Hello everyone! This is just a quick patch with a couple of new features that didn't make it to the last patch. As a note: The next patch will likely be coming out sometime in the first couple of weeks in July.
Bug Fixes
Fixed a bug where using an obelisk would prevent the player from climbing up slants by creating an invisible obstacle.
Changed the positioning of all obelisks so that they no longer hover above the ground when playing the game at certain resolutions.
Feature Changes
Added acceleration when the player is walking; as you continue walking in the same direction, your speed will increase over time.
Added in movable boulders! These can be dragged to reach high ledges by pressing E and moving in the direction you want to pull it.
Patch Notes - 6/12/2017
Hello everyone! Last month I talked about major changes coming to Shadows in terms of design and the following is now the largest patch to have ever been released for the game. Without further ado:
Bug Fixes
Fixed a bug where double jumping onto a wall would cause the player animation to stutter between frames.
Fixed a bug where the main game death screen would take the player to the player-made game screen.
Fixed a bug where the item collection sound effect was not being affected by sound effect volume settings.
Fixed a long-standing bug where options on the main menu wouldn't appear checked off despite having been selected.
Fixed a bug where the footsteps sound effect would disappear if the music volume was much greater than the sound effects volume.
Fixed an uncommon bug where the player could fall through large mushrooms when trying to bounce on them.
Feature Changes
New vine decorations have been added to the Ancient Hall.
Ground fog has been added to the Stygian Maze.
The transition in the Stygian Maze is now smoother and faster, especially when at a high firefly count. Likewise the transition into the Deep Below is now smoother and faster.
Using the arrows to change volume on the main menu will now increment more slowly.
Grass is now animated to sway lightly back and forth.
Added various new sound effects.
Added several new songs to the soundtrack, courtesy of Chris Zabriskie!
Implemented new hidden paths and secret rooms -- a couple of which contain special notes.
Added special particle effects for the Luminous Caverns.
Wall hangs have been implemented; now if you jump onto the side of a cliff in the caves, you will latch onto the edge.
The design of the Deep Below has been completely reworked to make it more fitting to the theme of being the deepest location in the caverns.
The obelisk runes have been moved from floating above the top of the obelisks to static below the top.
Walking through the Stygian Maze is now itself a puzzle; be wary, the tunnels may not lead where they appear to!
Update on the Future of Shadows
Hello everyone! It’s been over a month since the last update — and with good cause: There are a lot of changes and new features coming to Shadows. A few weeks ago, I began planning a few significant updates that would rework how fireflies are used, the movement system, and almost all of the effects in-game. What I didn’t realize is how this would soon evolve beyond the ideas I initially had.
Right now, I’m taking apart almost every system in Shadows to improve it, however these changes are not yet in a state where the game represents a finished product. Due to this, I’ve decided to move back the release of the game to August of this year. The beta will still be in full effect until that time, and I’ll still be listening to your suggestions all the way through until the launch day, but having this additional time will allow me to add in new features and polish the old ones — some of which desperately need adjustment. Thank you to everyone who has supported this project so far; it means more than words can tell!
Stay tuned for more,
Logan
Patch Notes - 4/17/2017
Hello everyone! This is the release of the beta version of the level editor and while there's bound to be issues with player levels, you now have the capability both to make them, upload them to shadows.loganapple.com, then have other people play them in Shadows!
Bug Fixes
Fixed a bug where, when using a controller, you would not be able to move to the credits after opening the play menu.
Fixed a bug where publishing a level from the level editor would not open the directory.
Fixed a bug where created levels would shift over to the right if there were no walls on the left edge.
Fixed a bug where the upper slants were reversed in direction.
Fixed a bug where vine walls were reversed in direction.
The tile placer should be more accurate now.
Fixed a bug where the level editor would not save plants or the end point.
Fixed a bug where the level editor would not save the directions and next caves if an arrow was clicked.
Feature Changes
Publishing in the level editor has been changed. Now it will allow you only to specify a title to verify that you want to public -- this should be the same title as the folder the cave is in.
Using the "new" option will allow you to specify a title and then will immediately take you to the load selector.
The level editor will now automatically load a new level when an arrow is clicked.
Uploaded player levels can be played in Shadows via a button in the top left corner! Select a level, click the download button, then click the play button to begin.
Patch Notes - 4/14/2017
Bug Fixes
Fixed a bug where information text would occasionally be displayed in the wrong language.
Fixed a bug where the Deep Below fog would cut through stalactites and stalagmites.
Fixed a bug where activating V-Sync in fullscreen would sometimes cause the game to only display a black screen.
Feature Changes
Made several modifications to the level editor in preparation for the upcoming feature to play caves designed by other players.
What's next?
Hello everyone!
Just a few days ago, the newest patch for Shadows was released alongside a completely new ending to the game. A lot of new content was added to the game in preparation for all of this, including a new area, a new memory, and new puzzles, as well as updates to many of the older parts of the game.
Now, there's only one month left before Shadows is released -- and there's still more yet to come! Over the course of the next month, Shadows is going to be getting updates that will diversify each area, revamp particle effects, add even more puzzles, and more based on all of your feedback.
Perhaps the most important item on the agenda is shifting some focus to the level editor! Right now, the level editor that comes with Shadows is limited and the created levels can't be easily played by other people. The next month will focus on making the level editor a simpler tool and adding functionality to Shadows so that people can download and play custom caverns easily.
Don't forget: If you want your voice to be heard, feel free to leave a comment, contribute via the Reddit subreddit, or send an e-mail.
That's all for now,
Logan
Patch Notes - 4/2/2017
Bug Fixes
Fixed a bug where moving spikes from the East Tunnels would disappear if the player had already been to the Mushroom Forest.
Fixed a bug where certain memories would display text in the wrong language.
Fixed some incorrect translations.
Fixed a bug where jumping on a large mushroom could cause the player to clip through the ceiling.
Feature Changes
The cutscene for the Lonely House in the Mushroom Forest has been added.
The alternate ending has been fully implemented!
The Deep Below has received updated fog effects unique to that area.
Patch Notes - 3/17/2017
Bug Fixes
Fixed a bug where the earthquake sound effect wouldn’t play during an aftershock.
Fixed a bug where jumping off of a slanted ramp would cause you to double jump immediately.
Fixed a bug where sound effects would become permanently louder after collecting an item.
Fixed a bug where area names would sometimes appear in a different language than the one selected.
Fixed a bug where text graphics would not invert the background after going below then above 20 fireflies.
Feature Changes
<*> Added in Italian and Dutch translations (thanks for the latter goes to Geert ‘Quest’ Kolk).
<*> Added in new sound effects for activating obelisks, using portals, and completing the rune puzzle.
<*> Added in translations for text across all languages that were missing before — for example, "Press E" will now properly translate into all languages instead of just appearing in English.
Patch Notes - 3/11/2017
Hello everyone! The major content patch I mentioned in the last update is now in a state where it can be released to Early Access. There are some unfinished features, but expect those to be completed in the near future. Without further ado:
Bug Fixes
Fixed a bug where the jump sound would play every time you pressed the spacebar regardless of whether you could jump or not.
Fixed a bug where switching between rooms quickly could stop the music.
Fixed a bug where the Immortal achievement wouldn't register properly in some cases.
Fixed a bug where jumping off of vine walls would occasionally cause you to jump in the wrong direction and get stuck in the wall.
Fixed a bug where the small crystal would still continue to bounce around even after it was collected.
Fixed a bug where accumulating fireflies inside of a firefly wall would cause you to repeatedly flash between the wall and your last position.
Fixed a bug where activating a second obelisk would undo the effects of the first.
Feature Changes
Obelisk functionality has changed: Now, instead of just opening a door, it will close another. Obelisks will also restore all lost lives when activated.
Several new obelisks have been added across all of the caves.
Many of the older cave rooms have been updated with plants and effects.
Added info text to specify features that have not yet been fully implemented.
Jumping should be smoother and more reactive to player input.
Added a few secret rooms.
Added a brand new section of the caves: The Mushroom Forest. This area features new puzzles and more than 20 rooms in preparation for something more coming in a future patch.
February Update
Hello everyone!
It’s been a while since the last update — that’s mostly because there’s a lot of new content planned for the next major patch. While normally I’ve been releasing these large updates at the end of each month, I’m going to have to delay this one a bit. School has been keeping me quite busy recently, so some of the new rooms aren’t in place yet. I’m hoping it won’t be too much longer before I can get the patch rolled out.
I’ll be releasing sneak previews on Twitter (@ShadowsGamePC) until its release. Stay tuned!
