Over The Top: WWI News

[p]We are excited to announce that the next public alpha Playtest for Over The Top: WWI will beginn on the 17th of July 2025! [/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]As previously announced we are looking to host a couple of public Playtests prior to release of Over The Top: WWI, so that we can find bugs, get feedback and tweak gameplay well ahead of the official release. [/p][p]Please keep in mind that the game is still in alpha and a number of features have not yet been implemented. There will be bugs and performance issues as well unfinished gameplay.

If you are interested in participating in the Playtest, you can register for it from our Steam Store Page. Once registered, you will be notified once the Playtest starts.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2778610/Over_The_Top_WWI/

Thank you! We look forward to seeing you on the battlefield very soon!
/Flying Squirrel Entertainment

[/p]

Hey guys!
We are excited to announce that the public April Playtest for Over The Top: WWI is now live and will last from the 28th of April till the 5th of May 2025!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[h2]What’s New in This Playtest:[/h2]
New Party & Buddy System: Players can now form, manage, and customize parties, to take the fight to the battlefield with their friends.

Dynamic Seasons & Weather: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter settings now live across all available maps, creating immersive and shifting battlefields, such as a snow weather system with real-time snow accumulation. Revisit familiar locations in unfamiliar conditions, changing the way players experience each battlefield.

New Map “Crossroads”: The latest map launch brings a total of 9 of 12 total maps available in the playtest. Crossroads features rolling hills, wheat fields, and trench-lined forests. A bombed-out town sets the stage for gritty combat in Campaign mode.

Audio & Visual Customization: New British and German skins including Indian infantry, snipers, and heavy gunner capes offer more customization options than ever before. The game also now features new original background music tracks and selectable/unlockable voice accents for players.

New Sniper Weapons Added: Ross Sniper Rifle, Mannlicher 1886.

Additional Improvements and Enhancements: Since the last playtest, the team have been hard at work on enhancing the game’s performance with frame rate boosts, overhauled lighting, sharper textures, and visual effects improvements. There are also significant AI upgrades and bug fixes

Please keep in mind that the game is still in alpha and a number of features have not yet been implemented. There will be bugs and performance issues as well unfinished gameplay.


If you are interested in participating in the Playtest, you can register for it from our Steam Store Page. Once registered, you will be notified once the Playtest starts.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2778610/Over_The_Top_WWI/

Thank you! We look forward to seeing you on the battlefield very soon!
/Flying Squirrel Entertainment

We are excited to announce that the next public alpha Playtest for Over The Top: WWI will beginn on the 28th of April 2025!

As previously announced we are looking to host a couple of public Playtests prior to release of Over The Top: WWI, so that we can find bugs, get feedback and tweak gameplay well ahead of the official release.

Please keep in mind that the game is still in alpha and a number of features have not yet been implemented. There will be bugs and performance issues as well unfinished gameplay.


If you are interested in participating in the Playtest, you can register for it from our Steam Store Page. Once registered, you will be notified once the Playtest starts.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2778610/Over_The_Top_WWI/

Thank you! We look forward to seeing you on the battlefield very soon!
/Flying Squirrel Entertainment

Hey guys!
We would like to take a moment to reflect on the December playtest for Over The Top: WWI! Thanks to all of you, it was a huge success and an experience we won't soon forget.

In this post, we'll share what we learned, some exciting highlights, and what’s next for the game. Additionally, we would like to invite you to support Over The Top: WWI by voting for it in IndieDB’s Indie Game of the Year competition.

[h2]Numbers[/h2]
First, let’s talk about the numbers! Over 17,000 unique players joined the battlefield during the playtest, smashing our record for concurrent users. The response was so overwhelming that we had to wake up in the middle of the night to spin up additional servers to keep up with demand. Thank you so much; you guys are amazing!

[h2]Performance[/h2]
The playtest was also a valuable learning experience, and while we're proud of the strides we’ve made, there’s still work to do. Performance was one of the most significant challenges we noticed. With the game’s dynamic and chaotic nature, maintaining smooth FPS for all players is tricky. We’re focused on tackling these issues head-on to enhance the game’s performance for all players.

[h2]Spawn System and Balance
[/h2]Another area that came to light was the Officer Spawn system. Right now, it’s a little to easy to spawn on officers. Teams could easily overwhelm opponents by constantly respawning at officers, providing a never ending flow of players. We're planning an overhaul for the next playtest to strike a better balance.

Map Balance was another major issue this playtest. For example, on Alpenflugplatz, we noticed players sneaking behind enemy defenses to camp capture points that weren’t even active yet. We are planning adjustments to keep the battles intense but fair.

And let’s talk about those flamethrowers! They’re undeniably powerful; we tried to adress this during the playtest by limiting the number of specialists per server; with limited success. In certain maps, they tipped the scales too much in favor of attackers. We’ve got some ideas to address this and will be testing adjustments next playtest.

[h2]Campaign Mode[/h2]
On a more positive note, our new Campaign mode is shaping up nicely! Players enjoyed it, but the UI could do a better job explaining what’s happening during critical moments. We’ll also be fixing a bug that restricted voting options to just one choice in some cases. Expect a more polished experience in the next playtest.

Here are some screenshots showcasing the aftermath of the 3rd Battle at Nimy Bridge and Collineaux Hills. Remember, these two maps start out with NO destruction... The level of destruction is truly remarkable and highlights the intensity of the combat!





[h2]Armored Class[/h2]
The new Armored class showed promising results during the playtest. It functioned as intended, introducing a new tactical layer to gameplay. Observing how players utilized this class gave us valuable insights, and we’re eager to see how it evolves with further refinements in future updates.

[h2]Thank you![/h2]
Of course, none of this would have been possible without YOU. Thank you for your participation, feedback, and enthusiasm. Seeing you engage with the game at such a massive scale is what keeps us pushing forward.



Lastly, we have one small favor to ask. Over The Top: WWI is competing in IndieDB’s Indie Game of the Year awards, and your vote could make all the difference! If you’ve enjoyed the game or are excited about where it’s headed, please take a moment to vote for us. It’s a great way to support our team and help spread the word about the game.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2778610/Over_The_Top_WWI/

Thank you again for being part of this incredible journey. We’ll see you in the trenches (or on IndieDB)!
/Flying Squirrel Entertainment

Hey guys!
We are excited to announce that the public December Playtest for Over The Top: WWI is now live and will last from the 4th till 9th December 2024!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

It's been a while since our last playtest, and we're excited to share all the new additions and improvements we've made. With a change-log spanning hundreds of entries, we’ll spare you the full list here and instead highlight the most noticeable and impactful updates to Over The Top: WWI!

Here are the key changes of this playtest:

[h3]Campaign Gamemode[/h3]
The main focus of this playtest is to put our newly implemented Campaign Gamemode to the test. Currently available exclusively in multiplayer, this mode will eventually also make its way to the single-player.

• Fight for Territory: In Campaign Mode, both teams battle to capture and hold a series of territories. The team with the most territories at the end of the campaign will win the campaign.
  
• Dynamic Map System: Each territory is represented by a unique playable map. Once a map has been fought over, it can’t be selected again for one round - but it can return to the rotation later.
  
• Persistent Destruction: Campaign Mode isn’t just about capturing territory - it’s about changing it forever. Craters, player-dug trenches, destroyed trees, and even demolished buildings persist across battles. As the campaign progresses, maps transform from lush landscapes into the desolate hellscapes that define WWI.
  
• Time and Atmosphere: Maps will now feature random times of day, so prepare for the challenges of nighttime combat or the eerie glow of dawn. In the future, we also plan to add dynamic seasons and weather - imagine waging war in snow-covered trenches or icy wastelands.
  
• Battle Stats: After each battle, detailed statistics will be displayed, including the number of shells fired, vehicles destroyed, and more. Relive the intensity of each fight with these in-depth post-match summaries.
  
• We Need Your Feedback: The Campaign Mode UI is still a work in progress, and we want to hear from you! Your input will help us refine the experience, so please let us know what’s working well and especially what needs improvement.

[h3]Class System Rework[/h3]
Following feedback from the previous playtest, we observed that the Mechanic class was underutilized and lacked effectiveness. To address this, we’ve replaced it with the new Armoured Class.

This class is built for resilience, featuring steel-plated armor, heavy helmets, and face masks. While the Armoured Class sacrifices speed - it is unable to sprint - it excels in durability: it takes significantly lower damage to the upper body and head.

Additionally, the wrench from the Mechanic class has been reassigned to the Rifleman class, where it can now be unlocked, ensuring it remains accessible.




[h3]New Uniforms[/h3]
The British faction has been outfitted with a number of new Scottish Uniforms. In addition to the rifleman class, both the British Stormtrooper and Engineer now have access to Scottish uniforms.




[h3]New Map[/h3]
We've introduced a new map to the game: Alpenflugplatz. This map boasts rugged, mountainous terrain, complete with winding tunnels and narrow paths cutting through the rocky landscape. At its heart lies a German airfield, surrounded by open space - perfect for players to dig their own trenches.






[h3]Reworked Vehicle Physics[/h3]
All wheeled vehicles have been upgraded with an entirely new physics system! Say goodbye to the days of awkwardly floating vehicles and overly bouncy, unrealistic suspensions. The new system delivers smoother, more realistic movement, enhancing both the visuals and the feel of vehicle handling on the battlefield.

[h3]Motorbikes![/h3]
In addition to the new vehicle physics we have also added motorbikes with sidecars...

[h3]Reworked Perks and Troop Menu[/h3]
We’ve reworked all perks to make them more unique and impactful. These changes aim to enhance gameplay variety and strategy, but your feedback is invaluable—let us know what you think!

Additionally, the troop menu has been revamped for clarity and convenience. Descriptions are now more concise, and weapon stats are displayed directly within the menu, eliminating the need to navigate into each weapon's customization menu.

[h3]Other changes[/h3]
There are hundreds of smaller and larger changes and additions we’ve made, so we highly recommend jumping in and checking out the game for yourself. Your feedback is crucial to us, so please share your thoughts on our Discord or the Steam Forums. The more detailed and frequent the feedback, the better we can refine the game.

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The December Playtest for Over The Top: WWI will start on Wednesday the 4th of December and will end on the 9th of December.

Please keep in mind that the game is still in alpha and a number of features have not yet been implemented. There will be bugs and performance issues as well unfinished gameplay.


If you are interested in participating in the Playtest, you can register for it from our Steam Store Page. Once registered, you will be notified once the Playtest starts.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2778610/Over_The_Top_WWI/

Thank you! We look forward to seeing you on the battlefield very soon!
/Flying Squirrel Entertainment