With over 500 games played over the weekend, Darkhannds came out on top with a top score of 139, followed closely by PluckyHero at 130. Congratulations guys!
Steam Review
Valve recently made changes to the Steam Review system, placing greater importance on recent reviews. Please write a review for Labyrinth, it's one more way you can support the game you have backed.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/412310
Development
Over the last two weeks the team worked on the following.
The Engineering Team worked on iOS performance; level rules for deck builder; xp accrual - storing boss xp; level up reward dialog; caster cards; Star costs; log server.
The Design Team worked on Defense Perk refactor; Beast cards added; Universal weapons; amp mechanic; focus mechanic; added map highlights; new Hero perks.
The Art Team worked on Celestial Giant Level prototyping; HUD polishing; item drops; attack and defend buttons; Centurion skinning; Rewards chest; Steam art; Master Blaster melee hits and death animations; Ghost Pirate textures.
The Audio Team worked on The Cross and Faith kill hit sounds; Powerstone break. Structure sounds completed; UI sounds completed; Obelisk of Speeds audio.
The Next Client Update
The next Labyrinth update is planned for early June. We will be including progression features and reworking game modes, as well as re-arting the boss environments. Stay tuned for details in the near future.
Structures and How to Utilize Them
With the introduction of Defense Deck building came many different ways to build your Labyrinth, one of those ways is adding Structures. Structures can do many different things to your Labyrinth ranging from healing your boss, to buffing it, to even dealing damage to foes. Below we highlight some of our favorite Structures. To utilize a structure, just add it to the Lair section of your Boss deck. It will be randomly placed at predetermined spawn locations.
Volcano Totem
- offers an offensive edge to a defensive build, dealing damage to a Hero every time it deals damage to the Boss.
Stone Totem
- adds defense to the boss, giving them the ability to negate some of the physical or magical damage directed at them.
Week 25 Progress
Earn Steam Trading Cards
Over the last couple weeks we have been secretly working on Steam Trading Cards, Badges, profile backgrounds, and emoticons for Labyrinth. Trading Cards will start dropping randomly after the first 2 hours played. Gotta Collect'em All!
Don't forget! Skybound is hosting a Twitch streaming event featuring Labyrinth. You can win prizes, keys, and even a shot at interviewing Bradley Fulton. Head on over to Skybound's page and sign up today!
Level Art Redesign
We have been grinding away on new environment art for each level to help improve gameplay because sometimes the characters got lost in all of the clutter. The following changes will appear in the next major update in early June.
Roggix's lair was made more atmospheric with the addition of rolling clouds of smoke that occlude the sun. The hardened magma was made more detailed and the effects were actually toned down so the characters wouldn't be overshadowed.
The Queen's temple had the most changes. Hundreds of candles were placed around the level to create a rustic, sacred atmosphere. The second floor that previously existed was removed, the walls extended, and horizontal supports were added to the arena. Two doors to the outside were added along with some braziers for more life and light.
A new stone platform was added to give the space more visual interest. The camera is now more restricted and no longer allows the player to look up, so scenery elements have been lowered so they can be seen.
The dojo was relit to make it more mysterious and moody, a darker background that will make the ethereal spirits that inhabit its ancient walls more pronounced.
Week 24 Progress
Twitch Streaming Event
Our Partners Skybound are hosting a streaming event! Want to win loot? Win a chance to interview Bradley Fulton, our lead designer? Win keys to giveaway to viewers and followers of your stream? Well here is your chance! url=http://twitch.skybound.com/] Sign up Here
Development
This past week our team has been working on many different aspects of Labyrinth to provide you an even better experience throughout your Labyrinth raids.
Our Engineering Team worked on ELO based freeplay matchmaking; XP gain mechanics; log server; Card image extraction tool.
Our Design Team worked on Level polishing; HUD ornament polishing; Master Blaster attacks; new Warefare and Wizardry cards added.
Our Art Team worked on Card Back 12 coloring and modeling; various card backs.
Our Audio Team worked on Obelish of Recovery sounds; UI sounds; structure hit sounds; Armor Rack SFX.
Playcrafting SFO Event
This Saturday in San Francisco, Free Range Games will be at Playcrafting SFO Saturday May 14th from 7-10. If you want to come hang out with our developers stop on by their event page and sign on up!
Card Extractor
We made a card extractor tool to make images of in-game cards. A few are shown below. This tool will help us build a wiki for Labyrinth.
Patch Released
A patch for Labyrinth was released today fixing several card bugs that resulted in hangs and also fixed support for 32 bit Windows versions.
If you find any bugs, please submit them in the Bugs sub-discussion on the Community Hub.
Week 23 Progress
Defense Build Update - a Success!
With the release of the Defense Build Update, players have been creating labyrinths and going up against some very well designed ones. Since the release on April 29 through to the end of the day on May 2, there were 600 raids. The boss won 50.2% of the time and lost 49.8% if the time. Pretty much 50/50!
Additionally, there have been no reported crashes, and only 1 reported hang due to cards getting stuck in a state we didn't anticipate. If you have seen problems, please report them.
Development
Over the past week our team has been busy preparing what will be in the next update release. We are considering doing a small update soon to patch some card bugs. But the next major update with progression will probably be a month or so away.
Our Engineering Team worked on card logic; iOS Performance; tuned cards.
Our Design Team worked on Wind up hit animations; Pyroclasm revamp.
Our Art Team worked on Card 11 finished; Card Back 12 design.
Our Audio Team worked on UI Sound design.
Labyrinth Gameplay Statistics
Since the release on April 29 through to the end of of the day on May 2, there were 600 raids. The boss won 50.2% of the time and the boss lost 49.8% if the time.
Maybe give Oros a try?
Please Write a Review
It would really help if you could write a short (or even long!) review on Steam. http://store.steampowered.com/app/412310. Please take a moment now. The more positive reviews we have, the more likely players hearing about Labyrinth for the first time will consider downloading it and giving it a try.
Join the Steam Group
Join the Labyrinth CCG group on Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/groups/labyrinthccg. And, invite all your friends!
Defense Build Update
Welcome to Defense with Boss decks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4YNS8sewDk
We are happy to release the first major update to Labyrinth that includes a first taste of Defense gameplay. You can now play against other people.
Although much may still change, this is a taste of the new features:
Build a boss deck in the Deck Editor, then set it active on the Defense screen.
Start Raid randomly matches you against other players' boss decks, one at a time.
Or practice against your active boss deck.
Watch raids against your boss in Replays.
In the tutorial video above, Bradley shows you how to build defense decks. Highlights include:
Defense cards have a star cost and type.
You can't build over your star limit and you need at least 5 Spell cards.
Perk and Lair cards play immediately.
Spell cards draw randomly every time.
In our opinion, this system drastically improves the pace of the raid.
New Content
Most cards have changed significantly and there are lots of new cards. We are also introducing a new boss, the Giant Queen. You even get a glimpse of card backs if you watch replays.
Report Bugs
With this build we are turning on the servers for the first time and they have never had any significant load on them. There will be bugs--even hangs and crashes. If you get stuck, restart Labyrinth. Please let us know about any bugs you find.
Not sure it's a bug? Join the discussion on our Discord channel. This link will last for about 20 hours: https://discord.gg/0qQZOLrkMMegpOeA
What's Next?
Look forward to progression, loot?, scoring, and new heroes and bosses soon!
After you have a chance to play Labyrinth, please write a review on Steam:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/412310
Week 21 Progress
No Build Update This Week
Our progress since the last report has not met our quality standards, so the anticipated update to our build will not be released this week. We are now targeting Wednesday next week to finish working on the build, and then releasing it Wednesday or later...if all goes well.
We would like to give you a glimpse of what is coming.
New Boss
You will be able to play a new boss, the Giant Queen. Stay out of her way or you will be crushed.
Defense Deck Building
You will be able to make changes to your defense decks in much the same way that you can make changes to your offensive decks. We will describe more about defense deck building in the near future.
Defense Deck Gameplay
When you add your defense decks to your labyrinth, they are automatically added to the matchmaking queue. You will be randomly assigned to raid some one else's labyrinth when you start a raid. We will improve upon this simple scheme in the future.
Watch Replays
Since you are not online playing head-to-head against your opponent, you need a way to see what happened to you after you are raided. So, we are introducing a replay system. You can see how your defense deck performed and you can modify it if you like. No one has yet challenged freerangegames as of writing this report, so no replays show up yet in the image below. We are still working out some kinks in this system.
Practice Mode
There is also a practice mode where you can play against your own defense deck to see how well your defense holds up. Notice the light blue button lit up to the right of the Start Raid button. Practice games do not appear in Replays.
Upcoming Twitch Event
After the build update is released and all is stable, we will hold another Twitch event. If you are a streamer please sign up to get more details.
Week 20 Progress
Justin Gary from Stone Blade Entertainment sits down with Chris, Bradley, and other engineers from Free Range Games.
Development
Over the last week we have been gearing up for the Defense gameplay update for the week of the 17th.
The Engineering Team worked on Server automation; key protection; light mapping; Defense Deck editor; Blindswordsman card revisions; Matchmaking.
The Art Team worked on Card back 9; Centurion model; Master Blaster skinned; landing screen ornaments; Blind Swordsman card art.
The Design Team worked on Oros Bucket Cards; Oros Perk Cards; Rebuilt Oros deck; loading screen buttons; Ancient Master minions.
The Audio Team worked on Giant Queen sounds.
Retribution
Upcoming Build Update
We are targeting the week of April 17 for the next update to Labyrinth, which is available on Steam Early Access. Defensive gameplay is planned to be in this update, as well as the addition of a new boss, the Giant Queen. There will also be several minor feature changes as we continue to tweak and improve the game.
Mindcontrol
Week 19 Progress
Development
Over the weekend we have been gearing up and testing Defensive Deck Building and doing playthroughs. We are also bringing out the Giant Queen as a new boss to add to your Deck!
The Engineering Team worked on Server Automation and iOS test builds.
The Art Team worked on Card Back 7 Finished; Card Back 8 Sculpting; Blindswordsman Card Art; Pyroclasm revision; Master Blaster skinning; and Landing screen.
The Design Team worked on Oros bucket cards; Defense design; new Defense Card breakdown; new start of game actions; new Boss draw; new Minotaur perk cards.
The Audio Team worked on Spawn FX and Voice Overs.
The Race of Giants
Of the Northern Clans, Giants are the largest race of humans. Unlike Orgron, theirs is a matriarchal society, with family groups ruled by a council of warrior women. Giants breed very slowly and are incredibly long-lived. They are also resistant to disease and difficult to kill--a typical giant bears scars from centuries-old battles. They live in harmony with lesser races of men through an exchange of talents. Giants are not particularly industrious, nor are they particularly inventive. On the other hand, it is always useful to have a Giant on your side in the event of a dispute with a neighboring clan. As such, Giants are the de facto peacekeepers with clan society, and as living ancestors, they are treated with great reverence. It is said of Giants that their stature and longevity causes them to see far down the road, and miss those things up close. This makes arousing a Giant to action, or swaying them from their course difficult in more ways than one.
Week 18 Update
Development
In the last two week the team has been blasting away at getting content added, here is a list of everything we have accomplished in that time.
The Engineering Team worked on Steam guard; automated server creation; lighting; Database interface; performance; console; data and runtimes for maps; Mulligan screen; audio hooks; dungeon layout; defense deckbuilding.
The Art Team worked on Angel of Death art; skinning the Blademaster; Card opening screen; Fire of Life card; Spear of Wrath card; Pyroclasm card; Master Blaster walking, run, turning, and melee animations; Zane and Biggs card art; Heads Up Display.
The Design Team worked on card display; physical/magical pass; damage types; Intimidate; new Wizardry/Neutral cards; core design; new boss design and implementation; new Fireheart and Giant Queen; progression design.
The Audio Team worked on Female minion voice overs; Evaluated the music; Walking Bomb, Mindfire, and Energy Serpent sounds; Shell final music; Male voice overs; Blade Master voice overs; Minion sounds; Fireheart voice overs; Minotaur voice overs; Trapsmith voice overs; Ghost voice overs; Deck building music.
Upcoming Build Update
We are targeting the week of April 17 for the next update to Labyrinth, which is available on Steam Early Access.
Defensive gameplay is planned to be in this update, as well as the addition of a new boss, the Giant Queen. There will also be several minor feature changes as we continue to tweak and improve the game.
