We've started to test the big AORTA update up on the testing branch! Here's the 12/1 notes for testbranch, though we just put up a 12/3 update to it in the announcements section.
http://steamcommunity.com/games/deathroad/announcements/detail/511552718362398855
Help us test so we can launch this! We're going to be adding more features from our developer build as we get tester feedback on what's in already. There's lots of new systems, so we need a lot of testing.
We were originally planning on the big update being out in Early September, but instead we ended up doing multiple smaller updates. Some of which would have been in AORTA, but we launched early instead. One example of this are the Feral Cats from the Halloween update. The AI update we did also ended up being pretty big, but I think that was worth it if you remember the older AI.
Here's the old update preview, for reference:
http://steamcommunity.com/games/deathroad/announcements/detail/789641743936507434
Looks like we'll have almost everything we planned in AORTA, with some added surprises. The exception is that we're going to delay the new progression system so that it can coincide with the iOS launch. We'll make that an update revolving around perks, traits, and the new Trait Points you can get. I'd like to start making updates focus on more specific parts of the game, as that is a more sane strategy than what we've been doing.
The iOS version has been in testing for awhile, and soon that will be getting the latest update and achievements. Looks like the launch date for that will be in January or February. The last big thing we need to do is get in streaming support, straight from the device. We'd also like to sneak in PC and iOS cross-platform save sharing.
After that, we'll start working on the second big update. The plans for that are still the following:
- Splitscreen local co-op
- Any major remaining problems that people are reporting
- Expanding mod support. Steam Workshop and stackable mods are the ideal, but we'll see!
- Big focus on content!
We would really like to get 3-4 months to just work on adding more things to the game. New locations, events, characters. My big design goal with this game was to have so much rare stuff that you could be entertained for hundreds of hours and still find new things. The only way to do this is to keep adding content. This is also why I'm really interested in more mod support.
That's it for now! The next one of these we do will likely be at about the same time that we launch the update.