WolfQuest: Anniversary Edition News

This beta has two significant changes: we have overhauled the AI code to make it more efficient in terms of memory, so loading times and RAM memory usage during gameplay are noticeably improved. And we fixed a bug with the AI that can hurt performance, sometime a little, sometimes a lot. This has been most noticeable at times during Raise Pups and Rendezvous Site quests, but also can occur during elk hunts and other gameplay.

[h3]NEW OPTIONS IN GRAPHICS QUALITY: [/h3]
In Game Settings> Graphics Quality, two new options for customizing your graphics quality:
* Mid-Distance Terrains are disabled on low quality settings, but you can now override this to make them appear. This will substantially improve the game scenery, especially when looking out over a vista, but will reduce performance on integrated graphics. Also, by making this terrain appear, there won't be large rocks floating in the distance above the basic terrain.
* Scent Glow on Animals and Dens: This is also disabled by default on lower quality settings, but you can now enable it separately. When enabled, animals and dens will glow in scent view when you are close to them.
[h3]
IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3]
* Overhaul of AI code, now has smaller memory footprint (for shorter loading times and less total memory usage when playing the game).
* In multiplayer territory games, boosted player marking effectiveness, especially in games with more players.
* In multiplayer, host can give their pack a name to replace "Your Pack" in left column header.
* In multiplayer, there is now an option to cancel when the Quit/Leave Game panel is open.
* Sky at night is incorrect (lags actual star positions by a few months).
* Added tutorial tip when wolf drops carcass in water, to clarify that this is not a bug.
* Some improvements to distant tree appearances in Amethyst.
* Mate will not feed pups now if a predator is lurking nearby (indicated by the red predator alert icon).
* Tweaks to nighttime lighting and brightness.
* Improved clarity of some text in multiplayer sleep alerts.
[h3]
BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* Sometimes the AI logic gets in a loop and slows down the overall game performance.
* Mate won't hunt summer mule deer fawns.
* Sometimes snow accumulates on the ground before snow begins to fall from the sky.
* Various music glitches.
* In multiplayer Fixed Sleep Schedule mode, problems ensue if player is standing in water with something in its mouth when the next sleep period arrives.
* In Fixed Sleep Schedule mode, when one minute remains until sleep, readout in Pack Info does not have correct tense.
* Grizzly cub in springtime does not have scent glow.
* A particular issue with wolf eye coloration in Wolf customizer when on Basic Sky & Veg mode.
* Occasionally the previous year's elk calves persist into spring and summer.
* Flooded oxbox ponds are white in May, when seen at a distance.
* Through circuitous effort, player can create an Ironwolf game on Easy difficulty.
* Stranger wolves often don't return to their own territory after a fight.
* Ponds in First Meadow are white, when viewed at a distance.
* Occasionally a duplicate Family Snapshot is generated by mistake.
* Scent posts are visible at long distances.
* When at rendezvous site, pupcam music does not play when in pupcam mode.
* In Lost River, when sun is low near the horizon, the terrain does not always block light and shadow.
* Wolf does not adjust its footing if standing or lying on a carcass when the carcass sinks into the ground.
* If wolf is looking to the side when Photo Mode is enabled, the right-arrow key moves the wolf's head rightward.
* In the main menu, territory config and sleep mode selections are not remembered for subsequent sessions.
* Some creeks in Slough Creek winter have vegetation when they should not.
* Terrain and water tweaks.

This beta has two significant changes: we have overhauled the AI code to make it more efficient in terms of memory, so loading times and RAM memory usage during gameplay are noticeably improved. And we fixed a bug with the AI that can hurt performance, sometime a little, sometimes a lot. This has been most noticeable at times during Raise Pups and Rendezvous Site quests, but also can occur during elk hunts and other gameplay.

In this beta, game saves and wolves are backward-compatible with the last released version (1.0.7e2), so you can switch back and forth without any problems. Multiplayer is backward compatible as well, so you can create and join games with players who are still on 1.0.7e2.

This beta is available for Windows only. Instructions on getting the beta are at the bottom of this post.

[h2]1.0.7f beta 3, released 26 June[/h2]

[h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3]
* Overhaul of AI code, now has smaller memory footprint (for shorter loading times and less total memory usage when playing the game).
* In multiplayer territory games, boosted player marking effectiveness, especially in games with more players.
* In multiplayer, host can give their pack a name to replace "Your Pack" in left column header.
* In multiplayer, there is now an option to cancel when the Quit/Leave Game panel is open.
* Sky at night is incorrect (lags actual star positions by a few months).
* Added tutorial tip when wolf drops carcass in water, to clarify that this is not a bug.
* Some improvements to distant tree appearances in Amethyst.

Also, the last patch (1.0.7e2) had a change, not mentioned in release notes, which reverts an inadvertant change in 1.0.7 (released in early May) which caused a slowdown in graphics rendering, so performance should be back to what it was previously.

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* Sometimes the AI logic gets in a loop and slows down the overall game performance.
* In multiplayer fixed sleep schedule mode, problems ensue if player is standing in water with something in its mouth when the next sleep period arrives.
* Mate won't hunt summer mule deer fawns.
* Sometimes snow accumulates on the ground before snow begins to fall from the sky.
* Various music glitches.
* In Fixed Sleep Schedule mode, when one minute remains until sleep, readout in Pack Info does not have correct tense.
* Grizzly cub in springtime does not have scent glow.
* A particular issue with wolf eye coloration in Wolf customizer when on Basic Sky & Veg mode.
* Occasionally the previous year's elk calves persist into spring and summer.
* Flooded oxbox ponds are white in May, when seen at a distance.
* Through circuitous effort, player can create an Ironwolf game on Easy difficulty.

[h2]1.0.7f beta 4, released 27 June[/h2]

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* Mate sometimes glitches out or fails to respond properly to commands.
* Some creeks in Slough Creek winter have vegetation when they should not.

[h2]1.0.7f beta 5, released 28 June[/h2]

[h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3]
* Mate will not feed pups now if a predator is lurking nearby (indicated by the red predator alert icon).
* Tweaks to nighttime lighting and brightness.
* Improved clarity of some text in multiplayer sleep alerts.

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* Wolf does not adjust its footing if standing or lying on a carcass when the carcass sinks into the ground.
* If wolf is looking to the side when Photo Mode is enabled, the right-arrow key moves the wolf's head rightward.
* In the main menu, territory config and sleep mode selections are not remembered for subsequent sessions.

[h2]1.0.7f beta 6, released 29 June[/h2]

NOTE: This beta build has a possible fix for the problems that some players have had with saved games (failing to load in early betas, and then in yesterday's beta 4, the save would load but NPCs would be frozen). If you've had these problems with the beta, please try loading those saves again and see if they work properly -- and then press F11 to report back to us. Thanks!

[h3NEW OPTIONS IN GRAPHICS QUALITY: [/h3]
In Game Settings> Graphics Quality, two new options for customizing your graphics quality:
* Mid-Distance Terrains are disabled on low quality settings, but you can now override this to make them appear. This will substantially improve the game scenery, especially when looking out over a vista, but will reduce performance on integrated graphics. Also, by making this terrain appear, there won't be large rocks floating in the distance above the basic terrain.
* Scent Glow on Animals and Dens: This is also disabled by default on lower quality settings, but you can now enable it separately. When enabled, animals and dens will glow in scent view when you are close to them.

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* Possible fix for problems loading saved games in this beta series.
* Stranger wolves often don't return to their own territory after a fight.
* Another cause for FPS/performance slowdowns when at the Rendezvous Site.
* Ponds in First Meadow are white, when viewed at a distance. (Earlier fix was inadvertantly lost.)

[h2]1.0.7f beta 7, released 29 June[/h2]

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* Loading saved games does not work for some players (whose computers are set to use comma separation for decimels instead of period).
* If your first mate in Amethyst dies and you find another mate, if you go directly from Amethyst to Slough Creek, your first, deceased mate will be there instead of your new mate.
* Occasionally a duplicate Family Snapshot is generated by mistake.

[h2]1.0.7f beta 8, released 30 June[/h2]

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* Scent posts are visible at long distances.
* When at rendezvous site, pupcam music does not play when in pupcam mode.
* In Lost River, when sun is low near the horizon, the terrain does not always block light and shadow.
* Sometimes multiple music tracks play simultaneously.
* Terrain and water tweaks.


[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.

[h3]NEW MULTIPLAYER FEATURES:[/h3]
* TAGS: When creating a game, host can select several tags to describe their game. These then are displayed on the preview panel in the multiplayer lobby.
* TERRITORY CONFIGURATIONS: When creating a game, host can select from four Territory Configurations, each with the unclaimed area in a different part of the map.
* SLEEP MODES: When creating a game, host can choose from two Sleep Modes: Host Decides (the host can sleep at any time, and all players must sleep then as well), and the new Fixed Schedule (all players sleep at fixed times of day, from late morning to late afternoon, and from late evening to early morning). In the latter, time advances quickly during both the fixed sleep times and if everyone sleeps at the same time (but players are not required to sleep at other times, even if the host is sleeping.)
* GAME NAME: The Pack Info panel now displays the Game Name at the top.

[h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3]
* Improvements to water appearance.
* Improvements to snow appearance.
* Game remembers last selected Difficulty level when starting a new game.
* Controller improvements: Revised some labels for clarity, added "Pup Camera" and "Leave Pup Camera" options to Remapper panel.
* Made ESC key close the Tab Menu and not open Main Menu.
* Player usernames are now displayed in Pack Info, next to their wolf name when selected.
* In multiplayer, added a circular timer on countdown notifications.
* In multiplayer, changed game start time to 6am.
* Reduced volume of clouds of flies.

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* In multiplayer, players still get stuck sleeping.
* Several music glitches.
* Some interface sounds are unaffected by Audio sliders.
* In multiplayer, when players join a game, they appear to join but aren't actually active in the scene (so don't see any chat, or will wake up sleeping players) for 5-10 seconds.
* When fox pounces in the dirt, dust particles are blocky squares.
* In springtime, snowprints don't disappear when snow melts.
* Some issues with textures on Amethyst cliff rocks.
* Snow doesn't accumulate on some downed logs and branches.
* Wolf keeps blinking when dead.
* Frogs chirp in the winter in Slough Creek.
* In multiplayer, Mute button appears to be selected for all players whenever it's selected for one player.
* After scratching itself, wolf stands up, then immediately sits down again.
* Players can give pups a name that is longer than the display field, truncating it.
* Frozen ponds in Slough Creek appear to float when seen from high vantage point.
* Snow does not accumulate on dirt dens or ground around tree dens.
* Terrain and water issues.

[h3]APPLE SILICON FIXES:[/h3]
* Scent posts should now render on new Macs with M1 processors and old Macs with Intel integrated graphics.
* We re-enabled some IK (inverse kinematics), so now the player-wolf will look in the direction of the camera view, and will look better when biting other animals. However, grounding IK is still disabled due to a mysterious bug on these computers, so your wolf's feet will not always connect properly with the ground.

It's time for another chance to win a free copy of WolfQuest! Lucky winners will receive a free copy of WolfQuest 2.7 (and PC/Mac users will also get WolfQuest: Anniversary Edition Early Access for PC and Mac)! Winners can choose to get any version of the game (Mac/Windows, Android, iOS, Kindle).

If you prefer, you can choose the new Yellowstone Wolf Coat DLC (only for WolfQuest: AE for PC/Mac) or the WolfQuest Soundtrack and Music Extras.

[h2]How to Enter[/h2]
Email your username (any username is fine, we just have to know what to call the winners) and your answer to the question: "What are three interesting facts about wolves?" to the email address [email protected]

[h2]Deadline[/h2]
All entries must be received before midnight (Eastern Daylight Time) on Sunday, June 27 2021..

[h2]Random Drawing[/h2]
Winners are selected randomly from complete entries. Please enter only once in each monthly contest. Each complete entry will be assigned a number. We will then use a random-number generator to generate three numbers. The entries bearing those numbers will each win a free copy of the game.

In this beta, game saves and wolves are backward-compatible with the last released version (1.0.7d), so you can switch back and forth without any problems -- but multiplayer is not: you can only play MP games with others who have this beta build.

This beta is available for Windows only. Instructions on getting the beta are at the bottom of this post.

[h2]Beta 5, released 20 June 2021[/h2]

[h3]NEW MULTIPLAYER FEATURES:[/h3]
* TAGS: When creating a game, host can select several tags to describe their game. These then are displayed on the preview panel in the multiplayer lobby.
* TERRITORY CONFIGURATIONS: When creating a game, host can select from four Territory Configurations, each with the unclaimed area in a different part of the map.
* SLEEP MODES: When creating a game, host can choose from two Sleep Modes: Host Decides (the host can sleep at any time, and all players must sleep then as well), and the new Fixed Schedule (all players sleep at fixed times of day, from late morning to late afternoon, and from late evening to early morning). In the latter, time advances quickly during both the fixed sleep times and if everyone sleeps at the same time (but players are not required to sleep at other times, even if the host is sleeping.)
* GAME NAME: The Pack Info panel now displays the Game Name at the top.

[h3]CURRENT ISSUE WITH FIXED SLEEP SCHEDULE:[/h3]
If it's time to sleep, but something is preventing a player from sleeping (close to competitors, in water, etc.), that player will not go to sleep and time will not accelerate for anyone. For now, please get yourself out of that situation so everyone can sleep and time can accelerate. The next beta will have a method of handling that better.
[h3]
IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3]
* Improvements to water appearance.
* Improvements to snow appearance.
* Game remembers last selected Difficulty level when starting a new game.
* Controller improvements: Revised some labels for clarity, added "Pup Camera" and "Leave Pup Camera" options to Remapper panel.
* Made ESC key close the Tab Menu and not open Main Menu
* In multiplayer, added a circular timer on countdown notifications.
* In multiplayer, changed game start time to 6am.
* Reduced volume of clouds of flies.

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* In multiplayer, players still get stuck sleeping.
* Several music glitches.
* In springtime, snowprints don't disappear when snow melts.
* Some issues with textures on Amethyst cliff rocks.
* Wolf keeps blinking when dead.
* Frogs chirp in the winter in Slough Creek.
* In multiplayer, Mute button appears to be selected for all players whenever it's selected for one player.
* After scratching itself, wolf stands up, then immediately sits down again.
* Players can give pups a name that is longer than the display field, truncating it.
* Frozen ponds in Slough Creek appear to float when seen from high vantage point.
* Snow does not accumulate on dirt dens or ground around tree dens.
* Terrain and water issues.

[h2]1.0.7e Beta 6, released 21 June[/h2]

IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3]
* Tags are now displayed at top of Pack Info panel in multiplayer games.
* In Fixed Sleep Schedule, when the time to sleep arrives, players who are unable to sleep (due to being in a fight, near competitors, or in water) are given a 30-second countdown to get clear, and if they don't, they are teleported to the spawn point.
* Player usernames are now displayed in Pack Info, next to their wolf name when selected.

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]:
* In multiplayer, when players join a game, they appear to join but aren't actually active in the scene (so don't see any chat, or will wake up sleeping players) for 5-10 seconds.
* Scent chimes sometimes play when not in scent view.
* Mollies Pack territory hexes are not colorblind-safe.
* When creating a new multiplayer game on smaller screen resolutions, the Tags pulldown is empty.
* When fox pounces in the dirt, dust particles are blocky squares.

[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.