We have locked in our dates for the next big Closed Beta Test. The next Beta Test will run from Thursday, February 6th to Saturday, February 8th! Stay tuned for more info on official server times.
If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s not too late to get in. Head over to our signup page to take part. We’ve had a lot of signups but we’ll do our best to make sure everyone can participate.
There’s a ton of new stuff in the latest build, so I’ll go over the key changes below.
New Arena!
You may have seen previews for this arena back in one of our maps showcase blogs. The snow and ice arena is finally ready for primetime and has been added to the map rotation for the next test. Beware, hidden amongst the ice lies a dangerous and mythical creature…
More AI Improvements
Similar to matchmaking, our AI bots are ever evolving and going through continued development. AI should now behave more realistically and provide a better (and more fair) challenge to players.Chat Improvements + Quickchat Added
Our chat window has been redesigned top to bottom, it is now much easier and simpler to use. Additionally, we have added a brand new quick chat feature to allow you to send quick messages to teammates or opponents in the heat of the action. The quick chat system will be familiar to those of you who have used one in other games. In short, you can use your numbered keys 1, 2, 3 and 4 to send up to 16 different pre-set messages in chat.Party System
This was probably the most heavily requested feature from our last beta test. We have now added the ability to create and join parties, incite friends and matchmake together. The party system is still under development, but most core features are in. Team up with your friends and give it a shot!
Changes to Nets
This might be a controversial one, but we wanted to test it out and hear your opinions on it. We have removed the 2 point nets from the game. To compensate, we have made the 1 point nets larger. We wanted to introduce more skill in how players aim at the net and make goaltending feel more engaging. With bigger nets, goalies need to think more about their positioning relative to an opposing player. An attacker ready to shoot on net now has more options with where they can shoot or aim. With that said, please let us know your thoughts on these changes, we consider this a work in progress.Replay Improvements
Replays are being improved, we are currently addressing a few core issues with them. In the past, replays have sometimes appears a bit jittery and have had trouble following the action. We are improving the way the replay camera works to allow it to have a better view of passes and goals being scored. We’ve added some slow motion to the replay as a goal is scored to add more visual flair and give players a great view of the action.Charged Shots (One-Timers)
Players can now pre-charge their shot and perform a “slapshot” or one-timer once receiving a pass. This opens up a ton of new strategies. One-timers can be used while on offence, or alternatively, as a great way to quickly clear the ball out of your own end. A couple quick passes between teammates, followed by a one-timer can wreak havoc on your opponents!
Continued Matchmaking Improvements
We are constantly playtesting the game and adjusting our matchmaking system. Our key goals are: matchmaking accuracy and efficiency. In short, we want to make sure that matchmaking is always trying to place you in servers with players at a similar skill level to you, and in servers that are close to you. At the same time, we want to ensure that matchmaking happens as quickly and fluidly as possible. This is an ongoing process and something we’ll continue working on as we continue testing and move towards launch.Host Your Own Games
We have added the ability to host and play private matches, either online or via LAN. You can navigate a server browser to find a match to join, or create your own game. Private match owners can select arenas, player counts and assign players to teams. Play with bots or other human players and setup teams however you like.Streamer/Influencer Logos Added
Those of you who submitted your streamer logo or branding to us, be sure to check out your inventory page and check the Emblems there. Your logos have been added to the game for you or anyone else to equip on the back of your cape!
Player Name Tags
Name tags are now visible at all times during a match, regardless of how far away a player is. They will adjust their size accordingly so they do not clutter the screen. Now, you can tell if an opponent on the other side of the map is goaltending in front of their net before taking a shot.Better Telegraphing to Passing
It is now more obvious to tell when you are targeting a teammate for a pass. We also added an incoming pass indicator so you know when a pass is on its way to you. Have a shot charged up and ready to go, or plan our a deke maneuver!Player Rankings/MMR
A first pass MMR system has been added to the game. This system is pretty early and experimental, for now, we are just trying to test the system out. This system assigns an MMR score to each player at the end of each match. Win a game and your MMR increases, lose a game and it decreases. The amount your MMR score increases or decreases will be relative to the skill level of your opponent. Using this score, our matchmaking system will attempt to place players of similar skill levels in a server together. The system will likely take a few weeks to sort out players and properly ascertain skill levels so for now, don’t expect any significant changes to your gameplay.Lots More
There’s been a lot more additions and changes made to the game in addition to everything mentioned above. Bug fixes, crash fixes, optimizations and much, much more. I won’t list it all here but rest assured, the game is constantly getting better.That’s all for now. Once again, thanks for taking part and I hope you enjoy the game!
- Alex
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