So we mentioned a while back that we're sneaking a single magical weapon into the demo for you to play with (full version will have infinite) but it's finally done! Introducing the Blade of the Dokkalfar, designed by our very own Natalie Jane in this original sketch of the Dokkalfar (Dark Elves)
Well now it's in the game! Check it!
Looks pretty swish, hey? Here's a quick video showing it cutting down some evil foes!
So yes, that should be fun for you to try and find! We're doing some serious work on the leveling system which will play a big part in the demo, and we've changed our minds and decided to let you save/load games in the demo. Some of the dungeons it generates are just FAR too big to be cleaned out in a single game play session!
Also just to keep everyone in the loop, initial Alpha Testing has begun ready for the demo release.
There's a two-stage testing process for the game. The first build that the testers have received is a simple benchmarking app that lets them know how well the game will run on their computer. It loads up a demo dungeon level and runs some monsters through it while allowing the user to run some simple video stress tests on the system to see how well it performs.
The second stage will be the actual alpha itself, which will hopefully be ready for the team by next week! In order to do the alpha test, the game needs to have an asset lockout, meaning that all of the in-game assets are finalized (with a couple of exceptions). However, due to a change in plans, the test team will initially get an "incomplete build" which means they will only get the dungeon portion of the demo given to them, and while they test it, the countryside portion will be being completed. At the end of every week, they will receive a new build of the game that has fixed a heap of bugs that they have found, and they'll get to testing again!
Eventually they'll get a build with the countryside portion done, and they'll test that, then once all of the issues have been ironed out, the demo will be released for everyone to play! Yay!
We've been super worried that there might be compatibility problems between various people's computers, but 5 of the 11 test members have gotten back to us so far with confirmations that it works just fine :D
Hopefully we have as much success with the full alpha!
Also, some of the alpha testers have asked permission to "leak" out some game play run-throughs on YouTube for you to have a perv on before the demo comes out.
"We've been super worried that there might be compatibility problems between various people's computers"
If you send me a download link I would be able to tell you guys whether it works on my PC or not.. ;) On a more serious note: I think there will be compatibility problems anyway, I think it's pretty much unavoidable with PCs. Of course developers should always try to make the amount of problems as small as possible though, so good luck!
Hi Metalspy! So far, 8 of our 11 testers have come back with positive results (one of which is a mac user emulating Windows 7) and their systems range from low-end spec with Windows XP right up to monster boxes with Windows 7 64bit and all sorts of video cards in between in all sorts of makes and models, and it's working a treat on all of them, so we're doing pretty well! Like you said though, it's impossible to tell for sure, but we're going to do our best!
0:43 BEST WEAPON EVER
and that sketch is so goddamn boss, it's amazing
Natalie, our concept art lead, produces some incredible art! In fact all of our art team do. We're so damn proud of them all!