Version 0.4 - Pirate Cove, Localisation System

Its been a while since our last update as we've been focused on the next level. If you've been on the Steam forum you may have seen a couple of GIFs we've posted teasing the level a little. The next level is a Pirate Cove and there's some work in progress screenshots at the end of this post. Besides a focus on the Pirate Cove, the other reason for the lack of updates in the interim is that we've been working on a number of changes that have required making significant changes and these needed to be completed before we could have another release. As mentioned previously we've rewritten the voxel system backend to better handle the various decapitation cases so that we can fix some of the current bugs and increase performance when getting particularly brutal with Smite, Berserk, etc. One of the other large changes that won't have a direct impact on English speakers is that we've started setting things up for localisation/translation to other languages. Most of the text in the game is now able to be localised for a variety of different languages, but our hope is to utilise the community to assist in the translations over time. A CSV text file will be available with the next update allowing you to change the text in the game for different languages and we'll create a web page allowing you to submit and vote on translations which we can incorporate into future builds. Our plan for this release (0.4) is to first release a build as a "beta" branch in Steam for those that want to play it as soon as possible and help us test the new level and changes. We're planning on having both day and night variations of the Pirate Cove level. We're pretty close to being ready for the test release and it should be available next week. This level ended up bigger than we anticipated and has taken us a couple of weeks longer than we'd planned, but on the plus side its allowed us to get a head start on the multiplayer and level editor.

Version 0.5 - Co-Op Multiplayer and Arena Mode

Following 0.4, we're going to release the first multiplayer test build as a beta in Steam to test the server creation/hosting, server browser, fall-back server, Steam invites and quick match features. We've also been working on this over the past few weeks so it should be available fairly soon after the 0.4 release for those that want to help us test those features. Following that we'll have a test level with actual co-op gameplay. We'll be working on the Arena level/mode during this time which will feature a series of increasingly difficult combat scenarios. The number of these will be added to over time as more enemy types are added to the game for new levels and modes. Version 0.5 will feature the Arena mode and the Co-op Multiplayer for the Arena and all levels.

Version 0.6 - Level Editor with Steam Workshop support

Version 0.6 will feature the Level Editor we've been prototyping internally. There are a number of changes to allow runtime navmesh generation and occlusion culling required for the level editor to work so this will likely be the only main feature added in 0.6. The level editor will be in-game and we plan to utilise Steam Workshop. The goal is to have version 0.5 available in March and 0.6 in April. We'll resume more regular updates with minor fixes after 0.4 is out and will continue to provide updates on progress and give better ideas on dates on when those will be released as they become more solid.

Beyond

We'll talk more about the release plans beyond 0.6 once we're closer to that point, but we'll be working on the Rogue-Like mode as the next major feature after the Level Editor. This should be the last main feature/mode of the game and will be the biggest. We'll be making more levels after 0.6 as well, and hopefully the Level Editor allows for lots of new content from the community additionally. There are of course many other changes, additions and fixes of various sizes including things like Leaderboards and Achievements which will come when the game is ready for them.

Roadmap List

0.4 Pre-Release Test

• Pirate Cove (Night) Level
• Localisation/Translations
• New Voxel System

0.4 Release

• Pirate Cove (Day) Level

Multiplayer Test Build 1

• Server and Connection test

Multiplayer Test Build 2

• Co-op Test Level

0.5 Release

• Arena Mode
• Multiplayer Co-Op

0.6 Release

• Level Editor with Steam Workshop integration

Pirate Cove WIP Screenshots. Click for full size.

[ 2016-02-17 02:30:05 CET ] [ Original post ]