WolfQuest: Anniversary Edition News

[p]After a lot of work by a lot of people, we've got v2.0.5 -- the localization update -- in public beta! This adds nine languages to the game: Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, and Spanish. [/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]If your computer is already set to use one of these languages by default, that language should be selected by default when you launch the beta. But you can also manually select a language manually in Gameplay Settings -- which can be fun if you want to practice another language. [/p][p]As with so many things, localization turned into a much bigger job than expected -- partly because I somehow mistakenly estimated that we had about 30,000 words in the game text. Turns out we have more than 60,000 words! We contracted with Kurono Studios, a small localization company in Japan that does only human translation, no machine translation. And several of the translators are actually longtime WolfQuest players, which has been a big benefit! We've also gotten help from many players, who have spent a great deal of time reviewing the translations and discussing the finer points of localization. Thank you all![/p][p]This process is called "localization" rather than "translation" because it's not just a straight translation. The goal is to make the text meaningful in the local culture as well as the language. For example, in a typical game, if an animal such as a raccoon makes an appearance, if the audience for that language isn't familiar with raccoons, the translator would find a local equivalent. But that doesn't work for WolfQuest, where the particular animal species are very important in the ecology of the game and of the realworld area of Yellowstone. Further complicating this task is that the words "moose" and "elk" refer to different species in Europe vs. North America. Furthermore, some languages only have a single word that describe multiple types of vocalizations such as "bark" and "woof" (not to mention lacking a word for "squeak"). So localizing WolfQuest was quite a challenge![/p][p]But we're just about done with the process, though we know there are more tweaks and refinements to do. We expect the v2.0.5 update to be in public beta for at least a week while we work through those issues -- and we appreciate all the help that our players will provide![/p][p]One more thing: We had hoped to release the Tower Fall DLC map this month, but it's just not quite there, so you can expect it in the new year. [/p][p][/p][p]See the v2.0.5 Public Beta build notes here.[/p]

[p][/p][p]NOTE: Game saves ARE backward compatible with the last released patch, so if you switch back to that version, you can continue playing a save from this beta. BUT multiplayer games are NOT backward-compatible with the last released patch. All players must be on the 2.0.5 beta to play together. [/p][p][/p][h3]NEW: [/h3][p]Game text is localized (translated) into nine languages: Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, and Spanish. The game should select the language set in your computer's default language settings, but you can manually select a language in Gameplay Settings.[/p][p][/p][h2]BETA 37[/h2][h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3][p]* Localization: More improvements to translated terms.[/p][p]* Improved scent readouts for elk mother and calf pairs. [/p][p]* Localization: Some refinements to make texts fit in interface panels.[/p][p][/p][h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3][p]* NPC wolves sometimes put paws through ground when resting.[/p][p]* Occasionaly pups freeze after eating (and possibly other situations).[/p][p]* Localization: Language in some interface panels doesn't refresh after changing the language.[/p][p]* Mother and Calf scent readouts.[/p][p]* Arabic text isn't right-to-left in Loading Screen tips.[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h2]BETA 36[/h2][h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3][p]* Localization: Added extra terms for singular-paucal-plural. [/p][p]* Localization: More improvements to many translated terms.[/p][p]* Localization: More adjustments to interface elements to accommodate longer translations.
[/p][h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3][p]* Territory Hex Color options: In game map/scenes, Custom term doesn't work if it's already the current selection. (Was fixed in main menu last week). [/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h2]BETA 35[/h2][h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3][p]* Modest improvement to appearance of steep terrain slopes.[/p][p]* Many more improvements to localizations.[/p][p][/p][h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3][p]* Fixed some minor issues with some localized texts.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]
BETA 34[/h2][h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3][p]* On some interface panels, wolf's age does not display (and # sign does).[/p][p]* Wolf's feet dance a bit when stopping after sliding down a steep slope.[/p][p]* NPC wolves' heads turn oddly in certain circumstances.[/p][p]* World Map: Mouseover hex readout is missing white outline and percentage sign.[/p][p]* Lost River DLC: Text is missing on the stair risers in Ashley's Allison Acres house.[/p][p]* Arabic: Fixed various issues with Arabic text display and right-to-left text flow.[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h2]BETA 33[/h2][p][/p][h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3][p]* Wolf upper body and neck bend more when turning while moving.[/p][p]* More improvements to localizations.[/p][p]* Some code updates to NPC animal AI, should not cause any new bugs, but that's always possible.[/p][p][/p][h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3][p]* Some mismatched translations in Load Saved Game and My Wolves filtering options.[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h2]BETA 32[/h2][p]NOTE: Some glitches with wolf IK (foot placement) are known, fixes in the works, no need to report.[/p][p][/p][h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3][p]* Wolf upper body and neck bend more when turning while moving.[/p][p]* More improvements to localizations.[/p][p]* Some code updates to animals, should not cause any new bugs, but that's always possible.[/p][p][/p][h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3][p]* Some mismatched translations in Load Saved Game and My Wolves filtering options.[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h2]BETA 32[/h2][p][/p][h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3][p]* Many improvements to localizations (and more to come).[/p][p]* Enabled wolf IK on Apple Silicon computers (it works now!)[/p][p][/p][h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3][p]* Wolf legs go crazy when sliding down steep slope. (Other IK fixes introduced in beta31 coming soon.)[/p][p]_____________________________[/p][p][/p][h2]BETA 31[/h2][p][/p][h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3][p]* In Main Menu, Graphics quality changes do not take effect.[/p][p]* Arabic: Some popup notifications mess up Arabic script.[/p][p]* In Pack Info, "Your Stats" is unreadable in Arabic.[/p][p]* Cyrillic packmate names in Pack Info are gibberish.[/p][p]* Arabic: Removed extra punctuation in two Arabic terms.[/p][p]* World Map: Incorrect font treatment made hex percentages hard to read.[/p][p]* Game stalls when moving from one map to another.[/p][p]* Fix: Den Nearby and Pause Menu header texts not readable in some languages.[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h2]BETA 30[/h2][p][/p][h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3][p]* "Choose Heir" panel is broken, showing placeholder names instead of packmates in player's pack.[/p][p]* Fixed a few malformed tags in localized texts.[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h2]BETA 29[/h2][h3] [/h3][h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3][p]* Some improvements to the IK system, adding a "balancing" feature so wolves now will move their feet dynamically when biting another animal, and position feet more accurately on rough surfaces.[/p][p]* During courtship, reduced the chances that packmates will steal a potential mate for the player.[/p][p]* NPC wolves can now give an injured packmate food.[/p][p]* Revised logic for NPCs to eat food in shallow water, so they should in most situations eat carcasses at water's edge or in shallow water.[/p][p]* Survive Quest: Added time skips in May-June in case pups die very soon after Raise Pups quest begins. [/p][p]* Improved size and readability of damage and damage readouts.[/p][p]* Refinements to lost pup behavior when brought back home, preventing them from getting lost again immediately. [/p][p]* Reduced excessively fast rival pack territory gain in some maps.[/p][p]* Increased the speed of sliding down steep cliffs, and made the speed even faster on very steep slopes.[/p][p][/p][h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3][p]* Survive with Mate quest starts even when the rival whose pack you joined has other family, if that family wasn't spawned at the time you paired.[/p][p]* Pup maximum weight is applied to adults as well.[/p][p]* Packmates won't regurgitate when traveling, even if the player stops for a long time.[/p][p]* NPC wolves are not startled by gunshot in Hellroaring Mountain.[/p][p]* Territory Hex Colors: If current set to Custom, can't open color picker without switching to one of the other palettes. and also can't set colors with number inputs.[/p][p]* Known Wolves: Wolf ID number sometimes duplicates when renaming wolf.[/p][p][/p][h3]TO GET THE BETA BUILD[/h3][p]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.[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]WolfQuest: Anniversary Edition is 34% off on Steam as part of Steam's Animal Fest! If you've got WolfQuest on your wish list, here is your chance to save a few bucks. Or gift it to a friend! Lots of other great animal-focused games are on sale too![/p][p][/p][p]The sale runs November 10 @10am PST to November 17 @10am PST.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p]

[h2]2.0.4b - RELEASED 3 NOVEMBER 2025[/h2][p][/p][p](Oops, forgot to publish this last week!)[/p][p][/p][h3]NEW:[/h3][p]* New object of interest at Eduweb tent in Slough Creek.[/p][h3][/h3][h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3][p]* Refactored wolf eating AI, to improve code quality and refine some eating behaviors. Packmates should now be smarter about eating carcasses when bison and other dangerous prey or competitors are nearby.[/p][p]* Refactored wolf hunting AI, to improve code quality and revise some hunting behaviors. When attacking mother-calf pairs, packmates will ignore mother until she is within 15 meters. When hunting elk herds, packmates will be less eager to start biting elk before herd begins to flee. [/p][p]* Refactored IK to improve code quality.[/p][p]* More logical layout of Gameplay Settings panel.[/p][p]* New keyboard layout image in Game Settings: Controls (in preparation for localized keyboard layouts once we add other languages).[/p][p]* Refinements to appearance of big rivers in Amethyst, Slough Creek, and Hellroaring maps.[/p][p]* Some memory optimizations.[/p][p][/p][h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3][p]* Occasionally a pup survives an instant-kill predator attack with 1% of health remaining.[/p][p]* Douglas-fir tree branch texture visual glitch.[/p][p]* In Lost River-Classic, Halloween coffins are missing the box mesh. [/p]

[p]Now in the public beta branch, a special version of the game (v2.0.4 - AchDebug) with extra debugging code when recording achievements to the server, to help us figure out why sometimes achievements are not recorded. If this happens to you, please press F11 and submit a bug report.[/p][p][/p][p]UPDATED with AchBeta3, with more debugging.[/p][p][/p][p]This beta is identical in all other ways to the released patch 2.0.4b.[/p]