Left 4 Dead 2 - contact@rockpapershotgun.com (Brendan Caldwell)

The Steam summer sale is in full blaze. For a while it even blazed so hot that the servers went on fire and all the price stickers peeled off the games. Either that or the store just got swamped with cheapskates looking for the best bargains. Cheapskates like you! Well, don t worry. We ve rounded up some recommendations – both general tips and some newly added staff choices.

Here are the things you should consider owning in your endless consumeristic lust for a happiness which always seems beyond reach. You’re welcome.

… [visit site to read more]

Left 4 Dead 2 - contact@rockpapershotgun.com (Brendan Caldwell)

The Steam summer sale is in full blaze. For a while it even blazed so hot that the servers went on fire and all the price stickers peeled off the games. Either that or the store just got swamped with cheapskates looking for the best bargains. Cheapskates like you! Well, don t worry. We ve rounded up some recommendations – both general tips and some specific staff choices.

Here are the things you should consider owning in your endless consumeristic lust for a happiness which always seems beyond reach. You’re welcome.

… [visit site to read more]

The Long Dark - Hinterland_Studio


Hello community,

We've just released a Hotfix to FAITHFUL CARTOGRAPHER, bringing the game to v.426 and addressing a variety of issues, outlined below.

CHANGELIST

CRASH MITIGATION

* Fixed rare crash when bullet raycast hit an object
* Fixed rare crash when clicking rapidly when throwing a Torch or Flare
* Fixed rare crash when examining inventory items

CHANGES

* Add Bandage to starting player items in Hunted
* Updated icons for Old Man's Beard items (harvestable item and crafted Treatment)
* Added translations for all remaining non-localized strings from 424 launch

BUGS

* Fixed issue with not being able to dismiss save failure popup using gamepad
* Fixed issue with saved Journals not showing written notes, skills or collectibles.
* Fixed issue with resolutions passed from command line not being used. This fixes issue with game not running multiscreen for some players.
* Fixed issue with not being able to rebind key when mouse hovered over input field
* Fixed issue with some UI actions not being possible when using a Steam Controller
* Fixed issue with all Experience Mode icons being highlighted on death screen stats
* Fixed issue with First Aid UI not updating if affliction list changes while screen is active
* Fixed issue with Hypothermia and Frostbite Risk percentages not showing up on icons
* Fixed issue where female survivor slot could be used when male survivor slot was highlighted
* Fixed issue with Hunger/Thirst arrows sometimes pointing wrong direction
* Fixed issue with mouse pointer flickering on screen when opening a can in Fire UI
* Fixed issue with TOD indicator not showing up in Status UI
* Fixed issue with TOD indicator shifting turing Harvesting
* Fixed issue with background blur disappearing in Harvest UI when aborting a harvest
* Fixed issue with camera switching when pushing LS on gamepad when in Quartering UI
* Fixed issue with non-functional Harvest option showing up when on Quartering UI
* Fixed issue with hand sometimes not syncing correctly with lantern in first person
* Fixed issue with some trees having incorrect lighting (most noticeable at night)
* Fixed issue with gamepad navigation on Clothing UI
* Fixed issue with Quit button on death screen having dark text
* Fixed issue with encumbered icon overlapping full screen UI
* Fixed issue with scroll audio playing unnecessarily on Clothing and Crafting UI
* Fixed issue with Lantern sometimes not equipping after leaving a UI screen
* Use LT/RT instead of LB/RB for top level navigation in Fire UI

### END OF CHANGELIST ###

Thank you for reading. If you find additional bugs while playing, please report them in our Public Bug Database at: https://hinterlandgames.atlassian.net/projects/TLDP/

- The Hinterland Team
The Long Dark - Hinterland_Studio


Hello community,

We've just released a Hotfix to FAITHFUL CARTOGRAPHER, bringing the game to v.426 and addressing a variety of issues, outlined below.

CHANGELIST

CRASH MITIGATION

* Fixed rare crash when bullet raycast hit an object
* Fixed rare crash when clicking rapidly when throwing a Torch or Flare
* Fixed rare crash when examining inventory items

CHANGES

* Add Bandage to starting player items in Hunted
* Updated icons for Old Man's Beard items (harvestable item and crafted Treatment)
* Added translations for all remaining non-localized strings from 424 launch

BUGS

* Fixed issue with not being able to dismiss save failure popup using gamepad
* Fixed issue with saved Journals not showing written notes, skills or collectibles.
* Fixed issue with resolutions passed from command line not being used. This fixes issue with game not running multiscreen for some players.
* Fixed issue with not being able to rebind key when mouse hovered over input field
* Fixed issue with some UI actions not being possible when using a Steam Controller
* Fixed issue with all Experience Mode icons being highlighted on death screen stats
* Fixed issue with First Aid UI not updating if affliction list changes while screen is active
* Fixed issue with Hypothermia and Frostbite Risk percentages not showing up on icons
* Fixed issue where female survivor slot could be used when male survivor slot was highlighted
* Fixed issue with Hunger/Thirst arrows sometimes pointing wrong direction
* Fixed issue with mouse pointer flickering on screen when opening a can in Fire UI
* Fixed issue with TOD indicator not showing up in Status UI
* Fixed issue with TOD indicator shifting turing Harvesting
* Fixed issue with background blur disappearing in Harvest UI when aborting a harvest
* Fixed issue with camera switching when pushing LS on gamepad when in Quartering UI
* Fixed issue with non-functional Harvest option showing up when on Quartering UI
* Fixed issue with hand sometimes not syncing correctly with lantern in first person
* Fixed issue with some trees having incorrect lighting (most noticeable at night)
* Fixed issue with gamepad navigation on Clothing UI
* Fixed issue with Quit button on death screen having dark text
* Fixed issue with encumbered icon overlapping full screen UI
* Fixed issue with scroll audio playing unnecessarily on Clothing and Crafting UI
* Fixed issue with Lantern sometimes not equipping after leaving a UI screen
* Use LT/RT instead of LB/RB for top level navigation in Fire UI

### END OF CHANGELIST ###

Thank you for reading. If you find additional bugs while playing, please report them in our Public Bug Database at: https://hinterlandgames.atlassian.net/projects/TLDP/

- The Hinterland Team
The Long Dark - Hinterland_Studio


Hello community,

We're excited to share with you our last update to The Long Dark's Sandbox in Early Access. We're calling this update: FAITHFUL CARTOGRAPHER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMKXQTAHI_c

CHANGES

* User Interface Overhaul. All screens, buttons, HUD elements, etc. have been updated to better match the game's aesthetic, along with some usability changes in anticipation of our August 1st launch of WINTERMUTE.

* Accessible Interactions. We've added a new option in the Control settings, for players who suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and similar conditions. This makes all click/press+hold interactions a single click/press.

* Save System Overhaul. We've recreated our save system from scratch to future-proof the game. As a result, all previous Sandbox saves are now invalid. Saves from FAITHFUL CARTOGRAPHER will not be wiped at our 1.0 launch.

* Charcoal Mapping. Collect Charcoal from burned out fires. Use it to Survey your local area, updating your local region map with information about what you can see from your current position. The new Navigation section of the Radial and Main Nav provides access to the Map.

* Carcass Quartering System. In addition to the previous harvesting mechanic, you can now "Quarter" a carcass into bags of harvestable meat, allowing you to transport them to a better location for further harvesting.

* Scent System & HUD Element. Blood (your own, or from carcasses) makes you more attractive to predators. The Strength of the attraction is indicated by the new HUD element.

* Visual Updates. We've updated the lighting, fog colour, and fog distance, providing much longer vista views in the game which makes it easier to navigate by visible landmarks. We've also been updating interior lighting. We'll be continuing this work right up to our August 1st launch.

* First-Person Presence. The following tools have been updated with first-person hands: Rifle, Bow, Distress Pistol, Stim, and all Light Sources.

* Thrown Flares & Torches. We've removed Brandishing and brought back the old Throwing mechanic. You can throw lit Torches and Flares at Wolves to scare them off.

* Stone Throwing. You can now pick up and throw Stones in the world. Hitting a Rabbit with a Stone will stun it, providing an early-game option for hunting. Then you have to decide whether to kill or release it. Thrown Stones might even scare off a wolf, if you're very lucky.

* Struggle Weapon Choice. When you get into a Wolf struggle, you now have the option to select between available tools based on the outcome you're looking for: Scare off the wolf, Defend yourself from damage, or go for the Kill.

* First Aid Treatment. You can now treat Afflictions by using First Aid items directly from the Radial. The game no longer pre-selects the correct Treatment for you. Also, Old Man's Beard Dressings no longer require Bandages to Craft but only treat Infection Risk (and not Blood Loss).

* Optimizations. We've updated Unity a few times and worked on several optimizations to improve performance.

* Enhanced Graphics Options (Win/Mac/Linux Only). We've added a variety of Display and Quality settings so that you can customize your preferences to balance between beauty and performance.

* PS4 Controller Support. As we're bringing The Long Dark to PS4 on August 1st, you can now play the game with a PS4 controller.

* Crafting from Journal. You can now preview Crafting Blueprints in the Journal. All craftables that can be made without the use of a Workbench or Forge can now be crafted directly from the Journal. [NOTE: The current Journal is WIP and will be updated for our full August 1st launch.]

CRASH MITIGATION AND BUG FIXES

* Too numerous to list.

KNOWN ISSUES (Will be Hotfixed ASAP)

* Issue with Hunted, Part 1. We need to add a Bandage to the starting location.
* New Time of Day indicator should appear in both the Quick Stats and Radial UIs.
* Some localization strings did not make it into the build in time; we have the translations and they will be submitted in the next hotfix.
* Investigating issues with the game not loading on some Linux distributions.

REPORTING BUGS

Please report all bugs directly in our Public Bug Database: https://hinterlandgames.atlassian.net/projects/TLDP/

THANK YOU, COMMUNITY

FAITHFUL CARTOGRAPHER will be the last time we update the Sandbox in Early Access. Thank you for all your support of our game and studio over the years. We're very excited to share with you, our full launch of The Long Dark 1.0 on August 1st, 2017.

You have been a wonderful community and we look forward to continuing to build The Long Dark into the future. We hope you enjoy what we have created for you in WINTERMUTE, coming August 1st.

- The Hinterland Team

The Long Dark - Hinterland_Studio


Hello community,

We're excited to share with you our last update to The Long Dark's Sandbox in Early Access. We're calling this update: FAITHFUL CARTOGRAPHER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMKXQTAHI_c

CHANGES

* User Interface Overhaul. All screens, buttons, HUD elements, etc. have been updated to better match the game's aesthetic, along with some usability changes in anticipation of our August 1st launch of WINTERMUTE.

* Accessible Interactions. We've added a new option in the Control settings, for players who suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and similar conditions. This makes all click/press+hold interactions a single click/press.

* Save System Overhaul. We've recreated our save system from scratch to future-proof the game. As a result, all previous Sandbox saves are now invalid. Saves from FAITHFUL CARTOGRAPHER will not be wiped at our 1.0 launch.

* Charcoal Mapping. Collect Charcoal from burned out fires. Use it to Survey your local area, updating your local region map with information about what you can see from your current position. The new Navigation section of the Radial and Main Nav provides access to the Map.

* Carcass Quartering System. In addition to the previous harvesting mechanic, you can now "Quarter" a carcass into bags of harvestable meat, allowing you to transport them to a better location for further harvesting.

* Scent System & HUD Element. Blood (your own, or from carcasses) makes you more attractive to predators. The Strength of the attraction is indicated by the new HUD element.

* Visual Updates. We've updated the lighting, fog colour, and fog distance, providing much longer vista views in the game which makes it easier to navigate by visible landmarks. We've also been updating interior lighting. We'll be continuing this work right up to our August 1st launch.

* First-Person Presence. The following tools have been updated with first-person hands: Rifle, Bow, Distress Pistol, Stim, and all Light Sources.

* Thrown Flares & Torches. We've removed Brandishing and brought back the old Throwing mechanic. You can throw lit Torches and Flares at Wolves to scare them off.

* Stone Throwing. You can now pick up and throw Stones in the world. Hitting a Rabbit with a Stone will stun it, providing an early-game option for hunting. Then you have to decide whether to kill or release it. Thrown Stones might even scare off a wolf, if you're very lucky.

* Struggle Weapon Choice. When you get into a Wolf struggle, you now have the option to select between available tools based on the outcome you're looking for: Scare off the wolf, Defend yourself from damage, or go for the Kill.

* First Aid Treatment. You can now treat Afflictions by using First Aid items directly from the Radial. The game no longer pre-selects the correct Treatment for you. Also, Old Man's Beard Dressings no longer require Bandages to Craft but only treat Infection Risk (and not Blood Loss).

* Optimizations. We've updated Unity a few times and worked on several optimizations to improve performance.

* Enhanced Graphics Options (Win/Mac/Linux Only). We've added a variety of Display and Quality settings so that you can customize your preferences to balance between beauty and performance.

* PS4 Controller Support. As we're bringing The Long Dark to PS4 on August 1st, you can now play the game with a PS4 controller.

* Crafting from Journal. You can now preview Crafting Blueprints in the Journal. All craftables that can be made without the use of a Workbench or Forge can now be crafted directly from the Journal. [NOTE: The current Journal is WIP and will be updated for our full August 1st launch.]

CRASH MITIGATION AND BUG FIXES

* Too numerous to list.

KNOWN ISSUES (Will be Hotfixed ASAP)

* Issue with Hunted, Part 1. We need to add a Bandage to the starting location.
* New Time of Day indicator should appear in both the Quick Stats and Radial UIs.
* Some localization strings did not make it into the build in time; we have the translations and they will be submitted in the next hotfix.
* Investigating issues with the game not loading on some Linux distributions.

REPORTING BUGS

Please report all bugs directly in our Public Bug Database: https://hinterlandgames.atlassian.net/projects/TLDP/

THANK YOU, COMMUNITY

FAITHFUL CARTOGRAPHER will be the last time we update the Sandbox in Early Access. Thank you for all your support of our game and studio over the years. We're very excited to share with you, our full launch of The Long Dark 1.0 on August 1st, 2017.

You have been a wonderful community and we look forward to continuing to build The Long Dark into the future. We hope you enjoy what we have created for you in WINTERMUTE, coming August 1st.

- The Hinterland Team

The Long Dark - Hinterland_Studio
Hello community,

As mentioned in this post, we will be wiping all Sandbox saves when we update the game to FAITHFUL CARTOGRAPHER.

The update should be arriving within the next 24 hours.

After the update, you will no longer be able to use your current Sandbox save games.

All Badge and Feats -- unlocked and in progress -- as well as Saved Journals, will be preserved.

Thank you.

- The Hinterland Team
The Long Dark - Hinterland_Studio
Hello community,

As mentioned in this post, we will be wiping all Sandbox saves when we update the game to FAITHFUL CARTOGRAPHER.

The update should be arriving within the next 24 hours.

After the update, you will no longer be able to use your current Sandbox save games.

All Badge and Feats -- unlocked and in progress -- as well as Saved Journals, will be preserved.

Thank you.

- The Hinterland Team
The Long Dark - Hinterland_Studio
Hotfix 9 for the "Faithful Cartographer" Test Branch is now live on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

This will likely be our last Hotfix before releasing the full FAITHFUL CARTOGRAPHER update.

This brings the Test Branch version of the game to v.423T.

For a full list of fixes, please refer to the SPOILER-FILLED Test Branch forums found here: http://steamcommunity.com/app/305620/discussions/8/1290691937732030109/

(You need to be logged in to Steam and own the game to access the Test Branch discussion forums.)

As always, keep in mind that some people don't want to know the contents of the update until it goes live in the Main Branch, so please do not discuss details of the Test Branch here in the comments, or in the public forums.

Thank you!

- The Hinterland Team
The Long Dark - Hinterland_Studio
Hotfix 9 for the "Faithful Cartographer" Test Branch is now live on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

This will likely be our last Hotfix before releasing the full FAITHFUL CARTOGRAPHER update.

This brings the Test Branch version of the game to v.423T.

For a full list of fixes, please refer to the SPOILER-FILLED Test Branch forums found here: http://steamcommunity.com/app/305620/discussions/8/1290691937732030109/

(You need to be logged in to Steam and own the game to access the Test Branch discussion forums.)

As always, keep in mind that some people don't want to know the contents of the update until it goes live in the Main Branch, so please do not discuss details of the Test Branch here in the comments, or in the public forums.

Thank you!

- The Hinterland Team
...