In this beta, game saves and wolves are backward-compatible with the last released version (1.0.7d), so you can switch back and forth without any problems -- but multiplayer is not: you can only play MP games with others who have this beta build.
This beta is available for Windows only. Instructions on getting the beta are at the bottom of this post.
Beta 5, released 20 June 2021
NEW MULTIPLAYER FEATURES:
* TAGS: When creating a game, host can select several tags to describe their game. These then are displayed on the preview panel in the multiplayer lobby.
* TERRITORY CONFIGURATIONS: When creating a game, host can select from four Territory Configurations, each with the unclaimed area in a different part of the map.
* SLEEP MODES: When creating a game, host can choose from two Sleep Modes: Host Decides (the host can sleep at any time, and all players must sleep then as well), and the new Fixed Schedule (all players sleep at fixed times of day, from late morning to late afternoon, and from late evening to early morning). In the latter, time advances quickly during both the fixed sleep times and if everyone sleeps at the same time (but players are not required to sleep at other times, even if the host is sleeping.)
* GAME NAME: The Pack Info panel now displays the Game Name at the top.
CURRENT ISSUE WITH FIXED SLEEP SCHEDULE:
If it's time to sleep, but something is preventing a player from sleeping (close to competitors, in water, etc.), that player will not go to sleep and time will not accelerate for anyone. For now, please get yourself out of that situation so everyone can sleep and time can accelerate. The next beta will have a method of handling that better.
IMPROVEMENTS:
* Improvements to water appearance.
* Improvements to snow appearance.
* Game remembers last selected Difficulty level when starting a new game.
* Controller improvements: Revised some labels for clarity, added "Pup Camera" and "Leave Pup Camera" options to Remapper panel.
* Made ESC key close the Tab Menu and not open Main Menu
* In multiplayer, added a circular timer on countdown notifications.
* In multiplayer, changed game start time to 6am.
* Reduced volume of clouds of flies.
BUGS FIXED:
* In multiplayer, players still get stuck sleeping.
* Several music glitches.
* In springtime, snowprints don't disappear when snow melts.
* Some issues with textures on Amethyst cliff rocks.
* Wolf keeps blinking when dead.
* Frogs chirp in the winter in Slough Creek.
* In multiplayer, Mute button appears to be selected for all players whenever it's selected for one player.
* After scratching itself, wolf stands up, then immediately sits down again.
* Players can give pups a name that is longer than the display field, truncating it.
* Frozen ponds in Slough Creek appear to float when seen from high vantage point.
* Snow does not accumulate on dirt dens or ground around tree dens.
* Terrain and water issues.
1.0.7e Beta 6, released 21 June
IMPROVEMENTS:
* Tags are now displayed at top of Pack Info panel in multiplayer games.
* In Fixed Sleep Schedule, when the time to sleep arrives, players who are unable to sleep (due to being in a fight, near competitors, or in water) are given a 30-second countdown to get clear, and if they don't, they are teleported to the spawn point.
* Player usernames are now displayed in Pack Info, next to their wolf name when selected.
BUGS FIXED:
:
* In multiplayer, when players join a game, they appear to join but aren't actually active in the scene (so don't see any chat, or will wake up sleeping players) for 5-10 seconds.
* Scent chimes sometimes play when not in scent view.
* Mollies Pack territory hexes are not colorblind-safe.
* When creating a new multiplayer game on smaller screen resolutions, the Tags pulldown is empty.
* When fox pounces in the dirt, dust particles are blocky squares.
TO GET THE BETA BUILD
1) In the Steam app, go to your Library, then right-click on the WolfQuest: AE name in the left column and choose Properties.
2) Then go to the Betas tab and select the WQ current Beta option in the pulldown. No password is necessary. Steam should then start downloading it. Later you can switch back to the public version in that Betas tab, by selecting NONE in that pulldown.