Let’s start by getting the bad news out of the way; the highly anticipated Early Access release of Saurian has been delayed until the Q2 of 2017 by the developer Urvogel Games. However, it seems that the dinosaur survival simulator was put on hold for good intentions, which we will get to shortly. Don't worry fans, the developers didn't want to leave you hanging and have instead released a gameplay video.
The announcement of a postponed Early Access date is not meant to disappointment fans -- it’s meant do the exact opposite in fact. Urvogel Games have revealed on their official website that several of the game’s key systems are not yet completed. To name a couple; the ontogeny system (the growth of a hatchling to an adult dino) and the integration of music and sound effects. The developers didn't feel comfortable releasing a semi-optimal game that would be buggier than any Early Access title should be. Their new estimated release date is for the second quarter of 2017.
However, these are not the only features left to be polished. The team want nothing but the best for their players and have several more items left on their list:
The developers have apologised profusely and ask that you keep an open mind. They are eager to keep everyone up to date with development news and breakthroughs in their bi-weekly devblogs.
Now for the good part! Urvogel Games have treated us to some special in-game footage of an A.I dinosaur in action with a little commentary on top discussing game development. Some of the playable dinosaurs available to choose from so far are the Dakotaraptor, Triceratops and T-Rex, with many more both in the works and ready for the Early Access release. Close your eyes and become a ravenous dino roaming six major biomes within Hell Creek looking for food and shelter. Will you choose to be the hunter or the hunted?
We all know how annoying and disappointing delays can be. You hear about a game, see all these exciting updates (the screenshots, trailers, gameplay vids, etc) and now there’s news of a pushed back release date. It's as if your life has been turned upside down and you feel like your support on their Kickstarter went unappreciated. However, did you consider that the developers feel the same way? They are just as frustrated and disappointed as you are.
Urvogel Games want nothing more than to please their fans and make them happy. Here they are gearing up for the release when all of a sudden, countless errors come to the forefront. No one wants to play a beta game with tons of bugs and missing features. We should be grateful that Urvogel Games are willing to take the time to smooth out their creases and aren't just another money grabbing corporate machine. When Saurian is finally released into Early Access, we believe it will be a truly worthwhile game. Get ready to check it out!