cheapskate

READ BEFORE YOU BUY:

DO NOT BUY THIS GAME IF YOU EXPECT AAA

this is a pre-alpha software development experiment

this is a solo / indie developer sharing pre-alpha early progress

this isn't a AAA studio using "early access" for fomo publicity 2 weeks before release

DO NOT BUY THIS GAME IF YOU EXPECT A COMPLETE FINISHED PRODUCT

this is a pre-alpha software development experiment

it's on early access to streamline sharing and testing

it's public strictly for the morbidly curious interested in seeing early steps

it's a collection of unfinished gameplay mechanics, gameplay systems, and menus made for development and testing, with no handholding, and no consideration for a player

DO NOT BUY THIS GAME IF YOU EXPECT ANALOG STICK SIM: THIS IS NOT A SIM SKATING GAME

this game uses "classic", "arcade" action sports inputs with snappy digital trick triggering

there is an attempt to keep the world semi-realistic in dimension, speed, and jump height but still arcade-like

IF YOU BOUGHT THIS GAME AND THOUGH IT WAS GOING TO BE FINISHED OR AAA OR SIM AND YOU'RE ANGRY

feel free to contact me so I can work out some kind of refund if it's past the refund period

again, don't want to confuse real early access for 'commercial product', this is for curious people who want to see early steps and support a solo-dev. There are AAA games on sale for under 5 dollars, money can go far on Steam so not trying to rip anyone off here.

let me know if there's a more clear way to communicate all this

TLDR; DO NOT BUY THIS GAME

IF YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED, THEN CARRY ON. OTHERWISE, THIS GAME IS PROBABLY NOT FOR YOU AND YOU SHOULD NOT SPEND MONEY ON IT. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING.

WHERE IS DEVELOPMENT AT:PRE-ALPHA:

prototyping and developing core features

all existing features are still in development and subject to change

all remaining core features are in design and prototyping and subject to change

when all core features are defined, prototyped, and refined then:

the project will enter Alpha

during Alpha, actual content will be defined, prototyped, and refined

until then, all current content is subject to change

WHAT IS THIS GAME PITCH:

THIRD PERSON ACTION SPORTS SANDBOX

primarily skateboarding (bmx, mtb, ski, snowboard, speedfly to come)

off board walking controls, with extended controls to come (climb, shimmy, wallrun, melee combat)

simple story mode with mission progression through levels, simple session mode with basic challenges

mod support so people can create their own content (levels, characters, challenges, missions, stories)

WHAT IS CURRENTLY PLAYABLE:

CORE GAMEPLAY MECHANICS

Character

first pass blockout character with separated static mesh components for future player customization

first pass blockout animation poses for all actions and tricks

Skateboard

first pass blockout skateboard with separated static mesh components for future player customization

Offboard 3rd person controller

walk, run, jump, double jump, climb

caveman into fliptrick, grab trick, manual, grind, or slide

Onboard 3rd person controller

supports player selected default stance and recognizes switch

skate, crouch, ollie, spin

manual and nose manual

with balance meter

8 fliptricks triggered with d-pad direction & button

kickflip, heelflip, pop-shov, treflip, hardflip, inward heel, varial flip, varial heel,Â

8 grinds/slides triggered with d-pad & button

with balance meter

with separate detection and scoring support for frontside and backside

grinds:

50-50, 5 oh, nosegrind, feeble, smith, crook, over crook

slides:

nose slide, tail slide

boardslides triggered by landing on rail sideways (and button)

separate detection and scoring support for boardslides and lipslides

Natas spins

3 variations

middle of board, nose, and tail

8 grab tricks triggered with d-pad & button

nose, tail, melon, indy, japan, stalefish, madonna, benihanna

first pass transition skating and vert air

wallrides (frontside & backside) triggered by landing on wall with button

slappies and wallies into wallrides from ground with button

wallplants to jump off walls and change direction (frontside & backside)

reverts to switch stance or scuff speed (frontside & backside + manual / nose manual support)

powerslides for style (hold both revert direction buttons mid revert, frontside & backside + manual / nose manual support)

Scoring

complete combo tracking

complete trick detection and scoring with score degradation for repeat tricks within combo

rail monitoring during combo for balance degradation for repeat rails and balance healing for fresh rails within combo

separate grind trick and slide trick balance degradation and healing

separate manual and nose manual balance degradation and healing

heal manual / nose manual balance with offboard run during combo

per level session and all time high combo and high bail score tracking in game save

Levels

there are 4 work in progress development levels meant to support testing for all the gameplay mechanics

a tight skatepark by a beach, a slower more open skatepark on a rooftop, a mellow plaza spot under trees, and a downhill city level

there is also a gap test level for developing and testing the gap systems, it's included just for something extra to skate

Time of Day & Weather

each level supports 4 different times of the day for different lighting and feel

each level also supports 4 different types of weather for different environment set dressing and feel

Gaps

complete gap system supporting detection for air, air tricks, manuals, grinds, slides, running, and wallrides

Story Mode and Session Mode

early separation of base game modes

a story progression framework with NPC style objectives

a free skate mode with player selected configurable challenges

Story Mode Challenges

Objective system has been created to manage Story Missions and Level Sidequests

4 test Photographer sidequests exist in the beach skatepark level to test the system

Session Mode Challenges

player configurable challenges that can be activated from the pause menu and are fully supported in the beach skatepark level

optional timer, and optional challenges: high score, high combo, collect skateboard parts, collect skulls from risky spots, smash 5 billboards, find and grind our mascot cheapass

high score, high combo, and smash billboards available in all levels (except gap test, which just supports high score and high combo)

Multiplayer

host or join a game with a host code (peer to peer, no account needed), skate with friends (no gameplay modes yet, but high scores and high bails get notified to everyone in the lobby while everyone is skating so you have some context at least for now)

WHAT IS CURRENTLY CUSTOMIZABLE:

SKATEBOARD

HOW TO ACCESS SKATEBOARD CUSTOMIZATION:

switch to walking (L1 + R1 / LB + RB)

then sit (Circle / B)

WHAT'S CUSTOMIZABLE:

Deck: top, middle, and bottom ply color

Deck: bottom graphic

Deck: grip tape

Trucks:

toggle and color risers

color:

base plate, base cups, hanger pivot, hanger bar, king pin, bottom bushing, top bushing, pivot bushing, washers, nuts

Bearings:

toggle and color bearing shields

color:

bearing casings, bearing rings, bearing balls

Wheels:

color:

wheel core, outer wheel

WHAT IS CURRENTLY MODABLE:

LEVELS

there is an unsupported experimental pre-alpha end-to-end level modding pipeline allowing geometry import to Godot, adding gap triggers, surface tags, and rail splines, and export to a format the game will read by putting the level in the game's "Levels" folder

level modding is unsupported and will remain experimental until the game is complete, it should be treated as disposable experimental testing as the pipeline and underlying game change during development

WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT FOR UPCOMING UPDATES:

CORE CUSTOMIZATION SYSTEMS

skater customization (body, clothing, accessories)

CORE GAMEPLAY MECHANICS

second pass vert air (refine speed, camera, and add transfers)

CORE GAMEPLAY SYSTEMS

multiplayer support for session mode challenges

multiplayer support for host to configure and start challenges

WHAT IS ON THE ROADMAP FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT:

CORE GAMEPLAY SYSTEMS

set of story based missions with NPCs and cutscenesÂ

filmer side quest system with filmer NPC and cutscenes

NBD (gaps) side quest system with 'epic spot' buddy NPC and cutscenes

level interactions that change skateable level geometry

character customization (hair, clothing, accessories)

progression system through objectives and levels

mod support for custom characters, missions, and progressions

Steam Workshop support so people can sell their mods

SOLO-DEV PROCESS

This is an experimental software development project by someone in their limited spare time (approx. < 1% of life)

This is not a studio, or team, or 'The Developer'

Game updates happen frequently sometimes and infrequently others

There have been over 50 updates since Early Access began

NO GENERATIVE AI WAS USED TO CREATE THIS GAME BECAUSE I HATE THAT CRAP

No gen ai "art"

No gen ai "music"

No gen ai "writing"

No gen ai "vibe coding"

No gen ai "coding helpers"

No gen ai "repository / deployment management"