Howdy hunters,
We’d like to start off with welcoming Hampus who joined us this Monday. Hampus will work on third person animations for multiplayer together with José. Hampus will get to introduce himself in a future status update, since we think that you might be a bit anxious about finding out more about multiplayer at the moment.
We’ve gotten an overwhelming number of applications for alpha testing multiplayer. And we’ve almost gotten an equal amount of questions about how things will work when we release this most fantastic feature. This is understandable, since some of you have been waiting for this feature for almost 4 years. For the following weeks we’ll try to address as many questions as possible in the status update. So this will be our official channel for Q&A. We would also like to ask you if you could refrain from answering other player’s questions about multiplayer with your own speculations, we’ve seen this happening and it causes confusion.
About the alpha tester selection process
Since we’ve already gotten so many applications for alpha testing we have decided to use some selection parameters to help us chose the right initial candidates and these are the following:
- Paying member (to narrow the number down, we will need non-paying members for testing later)
- Application in well written English (we clearly stated that good English skills is a must on the registration page since we can’t read feedback in several languages)
- A well written application
- The stated number of hours played matches the actual data we have stored
- Must not have shown up in our cheat detection
- The player has, if ever been active, been a good sport in the forum.
The emails to the chosen testers will go out in the beginning of next week. We will announce when we have sent the emails, but if you receive an email, you are not allowed to tell anyone. If you do so you are automatically disqualified from testing. The alpha tester will have to agree to a NDA, non-disclosure agreement, to get access to their test accounts, which means that they will not be allowed to publicly write about, post pictures and videos of what they see while testing. If they do so, they will not only be disqualified from the alpha test team but also get their live accounts banned and Expansive Worlds will take legal actions against the player in question. It’s not up to the testers to update the community about the progress.
Some Questions and Answers
- When will you launch multiplayer?
It depends on how fast we can find all bugs and remove them. After the alpha period is over we will start a beta test period where we bring more testers in. After that period is over we’re ready to release it. - Does Expansive Worlds host the server?
No, the user setting the session up will host the game. So you play on the hosts reserves with his/hers equipment placed in there. You will be playing in the host’s “world”. - Will the clients be able to use the hosts tents and other world items?
Yes, but only the host will be able to place world items in the reserve. - How many players can play together?
Up to 8 players will be able to play together in the same session. But you can of course be less than 8. During a session players can leave and join as long as the host stays active. - Will you be able to shoot other players?
No, theHunter is still a hunting game and not a war game. - What happens if the game Host crashes or leaves the game?
Initially the games pauses, to see if the host comes back, but if not the game ends - Can anyone start a multiplayer game?
No, initially it will not be possible for free members. - Can anyone join my multiplayer game?
It will be up to the host. When you start a multiplayer game, you can set some parameters for your game. The parameters will be the following:- Only friends
- Only paying members
- Anyone
- Within a Hunter Score range
- Who gets the kill if several players have shot an animal?
The person who shoots the killing shot will be the one getting the kill in the statistics, but anyone can confirm it. This might however change over time. - What if someone ruins the game by scaring animals and behaving badly?
The host will be able to kick and ban players misbehaving. - How many players can be inside towers/ground blinds at the same time?
It’s not set in stone yet, but hunting towers will have place for three hunters, and ground blinds for two. Tripod stands and tree stands will continue to be a “one man only” type of equipment.
