Welcome Back, Verbal Adventurers!
We're splashing back in with our biggest update yet.
This update should make remote-streaming Wordabeasts easier than ever! We've introduced features to assist in coordinating remote sessions, keeping streams family-friendly, and ensuring the games are fun for all involved. And if streaming isn't your thing, we've also added over 100 new words to freshen things up a bit!
Let's quickly dive into a few of these changes and see how they can help you keep your streams running as smooth as Eric's silky narration (Okay fine, even smoother )
New Options
We'll start out on the new gameplay options menu, complete with a variety of fancy gadgets.
Most of these settings are pretty self-explanatory, but let's dig deeper just to see how they can help you run a perfect stream.
Room Code Hiding
Room code hiding is our most requested addition, and now it's just a click away.
Pro tip: combine this with the new copy feature (or press "C" while on the menu) to send the code directly to your clipboard, and then on to your chosen audience members without ever having to reveal it on your video stream.
Moderation
Moderator Mode is another feature we're personally very excited for.
Enabling this option will generate a 4 character room code (displayed on this menu). By joining wab.run with that room code, you'll be shown the Moderation view page, and get the opportunity to censor each player's clue submissions as they come in.
Censoring can be done/undone as much as you need to waffle on the decision, up until the point of that clue being shown in the next round - so make sure you're quick on the ball as the submission period is wrapping up.
Twitch Integration
Twitch integration should help keep your participants accountable. All Wordabeasts participants can log into Twitch for any game by clicking the twitch icon in the bottom left of wab.run; Clicking it again will toggle the setting on and off as you decide to play in different games.
All players can still pick their display name for the safari, but hovering over their reticules on the menu will reveal their true identities. (You can also always see both names on the moderation page)
This setting on the game options menu will make Twitch a mandatory connection for any joining players.
If Twitch is required for your rooms, you can also enter any particular troublemakers onto the Block List and prevent them from joining the current expedition. (Although banned accounts typically become an escalating arms race, so we recommend amicably working through your differences before hitting this point)
Audience Features
And to wrap up this highlight reel, we've expanded our camp with a state-of-the-art communications tent, ready for everyone to join in the fun.
When enabled, anyone can join a full or mid-hunt safari via the current room code to become an active audience hunter. Audience members don't affect player scores, but they do compete against each other to take home honorable spots on the credits page. See your name up in lights! (And your guesses on embarrassingly incorrect words)
Other Misc Changes
The Extended Timers option adds roughly 15 seconds to each of the guessing rounds. This update also adds the clue word on participants' phone UI, but this extra time can still come in handy for a stream with just a bit too much latency for the normal time limits.
Enable "Host Starts Game" to control the game flow from your computer - no more of this "first person in the safari gets to call the shots" trash. Just press Enter to launch your expedition
New Words, Monsters, and More!
We've added new critters, new menus, new easter eggs, and most importantly - over 100 new words!
So take up your various wacky weaponry once again, and take to the jungles in search of the most dangerous game! (words)
Full Change List:
- Audience Mode - Audience members get to vote on clues, and compete amongst each other (final winner only declared when 2+ audience members are present)
- Hidden Room Codes - Click to hide/show the Safari code, then distribute it to the players you choose.
- Moderation - Moderate answers as they're submitted, censoring anything breaking the rules or in poor taste
- Twitch Integration - Any players can now log in with their associated Twitch account to join the hunt. As the host, you can require players to use Twitch logins
- Block List - ban any particular twitch usernames from joining (when Twitch accounts are required)
- Extended Hunt Timers- Countdown timers can now be lengthened, allowing plenty of time to overcome that stream lag
- Start Game From Host - Keyboard/mouse input starts and chooses game replays
- Duplicate word prevention - Prevents clue word from showing up in guessable words
- Copy Room Code to clipboard button (and hotkey "C")
- Copy Mod Room Code with hotkey "M"
- Show clue word on wab.run screen (users can still play even if walking out of the room briefly, or stream is lagging)
- Support for Ultrawide displays (Functional - not pretty)
- Improved audio/visual settings and support
- Room code params - use the URL param "room" if you want to autopopulate a roomcode. This is useful for sending a one-click link to the audience. (ie "wab.run?room=abcd")
- Fixed volume issues in various places
- Fixed default volume settings
- Better Menu navigation
- Better in-game pause menus (all clickable)
- Dozens of small bug fixes and performance issues
- 106 brand new words
- 1 new beast
- A bounty of new voicelines
- and a plethora of new easter eggs to be found ;)
