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Steam News17 October 20258mo ago

YOU NEED DOWNTIME - Dev Diary #1

Hi everyone! Welcome to the first Contact Protocol (or ConPro as we've started calling it) Dev Diary.

In this update4

Full notes

Full Contact Protocol update

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What changed

0 fixes1 addition12 changes0 removals
  • Server
  • Maps
  • Gameplay
  • Balance
  • Events
changedHi everyone! Welcome to the first Contact Protocol (or ConPro as we've started calling it) Dev Diary.
changedWe're working hard on fleshing out the world, refining core gameplay mechanics and getting feedback from some very early playtests. Our pre-alpha stage is ending soon though and with that, comes opportunity. We definitely want to put out a public demo on Steam in the next few months to drum up excitement. People really resonate with ConPro when they actually get their hands on it, like a good magazine. Anyways, let's get on to the meaty stuff...
addedMechanicsContact Protocol is a game about misinformation and trust. The notepad adds a new, 70gsm layer that lets us explore these themes. On your trusty notepad, you'll find known routes, squawk codes, hull types etc. for the ships you encounter. The notepad will also list who you learnt this data from. This allows us to craft interesting moral scenarios. If you start to distrust a faction, will you assume their data is untrustworthy too? Can you make actions on that assumption?
changedMechanicsThe notepad is a core gameplay mechanic that has brought us one step closer to being the investigation game we've always dreamed of.
changedArtBetween encounters with other ships, you'll have downtime at the desk in your quarters. Here, you can read news bulletins from your employer, interact with keepsakes and trinkets you've collected, and spend time with other crew members.
changedArtWe want to walk that fine line between cozy and claustrophobic. Your quarters will be a breath of fresh air away from the stress of the job, but also kind of a sad little hole tucked into the underbelly of the ship.

Contact Protocol changes

changedHi everyone! Welcome to the first Contact Protocol (or ConPro as we've started calling it) Dev Diary.
changedWe're working hard on fleshing out the world, refining core gameplay mechanics and getting feedback from some very early playtests. Our pre-alpha stage is ending soon though and with that, comes opportunity. We definitely want to put out a public demo on Steam in the next few months to drum up excitement. People really resonate with ConPro when they actually get their hands on it, like a good magazine. Anyways, let's get on to the meaty stuff...
addedContact Protocol is a game about misinformation and trust. The notepad adds a new, 70gsm layer that lets us explore these themes. On your trusty notepad, you'll find known routes, squawk codes, hull types etc. for the ships you encounter. The notepad will also list who you learnt this data from. This allows us to craft interesting moral scenarios. If you start to distrust a faction, will you assume their data is untrustworthy too? Can you make actions on that assumption?
changedThe notepad is a core gameplay mechanic that has brought us one step closer to being the investigation game we've always dreamed of.
changedBetween encounters with other ships, you'll have downtime at the desk in your quarters. Here, you can read news bulletins from your employer, interact with keepsakes and trinkets you've collected, and spend time with other crew members.

Hi everyone! Welcome to the first Contact Protocol (or ConPro as we've started calling it) Dev Diary.

We're working hard on fleshing out the world, refining core gameplay mechanics and getting feedback from some very early playtests. Our pre-alpha stage is ending soon though and with that, comes opportunity. We definitely want to put out a public demo on Steam in the next few months to drum up excitement. People really resonate with ConPro when they actually get their hands on it, like a good magazine. Anyways, let's get on to the meaty stuff...

Mechanics

The Notepad

Contact Protocol is a game about misinformation and trust. The notepad adds a new, 70gsm layer that lets us explore these themes. On your trusty notepad, you'll find known routes, squawk codes, hull types etc. for the ships you encounter. The notepad will also list who you learnt this data from. This allows us to craft interesting moral scenarios. If you start to distrust a faction, will you assume their data is untrustworthy too? Can you make actions on that assumption?

The notepad is a core gameplay mechanic that has brought us one step closer to being the investigation game we've always dreamed of.

Art

We recently decided on the layout for the ship. Stuff like the mess hall, crew offices and wet chain room all have a place now (every good cassette-futurism ship needs a wet chain room). Now, we can charge ahead on the design and illustrations for these rooms. Downtime

Between encounters with other ships, you'll have downtime at the desk in your quarters. Here, you can read news bulletins from your employer, interact with keepsakes and trinkets you've collected, and spend time with other crew members.

We want to walk that fine line between cozy and claustrophobic. Your quarters will be a breath of fresh air away from the stress of the job, but also kind of a sad little hole tucked into the underbelly of the ship.

Events

We're going places. Coming up, we have booths at...

Don't worry! We're not just twiddling our thumbs. If you catch us at any of these London-based events, you can grab some free goodies! We got stickers, posters and an opportunity to name some ships that'll be in the game ;) So come say hi!

What's next?

As mentioned, there's a demo on the way. Make sure to join our Discord server if you're interested in playtesting before it's officialy released. We may be sending out more builds at some point >_>

Oh and keep an eye on our socials too. There's something happening in the world of Contact Protocol that you might start seeing hints towards in our videos... and I'll say no more on the subject!

Until then, thanks for keeping informed about our game. Till next time!

"mreow"

Source

Steam News / 17 October 2025

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