Coffin Dodgers has certainly grown since its soft launch back in February on Steam Early Access. Since then, the dark comedic racer has undergone several updates and received varying requests from the community, ensuring the game stays on-course for its full release. That time has just about come, as Coffin Dodgers is preparing for a full launch early next month. But not before Milky Tea presents some surprises.
Ahead of the game's official launch, Milky Tea recently updated Coffin Dodgers to feature online play, something the community has been asking for. But there's still more to come, GameZone learned after speaking with company founder and managing director Jon Holmes.
"It's been overwhelming," Holmes said in reference to the game's traction. "The feedback has been awesome so far with the game getting 90% positive feedback on Steam." Holmes credits this to the team's transparent involvement with the community, which has led to design changes being implemented as a direct result. "We feel we have a game worthy of full release and it's now the game that the Steam community and ourselves want — and we have Early Access to thank."
Because Coffin Dodgers is in this phase of ongoing development, this has allowed the team to make refinements, but also add new game modes as a way of thanking loyal players who've stuck by the game. One such mode is called Snatch, which will be available for play as of tomorrow alongside another mode called Crazy Grandad. Holmes shared more details on Snatch when talking with GameZone.
Snatch builds upon the open world design of the game, where tracks are connected rather than being separate destinations on a list. Items are placed in random locations across the game world and must be retrieved before your opponents can nab them, using clues provided on the HUD to help you. The reason for the title is a mechanic where items can literally be "snatched" back from fellow racers, making the entire affair a collection-based battle race.
Interestingly, this game mode wasn't originally going to be featured in the game the way it is now. "It was meant to come as separate DLC," Holmes revealed, "but because we have built Coffin Dodgers as a massive open 3D world, we felt it was the right thing to do."
GameZone was also told that the full version will feature a storyline with multiple plotlines, potentially setting the stage for future developments. Holmes was eager to tease that even more DLC is in the works along with possible sequel ideas, centered around the Grim Reaper "bringing back past dictators and leaders" to board scooters like their elderly cohorts and fight for "a place back on Earth." Evidently, Milky Tea isn't quite ready to put the concept to rest (in peace).
"We always designed Coffin Dodgers to spin off into lots of other potential games in the future or potentially as an animated TV series," Holmes shared. "We have even been playing with ideas of the Grim Reaper having his own game and also some of the characters in the game like Hank having his own apocalyptic shooter game."
With having such a bright-looking future, could Coffin Dodgers make its way to the console space? Milky Tea doesn't rule out the possibility, especially since the community has voiced this as being something they'd like to see. "We've been inundated with requests to put the game on Xbox One and PS4," Holmes shared, "but we want to ensure that the people who helped us make the game, the Steam community, get [it] in full before anyone else."
At the very least, it's likely that the split-screen capabilities of the game will be put to good use upon the arrival of the Steam Box. With this development, Holmes believes "PC gaming will make its way more into the living room space and people will want to play games like this against friends hyper locally."
Moreover, Holmes remains optimistic that there will continue to be a place for cartoon racers like Coffin Dodgers, using Sonic All-Stars Racing Transformed as a cardinal example.
"Sonic All Stars on Steam goes to show there is a space for these types of games, and it's up to studios like us to innovate and develop games that encourage players' imagination, are simple to jump in and out of, and more importantly make people laugh and smile." It's safe to say the zany premise of scooter combat continues to deliver on that front. Hopefully more will get to experience the thrill of self-preservation for themselves when Coffin Dodgers launches in full early July.
