Wasteland 2 Kickstarter Update #45: Beta Update + Twitch Livestream
Wasteland 2 Kickstarter Update #45: Beta Update + Twitch Livestream
Game News - posted by Infinitron on Tue 25 February 2014, 00:20:32
Tags: Brian Fargo; Chris Keenan; inXile Entertainment; Matt Findley; Wasteland 2The Wasteland 2 beta received its first major update today. The new version's features, which include a completely new UI and improved combat mechanics, were demonstrated live on camera by the crew at inXile:
The Kickstarter update released several hours later provides more details:
The destructible cover is pretty cool - check out the battle at around the 34 minute mark of the livestream for an example. And there's lots more where that came from, including important features such as "Ag Center: Add cow shit to east field, make sure all shit has good examine text".
If you're a Wasteland 2 Kickstarter backer who didn't pledge enough to get the beta, you can grab it now for ten bucks over at Ranger Center.
The Kickstarter update released several hours later provides more details:
This is just a short update to notify all of you that some of the things we've been talking about of late are now live: the beta update, the $10 add-on and some new videos. First and foremost, the large beta update has just gone live on Steam.
The full list of fixes and tweaks runs well over 2000, you can view the long patch note list here, which runs the gamut from optimization to fixing small and large bugs to expanding the game's content. We also updated the beta's reference card and expanded it a little bit. As a reminder, this update will break existing save games.
The most immediate difference you'll notice will of course be the updates character and inventory screens. Update 43 had the goods on that so I won't go over it again in detail, we're looking forward to seeing people play around with it. Other than just looking better the new inventory adds a lot of functionality such as an all-party inventory and direct mouse-over comparisons between an item with your currently equipped item (by holding shift).
The second big thing is the addition of the fifth major location in Arizona, the Prison, which was formerly the Ranger Center, now taken over by a rival militia. Ranger Team Echo heads into the Prison in search of ways into Damonta, a town seemingly unreachable beyond a radiation wall.
Combat sees a significant overhaul in this update. We added stances and expanded the use of destructible cover and height advantages and ladders used by enemies. These combat improvements are still WIPs so expect more iteration and functionality going forward.
Of course there are a lot of smaller updates to existing areas. We changed and expanded the ways some of the major scenarios in the first areas play out, as well as adding smaller events and missions, many of which have an impact on larger quests down the line. And just as a reminder, while the beta is limited in areas we are simultaneously working on later areas in the game, tweaking and iterating and applying the lessons learned from the beta.
Here's a list of the major new updates in this version, from the patch notes:The full list of fixes and tweaks runs well over 2000, you can view the long patch note list here, which runs the gamut from optimization to fixing small and large bugs to expanding the game's content. We also updated the beta's reference card and expanded it a little bit. As a reminder, this update will break existing save games.
The most immediate difference you'll notice will of course be the updates character and inventory screens. Update 43 had the goods on that so I won't go over it again in detail, we're looking forward to seeing people play around with it. Other than just looking better the new inventory adds a lot of functionality such as an all-party inventory and direct mouse-over comparisons between an item with your currently equipped item (by holding shift).
The second big thing is the addition of the fifth major location in Arizona, the Prison, which was formerly the Ranger Center, now taken over by a rival militia. Ranger Team Echo heads into the Prison in search of ways into Damonta, a town seemingly unreachable beyond a radiation wall.
Combat sees a significant overhaul in this update. We added stances and expanded the use of destructible cover and height advantages and ladders used by enemies. These combat improvements are still WIPs so expect more iteration and functionality going forward.
Of course there are a lot of smaller updates to existing areas. We changed and expanded the ways some of the major scenarios in the first areas play out, as well as adding smaller events and missions, many of which have an impact on larger quests down the line. And just as a reminder, while the beta is limited in areas we are simultaneously working on later areas in the game, tweaking and iterating and applying the lessons learned from the beta.
Brand new icon based inventory, character sheet, skill screen and support UI elements
Huge combat pass. Animations (tons of new death and damages), SFX, VFX, AI all greatly improved.
Added destructible cover
Surgeon and Field medic have been greatly improved. Now when using the skill, a list appears with all useable items
Quality Settings check on game load.
Added Mechanical Repair Skill
Introducing grenadiers and heavy weapons AI experts
Added Prison map
Added reactivity state where both Highpool and Ag Center can fall.
Multiple improvements have been made to the save game system which were causing save games to not load
Multiple engine optimizations have been made to increase performance.
Multiple compatibility fixes.
Huge combat pass. Animations (tons of new death and damages), SFX, VFX, AI all greatly improved.
Added destructible cover
Surgeon and Field medic have been greatly improved. Now when using the skill, a list appears with all useable items
Quality Settings check on game load.
Added Mechanical Repair Skill
Introducing grenadiers and heavy weapons AI experts
Added Prison map
Added reactivity state where both Highpool and Ag Center can fall.
Multiple improvements have been made to the save game system which were causing save games to not load
Multiple engine optimizations have been made to increase performance.
Multiple compatibility fixes.
The destructible cover is pretty cool - check out the battle at around the 34 minute mark of the livestream for an example. And there's lots more where that came from, including important features such as "Ag Center: Add cow shit to east field, make sure all shit has good examine text".
If you're a Wasteland 2 Kickstarter backer who didn't pledge enough to get the beta, you can grab it now for ten bucks over at Ranger Center.
There are 46 comments on Wasteland 2 Kickstarter Update #45: Beta Update + Twitch Livestream
