New Arc Line News

Greetings, Magicians and Technologists!

It's been a week since New Arc Line launched into Early Access and the support and feedback we've received has been tremendous so far! Thank you very much, it is truly heart-warming to know that you enjoy the game and that you care about it; which you keep showing us by letting us know what should be fixed, changed and improved. Based on that, we are already hard at work on a quality-of-life patch that we hope to have out before the Holidays, but we cannot firmly promise that at this point - New Arc Line is not a small game and we want to test every update thoroughly rather than risk releasing a version that would not be enjoyable to play.

Among the features and improvements we plan to bring in this upcoming patch are:

• Separate sliders for SFX and Music volume controls.
  
• The ability to continue exploring the world even after the main quest has been completed.
  
• The ability to read through the entire currently active dialogue (including previous replies).
  
• Bug-reporting tool inside the game, to streamline the fixing process.
  
• Fix issues with performance in the menu when players have many saved games.
  

This is not a complete list, we are working on other additions as well, but we are also still evaluating what is realistic to finalize and properly test before the Holidays.

There is also a Holiday tradition for indie games: the annual IndieDB Indie of the Year Awards, and 2024 is no exception. You can now vote for all your favorite indie games on the site and select the Top100 - this round of voting will close on December 10, and voting for the prestigious Top10 will begin a day after that. We therefore humbly ask you to consider voting for New Arc Line - all you have to do to is follow this link and click VOTE NOW. It's that simple, no registration or e-mail verification is needed; so you can tell your friends to do the same!



Thank you very much for your continuing support - whether it's in the form of this nomination, writing a review here on Steam or just by joining and chatting on our Discord server. The journey has just begun!

Until next time!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2458310/New_Arc_Line/

Greetings, Magicians and Technologists!

We’re thrilled that you finally get to play the Early Access version of New Arc Line, and we are humbled and grateful beyond words by the positive reactions we've seen so far! We are also excited about what lies ahead - this launch is just the beginning of a collaborative journey with you, our fans and players. Your insights not only help us refine the game but also inspire us to explore ways to meet your expectations quickly and efficiently. As a side note, if you are experiencing technical issues with the game, please make sure all your drivers are up to date. We have seen many problems solved by a simple driver update!

[h3]Early Early Access Plans[/h3]
In the Launch announcement, we have mentioned the plan to release big content updates as well as smaller patches throughout the Early Access period; and we have already noticed requests and suggestions we can fulfill in the short term, in such small updates. These are not just bug fixes, but also quality of life improvements - we will have more information for you soon. We are evaluating the needed development time and setting priorities at the moment.

[h3]About Localizations[/h3]
Among the most frequent requests, and definitely not falling into the "small features" category, are additional localizations. We understand how important it is for you to be able to enjoy the game in your native language. However, full localization during Early Access is problematic, due to the constant updates and changes to the game. Adjustments to text, mechanics, and features require significant resources, which are better allocated to core development during this phase.

For the full release, we aim to deliver professional translations for the following languages:

• Ukrainian
  
• Spanish
  
• German
  
• French
  
• Simplified Chinese
  
• Russian
  

These translations will ensure high-quality localization at launch, providing an enjoyable experience for a wider audience.

To make the game accessible to more players sooner, we are considering introducing AI-generated localizations for these languages during Early Access. While not perfect, AI translations could allow you to experience the game in your preferred language early on and for us, that would mean potentially more feedback to help us in further development.

If implemented, the AI translations would be clearly labeled as such to set proper expectations; we would also invite you to participate in polishing these machine-generated texts, providing new channels to share feedback on wrong translations or strange-sounding phrases etc., and we would update them as needed. By working together like that, we could create more accurate and enjoyable localizations while maintaining our focus on developing the game itself.

We do not wish to make this decision without your input however - therefore we ask you to please answer the question "Would you like us to add AI-generated localizations to the languages listed above during Early Access?" in a poll we have created here. To be clear - we are only considering this option from various standpoints at this time, and even if you vote in favor of it, the AI translations may not be added in the end. We just don’t want to proceed if our community is against this idea.

We cannot thank everyone who bought or even just wishlisted the game enough; we've said it before and we'll say it again, your support means the world to us and we feel it as a bond to honor with making the game the best it can be for you. We wouldn't dream of asking more of you. We have been asked the following question by some of you however, so in case you are wondering...

[h3]How Can I Help Support New Arc Line Further?[/h3]
There are several ways you can help the game, which do not cost anything but a little bit of your time. The first and foremost is leaving a review here on Steam. Every single positive review helps to show New Arc Line to more people. Conversely, negative reviews ("not recommended") can have a huge impact in the other direction; they are absolutely a legitimate way for you to voice any issues you have with the game, but also please realize that we have limited ways of responding to you there and getting additional information so that we can improve the game. So if your intent is to share feedback with us, report bugs, etc., please consider using the Steam Discussions or better yet, the New Arc Line Discord server.

That is actually the second most important thing you can do to help us - share your opinions with us. About anything in the game, really. What you like, what you don't enjoy quite as much... We read every suggestion, every bug report, every critique we can get our hands on - there truly is no such thing as "enough feedback" from our players!

And last but not least, if you really like New Arc Line and are as excited as us about its future, you can help spread the word - let us know which content creators you would like to see cover the game, comment on their videos or streams proposing New Arc Line to them, while we look for ways to get them a key. Follow us on social media, like and share our posts. Take screenshots of your favorite moments in the game and share them on Steam. Most importantly however, enjoy the game!

Thank you everyone, and stay tuned - we will have more updates for you soon.

Until next time!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2458310/New_Arc_Line/

With a name like New Arc Line, I genuinely didn’t know what kind of game to expect. While it’s true you can’t judge a book by its cover—or a game by its name—a title really is supposed to give you some idea of what to expect. Animal Well is about a well full of animals. Lies of P is about a guy named P telling lies. But New Arc Line? As far as I could tell, that could be a subway building sim.

I’m only joking of course, but one of the things I always enjoy about doing these previews is getting to be surprised by things I was mostly unaware of. While, based on a few screenshots, I assumed New Arc Line was a kind of tactical turn-based game akin to XCOM or Fire Emblem, it’s actually a full-on RPG pulled straight from the tabletop and adapted to a videogame. 

I was immediately floored by the depth New Arc Line offers in player creation. So many modern RPGs today feel as though there’s barely any role to play in them, but, perhaps with the exception of Baldur’s... Read more

Greetings, Magicians and Technologists!

A most auspicious day has come, your ship has finally docked at the port in the New World! Are you ready for your journey to the city of New Arc and become the first to find a cure for the Iron Plague? Will you join the side of Technology or Magic?

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[h2]State of the Game[/h2]

Now, before you rush off to make your fortune, it is important to note that the game is launching into Early Access - you will not be able to complete your hero's story yet. We are grateful beyond measure to all who decide to support us and join us on the development journey. We will do our best to listen to all your feedback, suggestions, and criticism - please let us know your thoughts about the game either here in Steam Discussions, or even better, join us on the New Arc Line Discord server!

In the Early Access Launch version of New Arc Line, you will get to experience around a quarter of the main story, and a third of the overall content we plan for the game - depending on your chosen difficulty and playstyle, it should take you around 10-12 hours to explore it. You will meet and be able to join up with 3 companion characters, each with their unique storyline, and you yourself will be able to create your own character as either a Diesel Engineer or a Voodoo Shaman and either a Human or an Elf.

[h2]Early Access Development Plans[/h2]

One of the main areas we want to focus on is the optimization and technical state of the game. Based on various benchmarks and early feedback we've received, we have managed to improve it noticeably since last month’s demo. But we need your help to improve the optimization even further - if you experience framerate drops or any other performance issues, please share as many details about your PC, where in the game it happened, how long you've been playing, what was the framerate at the time, etc. This will help us tremendously in making the gameplay experience as smooth as possible.

Of course, we plan to release several large content updates throughout the Early Access period, bringing new quests, companions, classes, abilities, and gear. We do have an internal schedule set up for these, and we look forward to being able to share that with you in the near future. We absolutely expect our plans will need to change based on your feedback - that is the whole purpose of Early Access, after all!

[h2]The Full Release[/h2]

The game’s largest update will come with the full release, which we estimate to take about a year to achieve - besides new playable races, abilities, spells, and crafting recipes, quests, and locations, we also plan to add various new gameplay systems and features - the subclass system to further customize your characters, a hub for you to hang out in and of course, the ability to romance your companions. Naturally, you will be able to complete the main story from the start to its multiple endings, depending on your choices.

We cannot thank you enough for your support, whether you decide to buy the Early Access launch version and dive into the world of New Arc Line right away, or just wishlist and follow the game here on Steam to follow our development, we couldn't have made it this far without you.

Until next time!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2458310/New_Arc_Line/

Greetings, Magicians and Technologists!

As a famous author once said, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” Well, Mick Mortinsen, the first companion you will meet in New Arc Line, is a giant by birth – but let’s see what he has achieved, and what fate has thrust upon him. While Mick isn’t the largest of his race you will ever meet, he still towers over any human or elf. However, even for a giant, he shows exceptional physical prowess in terms of strength and endurance; making him seem almost invincible at times, which is also thanks to the air of confidence that he projects. But is he truly the self-assured, optimistic and upbeat guy he appears to be, or is there more to him than meets the eye?


He spent his youth toiling away in one of the many coal mines that are feeding the industrial revolution in New Arc. The physical labor was brutal, and he had no choice but to endure, with no other way to pay off his debts. Mick felt like a prisoner there, with every day filled with torment, stretching on for what seemed like an eternity in the darkness, with no light or end in sight. His immense strength allowed him to easily break even the toughest rocks, but with each swing of his pickaxe, he was digging himself deeper and deeper into despair.


To cope with that daily grind, Mick turned to the substance called "Orphum", a potent stimulant, for the first time. At first, it was just a way to help ease the pain and fatigue, to keep his strength and productivity up, and, of course, to experience at least some measure of joy, to hold on to the hope that one day he would escape this hell. As it often goes, however, he started seeking chemically-induced bliss more and more.



As in every story worth telling though, there came a moment when everything changed for our hero. One day, a dwarf by the name of Red Simon arrived at the mine, looking to hire some extra muscle for a job. For Mick, one-off side gigs like that were nothing too unusual - when you’re in as desperate a situation as he was, any opportunity feels like a chance at salvation, and you don’t tend to be picky, and you don’t ask too many questions. And so, already wired on stimulants after a long shift, Mick agreed without thinking twice about it.

It turned out that Red Simon, a man of grand ambition, abundant connections and no scruples, needed some “assistance” in resolving a ‘dispute’ with his former business associate. The job soon turned sideways - the negotiations between the two gangs quickly escalated into a bloodbath. That’s when Mick revealed his true self: in a fit of rage and fueled by the stimulants, he took down a dozen opponents as if they were nothing more than chunks of coal he smashed in the mine every day.

Impressed by the performance, Simon made Mick an offer he couldn’t refuse: paying off all his debts, freeing him from the mines, and giving him plenty of new “career opportunities”. Mick didn’t hesitate long and agreed; and soon Red Simon became something of a mentor and protector to him.


Thus began a new chapter of Mick’s life. He fully understood that he was still in just as much debt, if not more, and that while benevolent to him, Red Simon now “owned” him. Yet Mick was no longer shackled in the darkness of the mines; his life was now spent in the daylight, and for the first time in what seemed like forever, he felt a sense of purpose. And if you ask about Mick down at the port, you’ll hear that he’s one of Red Simon’s most reliable employees.

However, deep down, Mick believes that it’s all thanks to the stimulants, that it was only the drugs that had made him what he was: strong, fast, and confident. And so, addiction has become a constant companion to Mick, an ever-present shadow that follows him even in his brightest moments, when he seems completely carefree and surrounded by friends. It’s not just the stimulants either – their long-term use is taking its toll on Mick’s health, and he seeks out even more substances to cope with the stimulants’ side-effects.

Despite his rough appearance and reputation, Mick is a giant with a kind heart. He loves to have fun, support his friends, and he always has their back – you will be hard-pressed to find a more loyal ally. Even in the most dangerous situations, he can drop a witty remark that eases the tension. But once the stimulants kick in, a different Mick emerges: harsh, irritable, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. To a large extent, the stimulants that once helped him cope with pain and survive in the mines, have now taken over his life. And it’s all because Mick believes that it’s the drugs giving him strength and control. It is his greatest fear that without them, he would turn back into the powerless guy, trapped in the mines with no hope of rising from the darkness.

Maybe, with the help of the player and their character, Mick will finally realize that his strength and the control over his life do not come from the drugs, but from his own self; and that when all is said and done, Mick is more than just a pumped-up giant with strength in his fists. But the choice, as always, will be up to you - help Mick break free from his addiction or indulge and exploit his weaknesses, even if it leads to tragedy.

So, what will you choose, partner?


Thank you for joining us on another brief foray into the world of New Arc Line – we hope you enjoyed it! We cannot wait for you to dive into the game's world when we launch into Early Access on November 26, 2024 - stay tuned, don't forget to wishlist & follow the game here on Steam and join the New Arc Line Discord server, so you stay up to date on all news and announcements!

Until next time!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2458310/New_Arc_Line/