Posted December 17, 2019
Hey guys,
Welcome to POSTAL 4: No Regerts 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT'!
We recommend that you read everything here, where we detail our plans and do a Q&A
You are joining us right in the thick of things and will get an insight into our development process, where we pretend like we know what we’re doing! By buying into this, you are helping us make POSTAL 4 all it can be by contributing financially and also providing us with your feedback. Thank you!
Why release the game in 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT' program?
To date, we’ve been 100% self-funding this title through Steam royalties, but now we need to grow the team further, and we believe involving the community is the best approach towards making the best POSTAL game ever happen. We considered a few alternative options of funding, such as approaching publishers, many of whom showed interest but ultimately backed away due to fears around the controversy P4 may generate. We also considered a Kickstarter but then decided selling a paper pitch to the community was not our style. We want to show and demonstrate actual gameplay before looking to the community for help.
Working with a publisher this early on would have no doubt seen us having to hold back on some of the more outrageous ideas we have planned (not to mention most of them wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot dildo), so going at it our own way with the community’s support is an exciting prospect for us. This way, we can make sure we’re prioritizing the things that are central to our fans and players as well as getting a clear idea of what features you would like for us to implement and what aspects of the game you feel are the most important.
Why call it POSTAL 4 when you’ve disowned POSTAL III?
We had entertained the idea of calling it something like The Real POSTAL 3 or even POSTAL 2x2 as a play on words. We could have also confused everyone and done the whole reboot thing by simply calling it “POSTAL”. Ultimately, though, POSTAL 4 makes it clear that it’s the next big game in the POSTAL franchise.
But it’s not going to suck like POSTAL III… Right?
Fuck no! POSTAL 4 is being made in-house by much of the same team that brought you POSTAL 2: Paradise Lost and POSTAL Redux – a team that understands and respects the community and what made POSTAL 2 the timeless classic it is. POSTAL 4 will be the true sequel that fans have been craving for well over a decade!
Are you guys aware you’ve spelt ‘No Regrets’ wrong?
We Regert Nothing!
Why a new Voice actor for the POSTAL Dude?
Rick Hunter was not available to reprise his role as the Dude for POSTAL 4. We are, however, excited to announce that industry veteran Jon St. John, best known as the voice of Duke Nukem among many other memorable characters in his venerable career, has joined us, and we are very pleased with his take on the Dude.”
Approximately how long will this game be in 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT' program?
Until Mike J’s bidet runs out of water. Most important is that we work our asses off to give you our best effort, and of course we’ll be providing updates after its official release to add new features and make improvements.”
How is the full version planned to differ from the 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT' version?
POSTAL 4, much like POSTAL 2, will be split up into 5 days (Monday to Friday) with a new set of errands to finish each day. As you progress through the days, the game’s map will open up to reveal more of the world.
See our tentative road map for upcoming updates!
https://trello.com/b/r6OgwR1j/postal-4-early-access-roadmap
Design
We have a bulk of the design and concept art done for areas of the game not yet implemented. We won’t be sharing the core design of the game ahead of time in order to not spoil some of the things we have planned (or have someone like Rockstar steal our ideas for GTA 6!), but rest assured, we know where we are going with it. Future errands will get ever more outlandish and involved.
We may, however, share some design documents that focus on various game mechanics and planned features.
Humour/Satire
We plan for the humor to be more outrageous than ever! Due to the nature of Monday acting as a way to ease the player into the game’s systems, and also because we want the humor to be up-to-date for the game’s release, we’ve not yet added much of our trademark satire, parodies, and other pop culture tomfoolery. Fear not though – it’s coming in true no holds barred, low brow, RWS-style!
Game world
Around a quarter of the planned final world is explorable, although the art and level design will undergo many improvements. Many buildings that are inaccessible or incomplete at the moment will be opened up in future updates. Others will have their artwork improved, and we will also be working to improve the overall lighting in the maps.
Each day, when fully implemented, will open up new areas of Edensin, each having their own theme and style. Monday’s part of the map includes the suburbs in a dry desert area. Future areas will include more city-like built up areas and more lush green sections. There will be lots of variation in the overall world design.
Main Errands
The three main errands for Monday are implemented and fully playable in a “Janky Alpha State”™. Monday’s errands will serve as introductions for the game’s systems such as combat, interactivity, and animal training. These three errands will receive much more polish during the early stages of 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT'.
Of course, we’ll be adding more errands as we expand the map and implement the rest of the days of the week.
As for the state of the existing errands:
Prison Guard- While functional, this errand is currently missing some elements from the design such as a section that explains how the Taser Baton will work, polished cinematics and more scripted gameplay. Overall, this is the errand that needs the most work still in the current build.
Sewer Worker - The core of this errand is implemented. Future updates will improve some of the platforming and include more integrative puzzles. We’ll also include an event that takes place once all the tasks in this errand are complete as you leave the sewer to make completion more rewarding.
Animal Catcher - The animal AI and animations will receive more attention during the early stages of 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT'.
Side Errands
As well as the main errands, optional varied side errands will be added which will be activated through different means. Race Mobility Scooters! Put out raging fires with your Hose! Steal fancy art for a shady art dealer!
Three side errands are nearing the end of development and will be added to the in-game Monday during the early stages of 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT', and each preceding day will have its own set of side errands to complete in the future as well.
Side errands will grant the player rewards, such as a secondary means of earning money which can buy weapons, power-ups, or maybe to bribe yourself out of trouble with the law, and other unique bonuses.
Weapons, items, and vendors
POSTAL 4 is planned to have guns. Lots of guns And other household items that aren’t guns being used as guns. For now, a small selection is currently available in 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT', including the return of several classics as well as some handy new weapons. The arsenal will be expanded throughout development, and additional variations in the forms unique ammo types and weapon modes will also come into play to support different playstyles. Try out the Spurt’n’Squirt 9000’s different canister types and imagine what’s to come!
Additionally, the Catnip and Energy Drink return and are present in EA, and there will be some new power-up types and items that allow new abilities and actions. To acquire all of these things (aside from scavenging and theft), we plan for a more elaborate economy in POSTAL 4 where players can use their hard earned (or stolen) cash to purchase various power-ups and weapons. Vendors and vending machines will return.
Bystanders/AI
Right now, the AI is around what it was in POSTAL 2, give or take some features. We plan to take this much further in coming releases to make the AI more engaging and varied to interact with, as it is the attention to the little detail here that made P2 somewhat ahead of its time back in the day.
What’s there:
- Bystanders will randomly stop and chat to each other, as well as use their cell phones
- Bystanders will react to the POSTAL Dude when holding weapons, doing something weird, or forgetting to up his zipper after watering the flowers
- Basic combat AI and reactions
- Home invasion – NPCs will not like you just barging into their house uninvited!
What’s coming:
Routines – Many bystanders will be going about their day and you can follow them and see what shenanigans they get up to, assuming you can resist the urge not to ruin it!
Better pathfinding – Rather than randomly wandering around, Bystanders will take more logical routes with purpose.
Welcome to POSTAL 4: No Regerts 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT'!
We recommend that you read everything here, where we detail our plans and do a Q&A
You are joining us right in the thick of things and will get an insight into our development process, where we pretend like we know what we’re doing! By buying into this, you are helping us make POSTAL 4 all it can be by contributing financially and also providing us with your feedback. Thank you!
Why release the game in 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT' program?
To date, we’ve been 100% self-funding this title through Steam royalties, but now we need to grow the team further, and we believe involving the community is the best approach towards making the best POSTAL game ever happen. We considered a few alternative options of funding, such as approaching publishers, many of whom showed interest but ultimately backed away due to fears around the controversy P4 may generate. We also considered a Kickstarter but then decided selling a paper pitch to the community was not our style. We want to show and demonstrate actual gameplay before looking to the community for help.
Working with a publisher this early on would have no doubt seen us having to hold back on some of the more outrageous ideas we have planned (not to mention most of them wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot dildo), so going at it our own way with the community’s support is an exciting prospect for us. This way, we can make sure we’re prioritizing the things that are central to our fans and players as well as getting a clear idea of what features you would like for us to implement and what aspects of the game you feel are the most important.
Why call it POSTAL 4 when you’ve disowned POSTAL III?
We had entertained the idea of calling it something like The Real POSTAL 3 or even POSTAL 2x2 as a play on words. We could have also confused everyone and done the whole reboot thing by simply calling it “POSTAL”. Ultimately, though, POSTAL 4 makes it clear that it’s the next big game in the POSTAL franchise.
But it’s not going to suck like POSTAL III… Right?
Fuck no! POSTAL 4 is being made in-house by much of the same team that brought you POSTAL 2: Paradise Lost and POSTAL Redux – a team that understands and respects the community and what made POSTAL 2 the timeless classic it is. POSTAL 4 will be the true sequel that fans have been craving for well over a decade!
Are you guys aware you’ve spelt ‘No Regrets’ wrong?
We Regert Nothing!
Why a new Voice actor for the POSTAL Dude?
Rick Hunter was not available to reprise his role as the Dude for POSTAL 4. We are, however, excited to announce that industry veteran Jon St. John, best known as the voice of Duke Nukem among many other memorable characters in his venerable career, has joined us, and we are very pleased with his take on the Dude.”
Approximately how long will this game be in 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT' program?
Until Mike J’s bidet runs out of water. Most important is that we work our asses off to give you our best effort, and of course we’ll be providing updates after its official release to add new features and make improvements.”
How is the full version planned to differ from the 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT' version?
POSTAL 4, much like POSTAL 2, will be split up into 5 days (Monday to Friday) with a new set of errands to finish each day. As you progress through the days, the game’s map will open up to reveal more of the world.
See our tentative road map for upcoming updates!
https://trello.com/b/r6OgwR1j/postal-4-early-access-roadmap
Design
We have a bulk of the design and concept art done for areas of the game not yet implemented. We won’t be sharing the core design of the game ahead of time in order to not spoil some of the things we have planned (or have someone like Rockstar steal our ideas for GTA 6!), but rest assured, we know where we are going with it. Future errands will get ever more outlandish and involved.
We may, however, share some design documents that focus on various game mechanics and planned features.
Humour/Satire
We plan for the humor to be more outrageous than ever! Due to the nature of Monday acting as a way to ease the player into the game’s systems, and also because we want the humor to be up-to-date for the game’s release, we’ve not yet added much of our trademark satire, parodies, and other pop culture tomfoolery. Fear not though – it’s coming in true no holds barred, low brow, RWS-style!
Game world
Around a quarter of the planned final world is explorable, although the art and level design will undergo many improvements. Many buildings that are inaccessible or incomplete at the moment will be opened up in future updates. Others will have their artwork improved, and we will also be working to improve the overall lighting in the maps.
Each day, when fully implemented, will open up new areas of Edensin, each having their own theme and style. Monday’s part of the map includes the suburbs in a dry desert area. Future areas will include more city-like built up areas and more lush green sections. There will be lots of variation in the overall world design.
Main Errands
The three main errands for Monday are implemented and fully playable in a “Janky Alpha State”™. Monday’s errands will serve as introductions for the game’s systems such as combat, interactivity, and animal training. These three errands will receive much more polish during the early stages of 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT'.
Of course, we’ll be adding more errands as we expand the map and implement the rest of the days of the week.
As for the state of the existing errands:
Prison Guard- While functional, this errand is currently missing some elements from the design such as a section that explains how the Taser Baton will work, polished cinematics and more scripted gameplay. Overall, this is the errand that needs the most work still in the current build.
Sewer Worker - The core of this errand is implemented. Future updates will improve some of the platforming and include more integrative puzzles. We’ll also include an event that takes place once all the tasks in this errand are complete as you leave the sewer to make completion more rewarding.
Animal Catcher - The animal AI and animations will receive more attention during the early stages of 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT'.
Side Errands
As well as the main errands, optional varied side errands will be added which will be activated through different means. Race Mobility Scooters! Put out raging fires with your Hose! Steal fancy art for a shady art dealer!
Three side errands are nearing the end of development and will be added to the in-game Monday during the early stages of 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT', and each preceding day will have its own set of side errands to complete in the future as well.
Side errands will grant the player rewards, such as a secondary means of earning money which can buy weapons, power-ups, or maybe to bribe yourself out of trouble with the law, and other unique bonuses.
Weapons, items, and vendors
POSTAL 4 is planned to have guns. Lots of guns And other household items that aren’t guns being used as guns. For now, a small selection is currently available in 'GAMES IN DEVELOPMENT', including the return of several classics as well as some handy new weapons. The arsenal will be expanded throughout development, and additional variations in the forms unique ammo types and weapon modes will also come into play to support different playstyles. Try out the Spurt’n’Squirt 9000’s different canister types and imagine what’s to come!
Additionally, the Catnip and Energy Drink return and are present in EA, and there will be some new power-up types and items that allow new abilities and actions. To acquire all of these things (aside from scavenging and theft), we plan for a more elaborate economy in POSTAL 4 where players can use their hard earned (or stolen) cash to purchase various power-ups and weapons. Vendors and vending machines will return.
Bystanders/AI
Right now, the AI is around what it was in POSTAL 2, give or take some features. We plan to take this much further in coming releases to make the AI more engaging and varied to interact with, as it is the attention to the little detail here that made P2 somewhat ahead of its time back in the day.
What’s there:
- Bystanders will randomly stop and chat to each other, as well as use their cell phones
- Bystanders will react to the POSTAL Dude when holding weapons, doing something weird, or forgetting to up his zipper after watering the flowers
- Basic combat AI and reactions
- Home invasion – NPCs will not like you just barging into their house uninvited!
What’s coming:
Routines – Many bystanders will be going about their day and you can follow them and see what shenanigans they get up to, assuming you can resist the urge not to ruin it!
Better pathfinding – Rather than randomly wandering around, Bystanders will take more logical routes with purpose.
Post edited December 17, 2019 by marcinshaq
