Incline MENACE - sci-fi turn-based tactical RPG from Battle Brothers devs - coming to Early Access in Q3 2025

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

From discord:

We will be completely self-funded, HH is not adding any funding. We plan on doing and Early Access though, just like with BB as it worked very well there for us and helped make the game way better

 

[Alienman]

So what's the point then of a publisher? I mean, it's a digital release. Is it only for PR things? Wonder how much they take for that.

 

[None]

So what's the point then of a publisher? I mean, it's a digital release. Is it only for PR things? Wonder how much they take for that.

Support, localization, QA/testing, all the secondary and tertiary tasks that most indie devs don't have the skill or time to do.

The publisher is Hooded Horse, who is one of the best in the industry right now based on what they've helped put out. I think they'll be in good hands.

 

[Alienman]

So what's the point then of a publisher? I mean, it's a digital release. Is it only for PR things? Wonder how much they take for that.

Support, localization, QA/testing, all the secondary and tertiary tasks that most indie devs don't have the skill or time to do.

The publisher is Hooded Horse, who is one of the best in the industry right now based on what they've helped put out. I think they'll be in good hands.

I know who they are, they seem pretty good. They are backing Xenonauts 2 also. About QA/testing, they are going for an early access release, so that should cover that. Localization might be a thing, but it shouldn't be impossible to find volunteer work for that. Think they already did that with BB. I'm mostly just curious about how much they have to give up. I think in the case of Xenonauts 2, they gave all over all PR stuff to them.

 

[None]

So what's the point then of a publisher? I mean, it's a digital release. Is it only for PR things? Wonder how much they take for that.

Support, localization, QA/testing, all the secondary and tertiary tasks that most indie devs don't have the skill or time to do.

The publisher is Hooded Horse, who is one of the best in the industry right now based on what they've helped put out. I think they'll be in good hands.

I know who they are, they seem pretty good. They are backing Xenonauts 2 also. About QA/testing, they are going for an early access release, so that should cover that. Localization might be a thing, but it shouldn't be impossible to find volunteer work for that. Think they already did that with BB. I'm mostly just curious about how much they have to give up. I think in the case of Xenonauts 2, they gave all over all PR stuff to them.

From: https://mcvuk.com/business-news/har...bender-and-snow-rui-on-their-indie-publisher/

Bender says there’s no ‘Hollywood accounting’ at Hooded Horse. Standard terms are no recoup and the developer gets 65% of all revenues, with Hooded Horse’s share covering things like localisation and marketing. “Very, very occasionally, a developer might want something where we start out a little higher. If a developer really wants to drive that percentage down, we’ll do an alternative where we take 50% and then after a period we drop down to 30%. Very few developers take that, but a couple of them have been really wanting to drive that extra 5% long term. Most developers just want just no recoup and simple percentages.”

Also, Tim Bender has said they haven't signed a deal where they don't commit to spending a minimum of $100,000 on marketing/PR.

 

[Alienman]

Interesting interesting. Thanks for info.

 

[*-*/\--/\~]

Seeing it infested with the mandatory diversity and stronk whamen somewhat dulls my optimism. Hope it was just a condition to get funding and they will focus on the tactical stuff they did so well in BB.

 

[*-*/\--/\~]

Just imagine how stressful that kind of combat would be, beyond the usual combat stress. Pretty women that you shower with, now maimed and screaming for dear life on the battlefield.

That's part of why they're not frontline troops, iirc they found that men overly protected the female soldiers.

That, in addition to worse performance. I recall some US experiment when they replaced one fifth of a 400-strong unit with the best women they had and performance dropped 17%.

And for the football lulz, couple years ago the world cup winning US Women's team lost 5:2 to under-15 boys.

 

[thesecret1]

It's for added difficulty. Right as the going gets tough and you march to an undoubtedly deadly battle, all the women will inform you that they're pregnant and thus taking leave.

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

There's zero change that they'll write event where one of female squad leaders/pilots gets pregnant.

 

[thesecret1]

What do you mean, there's one such event right here, in the promo art. On the right, shortly after she told her commanding officer immediately prior to deployment.

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

There's zero change that they'll write event where one of female squad leaders/pilots gets pregnant.

I think I said it kinda wrong.

Spoiler

sser has admitted writing smut.

What I meant that there probably won't be an event where female officer informs player that she's pregnant and some choice must be made about how to deal with it.

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1922019134
Developer interview at 4h 30 min mark; Deutchesprechen unfortunately.

 

[Parabalus]

What do you mean, there's one such event right here, in the promo art. On the right, shortly after she told her commanding officer immediately prior to deployment.

Seeing it infested with the mandatory diversity and stronk whamen somewhat dulls my optimism. Hope it was just a condition to get funding and they will focus on the tactical stuff they did so well in BB.

There's zero change that they'll write event where one of female squad leaders/pilots gets pregnant.

I think I said it kinda wrong.

Spoiler

sser has admitted writing smut.

What I meant that there probably won't be an event where female officer informs player that she's pregnant and some choice must be made about how to deal with it.

They took a million from the gov, the money comes with DEI requirements.

 

[Sarissofoi]

So any news that are not in germ speak?

 

[PanteraNera]

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

Youtube upload of earlier Twitch interview.

 

[Sarissofoi]

Guys I figured why there is no gonna be inside buildings fighting and why urban combat gonna be limited.

Spoiler

>overlaid view of ruins of Stalingrad
>tired voice of german dev:
>'I fear no alien'
>'but this thing'
>zoom on Pavlov house
>'it scares me'

 

[Harthwain]

and why urban combat gonna be limited.

Huh? They are making squad-based tactical game and urban combat is going to be limited? Does this mean we'll be fighting in the open plains for most of the time or something?

 

[toro]

One question: Is this really a RPG?

 

[Parsimonious cook]

and why urban combat gonna be limited.

Huh? They are making squad-based tactical game and urban combat is going to be limited? Does this mean we'll be fighting in the open plains for most of the time or something?

I am pretty sure what is meant by "limited urban combat" is that there wont be multi-level buildings that you can enter. Urban combat itself is in the game, most of the videos show fighting in urban environment.

 

[Sarissofoi]

From what I gathered they still discuss if they gonna make buildings enter able or not. Current situation is that infantry can hide behind rubble but all buildings are locked(can be blasted but not entered)>>>limited urban combat.

 

[Beowulf]

Looks a lot like Ground Control, but instead of upgrading your squads, you'll be upgrading your characters?

 

[agris]

and why urban combat gonna be limited.

Huh? They are making squad-based tactical game and urban combat is going to be limited? Does this mean we'll be fighting in the open plains for most of the time or something?

I am pretty sure what is meant by "limited urban combat" is that there wont be multi-level buildings that you can enter. Urban combat itself is in the game, most of the videos show fighting in urban environment.

so what you’re saying is… forest maps with buildings instead of trees?

 

[PlayerEmers]

im optmist about this because they made BB, but im afraid about them switching to 3D...

the trailer doesn't show much of the actual game (about 45 seconds of pre-rendered stuff...) so Im unsure how the game will look/feel on release. they will probably deliver on the gameplay department (like BB) but I bet everything related to (3d) graphics/aesthetics/animation will be kinda mediocre/disapointing
we will see...