Approaching Infinity was previously released by publisher Shrapnel Games. There is a lot of talk about that, but here are the facts:
- You could get a boxed copy with a printed manual 😍
- The price was $40 😲
- There was DRM that restricted users to 3 installs 🤔
- You could only download the game for a short time, unless you paid for “extended download service” 🤨
- Shrapnel games was the exclusive world-wide publisher for over 5 years, and had complete control of the game 😣
These methods are (up to this writing) Shrapnel Games’ standard business practices. These are not trade secrets. If you buy from them, you know this. (Although they often use a different type of DRM, they still use some form.)
All of these things led to many heated discussions, forum posts, rants, and maybe even a flame war or two…
But listen folks, that time is over.
Approaching Infinity is coming to Steam on August 5th, 2020, and things are different now. With the help of a larger player base, “A.I.” will grow bigger and better than ever.
If you are one of the Shrapnel Games customers who missed the final update, here it is, free of charge, on my website.
Why did I publish with Shrapnel?
- Approaching Infinity had been on Steam Greenlight for a year without passing. (Do you remember Steam Greenlight?)
- Shrapnel had a lot of confidence in my game
- I thought they would promote it and build a large audience
- Shrapnel Games previously published one of my favorite games of all times, “Space Empires IV”
What was the result?
- An excellent beta-testing process that greatly improved the game
- A 48-page printed manual that I will never shut up about! (I loved that stuff as a kid)
- But also…
- Stress
- Sadness
- Regret
- Resignation
- I quit game development 😞
Then what happened?
The same weekend that the pandemic lockdown started in my state (mid-march), Shrapnel opened a dialogue and we came to an arrangement. I was excited beyond words, but also terrified that it would fall through at some point, and I’d be left with nothing.
My hopes were realized, my fears de-materialized…