Windlands
Windlands Past and Future Survey
We have been very busy and soon we will be patching an update to Windlands (Exciting stuff with some new content too), to fill in the gap while you wait for us to get on with it, we would like to ask a personal favour that will impact the future of Windlands, we have created a nifty short survey to gather some feedback and it would be awesome if you (yes amazing you!) could click the link bellow and give us a few minutes of your time (THANK YOU!!!)
Windlands Past and Future Survey
Windlands Update Released! Version 1.0.2
We have decided to release this update today in order to gather further feedback on the Vive controllers updates. We are busy doing everything we can to help beginners, Give options and improve visual and haptic feedback in the hope we can crack the Vive controllers. Sadly, they were not designed well for locomotion and are not ideal, however, we think we are getting a great deal closer to an awesome experience with them, we will continue to strive and give you the best game we can.
Big Changes
- Vive Controller Changes, please see the VR section.
Changes
- You can now disable turning in the controls menu
- You can now disable strafing in the controls menu
- We have introduced a new controllers layout menu which we will improve in future versions, for now you can see the controller setup in text.
- You now receive an information message at the start of a new game before you have picked up your hooks, this should help with people who report their controllers are broken because the hooks are not working.
VR
- By default the Vive controller layout is set to “beginner”, in this mode you can only press to walk forwards, backwards and jump (by pressing the right pad). As you become confident we recommend you change to the “recommended” layout which includes strafe, our experience is players new to VR are finding locomotion too much for them, so this vastly improves the beginners experience, people soon find their legs and want better controls.
- Vive controllers now have haptic feedback for Walking, Landing and Hooking.
- Vive controllers now have floating text help, you can switch this off from the new Controller Layout Menu.
- Vive controllers now have a touch and press visualisation so you can see where your thumb is resting.
- We have renamed the touch to move (which makes beginners feel ill) to expert and recommend only those with VR legs and time to practice use this mode, people have completed the game with this mode so we know it gives full control but requires practice.
- We have updated the Oculus SDK to 1.3.2
We are looking for feedback on the Vive Controllers so we can move forward with improvements, let us know how we are doing!
Oh, and we have some awesome official limited edition (only 100 made!) Windlands T-Shirts in our shop, enter the coupon code “steamapr” for 20% off!, because we love our Steam Community: http://www.windlands.com/product/black-windlands-logo-t-shirt/
Many thanks for your continued support on our journey!
Enjoy!
- Psytec Games Team
Windlands Update Released! Version 1.0.1
Today we have released a minor patch that only effects the Steam VR version of Windlands.
We have updated the Hooks to resemble the Vive controllers to assist in locating the buttons and movement pads.
We have also made it clear that you don't have the hooks at the start of the tutorial level on the Vive.
Enjoy!
- Psytec Games Team
Windlands Update Released! Version 1.0.0.3
An update to Windlands has been released to Steam and will be automatically downloaded.
We are planning to leave Early Access! We don’t intend to stop supporting Windlands, in fact we expect to add more challenge levels as free content over the next few months. Also coming up is some bonus content (such as hooks and game +).
We have reached a stage where the main game is content complete and the main mechanics are solid. Customer feedback consists mostly of minor fixes at this stage, or things like it’s floaty, it’s slidy, it’s hard (we know, it’s supposed to be). We also want to be at the point where Windlands 1 is complete so we can have the freedom to make our next games.
Big Changes
<*>SKY!!!, yes! the final world with the last 2 power Crystals and 40 more tablet artifacts awaits. You will need to collect at least 5 power Crystals to unlock the new island in the Hub.
<*>Windlands is now completable! You can finish the game by collecting the 2 Crystals in Sky and reaching the last section - end game music, credits and all.
<*>We have added Mosaics to the sides of the main hub walls. Every tablet artifact you collect fills in a piece of the mosaic for that world. Check them out to learn the ancient story behind Windlands.
<*>We have added Projectors to each Power Crystal you obtain. Stand on the projectors to watch a short story segment.
<*>A robot has been added to City along with animations for each Crystal pickup.
Game Improvements
<*>We have updated the end sections of the challenge maps to match our vision.
<*>When you complete the challenge maps you now get rewarded with effects, with extra special reward effects for beating your personal best.
<*>We have changed the game font. This has been requested often for improvement. A new clean font has been chosen that we think fits well with Windlands.
<*>Jungle Swing and City are now Unified, which improves performance and gets rid of the little seams between blocks.
<*>We have added AZERTY Keyboard support in the options.
General Fixes
<*>Lots of minor map fixes from the in-game customer feedback tool.
Please continue to use this tool to report anything broken or unfair, and we will continue to polish the maps.
VR
<*>We have updated the Oculus SDK to 1.3
<*>We have updated the Steam VR SDK 1.0.8
<*>We have improved the Vive controller support and made touch the default (you don’t have to press the pad), you can switch to press mode in the options by switching to alternative layout, we have also increased the default sensitivity.
Please keep your screenshots, fan art & videos coming in! We love seeing what you are getting up to in the game.
Many thanks for your continued support on our journey!
Enjoy!
- Psytec Games Team
Windlands Update to 1.3 SDK planned this week
Windlands Update Released! Version 0.9.7
An update for Windlands has been released to Steam and will be automatically downloaded.
Again, Thank you for your awesome feedback. We are still listening and every release we focus on giving you as much as we can.
Please keep using the in-game feedback tool, as you will see, your map feedback is being fixed.
Big Changes
<*>CITY!!!, yes! a brand new world with 3 more power Crystals and 40 more tablet artifacts await! You will need to collect at least 2 power Crystals from Jungle to unlock the new island in the Hub.
PLEASE NOTE: the City is not optimized yet! We do not unify the model until it’s had some public testing (yes you!), we will start to unify City soon, so short term, please no "City has bad performance" posts.. We know, and the fix is coming, it’s all part of Early Access we’re afraid.
<*>The Hub has been updated to closely represent the final layout.
Game Improvements
<*>We have added particle effects and sounds to the challenge level ends. You will receive an extra bonus for getting a personal best.
<*>A brand new animation for the Robot in the Tutorial map.
<*>The Robot is now in the Jungle and Animates when you pick up each Crystal.
<*>When the game starts, you now spawn into the opening room instead of space.
<*>The Menu design has been updated with a cleaner look.
<*>Deletion of the Puppy Monkey Baby assets, turns out someone else has done it.
General Improvements and Fixes
<*>Challenge Maps now have a start sound.
<*>Many many map fixes, thank you for your in-game feedback, great stuff!
<*>Quality Settings have now been split out. You can also change some of them in VR to help those close to minimum specification in VR.
<*>Drop down boxes remaining open in the menu and a number of minor menu bugs have been fixed.
<*>As usual lots of minor fixes that don’t deserve the limelight because you probably didn't know the issues existed anyway ;-)
VR
<*>We Now Support the HTC Vive really well, and have been extensively testing it.
<*>We have Standing and Seated options for playing with the Vive. A new option in the VR menu enables or disables seated playing. The Seated works very much like the Oculus Rift, just grab a controller and press the reset button to reset your head position.
<*>Vive 3D Input now has haptic feedback support.
<*>We have implemented new models for 3D input (using hands).
<*>When using 3D input you now get 2 cursors, one for each hand.
<*>OSVR and other headsets should now work with Steam VR. Just change the setting to Seated.
Oh did we mention the new world?, City!
Please keep sharing your screenshots and videos! We love seeing what you are getting up to in the game.
Enjoy!
- Psytec Games Team
Windlands Update Released! Version 0.9.5
An update to Windlands has been released to Steam and will be automatically downloaded.
Firstly, Thank you for your awesome feedback. We are listening and every release we focus on giving you as much as we can. Please keep using the in-game feedback tool, we read every piece of submitted feedback and it helps us to locate map issues and fix them.
Big Changes
<*>We have improved the top of the Jungle area to make it much more fair, we have removed trip points, added a new checkpoint and improved the layout. It should still be hard (we need some hard bits that make your legs wobble) but it should no longer feel like it’s unfair.
<*>The 2nd Jungle Challenge has now been enabled, focused on swinging (you asked). You need at least 3 power crystals returned to the hub machine to enable it. You can enter the challenge from the top portal on the Jungle Island in the hub, good luck!
<*>Performance in the Jungle, 1st Jungle challenge and hub should be much better. We have unified most of the maps, which also has the awesome side effect of removing many cracks in the ground. We will continue to unify as we are happy with the content.
<*>Challenge level cracks have now disappeared, which should help with your awesome <2:00 timed runs! Check out the leaderborads! . A special shout out to our awesome sub 2 minute speed runners : Razaluna, Kokutouchichi, charlton_3393, blongdev & Ruuubick, we are looking forward to see how you perform on the new challenge map.
Game Improvements
<*>The Hub has been improved with new features, bridges, birds and banners.
<*>You can change the quality, fullscreen and resolution settings in Non VR from the Options > Video menu.
<*>You can restart Challenge maps from the menu or by holding the respawn button down for a few seconds.
<*>You can now return to the hub from the menu or by holding the respawn button down for a few seconds.
General Improvements and Fixes
<*>Many minor fixes to maps (thank you for your in-game feedback, please keep reporting errors).
<*>We have added starting gate markers to the Challenge Maps.
<*>The VR menu has been removed from Non VR.
<*>Ctrl and Shift have been swapped over in Advanced Rope mode as it’s more intuitive.
<*>The menu sensitivity, dead zones and the ability to select while moving has been improved.
<*>Tablet artifact sounds have been moved from Sound FX to Ambient to help avoid sound hacking when searching for tablets.
<*>The textures for pipes has been improved (it’s no longer cyan).
<*>Many minor fixes to the game, too many to list.
VR
<*>R no longer resets the headset while submitting feedback in the menu.
<*>We have implemented Haptic Feedback on Vive Controllers.
Have Fun, Enjoy, and we look forward to hearing from you on the Windlands discussions!
- Psytec
Windlands Update Released! Version 0.9.1
An update to Windlands has been released to Steam and will be automatically downloaded.
Big Changes
<*>We have introduced the first Challenge Level so you can practice your parkour skills. You will need 2 Power Crystals to open this level, the portal is located next to the Jungle Portal.
<*>There are now 40 Tablet Artifacts in the Jungle Level.
<*>The Game Hub has been improved.
<*>The Jungle Level has been improved with New Areas and Checkpoints.
<*>You can now take your Power Crystals back to the center of the Hub to socket into the Machine.
<*>We have enabled an Advance Rope mode which can be activated from the Game Menu for those who want a bigger challenge.
Please note we had to reset the save games, we never want to do this, but in this case the changes were very dramatic and it was necessary, we will do our very best to avoid this in future patches, on the bright side you get to enjoy new content along your path, enjoy...
Game Improvements
<*>Rope modifying (stopping pulling and extending rope) are now working as expected.
<*>You can now invert controllers / mouse horizontal or vertical.
<*>You can now set the sensitivity of controllers / mouse horizontal or vertical.
<*>You can now move backwards in the menus with Escape/B Button/Circle Button.
<*>Game Statistics are now available in the Menu.
<*>The Save Game and Statistics screens now show totals.
<*>The Save Game description now contains the last played date/time and time played.
<*>On Screen Game Timers (total game time played and current levels) for Speedrunning are now available in the Menu and Via Keyboard and Controllers.
<*>New Portal visuals make it more obvious when they are ON or OFF.
<*>Challenge Levels have timer boards displayed at the start and end.
<*>We are testing Steam Leaderboard Support in this version, we hope to make these available in a future patch.
<*>The in-game feedback (with x/y/z map location) in the menu is now working and calls direct API to submit tickets to us.
<*>We have introduced a 2nd controller layout in the controllers menu.
General Improvements and Fixes.
<*>Checkpoints now work bi-directional, you move through them in either direction and will respawn in the expected direction.
<*>The Tablet Artifact Sounds have been Changed.
<*>Music Fading has been improved.
<*>Level changes now fade in and out (instead of an abrupt switch).
<*>The crosshair now correctly highlights when you can hook the object.
<*>Added support for more Controllers (Logitech F710, Logitech F331, SteelSeries Stratus XL and the Samsung Gamepad).
<*>Added Detection for G27 Steering Wheels and Saitek X52 (& Pro) HOTAS so they don’t interfere with other controllers.
<*>Many minor fixes and improvements.
Non Game
<*>A new Manual is available on Steam.
<*>A brand new Trailer and New Gameplay Trailer are now on Steam.
Windlands Launched on Steam
We are very excited to enter Early Access with the wider Steam community and to work with you to shape the future of Windlands.
We want to hear you, as it is extremely important to us that your opinions are heard. We are listening and acting on your feedback.
Feedback can be left right here on Steam or within the game itself under “Feedback” at the pause menu. We will be monitoring everything and posting updates regularly.
You can also follow us on the @windlands_game Twitter and facebook.com/psytecgames social media for updates or to get in touch.
You can also reach Luke, our Community Manager directly on luke@psytecgames.com. He would love to hear from you!
We are all busy working on the next patch, but for now, it’s time for you to start your own adventure!
From all of us here, we would like to thank you for putting your faith and interest into our vision. Thank you to those who backed on Indiegogo, purchased on Steam (Welcome!), and thank you to everyone who followed and played the demo over and over again. We are humbled, excited and passionate to deliver you the experience of “Windlands” and hope you enjoy the adventure!
And this, is only the beginning… enjoy...
- Psytec Games