Octodad: Dadliest Catch Master FAQ

[Luthyr]

General

Do I need to play the first Octodad to enjoy this one?
Nope! We built this game to stand alone from our original game, which is why we didn’t call it Octodad 2. We’ve made so many improvements that we’d actually prefer you skip the original and start with Dadliest Catch!

How long is the game?
A single playthrough is generally 2-4 hours for a new player. Replayability is encouraged by collecting hidden ties in the levels and trying to beat dev times through speedrunning. Additional, free download content is supported through Steam Workshop.

What is the difference between this and the original, free Octodad?
In ‘Dadliest Catch’, Octodad actually visits locations outside his house and interacts with people other than his family. On a technical level, it has more complex physics, polished graphics, and a ton of extra content not found in the original Octodad.

I thought this was a PlayStation 4 game, why is it on Steam first?
When we originally started this project, we did a Kickstarter promising PC/Mac/Linux. Sony has been tremendous to work with, allowing us to keep our promise to our original backers without delaying all releases until the PS4 version is ready.

What is the difference between this and the one coming to PlayStation 4?
The Steam version contains support for Workshop and support for a variety of different input devices. The PlayStation 4 version has support for Move, can easily share recorded game footage, and allows for remote play on PlayStation Vita.

What languages are supported?
At launch we will support English, Spanish, and Russian. We are currently working on translations for German, French, Portuguese, and others. Additional languages may come in later updates. Community-sourced translation submissions are welcome!

Where can I get the soundtrack?
The soundtrack is being prepared and will be available to purchase soon. Please check back here in the future! For now the theme song is available here:
http://ianmckinney.bandcamp.com/album/octodad-nobody-suspects-a-thing

Where can I get a t-shirt?
We have t-shirts available through Level Up Studios and Spreadshirt: http://www.levelupstudios.com/octodad
http://376274.spreadshirt.com/

How can I expect the game to be improved after release?
In addition to any regular bug fixes, we plan on extending the life of the game through supporting Workshop and expanding the feature set available to content creators, as well as generating our own new content.

I have many ideas on how to make Octodad better! Where can I tell you them?
Please make a post on the Steam forums for our game. We try very hard to read every post and will work towards implementing good ideas if we can. Please do understand that building games is tough work, and so we have to balance doing things that are technically feasible and that a lot of people would be able to benefit from.

What is co-op mode?
Co-op mode allows multiple people to control the limbs of Octodad simultaneously. Up to four people can play, each controlling one limb or more. Different combinations can allow different types of play. A two-player setup can allow someone to play as they would with a gamepad, where the second player can simultaneously control the left arm (which is normally not accessible with single player). There is also a ‘roulette mode’ which will switch up who controls what after completing objectives.

Why isn’t Octodad online?
Octodad has a fairly complex use of physics and we don’t have any real experience making online games, which makes it unlikely that we could make it happen. We would love to be able to do it if we thought we could, but right now it is not feasible.

Bugs

The game doesn’t launch or crashes on Windows!
Download and run the DirectX Updater with administrator privileges:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109

Download and run the Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86) with administrator privileges:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5555

If you are running Windows XP, you may need to install the Windows Installer 3.1 Redistributable before installing the above software:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=25

Some system configurations can cause crashes.

• Try launching the game outside of the Steam client.
  
• Uninstall 3rd party controller drivers such as MotionInJoy for Dualshock3.
  
• Alter number of PhysX threads in Settings > Game.

If after running these the game continues to crash, please email [e-mail] with these details: Operating System, Graphics Card, Sound Card, A detailed description of the bug.

My monitor turns black when I try to run the game.
It is possible that your monitor does not support the default resolution and the game fails to autoresize. You can manually edit the config file to put it in windowed mode or lower resolution.

For some configurations on Windows 10 with Intel integrated graphics, you may need to change your configuration to borderless fullscreen mode as detailed a few lines below.

Find your config file (location for each platform is in this FAQ). For instance, in Windows Vista, 7, & 8, in a Windows Explorer window (such as Documents or My Computer), enter the following path: C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Octodad Dadliest Catch\

Be sure to replace USERNAME with your windows username that you tried to launch the game on. Make sure the game is not running and right-click the file OctodadConfig.xml and open with Notepad.

Find the line:
<int name="Graphics_FullscreenMode" value="1" />
And change the value to 0 so that it says:
<int name="Graphics_FullscreenMode" value="0" />
This will run the game in a window rather than fullscreen.

You can also try borderless full screen mode:
<int name="Graphics_FullscreenMode" value="2" />

You may want to also lower the resolution by editing these lines to say:
<int name="ScreenWidth" value="800" />
<int name="ScreenHeight" value="600" />

As a last resort, try changing the video driver type from DirectX 9 (value="4") to OpenGL (value="5"):
<int name="System_VideoDriver" value="5" />
Change this value back to 4 if it did not resolve the issue.

One of the levels is impossible to beat because of a bug! What do I do?!
Please e-mail [e-mail] with these details: Operating System, Graphics Card, Sound Card, A detailed description of the bug. It would also further help us if you send us your save files, log file, and config file, which you can find locations for at the bottom of this FAQ.

Please try loading from last checkpoint in the pause menu to see if the bug disappears. Otherwise, you may have to choose to start from “Level Beginning”. Please be aware that you will lose your level progress when doing this.

Occasionally, Steam may fail to properly download files after an update. Please verify your game installation is good by right-clicking the game in your library, clicking “Properties”, clicking on the “Local Files” tab and clicking “Verify Integrity of Game Cache…”

Saves & Other Files

Where are my save files located?
Windows: %userprofile%/Saved Games/Octodad Dadliest Catch/
Mac: /Username/Library/Application Support/Octodad Dadliest Catch/
· It’s hidden in 10.7+ use Command+Shift+G from the Mac desktop
· (or Finder > Go > Go to Folder) and type in ~/Library
Linux: Same directory as executable.

Where is my config file located?
Windows: %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Octodad Dadliest Catch\OctodadConfig.xml
- ex:: C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Local\Octodad Dadliest Catch\
Mac: /Username/Library/Application Support/Octodad Dadliest Catch/OctodadConfig.xml
Linux: Same directory as executable. (OctodadConfig.xml)

Where is my log file located?
Windows: %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Octodad Dadliest Catch\OctodadLog.txt
- ex: C:\Users\YOURNAME\AppData\Local\Octodad Dadliest Catch\
Mac: /Username/Library/Application Support/Octodad Dadliest Catch/OctodadLog.txt
Linux: Same directory as executable. (OctodadLog.txt)

Graphics

My computer is not running the game very well, how can I best increase performance?
Make sure you have installed the latest drivers from your graphics card’s site, such as http://www.nvidia.com/Drivers for NVIDIA, http://support.amd.com/en-us/download for AMD, or https://downloadcenter.intel.com for Intel integrated graphics.

The game tries to adjust some settings on first run. To make changes manually from the main menu, go to ‘Settings’, then ‘Graphics’ and turn down/off these settings:
· Reflection: Off
· Shadow Quality: Low or Off
· Shadow Distance: Low
· Anti-aliasing: Off
· Vsync: Disabled

Restart the game. If you are still having performance issues, lower the resolution and turn off shadows completely. Sometimes restarting your computer can also improve performance. If you are using a laptop, make sure that it is plugged in and/or set to high performance mode.

Accessibility

What accessibility features exist?
· Game can be played entirely with a mouse (no keyboard). (To pause game, hold down mouse wheel for 2 seconds).
· Game can be played entirely with a gamepad/joystick.
· Subtitles are available, including the option for a black box underneath.

Input

What input devices are supported?

All (Windows / Mac / Linux):
· Keyboard / Mouse*
· Gamepads* (Xbox 360 Controller, Dualshock 4 etc.)
(Windows supports both XInput and DirectInput)
Windows:
· Touch screen
Mac:
· Trackpad Multitouch

*Allows remapping controls

How do I play with a Windows or Linux laptop touchpad?
Keyboard controls:
· Z: Lift left leg / Grab
· X: Lift right leg
· Spacebar: Switch modes
· C: Crouch
· W, A, S, D, Q, E: Camera

Workshop

Who is expected to be able to use the level editor to create workshop items?
People comfortable with building levels for games in software such as Unity, Unreal or Hammer should be able to navigate our editor well enough to make content. This is the same editor that was used by the developers to make Octodad: Dadliest Catch. The editor should be treated as beta’ since we could not focus as much on it during development as we’d have liked. With more people using the editor, we will be able to better fix important issues. The editor is Windows only for the foreseeable future.

What kind of modifications can I submit to workshop?
Currently, it is limited to custom-made levels, using pre-existing game assets and/or user-created assets. For more information about the editor, visit http://www.octodadgame.com/workshop.

What are the limits on what I can submit?
Steam Workshop may impose file size limits of 100mb per upload and 1gb across all uploads since it uses user cloud storage. Items that are found to be adult-natured or copyright infringing risk being removed.

What do I need to run the editor?
Windows. It is highly recommended that your system specs be similar to the recommended specs for the game itself.

[The Pumpkin King 2021]

Octodads Dadliest Catch looks great cant wait for the game to come out tomarow. Been waiting for months. :) By the way I love the ideal of the Steam Workshop and level editor support. I may even try to make a small map for Ocotodad someday since I have about 2 to 3 years of experece useing Source SDK. Keep up the great work guys and i hope everything goes well tomarow.

[Luthyr]

Thanks! Us too.

[EmZiom]

Best faq on steam. I tried it on ps4 and i love it. Good luck. ;)

[Loganwhal]

I've seen this game a while back. Best of luck with it :) Will get it later in the day

[syruphant]

Hello, i don't know if you still need some help for the french translation, but i can give a hand, since i'm french.

[CrySpawn]

When does it come on PlayStation4?

[Luthyr]

We're aiming for March, but that is not 100%

[JCB]

The game appears on Steam as having a CD key. When I press the button to request one, it says "requesting key..." indefinitely. Any idea of what could be happening?

[Luthyr]

Hmm, there shouldn't be anything to do with CD keys...

[JCB]

Originally posted by Luthyr:

Hmm, there shouldn't be anything to do with CD keys...

That explains why I'm not getting one. :)
Something is a bit off though, this option shouldn't appear when the game doesn't use a CD key system.

[StrongBad]

Hello, I have some problems - after completing few levels, went to the main menu and found that there is no continue button, just new game. Decided to check the folder with save (% userprofile%\ AppData\ Local\ Octodad Dadliest Catch\) and found it empty. A similar situation with config file, so i cant change the settings. Have any idea about the problem? OS is Win 8.
P.S. Sorry for bad english)

[Lullaby_]

And I have the same thing like a StrongBad

[Zero]

Does using a Dual Shock 4 require anything fancy being set up to use it in game or can I just plug and play? Thanks!

[Luthyr]

DualShock 4 is plug-n-play.

[Luthyr]

Originally posted by StrongBad:

Hello, I have some problems - after completing few levels, went to the main menu and found that there is no continue button, just new game. Decided to check the folder with save (% userprofile%\ AppData\ Local\ Octodad Dadliest Catch\) and found it empty. A similar situation with config file, so i cant change the settings. Have any idea about the problem? OS is Win 8.
P.S. Sorry for bad english)

I think we have a bug where we overlooked usernames that are not using english characters. We are working on making a patch. A workaround is to play on a username with English characters until this patch is released.