Dexter
With the upcoming release of the Triceratops in the Evrima version, another heavyweight is heading to the island - but that's by no means all that happened in May with the developers of The Isle. From new plants and audio improvements to the foundation stone for the Elder System - here's an overview of Dev Blog #59.
Filipe - Lead Programmer
Filipe has been working hard on the new Elder System. The previous growth curve system has been replaced by a more flexible one that will allow more development levels in the future - ideal for balancing normal and "Prime Elders" as well as future expansions. The curves are set, the morph targets for Elder models are working, UI elements and animations for the Elder stage are next on the agenda. After that, the system goes into QA.
Work also continued on the Rex Crush feature, which is now virtually bug-free and will probably be released shortly after the Triceratops.
Work is also continuing on the Humans: a solid basic movement with future mod support has been implemented - based on Unreal standards, easy to maintain and expandable.
Ariel - Programmer
Ariel has reworked the climbing behavior of Herrerasaurus and Hypsilophodon - both features are now in QA and will appear with the Triceratops. The activation of the Ceratopsid's "Thrash" attack has also been optimized: fewer false triggers, but still possible to react quickly.
Then it was back to the Pteranodon: improvements were made to take-off, thermals and currents. In addition, a new interactive hunting system for small animals and fish is currently being developed - not only for the pterosaur, but also for other species. Early stages, but very promising!
Tapwing - 2D Artist
Tapwing has taken care of two plants - including the new, dangerous-looking Razorbark: a kind of "living barbed wire" that clings to surfaces and deters, hinders and injures anyone who tries to cross it. Thick, sharp, unfriendly - just as it should be.
In addition, an old acquaintance returns: the Arborburst Redwood. The mighty tree with bark like a tank is reminiscent of a mixture of type H mutation and metallivore - and finally gets a name and habitat.
The Giga Elder design has also been reworked - with borrowings from older fan favorites.
Wedge - Sound Designer
Wedge has finalized the Triceratops sound - including sparring sounds, horns and powerful noises that can be heard over long distances. The young animal version was also almost completely set to music.
In addition, Hypsilophodon's climbing animation got its own sounds, and the new foil system has been revised - volume, layers and behavior now scale more realistically depending on the speed and size of the dinosaur.
hypno - QA Lead
The original plan was to test Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus separately - now both are tested together to save time. After the long trike test, an intermediate stop seemed unnecessary.
QA has focused on the Triceratops, particularly its weight from the sub-adult stage and its impact on gameplay. The release for Evrima is planned for next week.
Also included: the eagerly awaited Hypsilophodon climbing system. This combines the latching of the Pteranodon with the climbing of the Herrerasaurus, but is less flexible. Players have to use their jumps in a targeted manner to save energy and climb heights efficiently. A foundation stone for nests in trees? Possible.
KissenKitten - Producer
Horde testing took longer than desired - "classic bugs" kept the team on their toes. But with new team members and revised systems, the process is now running more smoothly. Many of these changes come with the trike release.
The combat system is also being tweaked: recovery times for some abilities are being adjusted to make the gameplay smoother and more responsive - but only where necessary.
The animation department has also been busy: Avaceratops is almost fully animated, as are the general movements for Baryonyx, who will soon be joining Austroraptor, Allosaurus and Kentrosaurus in the queue. A small teaser for Oviraptor and Ovlet will follow soon.
Conclusion
The coming weeks will bring major innovations: Triceratops, Elder system, Hypsi climbing, new plants and progress on several dinos. If you love The Isle, you can look forward to an exciting summer!
