The adventure will continue in... Lion Quest Infinity
Here we go! Lion Quest Infinity takes the series into full 3D for a brand-new adventure and we've even got the trailer to prove it:
[previewyoutube="WPeYv_0MVTA;full"] Jethro and friends steal a magic grandfather clock and embark on an unforgettable adventure. Are they here to save the universe, or is it simply a marketing ploy constructed as part of an elaborate book tour?
Travel through space and time to find out! Oh, and visit the real world too, where you get to work an office job.
Wishlist the game today and please look forward to its release in 2021!
In other news the promo game supporting this release – Sloth Tales – is available from today. This is a standalone 2D platformer starring your new friend Jimmy the Sloth. It's on Steam and it's very, very free!
Hello. Today we have an announcement – we’re going back! Lion Quest is going to return next year with a new adventure far beyond anything you could conceivably imagine.
Ahead of this we will be releasing a standalone platforming game called Sloth Tales. This will come out on Steam on the 30th October and it will be completely free (yay).
[previewyoutube="w_YcnN49LsI;full"] It’s about half an hour long (maybe longer if you don’t like to be rushed) and features refined platforming action very much rooted in the style of the original Lion Quest. But with a sloth.
So what does this mean for the future?
I’m so glad you asked. Lion Quest is moving in a bold new direction so I’m really excited to also offer an experience that feels like a direct continuation of the original.
For those craving the simplicity of a refined 2D platformer (please god let there be at least one of you) this is the ticket – Sloth Tales is the original Lion Quest experience but reimagined with 4 more years worth of ideas and experience.
It will be available as a free standalone game and then also packaged as an unlock within next year's premium release. So in the meantime why not add Sloth Tales to your wishlist so you can be notified by Steam when it is available to download.
A new decade is here, as is a new update for Lion Quest! This includes a few tweaks designed to ensure better hardware compatibility and future-proof the game so you can enjoy it long into the next decade.
There's also a subtle new feature that I hope improves the quality of the game. This is a curbed jump, which means that the character doesn't jump as high if you release the jump button quickly after pressing it. Oh, and I've ever-so-slightly reduced the speed of the player walking animation. It seemed a little *too* fast.
The rest of the changes are as follows:
Support for Metal graphics API on Mac
Notarised build for OSX to comply with newer Mac security requirements
Resolution fixes for Retina Mac devices (yes, there's a lot of Mac-specific fixes here. Everything still seems to work okay on Windows!)
Cloud data save/ load is now completely bypassed if the game runs independently of Steam
Removed URL from Splash Screen
Engine update
One more thing. A new decade means a new price. Lion Quest is three and a half years old, and as it ages gracefully into *ahem* a silver fox, I believe a permanent price cut is in order.
Thanks for playing and here's to the next ten years of Lion Quest!
Introducing – AudioTheory Guitars
The next release from Dracula's Cave is here. Whilst I've got some big plans for the future of Lion Quest, today is all about a new piece of software I've been working on called AudioTheory Guitars.
It's an interactive reference tool for guitar notes and chords; the ultimate toolbox for anyone transcribing between guitar and piano, or working on a new song. By presenting the necessary information in an interactive and customisable format, it provides direct feedback on your input – with a smart colour coding system that helps demystify guitar music theory.
From today it is available to download on Steam. If you'd like to learn more about the product there's loads of information on the Steam store page, as well as the AudioTheory website:
LQVE: Lion Quest Versus Expanded launches on Steam
Are you in the mood for more Lion Quest? If so you’re in luck – LQVE: Lion Quest Versus Expanded launches on Steam today. Rebuilt from the ground up, this next game in the series reimagines the multiplayer component of the original Lion Quest. You can check it out on the Steam store here.
And below are answers to some questions you may have about LQVE: Lion Quest Versus Expanded.
Is there a single player? Yes! Although my original intention was to create a refined take on the Lion Quest multiplayer, I couldn’t resist adding in a whole bunch of single player features. This includes the 1p Cup mode where you play through tournaments against the AI, and Lion Quest Delta – an experimental take on the classic Lion Quest platforming mechanics.
Is LQVE a sequel to the original Lion Quest? Sort of! Mechanically yes, and a sequel to the VS component of Lion Quest, also yes. It doesn’t contain a follow up to the original’s story mode, however the classic platforming mechanics do return in Lion Quest Delta.
Is there AI or ‘bots’? Yes, you can configure your LQVS game to include any combination of human and CPU players. You can train against the computer or make up the numbers by adding in AI characters, it’s entirely up to you.
What about online play? Unfortunately not. The good news is that LQVE has been designed for local multiplayer and simply doesn’t have the framework for a competitive online game. The emphasis is on experimenting with characters and game modes, with various handicap options to allow people of different skill levels to play together.
Will LQVE receive updates/new features in the future? Yes! The original Lion Quest is still being supported a year and a half later and I hope to do the same with this title.
What Steam features does LQVE support? At launch there are 25 achievements to be unlocked and support for Steam Cloud, allowing for cross-platform cloud save. The game has to meet some minimum metrics with Steam before Trading Cards can be enabled, but hopefully this is something I’ll be able to add in the future.
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In other news, Lion Quest version 1.21 is on its way. Nothing too major to report other than some minor optimisations and bug fixes to the co-op ‘2 player adventure’ game camera. You can expect this update in the next couple of days.
Lion Quest 1.20 – Dynamic Camera Update
The next Lion Quest update is now here. Version 1.20 includes a new dynamic camera system designed to better track the player – giving less movement where it's not needed and more where it is. This feature was originally developed for Lion Quest Versus Expanded – the upcoming follow-up to Lion Quest I've been working on. I ended up liking it so much that I couldn’t resist configuring it for the first game also.
Anyway, the full list of changes for Lion Quest 1.20 is as follows:
Fullscreen settings adjusted to give additional reliability when swapping to and from fullscreen
Auto Graphics API for windows – a couple of rendering issues have been fixed meaning DirectX can now be used instead of OpenGL on Windows. This also means that the game now runs on certain low spec machines that previously didn’t meet the minimum graphics requirements.
Dynamic camera tracking for the main Lion Quest single player game and Lion Quest Arcade
Steam settings updated to allow Lion Quest to run independently from the Steam Client if you choose to do so
Minor animation improvements
Checkpoint fix on Tutorial #3
Waterfall effect fixed on Skull Island
Phew. That's all for today, and thanks for reading.
Lion Quest 1.18 – Bug Fixes Update
Lion Quest version 1.18 is now live. This update is composed entirely of bug fixes and some further code optimisations to help improve the game's performance. Thanks for taking the time to read this message and have a nice day.
Lion Quest 1.17 – Cloud Save Update
Lion Quest has now been updated to version 1.17 with immediate effect. Included in this update is integration with Steam Cloud, a feature I’ve wanted to add to the game for a while now. Apologies for the delay on this one, the way in which Lion Quest saves and loads data made it a little tricker to set up than anticipated.
The full set of changes are as follows:
Cross platform cloud save for Windows Mac and Linux
Enhanced performance in the Lion Quest Arcade and VS. menus
Minor optimisations and bug fixes
New ‘Ultra’ quality setting for increased graphical fidelity
That's all for now folks.
Lion Quest 1.10 – The A.I. Update
Version 1.10 of Lion Quest is now live. This update is mainly focused on improving the game's competitive multiplayer, with a brand new map and the addition of computer-controller A.I. opponents. However there's also a whole bunch of performance enhancements that carry over into the single player experience, helping make Lion Quest better than ever.
The full list of changes is as follows:
A.I. options for Lion Quest VS. – Play against the computer or supplement a local multiplayer game with additional opponents. A.I. can be configured to use any of the nine characters at one of three skill levels.
Temple 2.0 – Built from the ground up, this replaces the fiddly design from the original release with a more streamlined layout.
Additional map enhancements – Look out for further improvements across Pirate Cove, Duel, Lighthouse & Aquarium.
Performance boost – Game code has been streamlined to deliver performance enhancements across all modes.
A brand new achievement ready to be unlocked.
Please note: in line with optimisations made to the game's engine, the Linux version of Lion Quest now uses OpenGL Core. This means that the minimum graphics requirements are now higher than they previously were. For any users who can't meet this spec, the original 1.0 version of Lion Quest is still accessible as a branch in the 'Betas' tab.
That’s all for today. Oh, and a huge thank you to everyone who's played Lion Quest so far.
Lion Quest launches on Steam
Today is the day! Lion Quest, a zen platforming game by Dracula's Cave, is available now on Steam. Take Jethro the Lion on a magical journey, traversing space and time to prevent the imminent collapse of the universe. Oh and your friend Ronald the Bear is missing, maybe you can find him whilst you’re out exploring?
Discover a huge world and enjoy an adventure that blends retro platforming fun with a mix of 2D + 3D mechanics and a modern design aesthetic.
