Ultra Off-Road Simulator 2019: Alaska will be supported on Linux with enough requests

Hi, so glad you guys are reading this forum! If you're impressed by the buzz generated here, we're doubly impressed by your engaging us!

Huh? What's so surprising with me coming here? O.o I mean, really - interacting with your players is probably one of the coolest perks of being an indie game developer. IT was actually my personal, main reason why I've become one. You won't get this kind of relationship anywhere else. I mean the joy of creating something is awesome too. But when you weave your creation into an interactive construct, and then you share it with the world and watch how people are happy because of it - this is a feeling I cannot describe. The only thing that I know that can top it - is when my kids came to this world.
Somewhat related :)

But since you're here, I might as well ask you:

1) What are your plans for DLCs (more maps, vehicles?)
2) are there *no* roads in your game? even dirt roads?
3) can you exit your vehicle and walk around?
4) How many maps will be included in the stock game?
5) how big are the maps? How long in real time would it take to traverse a map diagonally?
6) Will you have just one vehicle per map? Are there scattered vehicles around the map? Can you switch vehicles? If so, do you need to be physically adjacent to the new vehicle or can you teleport to an already discovered one, even if you're not sitting next to it?
7) Will you offer a first-person / dashboard view?
8) You mentioned repair kits. How do you obtain those? Will you be given a certain number as determined by map difficulty and that's it? Or can you find repair kits around the map?
9) Winches? Or a overturned car will be automatically re-positioned when using repair kits?

Sure thing buddy! :D
So.
1) What are your plans for DLCs (more maps, vehicles?)
More amps, different regions of the world, more cars, more car's customization. Some of them paid, some of them free. OF course, the release day is only the beginning. There are dozens of features we want to implement - but they will all come as free content patches. Free because, quite frankly - I hate when bits of game or a whole feature tree is locked behind a pay check. So when you buy Ultra Off-Road - you are getting the whole package.

2) are there *no* roads in your game? even dirt roads?
Actually there are. But they are more for decorative reasons. Plus - if someone if new to the genre - he would get lost very soon. So we've put some roads here and there, for you to follow. But of course- those trails, when being easy, will also result in a very bad time. This way we invite instead of forcing - the player to take the lead into his own hands, and explore! :D

3) can you exit your vehicle and walk around?
Nope. And never. The moment we let the player run around on foot - is the moment Ultra Off-Road will become two games. We want to avoid that. Plus organic character's are pretty damn expensive you know! D:
And we are just 6 passionate weirdos from Poland lol.

4) How many maps will be included in the stock game?
IF nothing will blow up till release - 3 maps. One where you roam Alaska during summer, one during winter and one during spring :D But don't go 'whaaaaaa only 3 maaaaaps?' one me! Our maps are exactly 4 times bigger than those from Spintires. Actually we made them as big as the engine can handle without the game turning into power point presentation XD.
Oh and ProGen bias! Everything is hand-places and arranged by our project lead. Every bush, every tree, every rock, every river, every dry branch - EVERYTHING was arranged by hand. TL;DR: We are doing level design the old fashion way :D

5) how big are the maps? How long in real time would it take to traverse a map diagonally?
2km^2 each. But don't judge the book by its cover - those are off-road wilderness. So its actually hard to tell how much time you need, from one side to another. But a lot. And its actually more about strategy and thinking rather than just holding the gas pedal. You got fuel, repair kits and (optional) hunger. Day becomes night, night becomes day. You really have to thread your way.

6) Will you have just one vehicle per map? Are there scattered vehicles around the map? Can you switch vehicles? If so, do you need to be physically adjacent to the new vehicle or can you teleport to an already discovered one, even if you're not sitting next to it?
Oh its quite simple really. At the start of the game, you pick one car from the available pool (currently - 5 cars) and you need to stick to it. No switching cars till the end. And the choice really matters because every car drives differently. They have different car truck capacity, fuel tank size, acceleration, max speed, durability and size. They are not the same ride just painted with another texture.

7) Will you offer a first-person / dashboard view?
Yup, but sadly not from day one. Our creed is to have it as good as we can - or don't have it at all. A cool First Person View asks for a unique, detailed and high quality cockpit. So the FPS camera will come as quickly as we'll manage to secure enough money to implement it in a proper way. Here, have a read. Its actually a very hot topic right now :D
https://steamcommunity.com/app/957050/discussions/0/1741103267293542428/

8) You mentioned repair kits. How do you obtain those? Will you be given a certain number as determined by map difficulty and that's it? Or can you find repair kits around the map?
Both. You start with some - and there are some extra around the map. Hence the exploration bit that actually rewards you for exploration :D

9) Winches? Or a overturned car will be automatically re-positioned when using repair kits?
Yup. We got winches already. As for the up-side-down cars and alike - that requires biggest repair kits. Which of course are not really common around.

Thanks for the detailed responses!! This game sounds f-in' awesome. It will be an insta-buy for me, the moment it releases on Linux.

This may have been asked already, but what engine are you using? Is it purely sandbox, or will there be tasks or objectives?

Excellent news, I'm loving this!

Quick OT:

Spoiler, click me

the publisher of the original Spintires stiffed the developer and that's why Mudrunner exists, better engine/game/features/support and is in active development, has had 2 free DLC, console ports coming and much more. Original Spintires is [abandoned](https://steamcommunity.com/app/675010/discussions/0/1473095965289058165/#c1473095965294645311) and neither game will come to Linux. If you're thinking of buying either game, do take this into consideration.

Thanks for the detailed responses!! This game sounds f-in' awesome. It will be an insta-buy for me, the moment it releases on Linux.

This may have been asked already, but what engine are you using? Is it purely sandbox, or will there be tasks or objectives?

My pleasure! :D As for Engine of our choice - we took going multi-platform from the get go - so we choose Unity engine. We want to conquer all platforms! Linux, Mac, Windows, Xbox, Playstation - even Nintendo Switch at one point >:-D


Last edited by IceTorch on 14 Jan 2019 at 8:05 pm UTC

Oh and btw guys - you are using spyware safe OS. Want to buy and play the game on a spyware platform?
Because we would love to publish Ultra Off-Road on GOG.
But as usually - we are not the one who make the call. You do.
https://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/ultra_offroad_simulator_2019_alaska
Make some noise. And they will listen.

Thanks for the detailed responses!! This game sounds f-in' awesome. It will be an insta-buy for me, the moment it releases on Linux.

This may have been asked already, but what engine are you using? Is it purely sandbox, or will there be tasks or objectives?

My pleasure! :D As for Engine of our choice - we took going multi-platform from the get go - so we choose Unity engine. We want to conquer all platforms! Linux, Mac, Windows, Xbox, Playstation - even Nintendo Switch at one point >:-D

I assumed as much, but thanks for clarifying. I'm just glad you didn't say "in-house".

Oh and btw guys - you are using spyware safe OS. Want to buy and play the game on a spyware platform?
Because we would love to publish Ultra Off-Road on GOG.
But as usually - we are not the one who make the call. You do.
https://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/ultra_offroad_simulator_2019_alaska
Make some noise. And they will listen.

I have, in the past, been a big supporter of GOG, and I still buy games there. Their commitment to Linux isn't great though. If you're going to sell it DRM free, my vote would be for Humble. Typically at Humble, I get both a Steam key and a DRM free download. Truly, the best of both worlds.

[Edit]I voted for it at GOG. Truthfully, if you sell it at GOG, that's probably where I'll buy it.


Last edited by hummer010 on 14 Jan 2019 at 9:59 pm UTC

Wow. I loved the old Cabelas off-road adventure game so this is a must have for me.

I wishlisted the game on Steam, isn't considered as "Linux request"?

I bet the vast majority haven't set their platform preference on Steam, which would make a wishlist show up as an unidentified platform.

Actually - this is exactly what my developer console is showing me.

So, I voted manually here... +10000 :D

BTW, Thank you so much for supporting Linux.
I got 1 little humbly request.. Take your time IceTorch.

Do it as perfectly possible according on you peoples' own pace. Don't rush out. Linux gamers are known as most patient among gaming community, as long the game isn't broken and the developers not slagging Linux or inciting war on DRM-Free.

Again guys... Thank you soo much! :D

looks interesting. I'll put it on my wish list.


Last edited by thelimeydragon on 14 Jan 2019 at 11:43 pm UTC

Wow. lol. Am I the only one who thinks these devs are too good to be true? :) I mean, IceTorch has been giving near perfect responses to every question so far. It's almost as if he's actually been paying attention to what we as Linux gamers want/need, and made it his mission to provide it. :) I was already interested before, but now I'm going to make this an instant buy.
@IceTorch, Thanks so much to you and your team. :)

Oh and btw guys - you are using spyware safe OS. Want to buy and play the game on a spyware platform?
Because we would love to publish Ultra Off-Road on GOG.
But as usually - we are not the one who make the call. You do.
https://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/ultra_offroad_simulator_2019_alaska
Make some noise. And they will listen.

That is just awesome!
I have nothing to ask right now, thank you. ^_^
Don't break our hopes! <3

Awesome, I can not wait for the release :)

Hahahaha! This is amazing :D So here I am, writing an official email to gamingonlinux.com, with a question could you guys maybe post an article about us and is Linux community interested. And boom. You did it already, before I even finished the email :DDD

So, instead of finish that email - I'll just jump in here and talk to you directly - how about that? ^_^

First of all - THANK YOU soooo much! All the kind words and honest curiosity about our game is already so motivating and inspiring. I really haven't seen that one coming. None of us did.

Next, to elaborate about the matter more in-deep:
As I said on the forums: yes, we do not discard Linux port. Actually - Ultra Off-Road is BEING MADE on Linux. Our lead programmer is a huge Linux evangelist and he does all the coding on his penguinish machine. Both Linux and iOS are UNIX operating systems. And as we intend to go with our game on Apple's storefront - having a UNIX supported version of the game was always on our To-Do List. Heck - that is why we discarded all DirectX libs and use OpenGL only. That being said - posting to Linux, when being rather easy - is still not just 'a click of a button'. It still needs some work. Ergo - some time.

So what I can promise, is that Ultra Off-Road WILL support Linux - take it for granted. But it is in your hands - how quickly and how soon. You define its priority. As I've been quoted: spam the living hell out of our game's forum demanding Linux port - and you'll get it, maybe even at the very day of release.

This is no marketing or PR tricks. It's simple math - we do what our players want. If our players want a Linux port - they will get it. After all - we don't make games for ourselves. We do it for you.

You talk - we listen. No strings attached.

So yeah - put this thing on fire guys - and lets all sit and watch the flames :)

This post confuses. If it's being developed on Linux and for Linux then why wouldn't it just naturally be a Day 1 Linux release?

This post confuses. If it's being developed on Linux and for Linux then why wouldn't it just naturally be a Day 1 Linux release?

Beta-testing/debugging. Robert won't do that. We need other people for this task. :/


Last edited by IceTorch on 15 Jan 2019 at 6:18 am UTC

This looks right up my street. If you manage to bring it out on Linux it's probably a buy from me!

I am really interested in this game and will buy it once it is out for linux. thanks for posting here IceTorch

Do you need beta testers?