KickStarter Gamedec - Definitive Edition - cyberpunk detective RPG set in virtual worlds

[Infinitron]

Now that's how I expect game developers to look.

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...berpunk-rpg-set-in-xxii-century/posts/2818471

Codex Update (19): Meet the people behind Gamedec!

Hi there, everyone!

We're getting close to the finish line of the campaign. We were astonished by how fast we’ve been funded [36 hours!] and how many of the prepared Stretch Goals were achieved – of course, there is more to unlock (read about our latest stretch goal HERE!). With your help, we think it’s possible to reach it before the end of the campaign and add partial Voice Overs to our game. Many of you asked for them, so let’s make it happen!

During our campaign, our updates were focused on the core mechanics of the game: aspects (here) professions (here), character creation (here), and lore (who is gamedec?). Today we want to post something different.

This time, we will focus on people behind the project, Gamedec. Maybe you already had a chance to interact with some of them (for example, during the AMA on Reddit), but there are more than 20 people involved. We won't show all of them in this update, but let’s meet some of them to help you familiarize yourself with them. As important as the game development, the people behind the project are crucial to achieving what the designers have in mind.

As you probably know many developers are shy and modest so a round of applause for those brave individuals for coming forth

So, without further ado, let us present members of #TeamGamedec:

Marcin Rybiński

Marcin is a key person in this endeavor. As a Creative Director of the project, he is responsible for building and maintaining the high concept of the game, defining its pillars, and communicating the game vision to the team. Since Marcin has a lot of previous gamedev experience as a game and level designer, his knowledge in gameplay flow and system design is also constantly used during development. He’s also (like most of the design team) an experienced pen’n’paper RPG player and an avid Cyberpunk fan, which comes in handy when working on a project like Gamedec.

Marcin S. Przybyłek

The second person without whom Gamedec wouldn't be possible is one that probably doesn't need introductions. Marcin Przybyłek is the author of the Gamedec book saga and Gamedecverse as such. As a member of the team, he is not only a writer working with our narrative designers but also a consultant making sure the way we adapt Gamedec is true to the source material. He is also closely working with our PR team delivering lots of exciting content to you, guys. Marcin is a doctor by trade and has been working as a business coach for many years. He played in 19+, a Polish para-documentary series, and can do 70 push-ups in one go (but is unable to write after that, so we're trying to keep that kind of ideas at bay)!

Spoiler

Agnieszka Rumińska

Cyberpunk is made not only by visual keys and setting but also with music, ambients, and SFX. And this is where Agnieszka comes in. She’s been working with Anshar Studios since 2016 on projects like Telefrag VR but also out 3rd party projects like Observer port on Switch or DLC for Divinity: Original Sin 2. She’s also a lecturer at the Academy of Sound Engineering.

Damian Sobczak

Damian is our Lead Programmer, working at Anshar Studios since 2018. He started working as a programmer in 2007, creating software for digital signage and developing various IT systems.

All those experiences led him to the video games industry, where he worked on an MMORPG game called Gloria Victis. He knew "Gamedec" from first stories published in Nowa Fantastyka, so when he heard about it being developed in Anshar Studios, Damian decided to join the team.

Sebastian Czepczor

Sebastian is another developer from our programmer's team. He’s been in Anshar Studios 5 years ago, left for some time, and came back about half a year ago with new exp and an attitude His past projects are Dead Island, Call of Juarez: The Cartel and Ancestors: Legacy. And he is the loudest evangelist for ultra-widescreen support, so there’s that.

Magda Krasiejko

As you probably have seen, most of the characters in-game have a 2d avatar during their dialogues – Magda is one of two people responsible for that. She’s been with Anshar Studios for over two years as a concept artist and character artist and personally is a huge fan of Pokemon and Final Fantasy franchises.

Marlena Kasińska

All of our hard work would be for nothing, if not for the support and dedication of the QA team. Marlena has been working with us for almost two years. She finished computer science studies and has previous testing experience in IT testing. She’s a passionate gamer with some of her favorite titles being God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Final Fantasy franchise.

Szymon Misztal

Szymon is another QA Specialist allocated to the team also responsible for implementing automatic tests in the production process. He started his work as a tester on a rather niche genre of Hidden Object Puzzle Adventures, which he still remembers fondly. After that, he came closer to games he plays in his free time, like RPGs. In his free time, he’s a full-blown geek consuming multiple games, comics, and TV series, sometimes also taking part in a GameJam or doing a small game project that gets shelved.

Mateusz Niewiem

A game without FX always seems underdelivered and stiff. And when you have game and games-within-games, it’s a must-have. Mateusz is one of the newest additions to the team, and every explosion, fire, and smoke is his doing. The same goes for animations that are not character-related.

Before joining Anshar Studios, he worked on Last Oasis as a Technical Artist. In his free time, he works on different aspects of 3d art and animation – like developing his own set of tools for Blender inspired by Pivot Painter.

Magdalena Cielecka

Magdalena’s role in Anshar Studios is Head of Production, but she works in the Gamedec team as a producer mostly focused on working on production pipelines and with the design team. Most of her gamedev experience that is – eight years - is in production, but she’s been dabbling in game design in her academic career. She’s working on a doctoral thesis about procedural rhetorics and polyphony of dialogue structures in narrative games and is a deputy dean of the Game Design programme at Tischner European University in Kraków.

Additional info:

• We will be hosting Livestream Session with Twisted & Perverted case playthrough - During this stream, Łukasz Hacura, Gamedec’s Executive Producer, will play the alternate route of the T&P case with some new, never-seen-before outcome! Don’t hesitate to ask some questions!
• Reminder about Coloring Book Contest - Codex Update (9)
• We've added couple more Arts in the Displate Brand Shop! 4 New Arts of characters are now available here - Gamedec Displate Brand Shop!

Watch our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channel for more. If you'd like to talk with our team or want to ask a question to the Author of the Gamedecverse (Marcin S. Przybyłek) and chat with enthusiasts like you - join our Discord channel.

As always, a big Thank You,

from #TeamGamedec

 

[Infinitron]

Here's that gameplay stream:

Join Łukasz Hacura [executive producer] and Mateusz Greloch [Community Manager] and dive deep into the bloody world of "Twisted & Perverted". Do not hesitate to post questions - we will try to answer as many as possible during the course of the stream.

 

[mediocrepoet]

Totally out of context, but I like how he describes Mass Effect 3 as one of the greatest RPGs of all time at around 1:23:00 - 1:23:30.

 

[fantadomat]

Totally out of context, but I like how he describes Mass Effect 3 as one of the greatest RPGs of all time at around 1:23:00 - 1:23:30.

At leat should have been ME1 or 2. LoL seeing one of the most hater games as the best rpg....you have be on a very very special spectrum lol.

 

[Matt [Anshar Studios]]

I challenged him - the ending of the trilogy was terrible.

 

[Infinitron]

I'm pretty sure he was being sarcastic there.

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...berpunk-rpg-set-in-xxii-century/posts/2820304

48H TO GO! LET'S SWITCH!

Hello there!

We've almost hit the 300% mark on the Gamedec's Campaign! We have 48 hours to go before the Kickstarter ends!

Like every great TV show about detectives, let us wrap the story so far into a convenient bit. Thanks to your generosity, we've unlocked many of our Stretch Goals. What's on the list? True Detective Mode, Additional Interactions, Additional Character Customization, Virtualium based on the Seven: The Days Long Gone game, French & Spanish localization, and a Cthulhu virtualium which was chosen via poll for backers and our community.

We are getting closer to unlock the Partial Voice Overs - help us spread the word about Gamedec to get there before the campaign ends! Thank you for your outstanding support, detailed feedback, retweets & shares, interactions & engagement – we really appreciate each and every one of them!

$200K GOAL - NINTENDO SWITCH VERSION
Because we are so close to the finish line, we decided to show you what might be unlocked if we’d reach the 200K stretch goal. Sit down, relax, take a deep breath, and let us tell you about an entirely new possible Gamedec experience.

At $200K mark, we will bring Gamedec to Switch! That's right; if we reach 400% of the initial goal, we will release Gamedec on Nintendo's most popular handheld console! We've listened to your feedback and thought that you would like the idea of getting into the world of gamedecverse anywhere you want! Dig down into solving crimes committed in virtual worlds, wherever you are!

We know that there are Nintendo Switch fans out there who wanted to play Gamedec on Switch, and we are really counting on your help to spread the news about the new platform to as many people as you can. If we manage to reach the 400% mark, we will give you an option to select the digital code for the Nintendo Switch version as one of the options. We cannot promise the simultaneous release, but if the stretch goal is funded – you will receive your copy on the switch version release. We need your support to make that happen! Create a buzz, tell all your friends, tweet about it, post it anywhere you can - let the game speak for itself! Time's running out - only 2 days remaining on the campaign clock!

Yesterday, some of you had an opportunity to watch Executive Producer of Gamedec - Łukasz Hacura – play the alternate route of the Twisted and Perverted case and to ask him a lot of questions.

If you couldn't make it, you can watch the replay here: https://www.facebook.com/gamedecthegame/videos/262819508444338

Watch our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channel for more. If you'd like to talk with our team members, or want to ask a question to the Author of the Gamedecverse (Marcin S. Przybyłek) or chat with other backers - join our Discord channel.

As always, a big Thank You,

from #TeamGamedec

 

[Infinitron]

Last hour: https://www.kickstarter.com/project...berpunk-rpg-set-in-xxii-century/posts/2820890

24 hours remaining. Final push before the campaign ends!

Hello there!

Well, all good things must come to an end, and so it is with this AMAZING month we've shared with you all. During this time, we managed to get many of you interested in Gamedec; the engagement of the people who became a part of our community right now is tremendous. In essence, you can see it on Discord and many other social media. We've all had such a dopamine rush (and still have!) from feeling the love from the Kickstarter community that's supported us throughout the campaign.

We got funded in 36h, and so far we've unlocked:

In the meantime, the clock is still ticking. There are only 24 hours left until the end of our Kickstarter. Tell your friends, family, and colleagues about our campaign - share it everywhere you can—there's a whole lot more still to come! We still can reach the $170k Stretch Goal, or maybe even the 200k mark! Who knows, you always surprise us with the amount of interest!

If you'd like to help in the last push, please share this Link over your Facebook, Twitter, VK or other social media:

https://bit.ly/GamedecFinalHours
Thank you very much for believing in our project, helping us expand the game further with many additions, and for every kind word you said to us. It matters very much to us, our development team. We believe that this is the start of a great journey together.

Watch our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channel for more. If you'd like to talk with our team members, or want to ask a question to the Author of the Gamedecverse (Marcin S. Przybyłek) or chat with other backers - join our Discord channel.

As always, a big Thank You,

from #TeamGamedec

They just hit the partial voice overs stretch goal.

 

[Infinitron]

And done: https://www.kickstarter.com/project...berpunk-rpg-set-in-xxii-century/posts/2822061

Case Solved – WE'RE FUNDED!

Hello there, Detectives!

It's been a long time since our Kickstarter Campaign started.

After exactly 33 days, 4911 backers, over 420 comments, and a final total of $171,163, the Kickstarter campaign for Gamedec has come to an end! It's not the end; it's just a new, exciting beginning.

All of us at Anshar Studios are really happy - the level of support that we have received — not only in terms of pledges but also feedback and involvement was terrific. Right from the start, we aimed to use the campaign as a means to bring our community closer to the development process and make a real, fan-driven experience. In every regard, you have exceeded our expectations, and we would like to extend our everlasting gratitude to you all.

The combined sum of pledges from Kickstarter means that we've hit over 171k mark, unlocking Partial Voice-Overs just one hour before the end of the campaign - what a superb way to finish our first Kickstarter Campaign! You will be able to get an insight into the nature of the NPC with which you interact during your playthrough! Not all dialogues will be recorded; each NPC will have a set of vocalized lines to understand their personality and attitude better.

Let's take a look at the stretch goals that have been achieved along the way! Be ready for the "No Turn back" mode, new Virtual Worlds to Discover - The one inspired by the H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu, and the one from Seven: The Days Long Gone, and extended character interactions and customization!

What's next?
The detailed update with instructions will be posted in the upcoming weeks, as well as the fulfillment surveys. Expect it when we finish processing all the data gathered during the campaign.

Of course, Gamedecs work never ends, and there are still many cases to be solved! We have to finish the game - that's for starters! The updates and community involvement will continue - there's plenty of things that we haven't even shown you yet! We can't wait to bring you updated on the latest build developments.

Everyone at Anshar Studios is celebrating the success of the campaign and making toasts to the most significant community of all – You!

• Our current focus is getting the backer pledge system on BackerKit up and running. We'll have more information on that later date - don't worry about the process - should you have any questions, ask them here or on our Discord server.
  
• We're also working on putting together the backer surveys. We only get to send them out once, so we're taking our time to make sure we include everything we need to know.
  
• Once we're done with that, we will start sending you some of the digital goodies.
  
• Remember to join our Discord Server for the post-Kickstarter support and access to the exclusive backer channels.
  
• Stay tuned for more content-related updates such as Dev-Diaries exploring the game development process even further.
  

We've still got a lot going on, and we'll have more announcements for you very soon. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding when we had something to be fixed - we've worked really hard to make this campaign the way it looks right now, and our main goal was clarity, reliability, and transparency.

We hope it's the start of a beautiful journey, and we're glad to have you all on board!

Once again, A BIG

From #TeamGamedec

 

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https://www.kickstarter.com/project...berpunk-rpg-set-in-xxii-century/posts/2822353

Post-Kickstarter Update: Thank you, industry! Pledge Manager status; Payment Errors.

Hello there!

We are over two days after our Kickstarter Campaign has ended, but we won’t stop making updates.

This one will be about things we want to cover before taking another step.

At the very beginning, we would like to thank all our friends from the industry who supported us with a kind word and shared info about our campaign with their communities. Their commitment and help brought a high result - $171,163 Collected during the campaign and a large number of backers.

Each of you separately and the entire game development industry as a whole - Thank you. It’s great to see that no matter the circumstances, we stick together as a reliable and united family!

PLEDGE MANAGER

We are currently working on the Pledge Manager. We want to be sure that everything is correct, and all the details are in place, so we are adding info to the pledges, setting up the surveys, and more. This process will take a while, but not that long – expect it to be launched soon!

PAYMENT ERRORS

Some of you probably received an email from Kickstarter alongside with our message that your payment was not processed correctly. You have only seven days after the end of the campaign to process the payment successfully, so up to next Tuesday, please make sure to correct the details/check with the bank if you have internet payment settings set up correctly. Your credit card may be expired – be sure to check that too!

We are also working on the possibility of paying via PayPal if you’ll not fix that issue at this time. You’ll receive an invitation to the backer kit surveys with an option to pay for the reward you’ve pledged on.

If you’ve missed the campaign and want to support us – Add our Game to the Wishlist on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/917720/Gamedec/

And follow us on our Social media channels

Watch our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channel for more.

Also you can join the Discord server to become the part of our community! Discord channel link.

As always, a big Thank You,

from #TeamGamedec

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...berpunk-rpg-set-in-xxii-century/posts/2828545

Game Mechanics: Deduction

Hey guys!

It's been a week since our campaign has ended, and we haven't covered one important topic yet.

Today we will look closer at the Deduction, arguably the essential in-game system.

When we started working on Gamedec, we knew that simulating the detective experience will be our top priority. We weren't, of course, the first developers to include investigations as a primary element of the game and not the first ones to build systems around it, but we believed there is still something interesting to be done with that kind of gameplay.

What we wanted to avoid was the checklist-deduction when you could get to the correct answer only after gathering a specific amount of evidence. It's a binary state when you can fill the checklist and get the right Deduction, or you're unable to progress. Another example of designs we didn't want to incorporate in Gamedec were the ones when the player almost instantly gets the feedback about whether he was right or not. Like there is this objective, all-knowing force that can, with all certainty, tell what happened and pass judgment. And you, as the player, can only agree with The Truth or not, which is not that fun and not realistic.

So our approach is different. On the one side, you gather info – this can be a statement, some intel, your findings, pieces of evidence. They unlock you the possible interpretation of facts (i.e., deductions). They are usually phrased in a precise way – e.g., if someone tells you they were unconscious during the murder, the deduction screen will keep it as "they say they were unconscious" and not "they were unconscious." Finding and interpreting contradictory statements is up to you.

But the more critical part of Deduction is on the right side of the screen. Those are the actual deductions – gamedec's understanding of the investigation—a spanning network of choices that unlock next reasoning structures. And, of course, there will be moments when you make the Deduction and get corrected minutes later (e.g., when you deduce someone ran into the alley, and after going there you see no trace of the perpetrator), but most of the time the game will allow you to roll with it.

What is extremely important is the fact the what you think happened is not the same as what you think *about* what happened. So you can deduce that a person is responsible for murder (and you may or may not be right), but you can still decide whether you would condemn them or let them free, depending on what you think about the whole context.

It is an incredibly complex system to develop narrative-wise, so we hope you'll like it as much as we do. Keep your fingers crossed for our designers!

Watch our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channel for more. If you'd like to talk with our team or want to ask a question to the Author of the Gamedecverse (Marcin S. Przybyłek) and chat with enthusiasts like you - join our Discord channel.

As always, a big Thank You,

from #TeamGamedec

 

[Dodo1610]

Reminds me of the system the from the Frogwares' Sherlock Holmes games.

 

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https://www.kickstarter.com/project...berpunk-rpg-set-in-xxii-century/posts/2831447

Gamedec - Campaign Summary

Hey there!


When we started our Kickstarter campaign, we were curious about how it will turn out. In the end, we couldn't imagine better feedback from our community and backers. Alongside the campaign, we conducted many additional events that hopefully induce you to learn more about Gamedec featured mechanics' most crucial assumptions that you've asked for a more detailed explication. We assure you, live streams with the devs, AMA's and explanatory videos will come back in the following months! We've also become the third biggest Polish Video Game Kickstarter campaign. That's a thing we are very proud of. It's proof for us that you trusted the project and potential that Gamedec surely has.

That wonderful time needs a proper farewell! Take a look at the image below and relive it again through the most exciting bits of our crowdfunding. By the way, we're curious, how much coffee you have drunk, following the progress of the campaign. Share your numbers in the comment section!

Next week we’ll be launching the Pledge Manager – Stay Tuned for more info soon!

Remember, you can also add our game to your wishlist on Steam!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/917720/Gamedec/

And on GOG.COM
https://af.gog.com/game/gamedec?as=1649904300

Watch our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channel for more. If you'd like to talk with our team or want to ask a question to the Author of the Gamedecverse (Marcin S. Przybyłek) and chat with enthusiasts like you - join our Discord channel.

As always, a big Thank You,

from #TeamGamedec

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...berpunk-rpg-set-in-xxii-century/posts/2843038

New screenshots and Pledge Manager update

Hi there!

Last weeks were extremely busy with setting up the Pledge Manager (You can read about this HERE) and our entry to the Indie Celebration Showcase (link). Right now we are focusing on cooking the beta-test build of the game, and on other activities which we will announce shortly. There's a lot to do, but we are not stopping!

NEW SCREENSHOTS!
We have a dose of new screenshots - we want to show you the progress we're making to get closer to the finish line.

You can recognize some of the places, but there are some new we didn't mention before. And those places... will stay secret, for now. We have a reveal planned soon - who knows, maybe in the form of video footage? Dev Diary? Let us know in the comments what form of presenting new stuff best suits your preferences.

Spoiler

And now it's time to share some love!
If you like the first-person exploration and adventure story-based games and love the Slavic setting – our friends from The End of the Sun Team are in the middle of their Kickstarter campaign.

This game will have a non-linear, engaging, and immersive story where you will be able to experience the particular elements at your own pace. Series of mysterious events that ordinary people dealt with as they were living in a small village where myths and reality are crossing each other.

On top of that, the team behind the project has visited ethnographic museums where they've scanned hundreds of objects, and entire buildings, to recreate the best possible feeling of the Slavic Culture.

You can check out their campaign here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/endofsun/the-end-of-the-sun

Small reminder about the Pledge Manager
Don't miss the survey! Check your email for a link to your Survey and complete it so that we will be able to send you your rewards in the future! Please check your spam folder for the Survey if you didn't get one yet. If it's not there, let us know in the direct message via Kickstarter or directly to team@gamedec.com.

Be sure that you have to be present on the server to get your backer role assigned if you stated your Discord handle in the Survey. Some of you gave us the handle but didn't join the server yet.


Watch our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channel for more. If you'd like to talk with our team or want to ask a question to the Author of the Gamedecverse (Marcin S. Przybyłek) and chat with enthusiasts like you - join our Discord channel.

As always, a big Thank You,

from #TeamGamedec

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...berpunk-rpg-set-in-xxii-century/posts/2850459

Backer's Design Input & Upcoming Events

Hi There!

Another week, another update with some pieces of information about "What's up."

Events:
Right now, we are in the middle of preparations for many online events, as well as other types of promotional activities, to engage the community and spread awareness about Gamedec.

Jakub and Krzysztof, our PR guys, took part in the CrowdCrux Crowdfunding Demistyfied Podcast with Salvador Briggman, where they were talking about some elements of the Kickstarter campaign.

Gamedec will be featured in The Escapist Indie Showcase - premiering June 11th - the event is supported by GOG.com! It's a chance to see something new about Gamedec, so be sure to watch the event during that time!

The show will be conducted entirely on YouTube, so be sure to join us on their channel, but for now, let's watch the featurette!

There is also one thing we will reveal soon to all of you, and we want to give you a small glimpse into what we're cooking.

We've also done an interview for our friend – Poppel Yang, who translated it especially for our Chinese community, which is growing stronger every day. We talked about Gamedec and the Polish game industry itself.

We are trying to reach as many people as possible, so post in the comments from which country you are - we will do our best to get some coverage there too!

You can read it here: http://www.chuapp.com/article/287225.html

There is, of course, more to come in the following days. Follow us on our social media channels to be always up to date!

Spoiler

Info about the rewards which require your contribution:
The most comfortable way to provide input into the game [voice recordings, graffitis, quests, and NPC designing] is through Discord. That's why we want all of the people who have some input-type of reward to join our discord server, where we'll post all the details about the formats, deadlines, and team feedback. The Designers-tier backers are also welcomed because there are some things which require your attention and have to be discussed

If you don't use Discord or never have, please let us know, for we will have to prepare an alternative way of contacting.

Thank you for providing your Discord handles in our survey. However, to be given a certain rank, you have to be on our server. We cannot invite you individually, so please join the server via this invitation [https://discord.gg/aspgwVj] and contact Matt [CM] with your backer number, and he will give you the rank in no-time.

Soon we will have something unique for all of our News Editors and Designers! Stay tuned!

BACKERKIT - ONLY 10% SURVEYS TO GO!
For those who received their surveys - This is a small reminder to fill the surveys in order to speed up the process of the whole fullfilment. In order to receive your rewards (Digital, and Physical) they need to be done as soon as possible!

Check your email inboxes, and SPAM folders for the links. If you pledged during the kickstarter campaign and not received the link via email please contact us - team@gamedec.com

That's it for today's update.

Remember, you can also add our game to your wishlist on Steam!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/917720/Gamedec/

And on GOG.COM
https://af.gog.com/game/gamedec?as=1649904300

Watch our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channel for more. If you'd like to talk with our team or want to ask a question to the Author of the Gamedecverse (Marcin S. Przybyłek) and chat with enthusiasts like you - join our Discord channel.

As always, a big Thank You,

from #TeamGamedec

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...berpunk-rpg-set-in-xxii-century/posts/2850465

Dev-Diary: Complexity of Branching

Hey there!

In the previous update, we gave you a glimpse of something we've been working on for the last couple of days. Now it's time to reveal it – The new episode of our Dev-Diary! This time a part of our Team (Łukasz - Executive Producer, Magda – Head of Production, Marcin – The Author and Consultant of the Gamedec and Mateusz – Community Manager) will tell you something more about the complexity of the branching system. Take a closer look at the mechanics and the complexity of the branching narrative in the game.

Please check out the video below to see how your choices can impact the course of the game on one of the examples – the case involving Ramona and her grandpa.

This video was made as a part of The Escapist Indie Showcase, where Gamedec was featured alongside 70 other indie game titles. This event included many new reveals, lots of gameplay, and short developer diaries like ours! The Escapist will provide post-show coverage on YouTube and Twitch featuring many of the games featured in the showcase with hands-on demos, pre-recorded gameplay videos, and developer interviews.

Also, our game was showcased in the Indie Live Expo 2020 – You can watch it HERE!

This event also featured a small segment about the Polish Video Game Industry which is available here!

Backerkit reminder:
For those who received their surveys - This is a small reminder to fill the surveys in order to speed up the process of the whole fulfillment. To receive your rewards (Digital and Physical), they need to be done as soon as possible!

Check your email inboxes, and SPAM folders for the links. If you pledged during the Kickstarter campaign and not received the link via email, please contact us - team@gamedec.com

That's it for today's update.

Remember, you can also add our game to your wishlist on Steam!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/917720/Gamedec/

And on GOG.COM

https://www.gog.com/game/gamedec

Watch our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channel for more. If you'd like to talk with our team or want to ask a question to the Author of the Gamedecverse (Marcin S. Przybyłek) and chat with enthusiasts like you - join our Discord channel.

As always, a big Thank You,

from #TeamGamedec

 

[agris]

Mateusz Niewiem

Any word on if Fargo came through with his royalties for that companion portrait in Numanuma?

edit:

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...berpunk-rpg-set-in-xxii-century/posts/2875042

When a City is Your Cage | Extended Video Description

Hey there!

It's time for the new episode of the Extended Description of the Gamedecverse! This time the Author – Marcin Przybyłek will tell you more about how did the polis emerge, why people start building up in limited spaces, and what makes ABB (Anti Bios Barriers) so important in terms of protecting citizens against external threats. Check out the video below to hear how the world has changed since the early seventies of the 21st century.

Let us know what you think about it in the comments! Will the future structure of big cities focus on limited space with aspirations to rise higher and higher?

Events
Even if the E3 period is behind us, and we saw many new announcements in the gaming world, the events are still coming up. Gamedec will be a part of some great initiatives. Let's see where our dev team will share some fresh stuff about the game.

MONSTERVINE HOT GAMES SUMMER SHOWCASE

Gamedec will be a part of the MonsterVine: Hot Games Summer Showcase, which premieres on Friday, June 26, 2020, at 9 AM PT/12 pm ET/6 PM CEST on YouTube and Twitch.

During this showcase, you will be able to watch the interview with Gamedec Executive Producer - Łukasz Hacura.

Hub Page: https://monstervine.com/hot-games-summer-showcase/

Showcase Trailer: https://youtu.be/ms0OTDnyA3A

GameStar’s Find Your Next Game: Summer 2020

There is more. Interview with Marcin Przybyłek (Author) and Krzysztof Wojdyła (PR Specialist) on the GameStar's Find Your Next Game: Summer 2020 streaming program. The chat with the team will be available at 7 PM CET alongside games such as Biomutant and New World.

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/monstersandexplosions

Youtube: youtube.com/Gamestar

Backerkit reminder:
For those who received their surveys, this is a small reminder to fill the surveys to speed up the whole fulfillment process. To receive your rewards (Digital and Physical), they need to be done as soon as possible!

Check your email inboxes, and SPAM folders for the links. If you pledged during the Kickstarter campaign and not received the link via email, please contact us - team@gamedec.com

That's it for today's update.

Remember, you can also add our game to your wishlist on Steam!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/917720/Gamedec/

And on GOG.COM

https://www.gog.com/game/gamedec

Watch our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channel for more. If you'd like to talk with our team or ask a question to the Author of the Gamedecverse (Marcin S. Przybyłek) and chat with enthusiasts like you - join our Discord channel.

As always, a big Thank You,

from #TeamGamedec

 

[luj1]

Smells like another fake RPG

 

[Longes]

Smells like another fake RPG

I feel like they've been clear from the start that this is an adventure game with RPG elements, rather than a classic RPG. Think Quest For Glory and The Council, not Baldur's Gate.

 

[Infinitron]

More details from the Gamedecverse:



https://www.kickstarter.com/project...berpunk-rpg-set-in-xxii-century/posts/2888452

Know Your Equipment | Extended video description

Hey there!

Welcome to another episode of the Gamedecverse Extended Description. In this video, you will hear more details about Gamedec's Equipment - 6 essential things you need to have to enter the sensory (virtual) worlds. Marcin Przybyłek (Author of Gamedec book saga) will tell you more about things that gamedec needs to enter the games and about medications required to spend more time inside. Check out the video below to find out what items are necessary for that.

What do you think about those items? Would you like to have some of them today? Let us know in the comments!

Medicine vs Transhumanism

Marcin (The Author) during his studies.

Marcin S. Przybyłek, the Author of Gamedec book saga, graduated from medical school in 1993. Thanks to his knowledge, he focuses strongly on the realism of physicality when it comes to gamedecverse. There are no implants, but playing in the virtual worlds has consequences if you don't follow certain rules.

Backerkit reminder:
For those who received their surveys, this is a small reminder to fill the surveys to speed up the whole fulfillment process. To receive your rewards (Digital and Physical), they need to be done as soon as possible!

Check your email inboxes, and SPAM folders for the links. If you pledged during the Kickstarter campaign and not received the link via email, please contact us - team@gamedec.com

That's it for today's update.

Remember, you can also add our game to your wishlist on Steam!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/917720/Gamedec/

And on GOG.COM

https://www.gog.com/game/gamedec

Watch our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channel for more. If you'd like to talk with our team or ask a question to the Author of the Gamedecverse (Marcin S. Przybyłek) and chat with enthusiasts like you - join our Discord channel.

As always, a big Thank You,

from #TeamGamedec

 

[Infinitron]

Backer beta coming August 3rd: https://www.kickstarter.com/project...berpunk-rpg-set-in-xxii-century/posts/2907148

Backer's Build is just around the corner! Special deal for the Backers!

Hello There!

Less than a week to the release of the Backer's Build! Are you excited? Here's some info on how we will distribute access and what you need to do to play on day one.

Prepare yourselves! Backer's Build is just around the corner!
As we've mentioned in the update about the Backer's Build status (you can read about it here!) you will be able to play it on 3rd of August.

HOW TO GET THE ACCESS TO CODES FOR BACKERS BUILD:

The keys will be sent to you via BackerKit, so remember to finish the survey! You'll be able to choose between the Steam and GOG versions of the beta-keys. Check your email inbox and SPAM folder for the link to the survey. If you pledged during the Kickstarter campaign and didn't receive the link via email, please contact us via team@gamedec.com

Special Exclusive for Backers: [-75% Off discount coupons] for Seven: The Days Long Gone!
After unlocking the Seven: The Days Long Gone Virtualium, we realized that you might want to check the game before jumping into the additional world in Gamedec. If you didn't have the chance, we decided to team up with Fool's Theory and IMGN.PRO (our dear friends from Poland), and provide you with a -75% discount for the abovementioned title.

After you add the Gamedec to your Library, you'll receive an exclusive deal coupon for the Seven: The Days Long Gone! (On Steam, and GOG.COM!). The mentioned coupon will show up during checkout.

This way, you'll be able to play some tremendous Action-RPG adventure in an open-world, isometric stealth, and action role-playing game, in which you play as Teriel, a master thief sent on a mission that will shake the foundations of the Vetrall Empire.

Discount will be valid until the 27th of September, so you'll have almost two months to pick up the game.

If you are not familiar with the Seven: The Days Long Gone game you can check it out on Steam! https://store.steampowered.com/app/471010/Seven_Enhanced_Edition/

Remember that this is an opportunity to check out the locations which are the inspiration for the Seven's Virtualium in GAMEDEC. Pretty cool, right?

That's it for today's update. See you on Monday, with additional info about the Backer's Build and instructions how to unlock it!

As always, a big Thank You,

from #TeamGamedec

 

[Infinitron]

https://store.steampowered.com/newshub/app/917720/view/2733074356025562022

Backer's Build is now available! Essential instructions on how to access!
Check out your emails!

Hi There!

Today's the day! The Backer's Build is officially available for you, our dear Backers!

Check your emails! We've sent access codes, so be sure to track your inbox and spam folders.

In this build, you'll be able to experience the whole case of Twisted & Perverted, but this time - on your own! Pack up your Gamedec gear, be ready to deduce, and jump straight into the case of helping Goeffrey Haggis - Father, and Fredo - his son. For those who saw our gameplay videos – we have remade this case, allowed you to unlock other branches in the profession tree, and added a lot of new content. Be sure to talk to everyone and carefully pick the topics of your conversation.

For the last couple of weeks, we've been working hard to deliver the Backer's Build today. We're happy to say - WE DID IT - TOGETHER. Thank you for supporting us - we believe that letting you be involved in the shape of the final game is a privilege you deserve the most. Let's work together to make sure that Gamedec is a game we'd all want to play.

Right now, we are waiting for you to play and feedback this build and to actively discuss any aspects of the build we could improve, adjust, or alter before the game is finished. Every voice counts – we believe that the feedback we'll be getting is crucial for Gamedec to be a great game at the end of the day. Remember, this is still a work-in-progress. You may encounter bugs, and some of the dialogue paths and interactions in the game may be locked. We are testing different translation pipelines and their redaction. We are aware that there are still some inconsistencies in the translations, you may expect the update with the translations at the end of the month. The game mechanics are still in the iterative process, but they are a glimpse of what the core gameplay will look like.

Spoiler

First of all, we strongly encourage you to post any feedback, notifications, bug reports, performance issues and general inquiries on our Steam forum:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/917720/discussions/1/2787117798312465547/

This thread is the best place today to have the feedback well organized and let us quickly answer your questions globally.

Then we have a Discord channel, where you can join to chat in real-time with other players and with us:

https://discord.gg/aspgwVj

After you solve the case, we will ask you to leave feedback via an exclusive survey – we would be delighted if you chose to do so. We prepared many detailed questions that'll allow us to analyze your experience and check how you liked it so far. The survey will take you approximately 8 minutes to complete.

Instructions on how to access the beta can be found here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/anshar/gamedec-isometric-cyberpunk-rpg-set-in-xxii-century/posts/2911970

As always, a big Thank You,
from #TeamGamedec

--------------------------------------------------------

If you'd like to talk with our team members, want to ask a question to the Author of the Gamedecverse (Marcin S. Przybyłek) or chat with enthusiasts like you - join our Discord channel.

https://www.ign.com/articles/gamedec-first-hands-on-impressions

Gamedec: First Hands-On Impressions
A mechanically simple, narratively complex classical RPG that's a little rough around the edges.

With Cyberpunk 2077 having been delayed, I’d be lying if I said I weren’t trying to fill a futuristic-dystopia-shaped hole in my August lineup. So, when Gamedec’s pre-alpha demo rolled into my PC library last week, I was excited to jump into a new take on one of my favorite genres.

Okay, maybe not a “new” take – Gamedec is based on a series of novels and stories by Polish author Marcin Przybyłek that dates back to the mid-2000s – but the concept piqued my curiosity and I was eager to see what the team at Anshar Studios would do with such potentially fruitful material.

The short version is this: It’s the 2200s in Warsaw City, and society spends what modern doctors would call way too much time online in virtual game worlds accessed with personal VR sets (think Ready Player One but without the infinite marathon of pop-culture references). You play as a Game Detective (colloquially known as ‘Gamedecs’), sort of a digital private eye who’s job is to help folks out of various in-game jams.

It’s an interesting premise, one that clearly shows great promise not just as a cyberpunk setting, but also a unique way for Anshar’s team to provide some colorful reflections on the games industry itself. Its art style certainly nails the cyberpunk aesthetic, offering environments that look like they could be pulled straight from a William Gibson novel or the next season of Altered Carbon. Early trailers and demos show a variety of worlds ranging from generic free-to-play farming sims to what looked like a fantasy RPG inspired by feudal Japan, and my demo featured some interesting takes on the concept of cheating and trolling. I’d be interested to see what other genres or gaming tropes this take on the digital future could explore.

For such a potentially complex and diverse world, Gamedec is, mechanically, incredibly simple - you point and click where you want to move, what you want to interact with, and which dialogue option you want to say or action you want to take. You have the option of using number keys and the spacebar to select these options as well, but aside from that and opening up one of the three in-game menus there are no other controls to speak of.

This was both appreciated and somewhat frustrating at times, as I enjoyed the simplicity of not having to constantly manage inventory items or special abilities – being able to instead focus on the story and the world around me – but there were moments where the “one button to [everything]” mentality got a bit stale (like when having to backtrack to a certain area or search a location for interactable items), especially when coupled with its somewhat lacking soundscape.

I realize not every game can have both a complex network of narrative consequences and a fully-fleshed out voice cast, but it feels odd that not only was there no voice work in my demo whatsoever, but there seemed to be very little sound design at all. A gunshot here or the zzzzcchkkk of an old elevator there, sure, but aside from some larger setpiece moments there was very little to hear beyond simple background loops that changed as I loaded into a new location.

However, much like games from developers like Quantic Dream or Telltale, the real focus of Gamedec appears to be the intricate web of narrative options it presents. Like most RPGs, it features statistical progression that’s reflected in your ability to perform specific tasks (like hacking a computer terminal) or pick up on certain social cues when talking to another character (to, say, intimidate them during an interrogation).

Discovering new information - often which is only possible thanks to the abilities granted by your starting background (at least at your initial novice level) - allows you to proceed with a case in different ways, and a variety of challenges were thrown at me during my trial investigation. The most interesting one was an interrogation sequence that would reveal different pieces of information depending on how kind or cruel I was to my interviewee. Playing through twice and adopting both tactics to the extreme ultimately gained me roughly the same intel, but it was especially noteworthy that – should I have chosen to try and remain relatively neutral – I could have walked away with nothing.

The demo consisted of one investigation which I played through twice, and was pleased to see that my choices weren’t just alternate paths to the same outcome. My first run was short - I discovered my client was being blackmailed and a few decisions later got an outcome that saw pretty much everyone’s lives end in ruin. But my second playthrough was considerably longer – though I didn't feel like any of my choices were unnatural in either run – and, by the end, I’d learned there was way more to that blackmail scheme, there are some super interesting "hacking" sections to be experienced, and (almost) everybody ended up alive and well.

Considering this clear commitment to varied narrative outcomes, it felt strange – especially considering Gamedec’s premise and potential in its numerous digital worlds – that the section selected for our first hands-on demo would seem so focused on one case comprised of especially “edgy” material. My sample investigation was about a pair of teens (legally minors, at least in the US) who had hired a sex worker and snuck into a very NSFW game world… and things just got more salacious from there.

It felt like Gamedec was trying really hard to prove itself as “a mature game with mature themes”, but much of that felt imprudent and - for the most part - like it was included more for titillation or spectacle than anything else. I realize that darker, morally grey subject matter is pretty much inherent to the cyberpunk genre, and can definitely provide a window for a thoughtful exploration of societal issues when done right, but this demo felt decidedly lacking on that end; at least for me.

Perhaps there’s more context in the larger story to assuage those concerns, though, or maybe there’ll be another pass on the English translation that refines some of its language to be less problematic. I certainly hope so, because I’m definitely curious to see more of Gamedec’s world, and how it ends up using its unique premise – hopefully to great effect, but only time will tell.

 

[Infinitron]

https://gamingtrend.com/?p=199927

“The future is already here – it’s just not evenly distributed.” — Gamedec hands-on preview

In some far-flung, neon-soaked future, the world is more virtual than ever. The fidelity of fabricated reality is so high that people can spend vast amounts of their lives in the virtual world, often to the detriment of their real-world lives. Like any well-oiled simulation, eventually it’ll be infiltrated by rogue elements. Hackers, criminals, and the darkest elements can take hold. Safety mechanisms meant to keep inhabitants of these virtual spaces safe can be circumvented, even causing harm to its residents. That’s where you come in.

Gamedec is a single-player, cyberpunk, isometric RPG where choice matters. The game will continuously adapt to your decisions, changing and morphing around you. You can swap out the name of this game for a million other games that make that same claim, but end up falling short. Few games get over this hurdle, but I do believe that Gamedec might just make the leap.

You play a cyber detective who specializes in helping people in the game space — a Game Detective, or Gamedec for short. In the demo I got to play (which I’ve captured in its entirety below — it’s anything but short!) I was contracted by a rich CEO of a software conglomerate named Geoffrey Haggis. His son logged into a virtual world and has somehow ended up stuck there for well past the maximum amount of recommended time. Seems simple enough.

I’m going to give you my first complete playthrough in this video below, but keep reading…you’ll see a second playthrough that is different in a great many ways. Enjoy!

Nearly every single interaction you have in the world of Gamedec results in a consequence of some kind. Having run this demo several times, the game never judges you for your actions, merely accounting for the choices you make. Something as simple as looking at graffiti on the wall and selecting how you interpret it results in a logged action. Do you see it as art? Defacing property? Do you see something religious buried inside? No matter your choice, the game is using each one to define your personality. What I noticed immediately is that there are so many of them that it’s nigh impossible to just “back up” and just choose all the “Paragon” options — the world is more gray than that.

Fredo Haggis, the son of Director Haggis, was celebrating his birthday with his friend Timmy. They decided to set out on a wild night, as evidenced by the obvious hooker strapped into a nearby VR couch. Looking around the room, I also found Timmy and Fredo’s discarded clothes. From the moment I created my character I had already decided on a path — I was born in the lower city. As I had made this choice I knew that if I rifled through the clothes of these two rich kids, I’d likely find something tucked away in a hidden pocket somewhere. Similarly, if I was born on the high city side of town I’d have different options with Director Haggis and he wouldn’t look at me like something he just scraped off his shoe.

As the game is in development, the devs give you an immediate boost, letting you pick from four different professions to start to define your Gamedec. A Sleeve is a person with ties to the world of crime, a Glazier is a magician of virtual worlds and a machine tamer, the Infotainer is a high-charisma charmer in the virtual world, and the Scalpel is a medic with extensive knowledge of medicine. Beyond the obvious Shadowrun-like backstory choices, you’ll also get points in four different categories called “Aspects.” These color-coded choices tie directly to the decisions and observations you make through the course of interaction with people, places, and things. Perhaps you show a bit of compassion to Timmy and his situation and that puts a point in that column under that heading. Maybe you really lean on your AI to help you with the crushing loneliness of your bachelor life, putting a point into that aspect. Verbosity, intuition, selfishness, determination, impatience, calmness, caution, logic, discretion — this long list doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface on all of the possibilities. In the current build there are 32 skills you can unlock with these various aspects, granting access to other professions, as well as deeper specializations within them. The demo only grants access to a few of them, but it’s already very apparent that every run can be wildly different based on these choices. Below you’ll see a second full playthrough that has me interacting with the characters in this scenario in a completely different way, and with very different outcomes. I’m sure I’m only scratching the surface.

Using my powers of persuasion I took a run at Timmy to see if he could tell me why his friend is currently stuck in the virtual world. A small meter shows me that Timmy has more than a few secrets to reveal, but I’d have to either get him on my side, or scare him shitless till he coughs them up. Either way, it’s another choice with consequences. Actions now can lock other actions later.

As a detective, my job is to draw conclusions. Scouring an area I collect clues and create a hypothesis about what might have happened, both in the real world and the virtual one. Using the decision screen I can use the clues I’ve uncovered to decide what thread I want to pull. Which virtual world did Timmy and Fredo go to? Which ways did the clues point? Once I made the choice, there was no going back. Each branch leads to new investigation options, but closes any you didn’t choose permanently — choose wisely. As a prime example, I had to track down a cult leader in my playthrough, leading me to have to decide between two people as the culprit. You can imagine my surprise when the final clue I uncovered was whether that person was a man or a woman — it’d be very easy to go off half-cocked and make the wrong choice, but it could make for interesting RPG arcs.

I went into Gamedec just excited to see a fresh take on Cyberpunk storytelling, and boy did I get it. Too many games make the claim that choices matter, but Gamedec’s focus on detective storytelling creates a grand tapestry of interwoven choices that can have a wide variety of outcomes. You’ve seen me fail to keep Fredo alive twice in the videos above, but know that the right choices can end with a happy father and a very alive Fredo. Gamedec is an indie game flying in very rarified air. There’s something here — something I’ve not seen massive publishers with hundreds of millions of dollars at their fingertips deliver. Not only do choices matter more than “good” and “bad”, they have far-reaching implications and often further-reaching consequences.

Stay tuned for more on Gamedec as we roll towards a late 2020 launch.

 

[Roguey]

I watched the hour-long video. UI seemed confusing and there's a ton of exposition right from the start. Unlikely to be a DE-level hit.

 

[Longes]

there's a ton of exposition right from the start. Unlikely to be a DE-level hit.

In their defence - this is a chunk of an alpha build with no real start to it. I'd like to believe that the infodumping is the consequence of having to quickly get the backers up to speed on what's going on and ferry you to a mission.

But it could also be real purposeful writing that is bad. Personally, I'm not expecting this game to be a DE-quality magnum opus, but if it manages the quality of "Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishment" as a detective game, then I'll be reasonably happy.