We’re Off on a Trip… To Germany!
Gamescom, August playtest, and in-game updates.
While summer is already halfway over, it feels as if we are just heating up. Traveling across the world, holding our longest playtest yet, and getting prepared to complete the prototype version of The Rabbit Haul - it’s all here!
We're Heading to Gamescom Germany
We are thrilled to announce (again) that Caldera Interactive will be attending Gamescom Germany 2024 with The Rabbit Haul! A big thank you to Edmonton Screen Industries Office for bringing us again this year along with other local studios as a part of their Summit Push program. Below is their full announcement of studios attending Gamescom.
https://edmontonscreen.com/gamescom2024/
As one of the biggest gaming events in the world, Gamescom offers an unparalleled opportunity for us to connect with our international community, showcase our latest developments, and share exciting news. Mark your calendars for August 21-25, 2024, and come visit Courtney, Isael, and Mickael at our booth - Hall 10.2, Booth E40 - for an unforgettable experience.
Our Playtest Returns
Get ready for an exclusive, week-long playtest during Gamescom week! We are so excited to have two unique playtests available: one being hosted at the event, where attendees will have the chance to try out new features in a shortened, 6-wave run, provide feedback, and interact with our development team.
Our other playtest, hosted on our Discord server, will be a test of the full game, including our out-of-run upgrade and unlock system. This will be an excellent opportunity for our players to give some of their final feedback on the prototype version of The Rabbit Haul, as we head into our production of the full game - do not worry if your suggestions are not yet implemented, we have everything noted and will be working on them during our production phase!
As we head into one of our final playtests of the summer, we just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to each and every one of our players, who have tested any and every iteration of The Rabbit Haul, and who have provided the most valuable feedback about all elements of the game. We spend so much time looking over your answers, reviewing what we can do better and implementing plans to make each test a unique experience. Our community is the reason we are able to do what we do, and we truly appreciate your support.
New Article on Community Management
We believe that strong community management is crucial for a thriving gaming environment. That's why Courtney has penned an in-depth article on the subject: sharing insights, strategies, and best practices that have helped us build and maintain our amazing community. Whether you're a developer, community manager, or an enthusiast, there's something in it for everyone. Check it out on our blog and join the conversation.
In-Game Updates
Now to the juicy part - what’s new in The Rabbit Haul for July! We have a new crop and two new towers - one offensive and one defensive. In addition, there are language updates to note.
Watermelon Crop
The Watermelon is a purchasable crop that has a longer growing time than most of our other crops. However, it sells for a high value, and if it's put in the haul, it will punish enemies who try to steal it.
When a raccoon picks up a Watermelon, a "heavy" effect will appear, and the enemy will be slowed while trying to exit the playing field, allowing the player extra time to attack and get back their crop!
Stink Bomb Tower
Stink Bombs are our second wild encounter, after the blueberry bush that we introduced you to last month. They will appear sporadically, and can be picked up by the player to be placed where they prefer.
If an enemy walks over the Stink Bomb, they will be damaged with a chance of "poison" effect, where there will be damage applied over time. These are a one-time use tower, so be careful about when and where you use them!
Sprinklers
We've heard you about how tedious watering can be, so we've implemented a new tower that can help speed up the process for you, and will also assist you during the night as well!
Sprinklers can be purchased at Gerald's Greens, and have 3 stages.
- Stage 1: waters in a plus (+), affecting the crops above, below, and to the left and right.
- Stage 2: waters all the plants around the sprinkler, including those diagonal to it; similar to the effects of the Beehive.
- Stage 3: waters two circles surrounding the sprinkler, for a total of 24 plants watered daily!
In addition to its impressive daily properties, it will also assist you at night by spraying water at the enemies nearby and pushing them back, allowing you more time to fight and prevent them from hitting your haul.
French In-Game Translations
Isael has been working hard at translating The Rabbit Haul into French. It is a slow process to find every line of text and translate it accurately, so we are unsure if it will be fully implemented by the time the playtest comes out - but stay tuned!
Courtney’s Fun Fact: je ne parle pas français, mais je parle un peu japonais et coréen.
Steam Page Localized to 10 Languages!
We are very excited to update our Steam page to ten languages, allowing you to learn about The Rabbit Haul in whichever language you prefer.
These languages include: English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Korean.
Currently, these languages are just for the Steam page itself, with plans for in-game localization coming much later in our development process.
We are so excited for you all to try the latest version of The Rabbit Haul. Our team has been putting in countless hours to ensure that the game is as best as possible heading into the biggest event of the year.
We can't wait to see you at Gamescom Germany 2024! Any recommendations for places to see in Cologne, or things we absolutely need to pack?
Remember to wear your sunscreen, and get ready for the best August yet! See you next month. 💚