Blood Bond: Into the Shroud
The W.R.K.S Games State of the Year report
December has arrived, its time for us to look back and look forward. The Steam community was an integral part of everything this year and so I share with you our annual report on the state of things:
The W.R.K.S Games State of Play 2019
New Screenshot of near final WIP
See you in Jordenheim soon!
best regards
Kosala
First Preview Screenshots of New Patch
I am up silly early at 5:40 am...so what to do ...what to do. Screenshots - that's what! Here are the first few preview screenshots for the upcoming update in mid November. Enjoy!
An example of an ingame comic story panel
And actual in game screenshots showing new UI
Video of combat coming next week and update story intro on our YouTube channel later this week!
best regards
Kosala
The All Important Graphics Settings (Preview)
The number 1 feature request during our year of soft launch and open testing with you all has been > comprehensive graphics settings management.
In November, I am launching the updated three first levels, complete with new features, upgrades to existing features and a visual overhaul to take our comic hybrid style a step further.
Coming in that update is also, the much asked for graphics settings and here they all are, so you can prepare your tweaking plans.
In-game screenshots of the new look and feel and UI are arriving next week for your perusal along with a preview gameplay video of the new combat mechanics for bow, spell and....now melee as well.
best regards
Kosala
Development Update: Move to Open World completed.
A quick update to keep you all in the loop. I have now completed the transition of the game design from traditional levels with intermittent level loading (boo!) to a small open world that is seamlessly navigable (yay!).
Next up this month is a big update to questing, navigation and the in-game map. These will add the following requested updates from you guys during the phased launch period we just had:
a) Better on-screen indication of quest locations and tasks (this will be done with an on-screen marker)
b) Better compass with clearer indication of what is to be found where
c) A map that you can open and view
d) A minimap of the surrounding area
Additionally, I am contemplating the best release method for the major updates we are doing and since there are already several thousand of you that participated in the soft launch period where we phased 3 levels of the game, here is my question to you on how you want the next release to happen:
Survey Form (don't worry its two questions)
Thanks all, and next update due soon with screenshots!
best regards
Kosala Ubayasekara
Update Hiatus before launch
Just a quick shout to say that there will be no new updates to the game before the final product launches. We are getting more voice over work done for the finished launch so there will be slightly lengthier than planned release timeline.
I am now targeting end of September for completion and the additional time is being used to make the following changes to the game:
- More voiceovers being added
- More thorough testing pass through everything
- Dynamic Weather System being added
- Moving from split levels with level loading to small open-world structure with no level loading
- New questing and map system to make navigating the world while questing easier
I will make regular posts here to show you the work in progress over the next two months as we now make a sprint for the finish line. As always, many thanks for the continued support for the game that the community has shown and I am looking forward to showing you the finished product!
best regards
Kosala
Patch 2.3 - Bugfixes
Got a patch dedicated to JUST bugfixes this week - as our newly minted QA and Test lead has gotten to grips with some long-standing smaller issues that were messing with overall polish in the game.
Our goals with this build
Polish and bug fixes.
Features
- No new features have been introduced.
Improvements
- No feature improvements.
Bugfixes Start Screen
- It was possible to right click and see the crafting menu on the main game loading screen. This has now been fixed.
Bugfixes Chapter 1
- Character disappears underwater swimming in the lake. Astrid now properly floats on the water while swimming.
- A map glitch allowed going into an area you were not supposed to reach. Fixed.
Bugfixes Chapter 2
- Voice intro was messed up in the start of Chapter 2 causing overlaying voiceovers. This is fixed.
- It was possible to go outside the game bounds in several parts of the map. Fixed.
- A wall glitch existed in the Jorgensen Crypt. Fixed.
- A item glitch existed in the Jorgensen. Crypt. Fixed.
Our Public Trello Board
This is where you see what we are working on and upcoming features.
https://trello.com/b/jHITy0q3/blood-bond-release-schedule
Our Social Media
This is where you tell us how amazing we are...cause we all need to be loved....
https://www.wrks-games.com/community/
Our Feedback Form
This is the structured feedback form that we do for each build. Fill it out as often as you want.
https://www.wrks-games.com/feedback
Our Discord
This is how you talk directly to the team (mostly me).
https://discordapp.com/invite/kq574nz
WRKS Games Website Now Live
Since we are starting to do better and better as a company, mosty thanks to you all buying our products, I thought it was time to start talking about what we are as a company and what we are trying to build.
Since the money you pay us when you buy our games is going to build the business, it makes sense we should be transparent about what the business is.
So here you go: https://www.wrks-games.com/
An information poll of important data
I hope everyone is mostly out enjoying the sunshine! A quick one this weekend: I am doing a poll on twitter to determine future buying habits of people in our community for our planned upcoming games over the next 2-3 years we are just now starting to conceptualize.
You can find it here:
https://twitter.com/WRKSGames/status/1144928959605481472
Please participate if you have the time.
best regards
Kosala
Hotfix Patch 1.3 - The Quest Log Update Error Fixed
Found a bug that stopped the quest log from being correctly updated on some subtasks on quests in Chapter 2. This bug has now been squashed, in a humane and animal-friendly fashion befitting modern times.
The patch is also now live.
best regards
Kosala