VALHALL: Harbinger News

This year was crucial for VALHALL.

To begin with,  thank you all, dear community! We said it before, but let us repeat - our team appreciates everything you have done for the game. 


The major issues that did not allow to launch the tests were solved, Alpha stage, global overhaul began, combat system foundation reworked from scratch, the game quility standards raise, it is no longer limited to one game mode, Pre-Beta tests were launched and an unlisted page was provided by Steam for closed tests in the current state.

VALHALL got much more attention from the gaming community this year, we showed some numbers in the previous updates, so we expect the servers will be populated at the next stages.

The coming year will be a key time for VALHALL. We are going to finish and release a full version of Wield Mjolnir game mode at first and pass the Beta stage reaching the release state.

We keep working hard, also we see how the progress can be significantly accelerated in the future. At this moment you can check Trello board for Wield Mjolnir. Later detailed boards for Beta and Early access stages will become available.


You were with us from the beginning of the journey, it was the hardest period. We hope when the time comes you will be proud of being the first to participate in the VALHALL development.

Our Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign ends 31th of Decemeber, we are moving to the next stage.

What will be with Indiegogo exclusives: Bear Armor, Odin’s Helmet, Personal Set?
- As we promised they will not be available for purchase after the end of InDemand (this Indiegogo campaign). These items are exclusive.


*This is the only one helmet that has hornes in the game at the moment.


The new patch has arrived. We were working on the deep code of core elements, so there weren't patches unless it was something you can interact within the game.

• There was a combat system issue, which concerned both fists/weapons and which fix was essential - body angle replication.
  
  
  
  Before today's patch you couldn't see an angle of the enemy's body during attacks. Now vertical body movements work well and visible to the players.
  
  
  
  
• Improved directional attacks system. Added new angles. 360 will become available soon.
  
  
  
  
• Fixed not working sliding delay.
   
  
• Fixed footstep sounds persist during a jump. 
  
  
• Footsteps on the water surface now work.
   
  
• Attack is cancelled on landing.
   
  
• Fixed not working lower body animations. Previously legs didn't play animations that are connected to the performed attacks. Now the overall look of the movements is more lively.
  
  
  
  
• Fixed sliding upwards.
  
  
• Fixed repeating sliding sound.
  
  
• Added song "Ragnarök" from Gealdýr to Wield Mjolnir while waiting for players.
  
  
• Character randomizer at the start of the session.
  
  
• Added 3 playable characters.
  
  
• Improved cloth/mesh physics collision.
  
  
  
  
• Code optimization. Faster map loading.
  
  
• New reflections. For example, on water surface.
  

We will be cooperating with Gealdýr - Nordic folk/Viking inspired project created by talanted Dutch Singer-Songwriter Jonathan Barendsma.

Listen to songs

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Special thanks for providing VALHALL with amazing song "Ragnarök" at this stage!


Brothers, let's meet the holidays and see what is awaiting us in the upcoming year!

Best wishes from all of us, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Blackrose Arts

Guys, here is a gameplay trailer of Wield Mjolnir game mode
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
We hope you like it! Please share it with someone who can be interested in the game, you are our only and the greatest power - we focus on the development and don't use paid promotion.

There weren't patches during this period as we have been working on the core updates.

The next patch will come out once they are finished and Trello board will be updated. Community Trello is different from development board due to back-end details.

Thor's hammer features are in process. We're going to lift NDA after the next game updates, earlier than a full launch of Wield Mjolnir.

Join Testers chat on Discord

- be a member of our Discord

- be a backer with Beta access

- fill the form (for backers only)

After that, during 24 hours you will receive a "Alpha tester" role on our Discord server which will reveal the channels.

Best wishes,
Blackrose Arts

This is a part of Indiegogo update which we are posting here for our Steam community to make sure you don't miss it. You can read full update in the Indiegogo updates section.

Check full update

First of all, thanks to all the testers for participation in the development and providing your logs. It helped us a lot to fix many major bugs.

Improvements we make and test in Wield Mjolnir apply to the whole game including Siege, Battle Royale and the future game modes.

Since the start of its tests several patches have been uploaded:

Visuals

• Changed beards.
  
• Changed eyes.
  
• Changed hair materials.
  
• Improved hands material. Hammer lifting effects.
  

• Improved Mjolnir materials.
  
• Improved wet cloth materials.
  
• Added hair physics.
  
• Added cloth physics.
  

Gameplay

• Improved character collision capsule. Better distance for attacks.
  
• Improved FOV.
  
• Improved turn cap, easier aiming, attacks feel better.
  
• Fixed issues with first person mode switch.
  
• New sensitivity.
  
• Added a light switch between dynamic and static. Use the "L" key. Later to appear in settings.
  
• More stable character movement.
  
• Improved hit reactions.
  
• Fixed first person crouching.
  
• Implemented new HUD.
  

* The third bar is rage.

• UI improvements. Pause menu options button fix.
  
• Fixed some crashes.
  
• Lower RAM consumption.
  
• Multiplayer optimization.
  

Animations

• Reinstated locomotion system features.
  
• Added smoother transitions.
  
• Added more gravity to the jumps.
  
• Fixed jittering while jump on both perspectives.
  
• Created many new animations which include.
  
• Fists TFP idle.
  
• Fists FPP idle.
  
• Uppercut left & right.
  
• Left & right jabs.
  
• Left & right hooks.
  
• Angle hooks (40,140,220,320 degrees).
  
• Hammer TFP idl.
  
• Actions for hammer TFP idle.
  

The animations are a WIP since we're still adding new ones and testing them out. There will be a new locomotion system full of new animations.


Here is Wield Mjolnir Trello with detailed development progress. It doesn't contain confidential back-end of course but gives a bigger picture of what's in process.

Link to Wield Mjolnir community Trello

There are diverse time intervals between patches because some of them include visual improvements and the others a complex backend rework.

Current work is focused on the most interesting part - Mjolnir features. We need to implement them before the full launch of the game mod without NDA.

Also, we're remaking rig for the other characters. When it's done they will appear as playable in one of the future patches.


A ragdoll system is being reworked to make physics feel much better. Imagine like you swing the hammer and in a second a row of enemies are scattered around the map. We want each body part to react in the right way.

More news, according to the Steam platform requirements we have to make a store page for Beta as well. You get its content automatically. This page will not be searchable in Steam, its a hidden link for direct follow which you may see on our website sometime later.

Also, there was an update to the game branches, now you can download & test Wield Mjolnir right away after adding to library. The game is still under NDA that's why for now the only one place to discuss, upload screenshots and videos are "Closed Alpha" channels for testers on our Discord server.

For the access need:

• be a member of our Discord server Discord.
  
• be a backer with Beta access
  
• accept NDA
  

After that, you will receive a "Tester" role on our Discord server which will reveal the test channels.

In case you missed early backers bonuses, here you are! We updated the bonus table:

After the release we will continue to supplement this list.

If you're an Early backer and haven't choose between additional Silver chest or extra Early Access key yet, you can do it here


We would like to inform you that your name will appear not only in credits but somewhere in a game too.

It is one more surprise (not from the bonus table) we are preparing for backers. If you want to change the name entered when backed the game just feel this form with a new one:
Put your name/nickname

Guys, we would like to say it one more time for those who could miss this info before. The first announced game mode of VALHALL was Battle Royale, and we will make sure it will be a great experience. However, it's only a small part of what we want for this game.

A huge amount of feedback was received during the development saying people wanted much more than a Battle Royale.

The way how players see the game for the first time matters. We are doing the necessary analysis and act in a way we consider will lead the game to success. It means a much better playing experience upon release for you than was intended.

There was no word about Siege game mode at the beginning however, it will be included in Beta. And that is important to understand that it is not about taking more time to set up a new game mode. It is about leveling up the whole game standards and taking time to overhaul all the elements. By improving core mechanics for Siege and Wield mjolnir, Battle Royale becomes better. We are very grateful for the time you have given us to achieve a better future for VALHALL.


After current Wield Mjolnir bug fixing process and launch without NDA other game modes will move much faster to their release state.


Currently VALHALL has 90,000+ Steam users added the game to their wishlist, after release we predict that our community and player base will grow. We do our best to make the game enjoyable the way there will be stable online after the launch.


Your viking friends,
Blackrose Arts

This is a part of Indiegogo update which we are posting here for our Steam community to make sure you don't miss it. You can read full update in the Indiegogo updates section.

Сheck full update

The time has come for us to announce the launch of the testing phase for the "Wield Mjolnir" game mode. Despite an ambitious tasks for our indie team, we are approaching our goals to provide you with a great experience.

Today we do pretests and when necessary invite available players from Alpha channel to help us. During these Sunday-Tuesday you will see an update in #alpha-announcements-events and Alpha build will be updated for Wield Mjolnir tests.

First of all, servers are 24/7!

The best place to unite with other players is Discord#alpha_general.

As we mentioned in the last updates, it's not Beta, but the game mode test to try the game while we are continuing to work on the other elements as well as:

- Improve the quality and accuracy of viking animations. The base system is already working pretty well.

- Finish networking for the new game mode.

- Finalize some of the cool features related to Thor's hammer.

That means that this build will be updated frequently to add the developed content for the tests. After it's implemented Wield Mjolnir will be released without NDA and shared with all the backers.




We consult with our community through regular polls, discuss all your questions and answer through all platforms.

But one thing is rather difficult for us at this moment, dev blogs. We strive to keep you in the loop as well as we can, yet we are aware that there is a considerable gap between updates without an explanation from our side.

So here are the 2 main reasons why this occurs - we spend all the time on development and we have very few native English speakers in our small team. But we want to overcome this and plan to start uploading videos, screenshots and make posts about the development of animations or new cool features, etc.

We are very glad to tell you that we are currently maintaining a steady speed of development, despite the delays that occurred in the past. The mechanics/animations which aren't presented at the beginning of the tests will be added.

Also, we start a new way of interaction - community Trello.
We use this platform for our work and it will allow you to see the tasks in process.
Just for the beginning let's start with Trello of Wield Mjolnir. You will find a link in #alpha-announcements-events on our Discord server with the tests launch message.

When we get feedback this Trello will be opened to everyone.

You have been chosen to be one of the warriors to participate in Thor's test!

The God of Thunder needs to find a warrior who will be mighty enough to wield the strongest hammer - Mjolnir.



Features:
- There are 25 vikings on the map and 3 players enough to start the match.

- The first goal is to retrieve Mjolnir out of the ground. This phase has a total timer of 1 minute, during this time a player pulls out the hammer and earns points.

- After the first minute of pulling passes, a player can pick up the hammer and use its great powers: throw away enemies like ragdolls by simple attacks & charge the hammer by lightning and use the special abilities like chain lightning & throw the hammer.Don't worry about the balance. If nobody defeats the player with the hammer he will fall from the lightning after 1 min since he has equipped the hammer as player hasn't prove that he is mighty enough to use the full power of Mjolnir yet.

- All players can either fight between themselves or unite against the player with the hammer.

- The player who earns the most points by the end of the match wins.

- Use non-typical attacks to defeat your enemies: headbutt, uppercuts and so on.


Points are awarded for:

- Taking the hammer from the ground/a dead player.

- Pulling a hammer within the first minute.

- Each second of holding the hammer.

- Killing other players.


Also we prepared some unannounced features for this game mode.

How to join:

Everybody who already has Alpha access (everyone with Beta access who joined Alpha channel) will just have their Alpha build updated in Steam.

If you are a new player, find Alpha instruction in update of Jun 15, 2019 for access.

Current version is not finale, there is work to do (listed in Trello) and we will be updating the build regularly. We start with combat collision tests.


See you on the battlefield!
Blackrose Arts

Hello mighty warriors!

Here is a teaser of Wield Mjolnir - new game mode which is perfect for the game lore and based on community requests.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwMPjlz8X94
Let us know what do you think about it!

Game mode launch details

Guys, as you know we don't use funding on marketing purposes such as videos promotion - our the only and the strongest power is this incredible community. We will be grateful to everyone who share this teaser on YouTube, make a post on Reddit or tell your friends about the game!



Best wishes!
Blackrose Arts