London developer Beard Envy and publisher Kasedo Games issued a press release today announcing Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop, a roguelite spaceship repair sim. It has been revealed that it is scheduled to be released for PC in 2023.
Also, along with the announcement, there is a cute announcement trailer that depicts a broken spaceship coming to the main character Wilbur, a mechanic.
At an asteroid-bound service station on a deserted space lane, Wilbur makes ends meet as a mechanic. He must repair as many ships as possible and pay his tyrannical boss, Uncle Chop, the ever-increasing rent. Most of his customers worship mad cosmic gods, drop junk into giant black holes, seek out The Ultimate Treasure™, and mentally enslave donut shop workers. But Wilbur lives a much more humble life, fixing broken modules one by one to solve the galaxy’s problems.
■ Repair
Fix bugs in procedurally generated spacecraft modules using a wide variety of tools, diagnostic devices, parts, and workshop equipment. Be prepared to fumble, cut, loosen, tighten, grab and drop to complete as many tasks as you can within the time limit each day, from simple refueling jobs to complete overhauls. With multiple distinct ship brands and a huge variety of unique modules, your hands will get dirty in no time, in the most off-the-beaten-path locations.
■ read
For guidance on diagnosing and fixing spacecraft module malfunctions and operating workshop equipment, refer to branded manufacturer manuals and show off your basic literacy skills. And if literacy isn’t your forte, at least there’s a beautifully illustrated instruction manual to stare at! It was worth the practice building the IKEA furniture.
■ to upgrade
With what little hard-earned money not taken by Uncle Chop, you can expand your workshop, be able to repair bigger, more profitable ships, and run third-party businesses on the premises. You can invite them to improve your financial situation and repair many mysterious structures whose function is completely unknown.
■ talk
Interact with a variety of eccentrics through a multi-episode story and a full-length story with multiple endings. The lore is (*see note*) “deep, rich, and excellent”, with a variety of factions to choose from that will make you feel good about yourself. Each faction has its own nonsensical purpose.
■ Discover
Stories and random events, hidden puzzles and upgrades, and secret lore. Each day, and every gameplay, has something to offer that will be very different from the last time you played.
■ do the same again in a better way
Keeping up with rising rent payments is not easy, but cheer up and fight! Station upgrades, purchasable with secondary currency, persist through each gameplay, making life a little easier each time. Also, the more you do it, the faster and smarter you get, so keep doing it!