Today officially begins our 10 day countdown until early access! Are you ready to join us on the Crossroads, Defiers?
As we’ve mentioned on the store and in our FAQ pages, we wanted to give you a better idea of our priorities for early access before our launch next week! To respect the possibility that our internal priorities may need to be adjusted after we’ve weighed community feedback after launch, we want to keep this initial “pre” roadmap high-level, so there’s flexibility to modify without false promises at this stage. To add more detail to the attached graphic, here is the simple outline:
Immediate Goals:
Quality of Life Improvements – Please expect our first 2-3 months after launch to be focused on improving the immediate needs of players to make the game the best it can be for long-term growth! Roadmap Assessments – We will compare the feedback/suggestions/requests from players at launch with our internal planned feature list and the time we will be able to sustain early access to then dictate our priorities. Improved Shrine Labors – Part of your trials on the Crossroads is to visit the shrines of the Olympians and complete their associated Labors. We aim to upgrade this existing experience with more thoughtful and challenging quests before adding the remaining shrines.
Short Term Goals:
Expand the Crossroads and advance the narrative – You’ll notice when you join our game on the 15th that part of our map is locked! We will be working to open this up to players which will include unlocking the remaining 4 Olympian shrines. With all 12 shrines on the map to complete, we will be able to progress the player on to the final arc of our narrative. More buildables – We have a backlog of art assets nearly finished, namely buildables, that we can see being wrapped up in the short-term to expand players' options!
On the Table:
Character Creator (ultimately to include a female protagonist), more mythical enemies, and mod support– These are things the Dev team would like to see in our 1.0. Where they fall in our priority list remains to be decided!
Hopefully this information helps understand how our team will be approaching early access, and we look forward to working with the community to finalize a more comprehensive roadmap post-launch. Given part of this plan involves you and your feedback, you’re probably wondering how you will communicate with us!
At launch, we will unlock our feature up-vote board as the official method to measure player interest/need in specific changes/suggestions. We’ll promote the link at that time. In addition, if players would like a more informal discussion about game suggestions and features, we will have Discord channels available.
Now allow me to toss in some extra visuals for you to start off the week, the last couple are a cool player build we got to see thanks to friends and family who joined us in our recent playtest! We got some great feedback and loved seeing new players trying Dawn of Defiance for the first time. Check these out:
And to round out today’s update, the FAQ page should now have more details on server settings for those of you who have been waiting for that information, and lastly, we will be throwing down ideas for the community launch week activities in Discord this week, including themed build challenges, so if you enjoy that sort of thing, definitely swing on in and join the conversation! We hope you participate with us on August 15th!
We have released a trial version of Kemonomichi today, August 6. You can experience the game up to the first boss battle, so please try it out. We are looking forward to your feedback.
You can freely distribute the game and video clips. We would appreciate it if you could include a link to the Steam store page in the summary of your video.
It's time venture back into The Isle to explore a myriad of new features and locations. Delve into the Mutations system and adapt your animal to survive and thrive across multiple generations. Look your best and stand out from the pack with an array of new skin patterns. Sink your claws into the competition with the Omniraptor's new grapple mechanic, or for those who prefer defense, join the herd as the Diabloceratops, a robust and formidable herbivore that always faces a threat.
You may need to restart your Steam client if the update does not make itself immediately available to download.
Updated server owner configs:
[expand type=details expanded=false] [/script/theisle.tigamesession] ServerName="Server name here" // Server name. MapName=Gateway MaxPlayerCount=100 // 100+ player servers is not recommended. bEnableHumans=false // Set to true if you want to run around with a flashlight and kick an animal. bQueueEnabled=false // Enable queue if server slots are all filled. QueuePort=1000 // Queue port. This port must be open if Queueing is enabled. bServerPassword=false // Set to true if you want a server password. ServerPassword="password here" // Your server password. bRconEnabled=true // Enable RCON. RconPassword="password here" // RCON password. Do not give this out. RconPort=5555 bServerDynamicWeather=true // Temporarily disabled. Changing this will do nothing. ServerDayLengthMinutes=45 // Set in minutes. ServerNightLengthMinutes=20 // Set in minutes. bServerWhitelist=false // Set the server whitelist. If true, will look for whitelistID's in the above category. bEnableGlobalChat=false // Enabling the Global Chat panel. bSpawnPlants=true // Enable plant food spawns. bSpawnAI=true // Enable AI spawns. AISpawnInterval=40 // Set how frequently AI can spawn in seconds. bEnableMigration=true // Enable patrol zones, species migrations, and mass migrations. MaxMigrationTime=5400 // Value is in seconds. This controls how long the migration zones should last. GrowthMultiplier=1 - Universal multiplier for growth. Putting this number too high will break it. Recommendation is no higher than 20, even for lulz. bEnableMutations=true // Enable mutations.
[/script/theisle.tigamestatebase] AdminsSteamIDs=Admin steam ID here // SteamID64 format WhitelistIDs=White list steam ID here // SteamID64 format. NOTE: Must be enabled in the game session below. Keep this empty if whitelist is disabled // List of all enabled classes. Remove a line to remove a class from spawning. - Can also be managed in Admin Panel in real time. AllowedClasses=Hypsilophodon AllowedClasses=Pachycephalosaurus AllowedClasses=Stegosaurus AllowedClasses=Tenontosaurus AllowedClasses=Carnotaurus AllowedClasses=Ceratosaurus AllowedClasses=Deinosuchus AllowedClasses=Diabloceratops AllowedClasses=Omniraptor AllowedClasses=Pteranodon AllowedClasses=Troodon AllowedClasses=Beipiaosaurus AllowedClasses=Gallimimus AllowedClasses=Dilophosaurus AllowedClasses=Herrerasaurus
// List of all enabled mutations and values. Keep commented out to have all mutations enabled. Enabling any mutations means you must include all mutations you would like available on your server. Listed below are all modifiable mutations with default values. Altering these values may produce unstable gameplay. // EnabledMutations=Hemomania, 0.05 // EnabledMutations=Hematophagy, 0.25 // EnabledMutations=Accelerated Prey Drive, 0.1 // EnabledMutations=Xerocole Adaptation, 0.2 // EnabledMutations=Hypervigilance, 0.5 // EnabledMutations=Truculency, 0.2 // EnabledMutations=Osteophagic, 0.15 // EnabledMutations=Photosynthetic Regeneration, 0.1 // EnabledMutations=Cellular Regeneration, 0.15 // EnabledMutations=Advanced Gestation, 0.5 // EnabledMutations=Sustained Hydration, 0.2 // EnabledMutations=Enlarged meniscus, 0.15 // EnabledMutations=Efficient Digestion, 0.2 // EnabledMutations=Featherweight, 0.5 // EnabledMutations=Osteosclerosis, 0.2 // EnabledMutations=Wader, 0.25 // EnabledMutations=Epidermal Fibrosis, 0.15 // EnabledMutations=Congenital Hypoalgesia, 0.15 // EnabledMutations=Photosynthetic Tissue, 0.05 // EnabledMutations=Nocturnal, 0.05 // EnabledMutations=Hydroregenerative, 0.25 // EnabledMutations=Increased Inspiratory Capacity, 0.15 // EnabledMutations=Hydrodynamic, 0.15 // EnabledMutations=Submerged Optical Retention, 0.05 // EnabledMutations=Infrasound Communication, 0.5 // EnabledMutations=Augmented Tapetum, 0.5 // EnabledMutations=Hypermetabolic Inanition, 0.15 // EnabledMutations=Tactile Endurance, 0.5 // EnabledMutations=Gastronomic Regeneration, 0.1 // EnabledMutations=Heightened Ghrelin, 0.25 // EnabledMutations=Prolific Reproduction, 0.1 // EnabledMutations=Enhanced Digestion, 0.1 // EnabledMutations=Reinforced Tendons, 0.1 // EnabledMutations=Multichambered Lungs, 0.05 // EnabledMutations=Reabsorption, 1 ****** // Value must be 1 or remove from this list to disable it. // EnabledMutations=Pit Organ, 1 ******// Value must be 1 or remove from this list to disable it. // EnabledMutations=Cannibalistic, 1 ******// Value must be 1 or remove from this list to disable it. // EnabledMutations=Barometric Sensitivity, 1 ******// Value must be 1 or remove from this list to disable it. // EnabledMutations=Social Behavior, 1 *****// Value must be 1 or remove from this list to disable it. // EnabledMutations=Traumatic Thrombosis, 1 *****// Value must be 1 or remove from this list to disable it. // EnabledMutations=Reniculate Kidneys, 1 *****// Value must be 1 or remove from this list to disable it. // EnabledMutations=Paratrepsis, 1 ****// Value must be 1 or remove from this list to disable it.
// Add the names of each AI class that should be disabled, one line for each. // DisallowedAIClasses=Compsognathus // DisallowedAIClasses=Pterodactylus // DisallowedAIClasses=Boar // DisallowedAIClasses=Deer // DisallowedAIClasses=Goat // DisallowedAIClasses=Seaturtle[/expand]
Additions:
Added physics foliage to settings menu
Added grapple system for omniraptor pounce
Added new open body mechanic (tap E 3x)
Added mutations
Added new skin patterns
Added unstuck command
Added conditions for more animals to knock food from trees with their abilities
Added growth to hypsilophodon
Added new admin spectator mode option
Added south plains sanctuary
Enhancements:
Updated chat UI
Allowed semi-aquatics to swallow on the surface of water while moving
Updated gallimimus trot speed and animations
Adjusted character display in server list to show status of character and tooltip
Character display in server list now shows different states for low hunger and thirst
Replaced deinosuchus by diabloceratops in omniraptor's diet
Added diabloceratops to deinosuchus's diet
Increased troodon envenomation potency
Adjusted plant spawn slope check
Updated lunge balance values
Adjusted migration zones plant spawn proportions
Reduced troodon's pounce latch stamina cost
Updated beipiaosaurus swim stamina values
Reduced beipiaosaurus surface swimming speed
Adjusted visual and weight growth of the stegosaurus to be more consistent
Slightly increased stegosaurus growth time to be in line with other animals
Reduced corpse total existing time from 45 to 35mins
Improved camera lock during grazing
Adjusted the speed of which the mud effect is removed by swimming and rain
Players can no longer swallow food whole if it would cause them to vomit. Players can still manually overeat food sources on the ground and will vomit
Bug fixes:
Fixed audio crash and stutters
Fixed organs and meat chunks falling through the floor
Fixed ceratosaurus manual vomit animation
Fixed skin creator resolution scale issues
Fixed interrupt vocals not working for all clients
Fixed various instances where stagger montages were not playing
Fixed ceratosaurus mouth animation resetting when taking damage
Fixed thirst going up in saltwater after swimming directly into it from freshwater
Fixed carnotaurus drag animation visual issue
Fixed up/down attacks only triggering when falling down
Fixed recoil animations not playing when being latched
Fixed gallimimus clipping when scenting and resting
Fixed knockdown direction issues with certain weights
Fixed animal sprint animations playing at 2x speed
Fixed AI sliding
Fixed the "hold to sleep" hint sometimes not disappearing
Fixed night time config not being respected
Fixed dinosaurs not playing the pinned animation when pinned during the vomit animation
Fixed carnotaurus charging jitter
Fixed human select issue in UI if clicking back on zone spawn list
Fixed gallimimus mouth issues while in skin preview
Fixed pinned target animation resetting when let go from a pounce by a player if it is still being pounced by other players
Fixed rain displaying through water
Fixed carnotaurus bite sound cut off
Fixed ceratosaurus damage multiplier when releasing RMB to attack
Fixed some animation issues when walking after using scent
Fixed beipiaosaurus playing its swimming vocal animations after surfacing
Fixed sensitivity slider ranges
Fixed blind related crash
Fixed flung animations playing twice
Fixed auto game restart when changing settings that need it
Fixed an issue with prelobby character displays
Fixed AI spawning inside some larger rocks
Fixed the ability to thrash while dragging
Fixed deinosuchus and ceratosaurus vomiting when drinking saltwater
Fixed juvenile deinosuchus bite sound playing twice
Fix to vocal type sounds still spawning underwater
Fix to some issues caused by swallowed/Grabbed objects
Fixed various issues with body impact sounds
Fixed courted dinosaur names sometimes not being set
Fixed being able to court while in spar mode
Fixed scaling issues of various locomotion vfx
Fixed safe logout not being interrupted when resting is interrupted
Fixed corpses becoming stuck to deinosuchus face after killing via lunge
Fixed deinosuchus calls crossfade from hatchling to juvenile
Fixed hatchlings able to open corpses
Fixed calls not working if very far away
Fixed stegosaurus impale not working
Fixed juvenile stegosaurus dig and bite animations deforming the mesh
Fixed food inconsistencies on plants and plant chunks
Fixed a camera lockup after being woken up from sleeping
Fixed domes render
Fixed eggs not shaking when hatching
Fixed tree texture and collision issues
Fixed beipiaosaurus deformation on skin customization screen
Fixed attacks sometimes not detecting hitboxes properly
Fixed attacks continuing after recoil
Fixed tail tip hitboxes
Fixed not being able to hit schooling fish
Fixed some effects not playing properly while swimming
Fixed pteranodon drag animations
Fixed meat chunks ragdoll resetting while being carried
Fixed pachycephalosaurus ram being blocked while pounced
Fixed rare issues with nest detection
Fixed some hypsilophodon sounds not modulating pitch with age
Fixed deinosuchus juvenile bite audio not playing sometimes
Fixed hypsilophodon using the wrong animation for rotten eggs
Fixed juvenile hypsilophodon spit
Fixed to ceratosaurus bite cancelling the audio for other clients
Fixed thrashed organs not being interactable
Fixed carried items scaling with growth of the carrier
Fixed chicken not playing pinned animation
Fixed juvenile gallimimus jaw issue on skin preview
Fixed pteranodon not taking damage when flying into the ground
Fixed hypsilophodon stamina regeneration after jumping
Fixed plant pieces and debris rotation after being dropped while carrying
Fixed players getting dusty from laying on any material
Fixed chat history box remaining open indefinitely after typing
Fixed after vomiting and safe logging, vomit sickness not healing off with time
Fixed players are unable to eat if they let hypsilophodon spit fade away
Fixed pachycephalosaurus being able to ram while in water
Fixed bodies sometimes emitting loud audio after being dragged
Fixed jungle ambient foliage volumes
Fixed stegosaurus attack power at adult
Fixed stegosaurus power swing recoiling when it shouldn't
Fixed drowning causing to be kicked
Fixed server sometimes not finding the nest to hatch from
Fixed unpairing while laying eggs
Fixed not being able to wash off hyspilophodon blindness when swimming
Fixed hyspilophodon blindness not washing off underwater
Fixed pounce not properly latching to target if too close
Fixed being unable to slide while biting
Fixed herrerasaurus climb up animation ending prematurely
Fixed gallimimus jittering after using the mobilize boost
Fixed fall damage not triggering
Fixed hypsilophodon eyebrows not being colored on A and B patterns
Fixed underwater waterfall sounds not attenuating
Fixed being unable to pounce humans from the front
Fixed inconsistent character acceleration when holding sprint
Fixed the gallimimus neck clipping into its body after using the mobilize ability
Devs worked all last week on updating the main build of ViRo Playspace, only to have a catastrophic power outage on Friday that corrupted a number of files in our build machine. Unfortunately, this delayed the full release of the update.
Our resident lewdtuber Vex was there to offer comfort and perspective: "Man, I HATE when a sudden loss of power delays my full release! That's why I always keep spare batteries in my bedside drawer."
She may have a point. A battery backup is ALWAYS a good idea.
In the meantime, public beta has been updated with the release candidate, so go check it out! We'll still be performing a full retest on everything in the meantime, so feel free to reach out to us on our Discord if you notice anything amiss.
Hey! I'm Raul, the solo developer behind Lightward.
Farewell, Wiz...
I wanted to share some exciting news and updates with you all.
After much consideration, I decided to change the game's protagonist. Originally, we had Wiz, this glow-eyed hooded character. However, I realized that the market was becoming a bit oversaturated with protagonists like that, so I've made the tough decision to change the protagonist for the game.
I truly believe it's for the best and will make the game stand out even more.
With that change, I needed a new name, since the old name (WIZ) was based on the main protagonist. Given the game's deep connection with light, I’ve decided to rename it Lightward. It's more unique than WIZ and better for searching the store page.
But don’t worry, Lightward is still the cute and dark Metroidvania you’ve been looking forward to, with a fantastic world to explore... wait, actually there are TWO worlds to explore...
Introducing the Dark World!
This adds a whole new layer of excitement and mystery to the game. Imagine navigating through eerie landscapes, solving puzzles, and battling unique enemies in both the regular world and its dark counterpart. The Dark World mirrors the main world but with its own twists and secrets, making exploration even more rewarding and challenging.
Same area - different worlds:
The dark world adds a lot to the gameplay loop while giving me, the developer, an amazing toolkit of options for creating puzzles and secrets. I’m thrilled to take you along on this journey, and I can’t wait to share more updates and details in the coming months.
Thank you for your support and patience. Stay tuned for more exciting news as I continue to develop Lightward!
If you liked this update then consider adding Lightward to your wishlist!
We have a small patch out today which will address incorrect behavior with Troop Transports and localization issues. Go get that Spice!
Bug Fixes
Gameplay: Fixed an issue where players were unable to use the Troop Transports ability when purchased and troops were gained as part of recalling from the top of the Shipping Track.
Localization issues with Detonation Devices should now be fixed.
Localization issues with Tech Tiles should now indicate whether a leader has declined a purchase or show no messages when no action has been taken.
You can check out our hotfixes on the Steam Forums! As always, you can drop us a line at support@direwolfdigital.com with any questions, concerns or feedback.
