Over at Rock, Paper, Shotgun

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/09/20/hands-on-a-valley-without-wind/

Hmmm is that ment to look good? I do not get it.

I don't think the graphics are going to improve - they are probably not even Shadow of the Beast 2 standard from the Amiga days (although in fairness that may be harsh).  That said, I will pick this up on day 1 as it is such a unique idea.  I wish it had been done from an isometric viewpoint, but the fact that it is a sideways scroller could still work ok.  Huge, open worlds, that are procedurally generated allow meaningful exploration sounds great.

This game is going to have to be massive on gameplay and new ideas...otherwise I see it being a flop...I do like the look of the scenary but watching vids of the characters and animations now they look terrible. The characters look out of place compared to the scenary art style aswell..

That game looks horrendous. I know they are indie and all, but would it be that expensive to get someone to draw the graphics for them ?

Being indie isn't an excuse to release such a eye sore.

All thoughts of gameplay aside, I'm going to ask again...if it's the 'Valley Without Wind'...then what the frakk is making the trees sway..!?!

Originally Posted By Staggerwing

if it's the 'Valley Without Wind'...then what the frakk is making the trees sway..!?!

"A Valley Without Wind" is the goal of the game. Wind being a metaphor.

Must be getting close, because Chris has released a glimpse into a "Getting Started" guide

http://christophermpark.blogspot.com/2011/09/valley-without-wind-getting-started.html

Purchasable beta SHOULD be out on Monday.

According to the website, the beta will be available on the 26th.  I think it's doing a Minecraft too, so you can download the beta if you have pre ordered the game, although I may be imagining that!

Edit : Doh! Too late

Originally Posted By ross_ntu

According to the website, the beta will be available on the 26th.  I think it's doing a Minecraft too, so you can download the beta if you have pre ordered the game, although I may be imagining that!

 

No preorder necessary to demo. According to the forum:

Q: Can I get in on the beta?

A: Absolutely, 100% yes.  How it works is this: once we hit beta, we make the game available for preorder purchase, or for demo for free.  So that means that you can plunk down some money to get the full beta at a discount, and that means you've got the full game forever after.  Or you can be more cautious and just enjoy the beta versions of the demo as they progress, and purchase later if it suits you.

Looking forward to the beta.  I don't think the game looks quite as ugly as some are saying, but then I just played through Avernum 1 recently and that's about as ugly as they come (note- NOT "charmingly retro-looking" or something, just flat out ugly).

Its available to pre-order NOW! @ a heavily discounted price. (approx £7 in GBP, $10 for US)

http://arcengames.com/w/index.php/games/avww-features

Or you can download the open beta and trial it to level 6.

Demo doesn't work. Firefox will D/L it but it's impossible to run or even move the file anywhere. I tried with IE next. It D/L'ed, gave a popup error message, and then closed.

Thanks for the info. Will check it out.

Originally Posted By Ubercat

Demo doesn't work. Firefox will D/L it but it's impossible to run or even move the file anywhere. I tried with IE next. It D/L'ed, gave a popup error message, and then closed.

I work for Arcen, did you try downloading it direct from our site? Or was it from a mirror?

I ordered and downloaded the demo/full version and it worked for me. Do be careful that your anti-virus isn't deleting the file. My Norton's did this because there were only a small amount of users (something it does with EVERY new file).

I haven't gotten to play much, but what I did play looked interesting.

As a funny side note, the forum title for this was chopped off and it said "A Valley without Win."

I tried the trial a bit, but so far found there's not much to this game. You choose a character (randomly generated from preset looks, stats and name), and and then just get to side-scroll a bit a starting village. You can craft some scrolls and spells, and even these wooden platforms you can lay in the air, but that's it.

The warp scroll does nothing other than open and close the minimap. The transmogrify into a bat turns you into a flight capable bat, but you continuously take damage. The electric jump spell, once acquired works automatically if you double jump. And that's it. Even the difficulty changer does nothing really (since there are no enemies or other zones to explore, difficulty does not mean anything).

It is an early build of a demo though, so I guess it is just to give a little intro.

Originally Posted By Tpek

I tried the trial a bit, but so far found there's not much to this game. You choose a character (randomly generated from preset looks, stats and name), and and then just get to side-scroll a bit a starting village. You can craft some scrolls and spells, and even these wooden platforms you can lay in the air, but that's it.

The warp scroll does nothing other than open and close the minimap. The transmogrify into a bat turns you into a flight capable bat, but you continuously take damage. The electric jump spell, once acquired works automatically if you double jump. And that's it. Even the difficulty changer does nothing really (since there are no enemies or other zones to explore, difficulty does not mean anything).

 

It is an early build of a demo though, so I guess it is just to give a little intro.

The game is far from complete, but there is a bunch more than that in it. There are lots of enemies, bosses, etc.

There is a getting started guide here that may help you: http://www.arcengames.com/forums/index.php/topic,9119.0.html .

Originally Posted By Tpek

I tried the trial a bit, but so far found there's not much to this game. You choose a character (randomly generated from preset looks, stats and name), and and then just get to side-scroll a bit a starting village. You can craft some scrolls and spells, and even these wooden platforms you can lay in the air, but that's it.

The warp scroll does nothing other than open and close the minimap. The transmogrify into a bat turns you into a flight capable bat, but you continuously take damage. The electric jump spell, once acquired works automatically if you double jump. And that's it. Even the difficulty changer does nothing really (since there are no enemies or other zones to explore, difficulty does not mean anything).

 

It is an early build of a demo though, so I guess it is just to give a little intro.

The game is far from complete, but there is a bunch more than that in it. There are lots of enemies, bosses, etc.

There is a getting started guide here that may help you: http://www.arcengames.com/forums/index.php/topic,9119.0.html .

Originally Posted By tigersfan

Originally Posted By Ubercat

Demo doesn't work. Firefox will D/L it but it's impossible to run or even move the file anywhere. I tried with IE next. It D/L'ed, gave a popup error message, and then closed.

 

I work for Arcen, did you try downloading it direct from our site? Or was it from a mirror?

If you continue to have this issue, or if anyone else does. There are more download mirrors on the "download" page of the site.

I'm pretty sure that I D/L'd directly from Arcen as I didn't click on any mirrors. I have Norton 360 which typically warns me if it doesn't trust a D/L file, then gives me the option to D/L anyway.

edit: One more try from a mirror. Will report back.

Originally Posted By Tpek

I tried the trial a bit, but so far found there's not much to this game. You choose a character (randomly generated from preset looks, stats and name), and and then just get to side-scroll a bit a starting village. You can craft some scrolls and spells, and even these wooden platforms you can lay in the air, but that's it.

The warp scroll does nothing other than open and close the minimap. The transmogrify into a bat turns you into a flight capable bat, but you continuously take damage. The electric jump spell, once acquired works automatically if you double jump. And that's it. Even the difficulty changer does nothing really (since there are no enemies or other zones to explore, difficulty does not mean anything).

 

It is an early build of a demo though, so I guess it is just to give a little intro.

Whoa, yeah, there's a ton more to it than that.  We've had alpha testers put in "five or six dozen hours" to quote them; and I know they still didn't see all the content that's there even now.  And several others put in north of 30 hours in a week's time.  It looks like you never left the starting town, so that would be pretty underwhelming for sure. 

Also be sure to actually open your inventory and check out what the tooltips say on the various spells.  For instance, the warp scroll opens your region map so that you can selet where to warp to (you have to already have been there).  In that first town, of course, the warp scrolls are again pointless because it's just the town.

Hope that helps!

Originally Posted By Ubercat

I'm pretty sure that I D/L'd directly from Arcen as I didn't click on any mirrors. I have Norton 360 which typically warns me if it doesn't trust a D/L file, then gives me the option to D/L anyway.

 

edit: One more try from a mirror. Will report back.

Direct from us is actually from Amazon S3.  But the file in question is working for other folks, so I don't think the file is actually broken -- I think it just didn't completely download, for whatever strange reason.  You might try the Vulturis mirror if you're in Europe, as that should give you a really fast download in that area.

Just downloading the demo now...I'm very curious...yet sceptical...yet intrigued.