Beta is looking like the 26th.

[x4000]

The latest details are basically what I posted on the blog last week -- we are working on new pages for the avww part of the site, too, but it's not going tO be new info if you've been following the blog and videos; just a new and briefer way of condensing that info for folks not already familiar with he project.

The first draft of the new trailer is done, but there's a few changes and updates still needing to be made on it, etc. We've also decided not to release that trailer until the day of the beta; it's a pretty awesome trailer in my opinion (go Erik), and we want people to be able to actually move to demo or preorder when they see it, rather than having to remember to check back later. Just seems smarter, and more convenient for potential customers, too.

[Hyfrydle]

That's cool I just remembered you mentioning another pre-beta vid so I was eager for more info. This game is a day one purchase for me with or without the trailer. Hopefully just over a week to go.

[Entrenched Homperson]

Wooo! Can't wait for beta! Hopefully my new comp will get here in time. Also, couldn't you make an adventure mode map of the town, where all tbe buildings could be entered/interacted with for buffs and items? Ala Dark Cloud 2 in 2D? Then you could graphicaly represent increased food stores by a simple pile of boxes image outside granery type building etc. Maybe even a random mission giver in a starter hut who's like, "We heard tell of a group of 2 survivors trapped in a cave not far from here from a drifter.  I'll mark you're map for you." Side Missions would be the kewlest.

[x4000]

Cool stuff!

Regarding a side view adventure mode of the towns, that's something we decided not to do. It would have to have unique graphics for every building in every time period, and the exploration of such buildings would be fairly pointless since anything you took would be stealing from npcs and they don't have much of value for adventuring (in terms of personal possessions) anyhow.

So, the decision was made to keep the settlement view purely top-down and separate from adventure mode, since that's the fun way to make a citybuilding game; and then the side view work goes into actually making interesting places to explore.

While we do want to make this game huge and immersive, there's always a tradeoff with anything that can be done. Adding side-view representations of food stores, or having pets that wander around the settlement, are the sorts of things we'd only do if they could be made to serve some gameplay purpose. There's so much potential here for interesting things, but we aren't looking to make a literal 1:1 model of everything such a world might have.

Of course things always change and grow with time, so who knows where this will be in 2 years. I never in my wildest dreams would have imagined ai war 5.0 when I was still in beta for it.

[Entrenched Homperson]

Coolness! Can't wait. So much is still up in the air, it will be fun to watch it evolve.

[x4000]

For you and me both!

[Teal_Blue]

One quick question?  Will it be possible to have 'families' of characters with the same last name in the game?

I guess I mean, if a wife character gives way to a husband character on her death, to the daughter, to the son... as each passes away, but still with the last name from the same settlement?

Thank you,

-Teal

[x4000]

At present there are no families, no -- basically everything has been shattered by recent events prior to the start of the game, including things like families.  I imagine that will be something we will explore later, but it's always a tricky sort of topic because of how some gamers choose to behave, etc.

[Cyborg]

At present there are no families, no -- basically everything has been shattered by recent events prior to the start of the game, including things like families.  I imagine that will be something we will explore later, but it's always a tricky sort of topic because of how some gamers choose to behave, etc.

Yes. Depraved individuals making YouTube videos of animated children being slaughtered. I notice that most developers try to avoid this, afraid of the bad press and inevitable blaming video games for demonic behavior.

However, don't you want to get on Fox news? It could make for great comedy.

[x4000]

My life goals definitely don't involve getting on Fox News.

[Nalgas]

At present there are no families, no -- basically everything has been shattered by recent events prior to the start of the game, including things like families.  I imagine that will be something we will explore later, but it's always a tricky sort of topic because of how some gamers choose to behave, etc.

Yes. Depraved individuals making YouTube videos of animated children being slaughtered. I notice that most developers try to avoid this, afraid of the bad press and inevitable blaming video games for demonic behavior.

Well, that was pretty much what I had in mind when I suggested this, minus recording it and getting the press involved:

it would have kids and dogs and perhaps birds and things like that, and you have bats already, and fish on the way...

I think I just figured out what we can eat...

Mmm, delicious babies.  I suppose Fox News would like a word with me.  Heh.

[Cyborg]

Yeah.

AVWB- a Valley without babies

[Entrenched Homperson]

New Overlord: Angry Baby

I. E. it's an angry baby wot is big

[Cyborg]

This is why we can't have nice things. 

[superking]

This is why we can't have nice things. 

haha