Aleš Ulm 1725 Posted August 11, 2017 Hey there, fellow Ylanders! Today we have two important announcements to make. Some of you have probably noticed that Ylands has been released under the Bohemia Incubator label. Let me explain what does it stand for. Bohemia Incubator was introduced as a label under which experimental projects will be born. In addition to our critically acclaimed franchises, we want to keep trying to find new experiences. Something that may even look and feel miles away from what our other games are like but shares the common vision of all our games. Games that are always about creativity, about learning and exploring. Some of the projects end up in early stages because they don’t have what we’re looking for, while others make it far enough so that they are first publicly announced and later released. Ylands is one of the Incubator games. It started with just an idea and for many months we were just experimenting, trying to see what would work and what wouldn’t. At some point, the early prototype actually became fun to play and it was getting obvious that it holds a promise of a possibly interesting game. Now here we are, some three years later. A little bit over a year ago we began a specific stage where we made the early version of the game available throughout our store. We were looking for early adopters, players who would help us shape the game, to find the right direction. And you, who are reading this right now, have answered our call. Those who are with us for a long time know that during this stage many things have changed rather dramatically. And most of that based on your very own feedback. Right now we know exactly what kind of a game Ylands is and we’re planning to expand it both as a platform that lets players make their own games and as a game about exploration. We have a Steam launch date, where we will spend several months in Early Access mostly tweaking the multiplayer experience and issues that will arise from a larger number of people playing the game at once. We’ve matured. We’ve graduated from the Incubator and are now leaving the label as an experiment that became a game. You see that label Project Argo has? We're about to join the club Even though this is mostly a symbolic moment (which, however, feels very important to us) there will be some things happening that we were already planning to do and for which this moment is very fitting. I’ve already told you we’re working on the Steam version of the game and that the current players will get the Steam keys. The moment when this will happen is quite near now (you will be receiving your keys via email and there will be a specific post about this before it happens). The new information is that in a few days we plan to stop selling the non-Steam Ylands version on our online store, meaning that from that moment till November 2017, when Ylands becomes officially available for purchase on Steam, there will be no way to acquire additional copies of the game (with exception of media). For obvious reasons, it is not an easy decision for us to make, but we feel it’s the right thing to do because of several reasons: * since we’re going to Steam anyway we’d rather stop working on/supporting the non-Steam version sooner than later and concentrate more on polishing the Steam version (which we hope you, the current players - soon to be early Steam adopters - will help us with) * continuing selling the non-Steam version through our store when we know that it will be discontinued soon and players will have to move to Steam anyway seems rather unfair and misleading * we don’t have a huge number of players right now, but more than enough for us to work with for the upcoming months so that we enter Steam in a great shape – which right now is our primary goal So yes, for some time you will become the exclusive group of people, the only ones with the access to the game who can brag about it to your friends, who will have to wait before the game comes out on Steam :). Jokes aside though - we value the fact that you are here with us - many of you for a really long time. It’s something we won’t forget. When we get to Steam we will show to every single one of you that we appreciate your help with making Ylands a better game - and we’re talking about way more than just giving you some commemorative ingame item. If you wonder what changes you will experience during this stage (before we come to Steam) – except for you playing the game on Steam pretty much everything will remain the same. You will be getting at least the same amount of support and you will even get a whole new update with NPCs. Come visit us at Gamescom 2017 held at Cologne, Germany, 22. - 26.08.2017 Speaking of coming to Steam – since we’re now ready to tell the world that Ylands will become publicly available through Steam in November, what better place to do so than a huge gaming event – Gamescom 2017? We’ve been to Unite, to PAX, to E3 – but so far only with just a handful of computers and few individuals. Well, times are changing :). At Gamescom we’ll have a great big booth with lots of computers for you to play the latest game build. To make sure that everything runs as smooth as possible and that all your questions are answered, there will be most of the Ylands team present. And if you want to check what’s going on with other Bohemia games, you will find them there as well! It’s going to be BIG and we’re super excited about it! We’re looking forward to both meeting some of you in person as well as to many discussions with you about game features in the upcoming months, and believe that together we’ll make sure our Steam entry is a success. And that's all for now. I'll see you in the next Dev Diary and in the meantime - as always - have a great time and stay classy! 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AashifProXD 7 Posted August 11, 2017 (edited) I am gonna brag like a king! Steam?? Really excited about this! Edited August 11, 2017 by AashifProXD 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hurricane43 36 Posted August 11, 2017 Great information and congrats to the team in the impending move from incubator... Great job by all... Hope to see a stream of the dev team from gamescon so that is from across the ocean can also see what is happening at games on, hopefully a twitch stream or something like that to interact with the fans.... Good times and bragging ahead, should be a great time.... ? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John - NEXFER 111 Posted August 11, 2017 Congratulations! Three years working on a project is a long time, it must feel very satisfying for you and your team to have accomplished so much over this time, you've made something great! Thank you for all your hard work. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A3_Melle 150 Posted August 11, 2017 Congratulations with the "new label"! it must be worth a cake for the team wen the label "graduated" get put on, you have put a lot of hard work in Ylands and still have a lot to do! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
furrwizzer 6 Posted August 11, 2017 Great to hear that your baby is growing up. Steam will definitely add to the player base. I know I've had at least one person tell me they are planning on buying it soon, and one that was hoping for a Linux compatible version. I'll keep streaming and hope you do as well... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aleš Ulm 1725 Posted August 11, 2017 Thanks a lot, everyone! @Hurricane43 Bohemia Interactive will be a pre-Gamescom live stream with one segment dedicated to Ylands (where two other devs and I will talk about the game and answer questions ). It starts on next Thursday 17.8.2017 at 18:00 CEST / (Ylands bit is supposed to start around 18:45 CEST. Will post info about this event on Monday or so. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hurricane43 36 Posted August 11, 2017 Sounds like a cool stream party ahead.... Thanks for the information... ? Wait, now to see what time it is starting over here...? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WijkagentAdrie 384 Posted August 11, 2017 Good to hear! I hadn't planned on going to gamescom but might give it a go if I finally get my holiday around those days to meet you guys Are most of you around on all days? Adrie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aleš Ulm 1725 Posted August 12, 2017 Yes! Unfortunately, I have to leave a bit earlier - on 25th - but most of the team will be there the whole time. Everyone stationed at Ylands part of Bohemia Interactive booth will be a 100% pure Yland dev :), at least 10 of us - programmers, artists, internal QA, CM, designers... We will be easily recognizable by our Ylands t-shirts :). If you get the chance - do come visit us - we'd love to see and chat with you (and obviously you'll be leaving with some nice Ylands merchandise ). This goes for everyone here - if any of you guys manage to stop by, please talk to us, tell us you're already a Ylander so that we can thank you personally and take a good care of you! And if Cologne is out of your reach - don't worry, in future, you'll get to talk to us at other events as well 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A3_Melle 150 Posted August 12, 2017 Real shame I have to work again that week, looked at it a whie ago (not knowing BI would be there), the weekend I already got on call duty for the firedepartment and can't switch it unfortunately or else I would have dropped by, and I would have been easily rrecognised as I would have put my Ylands shirt on 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aleš Ulm 1725 Posted August 13, 2017 @A3_Melle Don't worry - I believe at some point in the future we'll go and pay our Dutch office buddies a visit and when we're in the Netherlands, we'll definitely make time to meet you as well ( Plus as much as I consider Gamescom an important event, I think that being on fire department duty kind of beats that ) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A3_Melle 150 Posted August 13, 2017 (edited) 2 hours ago, Aleš Ulm said: @A3_Melle Don't worry - I believe at some point in the future we'll go and pay our Dutch office buddies a visit and when we're in the Netherlands, we'll definitely make time to meet you as well ( Plus as much as I consider Gamescom an important event, I think that being on fire department duty kind of beats that ) Ha ha ha thats true! And I am sure I'll get a notification from you or @Korneel wenn you visit the Amsterdam Office I'll make sure I can make some time free to do a quick stop at the A'dam office as I already know where it is after I delivered some "sweet orange support" 2 weeks back for the A'dam team Edited August 13, 2017 by A3_Melle 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A3_Melle 150 Posted August 16, 2017 Did change my firedepartment shift, more departments from BI are coming so I can not resist not to come over, will be there 26th so won't see @Aleš Ulm unfortunately 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WijkagentAdrie 384 Posted August 16, 2017 4 minutes ago, A3_Melle said: Did change my firedepartment shift, more departments from BI are coming so I can not resist not to come over, will be there 26th so won't see @Aleš Ulm unfortunately Was hoping to see some other Ylanders, I'll probably be going the 23rd, if not the 24th Anyone else? Adrie 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aleš Ulm 1725 Posted August 17, 2017 @A3_Melle Don't worry about it - I'll meet you in Netherlands sooner or later and with Ane and most of the team around I'm pretty sure you'll be in good hands even when I'm gone @WijkagentAdrie Cool! Do find me there so that we can chat 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A3_Melle 150 Posted August 17, 2017 Unfortunately have to work the rest of the week so no chance going before the 26th and yes we will meet in Amsterdam @Aleš Ulm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
