KickStarter Underworld Ascendant Pre-Release Thread

[Ash]

Didn't expect to see the Doc turn. Thought you'd go down swinging with fabulous optimism 'till the end.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

Still have some hope. It's counter-productive not to.

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.othersideentertainment.com/forum/index.php?topic=6040.0

Monthly update coming soon.

 

[LESS T_T]

https://steamdb.info/app/692840/history/?changeid=U:8288683

Changed Release Date – September 30, 2018 › October 1, 2018

 

[Curratum]

They said they will need to reconsider September, not just because of the state of the game, but also because of Bard's Tale 4 and Pathfinder Kingmaker both coming out in September.

 

[Unkillable Cat]

Also fiscal quarter 4, compared to fiscal quarter 3, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Infinitron]

https://otherside-e.com/wp/update-the-doom-counter-ticks-down/

New screenshots but no word about the beta.

UPDATE: The Doom Counter Ticks Down…

Hey everyone,

We’ve been working on a lot of systems, features, and levels behind the scenes as we get ready for launch. Here’s a sneak peek at what we’ve been working on:

TREACHERY AND DOOM

While the Backer Alpha featured areas that were filled with resources and fairly linear areas, don’t expect to be so lucky in the final Abyss…

We’ve been working on polishing up the many hallways and levels throughout the Abyss to make sure every turn is different from the last. You’ll need to think vertically to traverse some of these areas, and keep in mind where you are at all times. Many have been lost in the Abyss and have yet to return.

As you play Underworld Ascendant, you will notice that your actions and choices will affect the decaying world state.

Typhon stirs, and as his influence spreads across the Abyss, it will be up to you to stop him and limit his reach before it’s too late. The Stygian Abyss is an unforgiving environment, but perhaps with kindness and knowledge, you can stop that which threatens your world…

As a reminder, this is a good time to read up on our weekly updates, where we discuss questions brought up by active members.



UNDERWORLD ASCENDANT IN THE NEWS

We were featured on the cover with an exclusive article and interview in the Italian gaming magazine The Games Machine:

“An adventure that, 25 years after its birth, is still fresh, intriguing and engaging.”

If you need to catch up on our E3 news, also remember to check out our interviews here:

DualShockers Interview with Joe Fielder: Discussing Player Choice, Realized Worlds, and Influences

EPNdotTV Interview with Joe and Walter: Discussing Emergent Open-Ended Gameplay in UA(Video)

GameReactor Interview with Paul and Warren: How UA Takes Immersive Sims a “Little Further”



BACKER ALPHA & EXTERNAL PLAYTESTING

Thank you to everyone who submitted feedback through our Backer Alpha survey, and those of you who have volunteered to help us playtest Underworld Ascendant! Your feedback has been incredibly important to us, and nailing the feeling of the Abyss has been one of our highest priorities over the last few weeks.

Nearly 1,800 of you unlocked access to the Backer Alpha build last month, and we received over 80 detailed survey responses.

If any of you would like to continue playing Underworld Ascendant, or are a new fan and not a backer, we are still looking for external playtesters. (Note: Windows ONLY).

Sign-ups are available through our official Discord or OSE Forums. Join us to sign up for an exclusive biweekly playtesting opportunity and stay updated on our daily progress! Prior playtest experience is not required.



KICKSTARTER REWARDS SNEAK PEEK
On the community side, we’re nearly finished with the preparations for the physical orders.

Here’s a sneak peek at the 3D renders we made of the 4” figurines for LORE SEEKER ($300+) backers and above:

(From left to right: Resherak, Cabirus, and Aelita)

If you are a backer receiving physical goods and need to make adjustments to your shipping address, please make sure your BackerKit address is fully updated!

If you need to make a shipping address change, contact us as soon as possible at support@otherside-e.com with your BackerKit / Kickstarter email and pledge number.

That’s all for now! Next month, we’ll be preparing for Gamescom and PAX West. We hope to see you there!

Cheers,

The OtherSide Team

In Other News…
In case you missed it:

• July 2 #ScreenShotSaturday: In an Immersive Sim, you have to use your environment whenever you can… thanks for the arrows!
• TIM STELLMACH PICK – Nerds of a certain age will remember the tiny-box fantasy games Melee and Wizard (and the short-lived pre-GURPS RPG based on them, The Fantasy Trip). Steve Jackson finally got the rights back and is kickstarting a new edition of all of this.
• NightDive Studios reveals more concept art, screenshots, and “Adventure Alpha” details via PCGamer

 

[RoSoDude]

https://steamdb.info/app/692840/history/?changeid=U:8288683

Changed Release Date – September 30, 2018 › October 1, 2018

Taking development one day at a time, folks. That is, pushing the release date back one day at a time.

 

[Zep Zepo]

As soon as they tried to"partner" with portalarium, had added the AssCreed wall running and other janky shit...The game was doomed.

After announcing they had a "publisher"...Game was double doomed

Now trying to push some Alpha shit out the door in 2 months is just criminal.

Totally goes against what Kickstarter Is all about.

Zep--

 

[Zep Zepo]

On top of all that...

You have sleepy, drunk Warren Spector collecting a paycheck for what...the last 3 or 4 years?

And he has in that time.... Accomplished nothing.

Glad handing all around, and nothing to show for it.

Zep--

 

[Strange Fellow]

I like to think that when these formerly great developers - Lord British, Warren Spector - are getting rich by doing very little of note, it's just karma catching up with them and giving them their fair share.

 

[Sentinel]

Warren Spector has nothing to do with Underworld. And I doubt he's rich.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

The new shots look like places I want to explore.

 

[Curratum]

The new shots look like places I want to exuberantly jump and parkour around in.

Fixed it for you.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

There were vetrical spaces in the original and platforming was a thing in them. I don't mind that so much as long as it isn't taken beyond the reasonable.

 

[United Nations]

Trailer #2 looks like total cartoon trash.

 

[Ash]

Fucking Unity engine. Far inferior design philosophy and design talent. Inadequate funding. Devs that clearly aren't even trying.

This is really sad.

Thanks for the great games devs. This presumed (by everyone) piece of shit doesn't override the immovable level of respect I have for classics like Underworld and Shock 2. Incredible experiences, and absolutely among the finest in the industry if not the most accomplished

 

[Tacgnol]

It doesn't help that the devs don't really seem to know what they want to accomplish.

Indecisiveness combined with feature creep is a terrible combination.

 

[Ash]

Well, at least whatever direction they went in it still looks like a game rather than some pretentious walking sim "this is art I tell you!" garbage. I still have hope this will be a fun-ish little action game at least, comparable to say a low-budget Dark Messiah, but I doubt it will even be that...

 

[Zep Zepo]

How do those stages of grief go again?



Zep--

 

[HoboForEternity]

I am still in denial stage

 

[Invictus]

I am stilk in denial stage

These guys seem to be seriously out of touch both with the legacy of the Underworld name and the expectations fans had for this project.

It seems it should have been straightforward enough; well designed imaginative levels, interesting encounters, functional combat and an interesting set of npc...
What we got is box puzzles as the “latest” trend, Trine looking artwork and enemy designs, uninspired “dungeons”, horrendous “Oblivion like” combat and not even a decent snowball chance in hell of this beign an even mediocre game; everything about it screams mediocrity... not a single thing they have show had made me think “mmm well that’s interesting” it all seems derivative, uninspired and ultimately undeserving of the Underworld legacy

 

[aweigh]

i thought this looked like trash way before everyone else did!

puts on cool sunglasses

 

[RatTower]

If you could change exactly one thing about this game, what would that be?

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

Haven't seen it yet.