Ratatan News

Hello RataTEAM!

It's update time and of course we have more information about the ongoing backer beta. It's a big update so grab a seat and have a read!

[h2]MIX Spring Showcase[/h2]
Ratatan will be taking part in The MIX Spring Showcase on March 17th during GDC week. The showcase is a digital event featuring news, reveals, announcements and more. The show kicks off at 9:00AM Pacific Time and can be viewed on the following channels:
[h3] YouTube / Twitch / Homepage[/h3]

[h2]Development Update[/h2]
In this update, we're going to go over the Closed Beta Test that is currently underway and how it is progressing.

The main features of this supersized update will be the addition of World 2's Yeehawler Mountain and its boss the Wagoon, as well as the next Ratatan, Kamonelo and the new Wand wielding cobun.

[h3]Bad Day on Yeehawler Mountain[/h3]
Deep in the dry, windswept wilderness, a rail car once carried gilded treasures through the canyon. But now it's up to you to infiltrate Yeehawler Ranch, home of the roaming Wagoon, and seize its owner, Saguaro Slim!

This area's boss, Wagoon, will call out to the female Bessoons to help him when he's under attack, and has a habit of diving into the sand to attack you from below!


[h3]Kamonelo[/h3]
Character Introduction
Kamonelo (VA: Nonoka Obuchi)

Behind Kamonelo's blank expression, is a mind operating at speeds we can only imagine, pondering the world's complexities.
They’ll sometimes overthink and act in ways that are incomprehensible.
They enjoy looking at the sky.
"To fly or not to fly, that is likely the question."
"Oh, to be nice and empty, like the sky..."


[h3]Magical Cobun[/h3]
Kamonelo’s cobun.
Proficient with a wand.


We have already received a lot of feedback from the Closed Beta test identifying many glitches and parts of the game with low useability. It's difficult to respond to all of these issues right away, so we're examining them one by one and will update the game to make it even better.
Please refer to the patch notes below for more details on this update.

[h2]Closed Beta v0.2.67 Patch Notes[/h2]

[h3]Highlights[/h3]

• World 2: Bad Day on Yeehawler Mountain is now available.
  The boss, Wagoon, has a distinctive attack, such as summoning Bessoons to increase its attack capacity or diving into the sand to attack from below.
  Once the Wagoon is defeated, the game can then be played in a circular fashion.
  
• Added Kamonelo functionality to Ratatan
  This Ratatan initially enters fights with Assault Cobun and Magical Cobun. The cobun's HP is restored slightly when the rhythm command gathers everyone together, so the troops can last longer if this cobun is utilized effectively.
  
• Added the wand cobun class.
  A long-range weapon, the wand's means of attack changes depending on the attributes of any implemented Ratakaruta.
  The unit skill allows them to target enemies and gather in one place, or target an ally to boost their attack power.
  

[h3]Battle[/h3]

• It is now possible to input a rhythm command and move the Ratatan except while taking a performance motion.
  An occurrence where the Ratatan was unable to act more than expected when failing a rhythm command input, etc., has been resolved.
  
• The maximum number of cobun that can join an adventure has been changed from 6 to 9.
  The maximum number of cobun will be expandable at the support desk in the future.
  The number of cobun that can be taken by default is currently set in the player enhancement menu, but will be further expanded in the future.
  
• When a cobun is caught by a monster or some other obstacle during the “Align” rhythm command, it will now slip through and return to the vicinity of the Ratatan.
  
• The following enemy long-range attacks now display a marker on the target of the attack:
  Pointy Chief / Pinchy
  

[h3]Balance Adjustments[/h3]

• Adjusted the HP, attack power, and action interval of Teshita or other enemies.
  
• The arrows fired by Teshita's bow attacks have been made more visible.
  
• The damage of the Jolly Hermit's great move Frenzied Fish Cannon has been adjusted.
  
• The damage reduction percentage during the effects of the rhythm command "Guard" has been increased. Also, while under the effect of Guard, the player will no longer be knocked back even if hit by an attack that would typically do so.
  

[h3]Meta Gameplay[/h3]

• We have adjusted the amount of experience gained per material when leveling up weapons through crafting.
  The amount of experience gained at level 1 has been adjusted, making it easier to level up overall.
  
• We've removed boss materials from the Exchanger that were registered as items that could be exchanged for general-purpose material and other items.
  
• Boss materials are dropped when a boss is defeated (there are multiple drops, one of which is dropped at random), and weapons that can be crafted using those materials also have a low probability of dropping when that same boss is defeated.
  
• What will happen when using the "Skill 1" and "Skill 2" rhythm commands can now be confirmed on the composition screen.
  
• The functions and how they are represented in the Craft Menu, Inventory, and Organization screens have been unified, such as those for equipped and the item lock function.
  
• Added text to the call icons on the inventory, organization screen, and pause menu to indicate which menus can be called.
  
• After the appearance of NPCs at the Support Desk, My Room, Exchanger, and Crafting, will now only describe their facilities the first time you interact with them.
  

[h3]Other[/h3]

• The fourth beat in the line indicating beats in the rhythm gauge has been removed.
  
• The Rhythm Command Guide is now displayed when adventuring.
  The display can be turned on or off in the options.
  
• Added explanation text for items and choruses that can be acquired during an adventure.
  
• Changed the cobun response voice when failing a rhythm command.
  
• 
  

[h3]Bugfixes[/h3]

• Fixed a bug where Hermit's great move Frenzied Fish Cannon was sometimes triggered at a time where it could not be dodged by the rhythm command.
  
• Fixed a bug in which some tutorials would not play when starting the game again after being interrupted.
  
• Fixed a bug where the attack detection in World 1's Squiddly Pete was set to something unexpected.
  
• Fixed a bug where weapon leveling in crafting was not behaving properly.
  
• Fixed a bug where weapon levels were not displayed correctly in the sortie screen.
  
• Fixed a bug where the appearance of one weapon was replacing the appearance of another weapon during certain movements.
  
• Fixed a bug where certain event progress flags wouldn't appear, making progression impossible when obtaining a cobun early at certain points in the tutorial.
  
• Fixed a bug in which game progression stops when two or more players increase the number of cobun in a multiplayer game using the enhancement item Arms Expansion (used to increase the initial number of cobun that can be taken on an adventure).
  

[h3]Known Issues[/h3]

• A bug where your Ratatan and cobun would get stuck in the Goodie Gate after being hit by an attack that causes them to blow up in battle has been temporarily addressed and corrected to prevent it from occurring.
  However, we will need more time to correct the bug so that it no longer occurs at all.
  
• There are other minor problems with the display of text within speech bubbles:
  Immediately after a facility is opened, the facility NPC will talk about that facility, but this text may not be displayed correctly.
  Lines for World 1 may appear in World 2.
  

Hello! Producer Sakajiri, here.
Thank you all for your patience!
This month we'd like to share some details about the long-awaited closed beta test.

Wishlists Now Exceed 100,000!
Thanks to your tremendous support, the number of wishlists on our Steam page is now more than 100,000! Thank you so much.
We've also received over 100 ratings for the Ratatan Original Soundtrack Demo, all of which have been positive. This is super encouraging for everyone on the department team, and we are working hard every day to create something that meets and hopefully exceeds your expectations.




- About the Date for Closed Beta Test
Provided we don't hit any major obstacles, the Beta is scheduled to start on February 27, 2025. The distribution of codes, start date, and time will be announced via Discord and X as soon as they are confirmed.

However, we have sadly decided to forego the upcoming Steam Next Fest. Instead, we have made the decision to prioritize the closed beta test, and plan to better prepare a demo that will be available to the general public at the next Steam Next festival in June.

We look forward to your continued support and encouragement as we continue to develop this project ahead of a major rollout that will come in the summer.

- Beta Test Overview
When the closed beta test is released, up to the end of Stage 1 is planned to be playable in the initial build. The test period is expected to last roughly one month with multiple updates throughout, including the addition of Stages 2 and 3 and more Ratatan, as well as extra features.

We will also provide a survey form during the test, so please feel free to give us your honest opinions and suggestions so that we can improve the quality of the game. We have reviewed all the feedback we have received so far and incorporated it into our plans, but it can take a long time before that feedback is reflected. We appreciate your understanding.

- Items for Consideration
We have received many opinions and suggestions regarding command inputs. Rest assured, the team is aware of these and is considering them.
In addition to these, we'd like for players to do things like switch button combinations and show/hide guides in the options menu. We are preparing to test this as much as possible during the closed beta.

- Test Precautions

• We ask that you please participate in the beta with courtesy and within our guidelines.
  
• Many glitches will be present due to the nature of the beta build. Please be aware that these may impede your ability to play the game.
  
• There is still a possibility of mis-synchronization and connection problems when it comes to multiplayer.
  
• Communication data from this test will be collected to improve the multiplayer experience.
  

- Requests
Due to the postponement of participation in the Steam Next Fest, we ask that participants please refrain from taking screenshots and videos of the game, and distributing them or posting them on social media. However, you may share the information in the official Ratatan Discord. If you are a member of the media or a distributor, then please contact our management.

[h2]Development Update
[/h2]Welcome to the February development update!
We hope you're excited for the closed beta at the end of the month, so we're gonna show you a little bit of new information.

Not only will there be general matchmaking, but matching with friends will also be available!



The closed beta will also include a tutorial at the start of the game--something that was requested in the feedback. Finally, you'll be able to meet Crow in game!



Not only that, but instant enhancement items have been added and adjusted. We hope you're looking forward to trying these for yourselves!

[h3]Campaign Update
[/h3]
■ About the Closed Beta
We are currently preparing for the beta's implementation in February as planned, however, while this is the current plan, the final announcement will be in the next update.

Eligibility:
Any backer who has backed the base digital or physical tier or higher via Kickstarter or Backerkit.

Duration:
From mid-February to the end of March

How to Participate:
We will send your Steam Beta Download Key to your registered Kickstarter or Backerkit E-mail address. There may be some unforeseen delays due to the large number of keys required, however we will do our best to deliver everyone’s Beta key together on the same day.

We will continue to support customer service requests via the official Ratatan Discord and support E-mail address. When sending in a support request, please provide your backer number and registered E-mail address with it so we can confirm your details and expedite the process.

About the Test:

• Stages 1 to 3 are planned to be playable in the beta test.
  
• The game is still under development, so there may be bugs and tentative features.
  
• There will be no restrictions with sharing footage or screenshots. However, we would appreciate it if you could be considerate of the many bugs and tentative features that may appear in the game.
  
• Any save data from the alpha test will not carry over into the beta test. We will also do our best not to reset saved data during the beta test, but this may become necessary in some cases.
  
• Please be aware that there will be roughly 20,000 participants in this next test, which is a considerable number. We ask that all participants please enjoy the game online while being considerate of others.
  

■ About Steam Next Fest
We will be releasing a demo version of the game to be exhibited during the Steam Next Fest in February.
The content of the demo version will be limited to only Stage 1.
Online play will be available, but players will not be able to match with participants in the closed beta test that will be running in parallel.

■ Taipei Game Show 2025
Ratatan will be exhibiting at the Taipei Game Show being held from January 23 to January 26, and we'll post updates on how that's going via our social media!
https://tgs.tca.org.tw/index_e.php


[h3]Development Update
[/h3]Happy New Year, everyone! (Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!)
We'll be unveiling some of the elements that are currently being implemented, including those that we mentioned previously. We hope you're excited!

■ New Additions: Kamonelo and the Magical Cobun
After Pyokorappa's addition, Kamonelo, who was briefly shown in the promotional video, finally became a playable character in Ratatan. Kamonelo's trusty sidekick, the staff-wielding Magical Cobun, is also here to play.
The Magical Cobun is an interesting unit that changes the appearance and trajectory of its attacks depending on the Ratakaruta it is holding.



■ Implementing New Worlds and New Monsters
The desert wilderness world of Bad Day on Yeehawler Mountain and the jungle world Jamming Jungle Journey, as well as the new monsters that appear in them, are currently being implemented. We're still working on the beta test so that everyone can enjoy them in game, so we’ll only show you a few screenshots this time.



■ Improvements to Crafting
Here are some of the functional modifications to the crafting process.

In response to how weapons were valued in the alpha test, we have introduced a leveling system for weapons in order to better reflect the player's growth during gameplay.

In the future, we would like to expand this concept to include a level limit, alongside other challenging elements. Above is a screenshot of the crafting screen post renovation.

Streaming test.

We are almost finished with 2024. How was this year for you?

The Ratatan team went full-speed ahead with development and showed the game at a major event, held an alpha test, and opened the Steam page. It was a very busy year indeed! The Steam wishlists keep pouring in so have nothing but gratitude to all our supporters. Ratatan will be released next year so please keep sending all those great thoughts our way as we push forward to the finish line!

The team will be working up until the 30th of December in Japan before going on winter holidays but on that day we plan to have a small year-end party. The development team will be live-streaming some of the in-development content starting at 7PM on the 29th of December PST (10PM EST). And, if we are lucky, we may be able to show Kamonelo off for the first time!!

If you have time please come and check it out

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2949320/Ratatan/

Thanks again and have a HAPPY new year!

-Ratatan Development Team