Hey there! 

In this devlog, I'm showcasing important changes made to my indie game and how I validated the expected gameplay experience with playtesting sessions. I share some considerations about why I chose to create my Steam page and why I will release my game in Early Access.

During numerous playtesting sessions, we identified a recurring issue where players struggled to control their colonists effectively and fully engage in colony life. Upon investigation, we pinpointed the root cause: overly complex controls. As a solution, we opted to revamp the control scheme, transitioning from specific keyboard key bindings to a more intuitive approach. We introduced a contextual menu accessed by right-clicking on objects, displaying all available actions and grayed-out options for unavailable actions. Furthermore, we simplified object selection by implementing direct mouse cursor highlighting, eliminating the need for cumbersome tab toggling.

We confirmed the effectiveness of these new controls through subsequent playtesting sessions, where participants unanimously appreciated the improvements. This experience taught us a valuable lesson: It's imperative to consider that players often come into a new game with prior experience from similar titles, shaping their expectations and interactions. As developers, we must acknowledge and leverage this existing familiarity when designing control systems, ensuring that the gameplay experience aligns with players' intuitive tendencies. By understanding the player's existing knowledge and habits, we can craft controls that feel natural and intuitive, facilitating smoother engagement and minimizing the learning curve, ultimately enhancing the overall gaming experience.

In this devlog, I also provide insights into the process of creating a Steam page, highlighting the challenges we faced, including administrative tasks and meeting Steam's asset requirements. Additionally, I'll outline the changes planned for the Early Access version of the game and discuss our development roadmap. Your support is instrumental in our journey, so I kindly ask you to wishlist the game on Steam to boost its visibility. Every wishlist contributes to Steam recommending the game to a wider audience.

Your engagement and feedback are invaluable as we continue to refine and enhance the gaming experience.

Stay connected by subscribing to our YouTube channel and becoming part of our community:

• Watch the other devlogs on our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@flygamestudio
• Wishlist the game on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2899420/Too_Far_Too_Late/
• Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlyGameStudio1
• Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/6HTh8qpuVD

See you in the next devlog!