2011... What to Expect?
by Nick Lissner, 1:36 1/1-11 GMT +1
A year has gone by without any posts here in the developer blog and once again it's New Year, which leads me to thinking: What is going to happen in 2011?
I have many plans and dreams with this game, but unfortunately not enough time to fulfill it all just like that. I guess slow and steady wins the race. :o)
Anyways, 2010 has been a year with quite some time inbetween each update, simply due to the fact, that there aren't many "small" and "simple" features left to make. What is missing now, is the big and complicated ones like wage systems, the possibility of getting sponsors, the live updates...
Speaking of live updates, I was hoping to have it done in 2010. My own ambitions kind of came in the way, as I had no specific km-by-km stage profile that the live updates could follow as I wanted to, which lead me to creating that first - something that wasn't quite easy. It will though make it possible to continue the development of the live updates. How far am I? Well, it's hard to say. I've written a quarter of a million characters in that feature - for now. What I have completed already, is the overall structure of the races, openings, break away and sprint finishes, and various stuff that happens along the route like injuries, crashes, feeding zones. Of importance, I have left do make the climbing, hilly and cobblestone finishes, so there's a good hurdle left. I have though decided not to include time trials for the first release of the feature, in order to get it done earlier and I'm also thinking of releasing a beta (the release was going to be anyways, but what I mean is a real beta - one that you simply know not is completely instead of a complete version where only trouble shooting and bug finding is left).
I've recently finishes two rather big features: The stage profiles and the new jersey editor - two features that game-wise doesn't add much game play, yet it's features that give the game more soul and make it come more alive - something I appreciate a lot.
So what will 2011 bring? There are a few features already in the making. A new improved tactical system (which again will be improved later on - all something that will be reflected in the live updates) is one.
Apart from that, I plan to make:
- The sponsor system
- Experience system (include new invisible "stats" that determine how good a team mate, captain, lead out or break away rider a rider is) - Improved team profiles (with more information, for those interested - this is more a soft feature)
- A new training system
- A way for teams to recruit new young talent (Youth Academy, to some. Still working on that perfect idea. Almost have it cleared out.)
- And a lot more...
My time these days goes by with studies and my spare time job. I'm hoping one day that I can turn Cycling Simulator into my "spare time job" instead. For that to happen sooner than I expect, I'm thinking about making a "release" in Denmark alone. My problem is mainly, that the game is currently too small for international companies and too widespread for the local ones. By releasing the game in Denmark (press releases, Danish translation, etc.), it might be possibly to get some smaller Danish companies interested which they aren't now as the players are from all over the world - something that they don't benefit much from, unfortunately. The game will though always be open to everyone - I'm just thinking about some Danish "advertising". I haven't decided if I should do that yet or not. All I know is that 2011 is a perfect year to do it in. Danish cycling will be at its heights this year (Tour de France with Bjarne Riis on Saxo Bank, Kim Andersen on Team Lux - conflict - Michael Rasmussen hopefully to compete in the Tour of Denmark, TV coverage of the Vuelta, and finally the World Championships in Copenhagen. It is certainly going to be a big year in Danish cycling).
So, to sum up: 2011 will be a year where I will try my very best to improve and expand the game. 2010 was a somewhat turbulent year and I think 2011 will provide a much more settle base for me to focus on the development which I hope to take far this year. I have so many things I want to add to the game - I can't wait to have the features done. May 2011 become a productive and important year in Cycling Simulator's history.
Happy New Year everyone. :o)
Comments
Posts: 0.