It has been three months since we realized a dream years in the making by releasing A Hero's Call. The ensuing weeks have been overwhelming, full of incredible encouragement, tremendous challenges, and a lot of reflecting on the past and looking to the future. Here is an update on some recent developments that are going to have a profound impact on the road ahead for Out of Sight Games, and for all of the gamers who have so faithfully supported us.
First, and most significantly: it is with a heavy heart that I report that Ian Reed, engine developer for A Hero's Call, has stepped down from his position as part of Out of Sight Games. It was Ian who first sought to form the creative partnership which eventually grew into Out of Sight Games and resulted in the development of A Hero's Call. We are permanently indebted to his technical skill in developing the game engine from scratch and adapting to the many changes it underwent as a result of the ever-evolving vision for the project. Personally, working with Ian has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and his initial invitation to partner with him was a dream come true, and a doorway to opportunities I never could have imagined. Ian's reasons for stepping down are his own, but we at Out of Sight Games fully support his decision and his reasons and are excited to see the amazing things which we can expect from him in the future.
So, what does this mean for Out of Sight Games, and more importantly, for A Hero's Call? Ian will continue to consult with Out of Sight Games and to provide basic support for the game engine. Without Ian's expertise and familiarity with the code base, however, changes to the A Hero's Call game engine will be less frequent, and likely less ambitious, than they might otherwise have been. This has also opened up a number of other discussions within Out of Sight Games about our development plans going forward, and the best way to work in the AHC engine for future updates.
The most significant question, where A Hero's Call is concerned, is that of the implementation of graphics. We remain committed to our promise to release a full-graphics version of A Hero's Call, however this process has been delayed as we take stock of our situation and investigate a number of options. We want to ensure that our development team, as it now stands, is adequately equipped to make the final release of AHC everything it ought to be; however, that may require taking a few steps backward before we can press forward. We will continue to keep you updated as significant developments occur on this front.
Obviously, any delays in the full-graphics version of AHC also involve delays in the delivery of several Kickstarter incentives, including the tactile cover art and the physical collector's edition. While we remain committed to delivering these incentives when the final version of AHC is ready, we also understand that some backers may be tired of delays. If you are unsatisfied with the amount of time you have been waiting and want to discuss a refund for the portion of your donation corresponding to the delayed incentives, please reach out via email and we will be happy to discuss this.
Finally, and on a much happier note, we are in ongoing discussion about our next project. While nothing can be announced officially, we're excited about what we have cooking, and look forward to sharing more with you as things develop.
As always, if you have any questions, please reach out. We're so grateful for the continued support, patience, encouragement, and input from the community, and especially from the backers who have been with us through so much of this journey. We have to be honest, and let you know that we aren't quite sure what the future holds for Out of Sight Games—but with your continued backing, we hope that it will be something worthy of the love and support we have received.
With true gratitude,
Joseph W. Bein
President, Creative Lead
Out of Sight Games