Author Archives: dallas

About dallas

Made some games. Lots of games.

Update of the Avatar #114 – 2015.02.27: Underworld Funded and Final Week Push, Crowfall Funded, Jabbering Bertha, SotA’s 1st Wedding, Rick’s Spectral Mines, and More!

February 27, 2015

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

Play Release 15 Now!
Underworld Funded – Now Entering Final Week!
Crowfall Kickstarter Funded in 3 Days!
Final Week for Massively Kickstarter
First Wedding in New Britannia
Rick Holtrop’s Spectral Mines
In-game Community Weekend Events
Sir Frank’s Writing Contest (with Prizes!)
Receiving Pledge Rewards and Add-On Items
Changes to Store Credit Conversions
Steam Access Keys Available for All Backers
How to Cancel Monthly Layaway Payment Plans
This Week In The News
Upcoming Events

Play Release 15 Now!

Release 15 screenshot courtesy of *Meyaka*[PeV]. Check out more in the Release 15 Screenshot Gallery.

Release 15 Instructions – Unity 5 is Alive!

February 25, 2015

[A SotA Public Forum post by Starr Long]

Greetings Avatars,

Thank you to our loyal backers of Shroud of the Avatar. Release 15 access for all backers at First Responder level and above begins this Thursday, February 26 at 10:30 AM Central Time (16:30 UTC).

Please read this entire message, as well as the linked instructions and known issues.

This far from launch, we are in a constant state of change and we do not yet have in-game systems to inform players of these changes, or to share ways to help them to explore new content and systems. This means we rely entirely on this message, and the linked instructions and known issues to convey the current game state. We regularly have to answer questions or filter bug reports because players elect not to read this valuable information. By taking a few moments to read through this information, a great deal of our time and efforts can be redirected to focus on new “unanswered” questions, and addressing critical issues impacting each release. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to review this post, and for all the truly valuable feedback you continue to provide.

We are very excited that Release 15 represents our first release using Unity 5, the latest version of the Unity engine. Unity 5 provides us with both improved performance opportunities and graphical upgrades that will allow us to iteratively and dramatically improve the visual presentation of Shroud of the Avatar. As we have said before, our goal is to make sure Shroud is as visually compelling as we have time to make it. However, whenever we have to make a choice between simulation (turning lights on/off, picking up items from the world, NPC schedules, etc.) and visuals, we will ALWAYS choose the simulation.

Update of the Avatar #113 – 2015.02.20: Underworld Gets Tracy Hickman and Steam Greenlight, SotA Single Player Features, Abe on Overworld, Chris Talks Economy, and More!

February 20, 2015

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

Underworld Gets Tracy Hickman and Steam Greenlight
Single Player Offline Features
Abe Weighs in on Crafting the Novia Overworld
Let’s Talk About the Economy!
SotA On The Road Again!
Massively Kickstarter Success
In-game Community Weekend Events
Sir Frank’s Writing Contest (with Prizes!)
Last Chance Exclusives
Gem Treasure Designs: Silver Serpent Pendant
Receiving Pledge Rewards and Add-On Items in Release 14
Changes to Store Credit Conversions
Steam Access Keys Available for All Backers
How to Cancel Monthly Layaway Payment Plans
Upcoming Events

Underworld Gets Tracy Hickman and Steam Greenlight

As previously reported, our long-time friend and former Origin protégé, Paul Neurath, is rebooting the legendary Ultima Underworld games with the Underworld Ascendant Kickstarter campaign! It has been more than a decade long wait, but the stars have aligned and Paul has at long last freed the rights to move forward with the franchise. We’re especially excited that, just as the original Ultima and Underworld shared a connection on backstory and fictional elements, so too will Shroud of the Avatar and Underworld Ascendant.

We’re excited to announce that SotA Lead Story Designer and co-author of SotA’s Blade of the Avatar novel, Tracy Hickman, has signed up to pen an Underworld Ascendant novel as part of their $750k Stretch Goal:

Tracy’s talents as a fantasy author, together with his deep experience with gaming and close collaboration on Shroud of the Avatar, a world connected to ours, make him ideally suited to write the Underworld Ascendant novel. The novel is going to be set several generations before the game takes place, and tell the story of how a band of Dark Elves from the land of the Shroud of the Avatar passed through a magic portal to make an exodus into the Stygian Abyss. It will tell of their trials in this harsh and dangerous underworld, and of how they carved out a place for themselves. – Underworld Ascendant Update #15

Are You Ready for some twitching!

February 18, 2015

Our friends on the Underworld Ascendant team over at Otherside Entertainment recently posted about some fun twitch action they have going on, starting today! Here’s what they said:

…we wanted to give everybody a heads-up that over the coming 3 weeks we’ll be doing a series of sessions on Twitch, which we’re calling Otherside plays Looking Glass, Folks from OtherSide, along with some very special guests, are going to be playing a selection of classic games we worked on when we were at Looking Glass.

First up is Thief, this Wednesday at 3pm – 6pm EST. Then System Shock 2 on Wednesday the 25th (time TBD). For the finale session on Wednesday March 4th (time TBD), Ultima Underworld naturally.

During each session we will be chatting about the game, sharing behind-the-scenes anecdotes about what went into its development, and more. We will also be giving away some free digital copies of these classic games. Please come join us, and tell your friends to come along too!

Update of the Avatar #112 – 2015.02.13: Underworld Dark Elven Kinsman Buckler, Necropolis Dungeon, Verdantis Shardfall, 50k Backers, and More!

February 13, 2015

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

Necropolis: The Halls of the Dead
Underworld Ascendant: The Dark Elven “Kinsman” Buckler
Verdantis Shardfall
Novia Overworld Work-In-Progress
Help Us With Your Positive Recommendation on Steam
Hangout of the Avatar ~ Release 14 Postmortem
SotA Reaches 50,000 Backers!
Massively Kickstarter Success
In-game Community Weekend Events
Last Chance Exclusives
Receiving Pledge Rewards and Add-On Items in Release 14
Changes to Store Credit Conversions
Steam Access Keys Available for All Backers
How to Cancel Monthly Payment Plans
This Week In The News
Upcoming Events

Scene from the Necropolis Dungeon

Update of the Avatar #111 – 2015.02.06: Help Support Underworld Kickstarter, Bank Slot Rewards, Carnival Mask, Time.com Top 50, $10 for $10 Bonus, and More!

February 6, 2015

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

Raise the Underworld
New Pledge Rewards: Bank Slots
Receiving Pledge Rewards and Add-On Items in Release 14
Time.com includes SotA in Top 50 Most Anticipated Games of 2015
The Release 15 Grand Tour Silver Jester Carnival Mask
Limited Edition Jester Carnival Mask
Massively Overpowered Kickstarter
$10 for $10 Bonus Promotion
Novia Overworld Work-In-Progress
Changes to Store Credit Conversions
In-game Community Weekend Events
Last Chance Exclusives
Steam Access Keys Available for All Backers
How to Cancel Monthly Payment Plans
This Week In The News
Upcoming Events

Update of the Avatar #110 – 2015.01.30: Underworld Kickstarter, Play R14 Now, $10 for $10 Bonus, Novia WIP, Denis Loubet Patreon, and More!

January 30, 2015

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

Raise the Underworld
Play Release 14 Now and Get Your Grand Tour Hennin Hat
$10 for $10 Bonus Promotion
Standing Stones
Novia Overworld Work-In-Progress
In-game Books
Elven Tents
Support Denis Loubet on Patreon
New Britannia Theater Troupe: Live Double Feature Videos
Pledge Rewards, Add-Ons, and Banks in Release 14
Changes to Store Credit Conversions
In-game Community Weekend Events
Last Chance Exclusives
Steam Access Keys Available for All Backers
How to Cancel Monthly Payment Plans
This Week In The News
Upcoming Events

Raise the Underworld

Release 14 Instructions

January 28, 2015

[A SotA Public Forum post by Starr Long]

Greetings Avatars,

Thank you to our loyal backers of Shroud of the Avatar. Release 14 access for all backers at First Responder level and above, as well as those who signed up at CES and PAX South, begins this Thursday, January 29 at 10:30 AM Central Time (16:30 UTC).

Please read this entire message, as well as the linked instructions and known issues.

This far from launch, we are in a constant state of change and we do not yet have in-game systems to inform players of these changes, or to share ways to help them to explore new content and systems. This means we rely entirely on this message, and the linked instructions and known issues to convey the current game state. We regularly have to answer questions or filter bug reports because players elect not to read this valuable information. By taking a few moments to read through this information, a great deal of our time and efforts can be redirected to focus on new “unanswered” questions, and addressing critical issues impacting each release. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to review this post, and for all the truly valuable feedback you continue to provide.

Release 14 is our first release of 2015 and represents several major new features (Banking, Pledge Rewards, Encumbrance, Enchantments) as well as overhauls to existing features (Crafting). It is also a milestone because now more than half of the Adventuring schools (magic and combat) are complete! Of course, with new content comes new bugs and balance issues, so help us out by posting bugs and feedback in our official forums.

Also, remember that while we are providing new content with each release, our community is also working overtime to make new events for you to enjoy, so be sure to check out the Community Events Calendar (via in game book or the player run website Avatars Circle).

Without further ado, here are the R14 deliverables.
Read more…

Update of the Avatar #109 – 2015.01.23: SotA at PAX South, Banks, In-Game Backer Rewards, Novia Overworld, Game Informer, and More!

January 23, 2015

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

SotA at PAX South
Banks in Release 14
Changes to Store Credit Conversions
First Glimpse of Novia Overworld
SotA in Game Informer Magazine
MMORPG.COM – Release 14: Strong Start to a New Year
Shack News: CES Interview with Starr Long
GDC Next – Crowd Sharing: Crowd Sourcing + Crowd Funding
In-game Community Weekend Events
New Britannia Theater Troupe: Live Double Feature
Last Chance Exclusives: The Axe and Wood & Plaster Homes
Steam Access Keys Available for All Backers
How to Cancel Monthly Payment Plans
Upcoming Events

SotA at PAX South

Richard Garriott, Starr Long, and Finn Staber are at PAX South, demonstrating the game and talking to the press. You can find them in the Texas Indie Game Lounge presented by Microsoft (booth 1343) at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Update of the Avatar #108 – 2015.01.16: Mad Hermit’s Lay of the Land, PAX South, R13 Postmortem, Duke’s Basement, Flesh Flayer, Steam Catchers, and More!

January 16, 2015

Greetings Fellow Avatars!

Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:

The Mad Hermit’s Lay of the Land Video
SotA at PAX South Next Week
Hangout of the Avatar ~ Release 13 Postmortem
Duke Pledge Reward: Upgraded Basement
Benefactor Knight & Knight Marshal Stonework Refinements
Flesh Flayer
Geothermal Steam Catchers
Boreas, The Titan of Truth
The Avatars Chronicles I – Return of the Avatar: Special Developer Edition
In-game Community Weekend Events
Last Chance Exclusives: The Pickaxe and Wood & Plaster Homes
Steam Access Keys Available for All Backers
How to Cancel Monthly Payment Plans
Upcoming Events

The Mad Hermit’s Lay of the Land Video

Need a high-level overview of where the various cities, towns and villages are in Shroud of the Avatar? Jump in the Mad Hermit’s hot air balloon as he surveys the land from high-up above! Although most of SotA’s Pre-Alpha content is confined to the “Hidden Vale” at this point, boats and Lunar Rifts allow access to some of the cities and points of interest that exist on the Island of Novia (where the core part of the story will eventually take place).

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