Why Early Access?

“The basic game is in place, fun to play and a great platform to build on. Early access allows people to experience its unique charms and to help decide which direction it takes from here. If a feature is suggested and it’s A) technically feasible and B) will make the game more fun, it will go in.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“The aim is to have a full release within nine months or as soon as it feels ready, both in terms of features, speed and stability. This is a game made by a passionate independent developer with just one coder, who has worked tirelessly for the last two years to get to this stage. Usually you would have a team of 20 or 30 working on a game of this nature, together with a small army of beta testers, so we think this proves how dedicated to the project we are. Making a football management game is the culmination of a life-long dream since we first played a game called World Soccer League on the C64, so we will not stop until it is as good as it can possibly be.”

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

“We're using Early Access to add more features, game modes, optimise processing speed and to fine-tune the balance of the game as well as the accuracy of the data through community input. An inbox system, Challenge mode, fantasy mode, squad-building AI and cross-platform saved games (so you can continue your game on the move) are just some of the additions we’ll be working hard at implementing over the coming months, as well as working on improving the balance of the game.

While we are open to suggestions, international football will not considered for this version of Retro Football Boss. However, other European Leagues are a possibility if a source for the data can be found.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“This is Early Access and this is an early build. Nonetheless, the game is fully playable, but there will be hiccups along the way. With thousands of permutations as to how your game progresses, there are bound to be a few annoying (and if you’re 1-0 up at Liverpool with Barrow, painful!) crashes. The game does however feature an auto-backup feature which will restore your game from the last point you pressed ‘continue’ should the unfortunate happen.

We are pleased with the state of the data given its huge scope, but there is always room for improvement – so let us know if something looks odd. Player attributes are dependent on their position, ability, career statistics and random elements, so in your game you might see a particularly slow Ian Wright or a Duncan Ferguson who can’t win a header. We can however instruct the game to boost or restrict key attributes for any player, and with over 40,000 players in the game your feedback is key to this process. See the forum for details on how you can contribute.”

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

“After Early Access has finished, the final price will reflect the additional content added during development - but it won't be a big change.”

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

“Player feedback is very important to help us to take the game to new heights. In addition to the Steam Community Forums, there will be a public forum where you can discuss your careers, report bugs and data issues, and suggest improvements or new features. Receiving player feedback is important so we can use it to improve and evolve the game to its maximum potential.”