A Valley Without Wind 1.1 Out Now (Press Release)

[cupogoodness]

Originally posted: http://arcengames.blogspot.com/2012/06/valley-without-wind-11-out-now.html

Arcen Games is ecstatic to announce the official release of A Valley Without Wind 1.1, available now as a free update for the procedurally-generated open world sidescroller through its various digital distributors.

The release notes come in at around 48,500 words, which is why we've put together this summarized feature list to give an idea of just what and how much has been put into AVWW since launch:

* Over 160 new room maps
* 15 new regular enemies
* 8 new minibosses
* 16 new "elite" enemies (plus the idea of elites at all)
* 5 classes of infestations (plus the idea of infestations at all)
* A new "craggy highlands" region/biome type.
* 8 new music tracks
* 5 new classes of player enchants
* 3 new player spells
* Substantial rebalancement of most player spells.
* The ability to give "wait here" orders to NPCs in rescue missions.
* Larger and more intricate continent designs.
* Rebalanced and streamlined strategic flow.
* No more Civilization Progress (CP) in favor of better mechanics.
* One central in-game currency rather than six.
* A new "Opal Guardian Store" in settlements.
* Loot drops from trash mobs, for use at the opal store.
* A better enchant-based system of upgrades in place of upgrade stones.
* New Feet enchant slot, splitting out items from the Legs slot.
* Streamlined character selection/creation process.
* Unique attributes for characters by time period.
* More enchant-like unique attributes for every individual character.
* Heavily revised and rebalanced existing missions to player feedback.
* New Freefall and Boss Delve mission types.
* More rewards from doing secret missions.
* No penalties/drawbacks from doin world map missions.
* More gradual ramp-up in difficulty of the harder mission types.
* New spell scroll that you can find and use to turn yourself into tiny t-rex.
* A "shopping list" system helping you to keep track of your self-set goals.
* Many improvements to the existing planning menu in general.
* Smaller, more fun lieutenant towers filled with infestations.
* Texture pack support.
* Smoother minimap exploration.
* More fun and threatening windstorm mechanics.
* Many new multiplayer admin commands (largely anti-griefing-related).
* Vastly more fun ocean exploration.
* Minor continent-wide bonuses from building settlement structures.
* Longer durations on continent-wide guardian power scroll uses.
* Filtering to the enchants inventory for vastly easier management of many enchants.
* Improved elemental strengths/weaknesses for enemies in general.
* Much better (completely randomized) elemental strengths/weaknesses for bosses).
* 7 new achievements
* And much more: http://arcengames.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=AVWW_-_Post-Launch_Series_1_Release_Notes

To further round-up what's been happening with the title over the past two months, Arcen CEO Chris Park offers an in-depth reflection on the massive amount of changes and additions between 1.0 and 1.1. A new trailer showcasing the update is available to view right now as well.

About A Valley Without Wind
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, and/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 substantial demo is also available, granting 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.

Members of the media: Interviews, review keys, and press kit materials 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.

[Jerebaldo1]

STOP THE PRESS!!!! ....okay so it takes about 30 seconds for the machine to fully stop. Eukay turn it back on

[zebramatt]

Eukay turn it back on.

That takes four hours. 

[Misery]

That's quite a list, for an update patch like this.   Most games dont come anywhere near that amount of STUFF in any given update.

Alot of neat things too, I think my favorites of that list are the infestations, the character attributes, worldmap generation changes, and the excellent lieutenant towers.

Though......

* Vastly more fun ocean exploration.

Wait, what?   Did I miss something?  Is there STUFF in the ocean tiles now?

[x4000]

Though......

* Vastly more fun ocean exploration.

Wait, what?   Did I miss something?  Is there STUFF in the ocean tiles now?

A few things:

1. No longer are there tall walls on the side of each ocean chunk at the surface.

2. No longer do you spawn way out in the middle of the ocean when you jump out of your canoe (stranding you).

3. No longer do ocean caves frequently dead-end when the dungeon map says they should not.

4. Boomstick allows for way better ocean movement for those not using storm fist.

5. There's actual goodies down there now, yeah.  And warp gates, critically.

Still no missions or really high-value loot, but the above is vastly better than what it was at launch.  It was changed pretty shortly after launch, so you might not remember the difference.

[TechSY730]

Awesome release you guys, and a nice announcement too.