A Valley Without Wind Hits 1.0, Released on Steam

[cupogoodness]

Originally posted: http://arcengames.blogspot.com/2012/04/valley-without-wind-hits-10-released-on_24.html

Arcen Games is proud to announce the 1.0 release of our procedurally-generated, open-world sidescroller A Valley Without Wind. This marks the debut of the game on Steam, and the game remains available through the Arcen Store, GamersGate, Impulse, IndieCity, and MacGameStore.  In celebration of the launch, the title will be 10% off the standard $14.99 price tag until May 1st.

The PC/Mac title brings over 100 achievements along with 2-8+ player co-op multiplayer with cross-platform play. Also on offer is a "buy three get one free" pack to help groups of friends jump into multiplayer at a discount.

After 15 months of active development, which included a six month open beta with showings at MineCon and PAX East, the game has evolved in ways we couldn't have imagined at the start. We don't plan on stopping here either. Those who know of our post-release support standards for AI War will be happy to hear that we have the exact same plan in mind for A Valley Without Wind.

The launch trailer is available to view now, with demos for both PC and Mac versions available through the game's website and on Steam.

About A Valley Without Wind

"I can imagine this game opening up under continued exploration to be one of those all-encompassing experiences that you can't help sinking an unhealthy tract of time into." - Rock, Paper, Shotgun

"A Valley Without Wind by Arcen Games is what happens when you try to make a Super Nintendo game today. A super polished limitless 2D metroidVania adventure game." - Thrifty Nerd

A 2D sidescroller without a linear path. An action game with tactical combat and strategic planning. An adventure game that lets you free-roam a vast, procedurally-generated world. A Valley Without Wind defies genre stereotypes. Unlike other procedurally-generated games, you also get a logical progression in difficulty, plus helpful tips and checklists to guide your travels (should you need them).

Choose for yourself how to prepare to face the vastly stronger Overlord. Complete a variety of missions to earn arcane rewards, or roam the wilds to uncover secret missions and stashes of magical loot. Customize your characters with unique combinations of enchants and spells that change how you move, jump, and fight. Or rescue people and bring them back to your settlement, recruiting them to help you in return.

You choose how to play, and the world adapts around you.

The full version is available now on PC and Mac. A demo is also available, and grants full access to the game/multiplayer with only some tier restrictions. Even though AVWW has launched, it continues to grow with new content and improvements added nearly every weekday. Follow the game and its updates/discussions on Facebook, Google+, Reddit, and Twitter. To be a part of how AVWW evolves in any and/or all of its aspects join the ongoing discussion taking place within our forums.

For members of the media: review keys and press kits are available upon request

About Arcen Games

Arcen Games entered the PC indie scene in 2009 with their cult classic AI War: Fleet Command, which was named the 40th best-reviewed PC game of the year by MetaCritic. Their second year was a busy one, seeing the release of The Zenith Remnant, the first full expansion for AI War; Tidalis, an innovative block-based puzzle with casual appeal and hardcore depth; and Children of Neinzul, a micro-expansion for AI War with all profits benefiting the Child's Play charity, of which Arcen is a platinum sponsor.

AI War's third and largest expansion Light of the Spire marked Arcen's first release of 2011, and now the company has shifted its focus and excitement to the development of A Valley Without Wind. Originally a one-man shop, Arcen Games has grown to have half a dozen part-time or fulltime contributors to its various titles. For all the latest news, media coverage, and some of our other musings, follow us on our developer and individual game pages on Facebook or on Twitter: @ArcenGames; as well as Arcen lead Chris Park's Games By Design blog.

[Penumbra]

Congratulations guys! Hopefully that's the end of the release delays and you'll get (just a little) rest!

[x4000]

I will at least sleep well tonight, which will be a nice change.

So far AVWW seems to be doing quite well, but we'll see.  Currently #16 on the top sellers on Steam, and it's been outselling AI War 3:1 in terms of what AI War did when AI War was first released on Steam.  So that's encouraging, but as the press and word of mouth kicks in more this week I hope to see that gap widen further.  During the beta we were outselling any of our other betas 4:1 at least, so I think it's mainly a matter of gathering momentum at the moment -- a lot of people have never heard of AVWW before, and are suddenly going "what is this thing?"

Hopefully most of them in a good way.

[Volatar]

I am doing my part to help spread the word.

[Damoel]

I have a quick question about the steam game, it sounds like the game has some persistence, is this shared between computers or would it be different? And a question of opinion, do folks think this matters?

[tigersfan]

I am doing my part to help spread the word.

Awesome! Thank you.

[BobTheJanitor]

I have a quick question about the steam game, it sounds like the game has some persistence, is this shared between computers or would it be different? And a question of opinion, do folks think this matters?

It would not be shared between computers, unless it's a multiplayer server which would of course be stored on the server. It's not easily portable either, because the world folder grows to be pretty huge after you've explored a continent or two. The nature of the procedurally generated world, I suppose. But for normal use, where you play a game on one PC, it shouldn't be an issue.

[Lancefighter]

Wait. When did Arcen get a PR guy?

He should show up in the Arcen irc channel sometime so I can make sure he can change the topic as needed. Oh yeah, and Chris and Keith should too.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Wait. When did Arcen get a PR guy?

He should show up in the Arcen irc channel sometime so I can make sure he can change the topic as needed. Oh yeah, and Chris and Keith should too.

Erik has been around for some time now . 

King

[mrhanman]

It isn't easily portable either,

I've been using dropbox and mklink for this since the beta started. I've had no problems so far.

[BobTheJanitor]

I've been using dropbox and mklink for this since the beta started. I've had no problems so far.

Good point, I hadn't thought of that. I guess that would be a way to get around the size of the world folder. Mine is apparently 46 mb.

[BobTheJanitor]

I will at least sleep well tonight, which will be a nice change.

So far AVWW seems to be doing quite well, but we'll see.  Currently #16 on the top sellers on Steam, and it's been outselling AI War 3:1 in terms of what AI War did when AI War was first released on Steam.  So that's encouraging, but as the press and word of mouth kicks in more this week I hope to see that gap widen further.  During the beta we were outselling any of our other betas 4:1 at least, so I think it's mainly a matter of gathering momentum at the moment -- a lot of people have never heard of AVWW before, and are suddenly going "what is this thing?"

Hopefully most of them in a good way.

I see it's at #8 on the Steam top seller list now, congrats. AVWW outselling Skyrim!*

*For one day at least!

[Cyborg]

The game is now showing up as a suggested purchase when you log in, on that pop-up window. Even though I already own it.

[keith.lamothe]

The game is now showing up as a suggested purchase when you log in, on that pop-up window. Even though I already own it.

I think our reprogramming of the suggestor may have been too aggressive.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

The game is now showing up as a suggested purchase when you log in, on that pop-up window. Even though I already own it.

I think our reprogramming of the suggestor may have been too aggressive.

Or maybe its trying to get you to buy it multiple times. 

King