v1.0.1
Fixes an issue where the backward strike achievement would not be earned after meeting the requirements.
Fixes an issue where the backward strike achievement would not be earned after meeting the requirements.
Bowling Hills
- Released
- Dec 5, 2023
- Platforms
- Last updated
Updates & announcements
Developer postOriginal post- Developer post
1.0 Release
After nearly 2 years of development, we are officially releasing version 1.0 of Bowling Hills! We'd like to extend a warm thank you to everyone who participated in the early access program. Your support means a lot to us, especially as a small indie team. We've put a few finishin
Original postAfter nearly 2 years of development, we are officially releasing version 1.0 of Bowling Hills! We'd like to extend a warm thank you to everyone who participated in the early access program. Your support means a lot to us, especially as a small indie team.
We've put a few finishing touches on the game since the last release, but 1.0 is really just about signifying that the product is complete. There are no major features planned, although we may have a few small updates here and there.
Improved Controls
Something that we really wanted to address before officially releasing was making the controls more accessible for new players. Specifically:
- The speed at which your arm moves is now limited, which prevents a common pitfall where new players would swing so fast that they couldn't effectively time their release. If you already had a hang of a proper release, this change should not affect you.
- The sensitivity for roll spin has also been reduced. We wanted to make sure the player intentionally was adding spin to their roll rather than accidentally. As always, you can still adjust the spin sensitivity through the settings.
That's all for now. Thank you so much for being part of the development of Bowling Hills!
- Developer post
Update v0.3.0
In version 0.3.0, we improved the learning experience for first-time players and added visual polish. In-Game Tutorial Most folks prefer to "learn by doing." This why we replaced our "How to Play" videos with an interactive, in-game tutorial! This new format allows you to immedia
Original postIn version 0.3.0, we improved the learning experience for first-time players and added visual polish.
In-Game Tutorial
Most folks prefer to "learn by doing." This why we replaced our "How to Play" videos with an interactive, in-game tutorial! This new format allows you to immediately put the techniques being taught into practice and get feedback in real-time.
Even if you already know how to play, consider checking out the tutorial. It only takes a few minutes and you might fill some knowledge gaps you didn't realize you had!
Visual Improvements
While the graphics changes are subtle, they add variety and liveliness to the alley atmosphere. These include:
- Shadows from rolling clouds and the building structure
- Subtle post-processing effects to improve the look of the lighting
- An additional slow-mo replay perspective
Nearing v1.0
As mentioned in our last update, we're close to wrapping up our development efforts for Bowling Hills. While new features are never completely off the table, we're happy with what we've built and are ready to move on to the next project. You can tentatively expect a formal announcement of version 1.0 in the coming weeks.
Thank you so much to all those who participated in the early access program!
- Developer post
Update v0.2.0
In version 0.2.0, we added two major features that make Bowling Hills more fun and easier to play with your friends! Online Multiplayer It's now even easier to play with your friends remotely with our new peer-to-peer online multiplayer feature. To use it, select "Online" from th
Original postIn version 0.2.0, we added two major features that make Bowling Hills more fun and easier to play with your friends!
Online Multiplayer
It's now even easier to play with your friends remotely with our new peer-to-peer online multiplayer feature.
To use it, select "Online" from the main menu. From there you can either host a game that your friends can join, or join a game your friend is hosting. This feature is tightly integrated with Steam, so you can easily join your friends’ games through “friends & chat” and Steam invites.
We find this feature to be a desirable alternative to Steam’s “remote play together” if network bandwidth is limited.
Custom Game Difficulties
In the previous release, we had five difficulty modes: easy, standard, hard, expert, and ridiculous. With version 0.2.0, we added a "custom" difficulty mode! This feature can be accessed from the same menu as the other difficulties.
Using a custom difficulty, you can fine-tune the lane difficulty, bowler strength, ball bounciness, and pin bounciness. With these levers, you can let your imagination run wild. Hurl bowling balls at 50MPH, make pins bounce wildly on contact, or give yourself an extra challenge. There are lots of possibilities with this new mode that are sure to bring laughs and intrigue to the game!
Next Steps
We’re excited for you all to try out these new features and hope that you enjoy them! In the meantime, we’ll be hard at work wrapping up Early Access development and putting final touches on Bowling Hills. Thank you for playing our game!
- Developer post
Update v0.1
Before we get into the update details, we would like to thank everyone who has purchased Bowling Hills so far! The support means a lot to us and we are excited to continue building features and improvements with your help. Now, onto the update: Roll Feedback We noticed it was dif
Original postBefore we get into the update details, we would like to thank everyone who has purchased Bowling Hills so far! The support means a lot to us and we are excited to continue building features and improvements with your help. Now, onto the update:
Roll Feedback
We noticed it was difficult for newcomers to realize where they were going wrong with their first rolls. To add more clarity, we've added roll feedback that will appear right when you release your ball and throughout the replay. It states how good or bad the angle of release was, how much spin was applied to what direction, and the speed of the ball
Player Characters in Background
Now if you're playing with more than one character, the characters who are not bowling will appear in the alley behind the active bowler
Lane Visuals
We've changed the colors of the lane to help convey topography by changing grass color depending on elevation. Now the lowest grass on the green will appear as a lush green where the higher grass will appear more golden/yellow
Miscellaneous Changes/Fixes
- Fix bug where splash could appear in the middle of lane
- UI containing profile names now get refreshed when you rename a profile in the profiles menu
- Make it harder for a roll to count as valid. Now it needs to be within the lane for a full second before it is counted against your score
- Increase the time it takes before an invalid roll stops. This should make going for the Interference and Team Player achievements a bit easier
- Improve performance of the game end view
- Add sound for toggling the lane view
- Fix visual issues on some extras' ears