Ninjas vs. Pirates: Week 1 of Beta 1
by Jon Jorajuria · 04/14/2006 (2:32 pm) · 8 comments
Update
DarkCombat Entertainment has spent the past week beta testing Ninjas vs. Pirates and while it has been fun, it has also been exhausting. We would like to thank all the beta testers for their input and their time, without you we wouldn't be able to push the creative process. Here is what we have been up to the past week as a result of beta:
Lobby Improvements
Game Navigation Improvements
CTF fix
Character Selection Fix
General Bug Fixes
Hadishi Village Map
Weapons Content and Fixes
Melee Animations
Sound Improvements
We are packaging a new version of the game this afternoon, and it should be released early this evening. Melee animations are coming along and we are trying to get them out in this release. We had a few snags with the melee animations and if we don't get them out with this release, we will be releasing them on either Monday or Wednesday. We would rather delay a couple of days and put out quality content, rather than rush things out and give the testers a mediocre melee experience.
New Content
New Content has been added to the game, the biggest of which is the new Hadishi Village Map. There is a lot of things that add character to this map some of which are volumetric fog, lighting, new sounds, and particle effects. Here are a couple of screenshots from the map:
We have also added a temporary musket, adjusted the crossbow to mimic how the Ninja bow will behave in game, adjusted the Henry Morgan grenades, and adjusted the Ninja booby traps.
Future of the Game
We are working hard and producing the best game possible with such a small staff. Mondays and Wednesdays have been designated kill the dev team evenings, we have enjoyed talking with and dying to the beta testers. I have not asked permission to use the names of the people from the GG community who have been beta testing, but theirs and our non-community beta testers input has been instrumental over the past week.
Over the next few weeks, the entire Ninja Team will be built out and implemented. We are adding permanent weapon models, with animations, and polishing up the maps. There are a couple of maps that we will not release in any of the three beta phases, they will be surprises. However we won't let you down and screenies will be released very soon.
As we do the initial beta 1 phase of the testing process, we are gearing up for beta 2. Beta 2 will have the majority of the content in game. We are also thinking about having an open beta phase for beta 2. When we have a decision on that, we will let you know.
Conclusion
Beta 1 and the game are coming along nicely. With the support of the beta testers and their ideas, we are producing a real nice game. Since beta 1 release, our website has been receiving more and more hits everyday. With the expanding interest in the game, we realize that the hard work has just begun.
Contact
Game Website: ninjasvspirates.darkcombat.net
Company Website: www.darkcombat.net
E-mail: info@darkcombat.net
DarkCombat Entertainment has spent the past week beta testing Ninjas vs. Pirates and while it has been fun, it has also been exhausting. We would like to thank all the beta testers for their input and their time, without you we wouldn't be able to push the creative process. Here is what we have been up to the past week as a result of beta:
Lobby Improvements
Game Navigation Improvements
CTF fix
Character Selection Fix
General Bug Fixes
Hadishi Village Map
Weapons Content and Fixes
Melee Animations
Sound Improvements
We are packaging a new version of the game this afternoon, and it should be released early this evening. Melee animations are coming along and we are trying to get them out in this release. We had a few snags with the melee animations and if we don't get them out with this release, we will be releasing them on either Monday or Wednesday. We would rather delay a couple of days and put out quality content, rather than rush things out and give the testers a mediocre melee experience.
New Content
New Content has been added to the game, the biggest of which is the new Hadishi Village Map. There is a lot of things that add character to this map some of which are volumetric fog, lighting, new sounds, and particle effects. Here are a couple of screenshots from the map:
We have also added a temporary musket, adjusted the crossbow to mimic how the Ninja bow will behave in game, adjusted the Henry Morgan grenades, and adjusted the Ninja booby traps.
Future of the Game
We are working hard and producing the best game possible with such a small staff. Mondays and Wednesdays have been designated kill the dev team evenings, we have enjoyed talking with and dying to the beta testers. I have not asked permission to use the names of the people from the GG community who have been beta testing, but theirs and our non-community beta testers input has been instrumental over the past week.
Over the next few weeks, the entire Ninja Team will be built out and implemented. We are adding permanent weapon models, with animations, and polishing up the maps. There are a couple of maps that we will not release in any of the three beta phases, they will be surprises. However we won't let you down and screenies will be released very soon.
As we do the initial beta 1 phase of the testing process, we are gearing up for beta 2. Beta 2 will have the majority of the content in game. We are also thinking about having an open beta phase for beta 2. When we have a decision on that, we will let you know.
Conclusion
Beta 1 and the game are coming along nicely. With the support of the beta testers and their ideas, we are producing a real nice game. Since beta 1 release, our website has been receiving more and more hits everyday. With the expanding interest in the game, we realize that the hard work has just begun.
Contact
Game Website: ninjasvspirates.darkcombat.net
Company Website: www.darkcombat.net
E-mail: info@darkcombat.net
About the author
#2
04/14/2006 (2:50 pm)
Sweet! I love the concept ... I tried to get on for the beta ... but I never got an email back!
#3
@Jeremy-I'll send you the download link, real life things have taken a hold of our beta coordinator.
04/14/2006 (2:53 pm)
I had a little help with the water...Thank you Todd. Todd has been very kind in sharing his thought on all aspect of the game, as well as helping with things such as water, other art ideas, and general game play ideas. Sorry for picking on you the other night.@Jeremy-I'll send you the download link, real life things have taken a hold of our beta coordinator.
#4
04/14/2006 (3:03 pm)
I think I need to create full moon and night sky for this environment.
#5
The game looks awesome! Good job!
04/15/2006 (11:50 am)
Hi Jon, I sent off for a os x beta link last week, never heard back.The game looks awesome! Good job!
#6
04/15/2006 (12:23 pm)
@Bob-We are releasing that build in approximately 3 weeks with beta 2. We have some testing and a few source bugs we need to work out.
#8
04/15/2006 (9:12 pm)
@ Todd - A full moon would look pretty badass in this.
Torque 3D Owner Todd Pickens
See you in game.