Why Early Access?

“At TARTORGAMES S.R.L, we want to be transparent and upfront with our valued community of players. We believe in delivering a polished and complete gaming experience, and we do not intend to disappoint anyone. We want to ensure that our game, "Times Of War," meets the highest standards of quality and enjoyment.

Early Access is an opportunity for passionate tower defense enthusiasts and those who genuinely want to be part of the feedback process to engage with the game during its development stage. We invite players who are eager to provide valuable input, share their thoughts, and actively participate in shaping the game's direction.

However, we want to emphasize that Early Access is not intended for everyone. We do not encourage customers to purchase the game unless they are truly enthusiastic about the tower defense genre and are willing to provide feedback. It is important to us that our players understand the nature of Early Access and are fully aware that they will be experiencing an unfinished product.

By choosing to participate in Early Access, players become valuable contributors to the development process. Their feedback and insights help us refine and improve the game, ensuring it reaches its full potential. We greatly appreciate the support and dedication of those who choose to join us on this journey.

We want to express our gratitude to all our players for their understanding and for being patient as we work tirelessly to deliver the best gaming experience possible. Together, we can create something truly remarkable with "Times Of War" and make it a tower defense game that exceeds expectations.

Additionally, Early Access allows us to explore the compatibility and integration of "Times Of War" with the Steam platform. This phase will help us fine-tune the game's features, achievements, and community engagement tools to provide a seamless and enjoyable experience for Steam users.

We believe that your involvement during the Early Access phase will not only help us create a better game but also provide you with an opportunity to witness the game's evolution firsthand and contribute to its development. Together, we can shape "Times Of War" into the best possible tower defense experience.

We appreciate your support and enthusiasm as we embark on this exciting Early Access journey. Join us and be part of the "Times Of War" community as we strive to create an immersive and thrilling gameplay experience together.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“Over the next 12 months, we will be diligently working on creating a wide range of diverse and challenging levels for you to enjoy. We are dedicated to delivering frequent updates to enhance gameplay, address any reported issues, and introduce new features.

Rest assured that during this time, you will have access to regular updates simply by clicking the "UPDATE" button on Steam. This will ensure that you receive the latest content and improvements as soon as they become available. We understand the importance of keeping the game fresh and engaging, and we are committed to delivering a steady stream of updates throughout the Early Access period.

Our goal is to refine "Times Of War" based on your feedback and make it the best tower defense experience possible. After the six-month period, we plan to release the full version of the game, featuring a comprehensive collection of levels, polished mechanics, and a thoroughly tested gameplay experience.

We appreciate your patience and support as we work diligently to create a game that exceeds your expectations. Your feedback and engagement are invaluable to us as we strive to make "Times Of War" an unforgettable gaming experience.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“Our vision for the full version of "Times Of War" is to elevate the gaming experience to new heights by introducing an array of exciting features and content. Here's what you can expect:

1. Extensive Levels and Gameplay Hours: The full version will include a wealth of diverse and challenging levels, offering you countless hours of immersive gameplay. Prepare for intense battles across various terrains and face new strategic challenges with each level.

2. Expanded Vehicle Arsenal: We are expanding the vehicle roster to provide you with a wider range of armored vehicles, tanks, choppers, and planes. Each vehicle will offer unique characteristics and pose distinct challenges, requiring you to adapt your defense strategies accordingly.

3. Special Abilities: Combat the enemy onslaught with powerful special abilities at your disposal. Deploy devastating air-strikes or launch missiles to decimate incoming waves of enemies. These special abilities will offer you additional strategic options to fend off the relentless attacks.

4. Enhanced Technological Advancements: Explore an expanded tech tree in the structure upgrade system. Unlock new technologies and upgrades to further enhance the capabilities of your defensive structures. Discover new possibilities and optimize your defensive strategies.

5. Improved Interface and 3D Assets: We are committed to refining the user interface to provide a seamless and intuitive experience. Additionally, expect visually stunning 3D assets and environments that will immerse you further into the world of "Times Of War."

6. Optimization, Mechanics, and Polish: We understand the importance of a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience. The full version will undergo thorough optimization to ensure optimal performance on various hardware configurations. We will also refine mechanics, address any reported issues, and polish the game to deliver a seamless and immersive tower defense experience.

7. Achievements and Ranks: Unlock a plethora of achievements and rise through the ranks as you showcase your strategic prowess and accomplishments. Earn prestigious titles and rewards as a testament to your mastery of "Times Of War."

8. A lot of music and sounds.

9. Many more secret functions and mechanics are already in development.

10. And later, additional types of towers will be introduced + multiplayer.

With the full version, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive and refined tower defense experience. We are committed to delivering an exceptional game that exceeds your expectations and offers countless hours of strategic and thrilling gameplay.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The Early Access version of "Times Of War" offers a compelling gameplay experience with 5 challenging levels (+4 hardcore modes) , each lasting around 30 minutes. Players can engage with approximately 100 achievements and explore a diverse range of 60 different vehicles, each with unique characteristics.

The game features a functional experience system, allowing players to progress and unlock 36 technologies in the technology tree. They can strategically deploy explosive barrel traps and choose from three types of towers: Gun Tower, Laser Tower, and Plasma Tower.

Environmental conditions play a role in tower performance, with desert environments causing faster heat buildup compared to forests or snowy areas. The technology upgrades in the tech tree enhance the tower's range and the explosive barrel's damage. Certain tower types possess the ability to teleport vehicles back, with the Plasma Tower having this teleportation technology sooner and the Laser Tower acquiring it later.

Power plants, when placed near electricity poles, automatically connect and increase the overall electrical capacity. Players can also repair existing structures found on the map and utilize various energy-producing structures such as solar panels, oil rigs, rivermills, hydroelectric dams, windmills, and more.

In addition to earning tech points, players can select three out of seven strategic skills before starting each level. These skills include "Aim for the Tires," "Aim for the Compressor," "Aim for the Fuel Tank," "Cripple the Weak," "One Way Trip," "Bad Luck," and "Fire in the Hole." Detailed information about each strategic skill can be found in the game.

Laser Towers possess a native ability to occasionally instantly reduce a percentage of armored vehicle HP, while Plasma Towers project damage in an Area of Effect (AOE). Gun Towers are fast, have a large radius, and can achieve high crit chance when allocated tech points in their respective technologies.

Please note that the Early Access version is an evolving experience, and we greatly appreciate your feedback as we continue to polish and expand the game based on player input.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“Yes, the price of the game will increase by 19% when it transitions out of Early Access. This decision is essential to support our studio, cover operational costs such as employee salaries, utility bills, and invest in new assets and features that enhance the game.

As an independent game development studio, we strive to deliver a high-quality experience and ensure the continued improvement of the game. The increased price reflects the ongoing development efforts, the need to sustain our team, and meet financial obligations, including taxes and various expenses associated with creating and maintaining a game of this magnitude.

By purchasing the game during Early Access, you not only gain access to the evolving experience at a lower price point but also actively contribute to the growth and refinement of the game. We deeply appreciate your support and feedback as we work towards delivering an exceptional final version of "Times Of War."”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“At TARTORGAMES, we highly value our community of players as they are integral to the development of the game. We recognize the critical importance of their feedback, suggestions, and opinions, and we are committed to actively involving them in shaping the future of "Times Of War."

We have established channels and platforms where players can share their thoughts, provide feedback, and make feature requests. We carefully review and consider all the input we receive, taking into account the valuable insights provided by our community. Our team is dedicated to implementing requested features, modules, and modifications based on customer demands, striving to deliver an experience that exceeds expectations.

Moreover, we encourage our community members to report any bugs they encounter, whether visual or related to content. This allows us to address and resolve issues promptly, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience for all. Our commitment to transparency and open communication means that we actively listen to our community, fostering a collaborative development process.

By actively involving our community in the development process, we aim to create a game that truly resonates with our players and meets their expectations. We greatly appreciate the support and participation of our community members as we work together to shape "Times Of War" into an exceptional gaming experience.”