lot of fun and only the campaign is missing I'm fully on board =D. Best of luck and I can't wait to play the game!

Thanks! The random map generation won't released on day one for EA, but if lots of people request that feature, it will be a high priority for the development directly after release. Skirmish mode and campaigns will be in the first release though!

Originally posted by 🅾🆁🆂🅸🆂:

Do you have 30-45 year old alpha testers?
Who played at night in the kitchen on a laptop in "HoMM 3",
While your wife was sleeping in the bedroom?
What do they say about "Songs of Conquest"?

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you success.

P.S.
Sorry for my English.
("Google-translate")

Don't worry about your English, it is more than adequate! Regarding the pixel art, we realize that some people truly dislikes it. And for that I offer no cure. It is simply what it is. We love pixel art and we think it works perfectly with our game, but we have all respect for people who disagree. I sincerely hope there might be something in our game that can appeal to you in the end, but I suspect that the artstyle simply might be too "wrong" for you. We all like different things. I personally always loved HOMM2 graphics better than HOMM3, because of the pixel art.

With nothing but respect and hope to slowly win you over to pixel side of things. Take care sir!