Hey everyone - here's a somewhat dry (but informative!) update to tide you over while I work on the next Focus Update. Recent goings-on of note:

Performance

There's still a lot of optimization to do, but the past few weeks have seen solid FPS gains on most systems. People are also reporting even fewer of the dreaded out of memory errors that cause crashes during transitions. Which is great! I'm 100% for faster frame rates and fewer crashes. (Controversial opinion, I know.) Now that we've finally seen some actual improvement I'm setting optimization aside for a bit to work on long-neglected gameplay issues - quest killing bugs, dialog issues, etc. So if you've been patiently waiting for me to get around to those for weeks & weeks A) you're a saint and B) your time is coming soon.

Soundrack Release

Steve Barnes has released the excellent FRONTIERS soundtrack, which you can check out here. He has also written a bit about his experience composing the soundtrack in my latest Kickstarter update - you can check out what he has to say here. Did you know that Steve got in touch with the composer of the original Daggerfall soundtrack? Steve's just full of surprises.

Official Linux Support

I'll be quietly launching an official Linux version this weekend. There are still kinks to work out with the @#$&! mouse among other things, and I'll make that clear in the storefront text, but I think it's long past time to open the gates and invite more people to try it on a wider range of Linux systems.

You Are Not Alone

I've gathered a lot of good feedback on both Hunting & Trapping and Bartering, so I'm prepping a new Focus Update called You Are Not Alone. When that launches I'll post another update letting you know what it's all about - it's going to be a fun one. (Note: if you still have feedback on earlier focus updates don't hesitate to post it. I'm still only halfway through implementing Barter changes so it'll be a while before I close the door on that system.)

This Update Has Concluded

That's all for now - if you have any questions or want updates on something specific, post in the comments and I'll try to respond. (Bonus points for not yelling if I forgot something major.) Otherwise I'll see you when the new Focus Update drops. Cheers, - L

[ 2015-05-15 23:33:50 CET ] [ Original post ]

FRONTIERS blends the feel of first-person RPG classics like Daggerfall with the relaxing tempo and simplicity of a point-and-click adventure. Discover ancient mysteries, live off the land and fight deadly creatures, all in a beautiful, massive open world.

Is FRONTIERS for you?

I can still remember the first time I played Daggerfall. Yes, it was uglier than a monkey's armpit and controlled worse than a bumper car on a frozen lake. But it also created the feeling of a world that lived on even after I'd stopped playing, and that feeling still sticks with me all these years later. A world where you could spend hours searching every pixelated nook and cranny. A world of potential. A world of exploration...

...and then a Dragonling would chomp my face because I hadn't spent ten hours grinding in the easy regions. Arg! So frustrating!

Other games have touched on that elusive feeling, especially Elder Scrolls and early Fallout games, but as fun as they are and as much as I love hardcore RPG mechanics, I've always dreamt of a game that emphasized exploration above all else.

If you feel the same way then yes - FRONTIERS is for you!

Key Features:

• Massive open world - go anywhere, any time
  
• Unique relaxing pace and tone
  
• An exploration-focused main quest that spans an entire continent
  
• Simple gameplay - no stats or skill trees to memorize (It barely qualifies as an RPG, really)
  
• Live off the land - hunt, trap, fish and cook dozens of varieties of plantlife (including hallucinogens!) and a dozen varieties of animal
  
• Minecraft-style item crafting system
  
• Dozens of skills to discover and learn, including magic, survival and stealth skills
  
• Hundreds of shops, taverns, homes, caves, castles and other structures to explore
  
• A haunting soundtrack for every region
  
• Full mod support
  
• NEW: Oculus Rift support

NOTE: I recommend reading reviews & forum posts before purchasing, especially concerning Linux support.