Islands of the Caliph News

The controller interface has been updated in many ways.

• The move forward/backward keys (and therefor controller input) can now be used to raise and lower numeric amounts.
  
• TAB has been replaced by the "Approve" key. So now you toggle the controls menu with the approval key.
  
• Also, the splash screen is not fixed to the "enter" key, but whatever key or button you assign to the advance dialogue command.
  

What this all means is that you should be able to fully enjoy the game with the controller. There should be almost no reason to use the keyboard once your controller is set up.

The only keyboard commands remaining are:
F1 - Resets the options file to default values.
F2 - Opens the instruction manual
F3 - Opens the credits screen

I am probably not going to bother with these unless it makes a difference to a significant group of players. Also, I imagine I may have to update these to get the Steam Deck green check-mark. We will see what happens.

[h3]Other Stuff[/h3]
There are a bunch of smaller fixes to the rest of the game. I will outline those once this becomes the default branch. I want to wait until this is more thoroughly tested before that happens, because it will require players to start a new saved game.

Go to "Islands of the Caliph > Properties > Betas" and select "Public_Testing" from the drop-down menu.

A similar announcement was just made for the full game but this is for the FREE DEMO.

I have tested things out, but I imagine there will be some issues. If you are willing to try it out and offer feedback before it goes to the default branch, you will need to enable the "testing" beta.

Go to "Islands of the Caliph > Properties > Betas" and select "testing" from the drop-down menu.

There you will be able to rebind the keys to your controller sticks and buttons.

Note: The game requires the use of the "Enter" key and "Tab" at this time. Also, at this time if you are selecting a number in the inventory dialogue or other places, you will still need to type the number on your keyboard. I will address this in the next couple updates, before it goes to the default.

Also Note: You will need to restart the game to use this update. Trying to load an older save file will show you an error, and direct you to the manual.

For anyone who wanted to have controller input this is your update!

I have tested things out, but I imagine there will be some issues. If you are willing to try it out and offer feedback before it goes to the default branch, you will need to enable the "Public_Testing" beta.

Go to "Islands of the Caliph > Properties > Betas" and select "Public_Testing" from the drop-down menu.

There you will be able to rebind the keys to your controller sticks and buttons.

Note: The game requires the use of the "Enter" key and "Tab" at this time. Also, at this time if you are selecting a number in the inventory dialogue or other places, you will still need to type the number on your keyboard. I will address this in the next couple updates, before it goes to the default.

Also Note: You will need to restart the game to use this update. Trying to load an older save file will show you an error, and direct you to the manual.

Hugo Rodrigue is a musician and composer, and he did all the music for Islands of the Caliph.

I find the songs have been growing on my more and more as I've playtested the game (a lot) over the past few months. The songs have also evolved over this time, and they have become really important to establishing the atmosphere of the game. I feel like they lend it a style and authenticity that I would never have been able to reach on my own as the game developer, so I just wanted to express my appreciation for Hugo's work on this project!



Check out his website for more info: https://hurodrigue.wixsite.com/portfolio?fbclid=IwAR0dJHcsx9LxlP0QIa1TVRwxv_DB2ov-A53gOS3CNYAFGp9jNpjf9tNoAGw

[h3]Fixes in Version 1.0.5[/h3]
I have also fixed another issue in the game where Aziz the Jailer did not show up at the right time.

There are some pretty big changes in this patch. A lot of them have to do with two specific quests and the descriptions will have spoilers so read at your own risk!

[h3]The Jinn Quest[/h3]
The jinn quest had a major problem in that, depending which island you chose, it could cause you to get stuck and unable to progress. The new update makes the following changes:

• Prevents player from traveling to Salam Island or the Isle of Tazkiyyah if the ship is not available for return
  
• Isle of Tazkiyyah has an extra naturalist and tent so player can rest and sell goods to recover lost silver coin
  
• Isle of Hikmah the Naturalist in the City of Shifa was moved out of town to prevent players who had not yet opened Meezan Village from getting stuck there.
  
• All Naturalists will now also purchase raw fruits
  
• If the player took the jinn's passage to the Ikhlas Atol, they would be stuck in a square between buildings - this has been fixed
  
• Minhaaj Island now includes an additional stairway that leads from the top of the crater rim down to the beach, so players will not get stuck north of the city
  

[h3]The Squid Quest[/h3]

• Player will not be able to attack squid after accepting the quest for eggs
  
• Eggs cannot be sold unless the player attacks the squid - this will prevent the squid egg quest from starting
  

[h3]Robots:[/h3]

• Players will no longer be able to destroy Automatons until the correct time
  

[h3]Other Issues[/h3]

• Strange NPC should no longer appear over Captain Akram on the south dock of the Isle of Hikmah until the correct time
  
• Going to stay at the Inn without enough money would cause the game to freeze - this has been fixed
  

I noticed a few other bugs but could not address them today. Venom is not behaving properly if the player rests, and getting bit by snakes AND spiders seems to able to cancel one venom with the other.

Rest assured by the next update you will be able to get poisoned to death once again!