WolfQuest: Anniversary Edition News

Public Beta for Patch 1.0.8b -- Updated with Beta 2

Patch 1.0.8a Released!

[h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3]
* Multiplayer lobby: Game preview panel updates now if you use arrow keys to move up or down the list.
* Multiplayer lobby: Now you can click on a header to sort the list alphabetically.
* Carcass Markers (created by howling at a carcass) are now created only for large carcasses (those that can't be carried). Also added tutorial tip about this.
* Slough Creek Multiplayer: Refined the genetics logic when all parents have black coats (Kk genes) so their litters will be on the small side.
* Multiplayer: When one player submits a bug report in multiplayer games, other players are prompted to submit a report as well, to help bugfixing.
* Multiplayer: Adjusted some values for territory claiming and decay with 2-3 players in game.
* Slough Creek Multiplayer: Reduced chances of den flooding in Accelerated Time mode.
* Slough Creek Multiplayer: Reduced frequency of predator den attacks in Normal Time mode.
* Slough Creek Multiplayer: Made territory claiming a bit easier when 2-3 players are in game.
* Setup New Game panel now remembers if you are loading a MP game and exit to create or edit a wolf.
* More debugging added for certain multiplayer issues.
* Minor text edits and improvements.

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* Achievements No More Bull and We'll Eat Like Kings can be earned even if player-wolves die while making the kill.
* Slough Creek multiplayer: Player can get stuck at beginning or end of Establish Territory quest if they switch to free camera immediately when joining the game.
* The Grinch is hoarding holiday decorations in Lost River.
* Pups get stuck in den if they were exiting to greet a player and that player logged out in that very moment.
* Multiple pups can get sick at the same time when reaching the rendezvous site. (They were trying so hard to not get sick while traveling...)
* A bold mate can prevent pups from sleeping by howling too much.
* Error when trying to log into game account in Slough Creek quest.
* A very specific sequence can cause no music to be playing.
* Single-player: The den attack icon disappears if you move away from the homesite.
* Sometimes the hex readouts are not visible on the World Map.
* Wrong action icon on Pup Found notification.
* If game is windowed, it goes to fullscreen if player tabs out and returns.
* Friend Request notifications don't appear during gameplay.
* Terrain and boulder tweaks.

Public Beta for v1.0.8a -- Updated with Beta 6

This beta is available in the Steam Public Beta branch (see instructions below) for Windows and Mac computers.

NOTE: Multiplayer IS compatible with the last released version, 1.0.8 so you can play MP games with those on that version.

[h2]BETA 1 (20 December 2021)[/h2]

[h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3]
* Carcass Markers (created by howling at a carcass) are now created only for large carcasses (those that can't be carried).
* Multiplayer lobby: Now you can click on a header to sort the list alphabetically.
* Slough Creek Multiplayer: Reduced chances of den flooding in Accelerated Time mode.
* Multiplayer: Adjusted some values for territory claiming and decay with 2-3 players in game.
* Slough Creek Multiplayer: Reduced frequency of predator den attacks in Normal Time mode.
* Slough Creek Multiplayer: Made territory claiming a bit easier when 2-3 players are in game.
* Setup New Game panel now remembers if you are loading a MP game and exit to create or edit a wolf.
* More debugging added for certain multiplayer issues.
* Minor text edits and improvements.

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* Multiple pups can get sick at the same time when reaching the rendezvous site. (They were trying so hard to not get sick while traveling...)
* A bold mate can prevent pups from sleeping by howling too much.
* Error when trying to log into game account in Slough Creek quest.
* A very specific sequence can cause no music to be playing.
* Single-player: The den attack icon disappears if you move away from the homesite.
* Sometimes the hex readouts are not visible on the World Map.
* Wrong action icon on Pup Found notification.
* If game is windowed, it goes to fullscreen if player tabs out and returns.
* Friend Request notifications don't appear during gameplay.
* Terrain and boulder tweaks.

____________

[h2]BETA 2 (21 December 2021)[/h2]

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* Game broken if you load a save with a small (carryable) carcass marked on map.
* Pups get stuck in den if they were exiting to greet a player and that player logged out in that very moment.
____________

[h2]BETA 3 (21 December 2021)[/h2]

[h3]IMPROVEMENT:[/h3]
* Refined the genetics logic when all parents have black coats (Kk genes) so their litters will be on the small side.
___________________________________

[h2]BETA 4 (21 December 2021)[/h2]
[h3]IMPROVEMENT:[/h3]
* Refined the genetics logic when all parents have black coats (Kk genes) so their litters will be on the small side.
___________________________________

[h2]BETA 5 (21 December 2021)[/h2]

[h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3]
* In multiplayer lobby, game preview panel updates now if you use arrow keys to move up or down the list.
* Tutorial tip added if you howl near a small carcass (which you can carry, so does not add carcass marker to map and compass).

[h3]BUG FIXED:[/h3]
* In Slough Creek multiplayer, eagles can attack pups at rendezvous site (broke in beta 1).
___________________________________

[h2]BETA 6 (22 December 2021)[/h2]

[h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3]
* When one player submits a bug report in multiplayer games, other players are prompted to submit a report as well, to help bugfixing.

[h3]BUG FIXED:[/h3]
* Achievements No More Bull and We'll Eat Like Kings can be earned even if player-wolves die while making the kill.
* Slough Creek multiplayer: Player can get stuck at beginning or end of Establish Territory quest if they switch to free camera immediately when joining the game.
* Player cannot place Carcass Markers at fall and winter elk and moose calves.
* Scrooge is hoarding holiday decorations in Lost River.

___________________________________

[h3]TO GET THE BETA BUILD[/h3]
1) In the Steam app, go to your Library, then right-click on the WolfQuest: AE name in the left column and choose Properties.
2) Then go to the Betas tab and select the WQ current Beta option in the pulldown. No password is necessary. Steam should then start downloading it. Later you can switch back to the public version in that Betas tab, by selecting NONE in that pulldown.

WolfQuest Server Upgrade Completed

UPDATE 2: The server upgrade is done now. So hopefully this will eliminate the connection problems that some players have been having.

UPDATE: The server is going to get a memory upgrade shortly. During the upgrade, it will be offline, which means you cannot log into your WolfQuest account -- which means you cannot play multiplayer games. We're very sorry for this interruption but the upgrade should eliminate the connection issues that many players have been experiencing. It may take an hour or so to do the upgrade. We will update this post once it's done and the server is back online.
_______________________

The WolfQuest server is having trouble keeping up with the extra load from so many players since the release of Slough Creek multiplayer. This is causing problems with logging in, syncing, files, and maintaining a connection during games. We're very very sorry about this. We're working to increase server capacity, but it may take a few days, unfortunately. If you have trouble connecting, please quit the game and try again a bit later.

Slough Creek Multiplayer Released!

Yes, you can finally raise pups with old or new friends online. Can you believe it? We would not have gotten here without the diligent playtesting by our private and public beta testers, so thanks to all of you!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

When creating a multiplayer game in Slough Creek, you can choose Story mode (establish a territory and raise pups in multiplayer, just as in single-player) or Pack Life or Territory Quest, which are the same as in other maps. In Story mode, all gameplay is generally the same as in singleplayer, with some new multiplayer-only options:
* Two decision-making options: Host Decides (when choosing den and rendezvous site, and deciding when to move to a new den or rendezvous site) and Majority Rules (all players vote on homesites and when to move).
* Two time-speed options: Normal (same as single-player) and Accelerated (pups grow faster, resulting in game duration of roughly two hours, give or take).

There's a special new feature -- Pup Favorites -- just for Slough Creek Story mode. Each pup has a favorite adult wolf (initially the player who named them), whom they will socialize with more often, and follow when traveling to a new den or rendezvous site. Feed and socialize with this pup to maintain your status (but the more pups who consider you their favorite, the harder it will be to maintain that status.).

This update, v1.0.8, also features several other improvements:
* Carcass Markers: Carcasses often provide more food than you can eat in one sitting. When at a carcass, howl to mark its location on the compass and World Map until it has been consumed. (In multiplayer, this will also share the carcass's location with all current members of your pack.) Also, the carcass icon (in airborne scents and on map and compass) is now an X.
* Pup health and hunger: Late summer is a challenging time because prey are healthier and pups are growing faster, so pups are now a bit hungrier in May and June, and noticeably hungrier later in the summer. Pups also lose health when very hungry, raising the threat of death from malnutrition if players don't keep them well-fed -- this is also greater for the summer pups, who also have a somewhat larger appetite.
* Ten new multiplayer achievements, featuring more beautiful icons by Jessie Clarey (Loach on Discord and Steam).

So rally the pack! Those pups aren't going to raise themselves!
________________________________________

[h2]Complete Patch Notes for v1.0.8[/h2]

[h3]NEW: SLOUGH CREEK MULTIPLAYER![/h3]
In Story mode, establish a territory, choose a den, and raise pups in multiplayer, just as in single-player! All gameplay is the same, with some new multiplayer-only features:
* Two decision-making options: Host Decides (when choosing den and rendezvous site, and deciding when to move to a new den or rendezvous site) and Majority Rules (all players vote on homesites and when to move).
* Two time-speed options: Normal (same as single-player) and Accelerated (pups grow faster, resulting in game duration of roughly two hours, give or take).
* Pup Favorites: Each pup has a favorite adult wolf (initially the player who named them), whom they will socialize with more often, and follow when traveling to a new den or rendezvous site. Feed and socialize with this pup to maintain your status (but the more pups who consider you their favorite, the harder it will be to maintain that status.).

[h3]ALSO NEW IN MULTIPLAYER:[/h3]
* Two other Slough Creek Multiplayer modes: Pack Life (live and hunt in an area which stranger wolves cannot claim) and Territory Acquisition (compete with stranger wolves for territory).
* Four territory configurations to choose from in each mode.
* Ten new achievements to earn, mainly in Slough Creek Story mode.

[h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3]
* Carcass markers: Carcasses often provide more food than you can eat in one sitting. When at a carcass, howl to mark its location on the compass and World Map until it has been consumed. (In multiplayer, this will also share the carcass's location with all current members of your pack.) Also, the carcass icon (in airborne scents and on map and compass) is now an X.
* Pup health and hunger: Late summer is a challenging time because prey are healthier and pups are growing faster, so pups are now a bit hungrier in May and June, and noticeably hungrier later in the summer. Pups also lose health when very hungry, raising the threat of death from malnutrition if players don't keep them well-fed -- this is also greater for the summer pups. Summer pups also have a somewhat larger appetite.
* Eagle attacks at the den are more exciting now.
* Pup AI: Pups will often take a nap after filling their tummies, and they will always move away from the carcass so other pups can reach it.
* Pup sickness: Pups won't get sick until a few game-hours into Raise Pups quest. Reduced the duration of sickness, and minor tweaks to make kk pups more likely to get sick compared to Kk pups. Reduced odds of dying some. Reduced the chances of a pup getting sick for a second time.
* Lost pups: Reduced the period of time that pups can be lost before dying in the wilderness.
* Increased pup eating speed (somewhat faster in spring, more in summer).
* When pups are clustered around a carcass, it can be hard for player to target the carcass, so now you can target it more easily if you walk up close to it.
* Mate: Reduced the distance from the den that the mate will feed pups at.
* Age Perks: Reduced Youthful Prowess effects on competitors.
* Made grizzlies and cougars a bit more persistent during den raids.
* Multiplayer: Now you can rename game when loading a save (and if there is already an active MP game with that name, you are prompted to change the name of your game).
* Multiplayer: Players joining a game are invulnerable to damage for 20 seconds (so they can get away from dangerous NPCs if they happen to spawn right by one).
* Multiplayer: Players do not lose control of their wolf now when notifications appear onscreen, and can use X key (or Enter key) to close the notification, instead of using mouse. Notifications now show key input to continue or make selection. (X and Enter also work in singleplayer games, but these other change to notifications do not affect singleplayer.)

We do not announce specific release dates. We will release them when they are ready.