Thinking about seasons

[Tyranyd]

Hello everyone.

First things first, this is not a complain nor a wish, just curiosity.

Some time ago Hinterland published a roadmap with the features they'd like to add to this awesome game.

One that, in my opinion, shines above all, are seasons. I would like to know what you guys/girls expect of this, your thoughts about it and all that stuff.

Personally, I imagine seasons lasting +- 90 days, and winter waaaay longer, as it should be. Seasons would allow the respawn of birch, reishi, etc..., all natural plants. It also may change animal patterns (wolves, bears and deers should have their babies, protect them, occupy caves or different areas as a way of prptection, aggresive behaviours etc...).

Weather should also change a bit, of course, and that can be conected to sweat mechanic or something like that (imagine wearing a bearskin coat during summer lol), and would give a different aproach to the game. Iced areas like mystery lake, forlon muskeg could change a bit.

Also, for balance reasons, decay time for food should be changed. Nowadays you can place raw food outside, let it go to 0% then cook it and eat it. Maybe increase the decay time, and make it so when it reaches 0% you can't cook it. That applies only to wild food, some human made food should last a bit longer. This way you would be forced to hunt almost every day, explore, travel to other locations.

Maybe they could add, with the future cooking improvements, a way to make food last longer (not forever). It could be a craftable item, a cooking method, so you can spend your spring/summer/autumn time gathering resources and hunting a bit and be prepared to the rough winter time.

And of course, as time goes on, winter will be harder and harder, and warm seasons would not be as warm.

Those are my thoughts, what do you think about them?

And, if anybody hasn't get it, I love this game, and wouldn't change the core of it, just thinking about that roadmap and what it could bring to the game.

PS: sorry for the mistakes, english isn't my native language

[Bole]

yes, seasons would add completely new dimension to the game.

[Nil Desperandum]

Your english is perfectly fine - much, much better than some I've read on a lot of forums.

There is a Wish List thread on the forums where this sort of thing is covered.

Personally, I like your ideas very much, it would expand the game a lot.

[josefsson]

I'd personally love to see the world of The Long Dark in spring/summer/autumn colours, it would be really cool and if Hinterland don't do it, I'm sure somebody will mod it to where at least the textures are different. I love this game as it is, but this is an interesting concept

[Tyranyd]

Originally posted by Bole:

Thanks, I think the same way

Originally posted by Fleurdyllis:

I always have doubts with the language, ty mate.

I know about the wish list, but just wanted to discuss this, not a wish cause it would be an enormous effort by hinterland, and they are too busy with story mode and other improvements

Thanks for the reply again :)

Originally posted by Qossuth:

And I would pay for it. It could be a nice DLC or expansion for the game, and encourage them to work on other aspects to add as extras. I'm not a fan of the DLC trend the gaming world has taken, but if a DLC is 1) an extra, not a core mechanic cut from the game 2) adds real content, I'm 100% sure I will buy it, and hope more people would do.

Regarding the map idea, I don't think it would work. They can do them for sure, and everytime maps get better and better, but maybe paying for individual maps is a bit too much.

Originally posted by bajo.seidl:

I definitely see mods as something we will eventually get. Maybe someone does seasons for us. Thank you for the reply!

[I'll be the one]

Originally posted by Tyranyd:

Hello everyone.

First things first, this is not a complain nor a wish, just curiosity.

Some time ago Hinterland published a roadmap with the features they'd like to add to this awesome game.

One that, in my opinion, shines above all, are seasons. I would like to know what you guys/girls expect of this, your thoughts about it and all that stuff.

Personally, I imagine seasons lasting +- 90 days, and winter waaaay longer, as it should be. Seasons would allow the respawn of birch, reishi, etc..., all natural plants. It also may change animal patterns (wolves, bears and deers should have their babies, protect them, occupy caves or different areas as a way of prptection, aggresive behaviours etc...).

Weather should also change a bit, of course, and that can be conected to sweat mechanic or something like that (imagine wearing a bearskin coat during summer lol), and would give a different aproach to the game. Iced areas like mystery lake, forlon muskeg could change a bit.

Also, for balance reasons, decay time for food should be changed. Nowadays you can place raw food outside, let it go to 0% then cook it and eat it. Maybe increase the decay time, and make it so when it reaches 0% you can't cook it. That applies only to wild food, some human made food should last a bit longer. This way you would be forced to hunt almost every day, explore, travel to other locations.

Maybe they could add, with the future cooking improvements, a way to make food last longer (not forever). It could be a craftable item, a cooking method, so you can spend your spring/summer/autumn time gathering resources and hunting a bit and be prepared to the rough winter time.

And of course, as time goes on, winter will be harder and harder, and warm seasons would not be as warm.

Those are my thoughts, what do you think about them?

And, if anybody hasn't get it, I love this game, and wouldn't change the core of it, just thinking about that roadmap and what it could bring to the game.

PS: sorry for the mistakes, english isn't my native language

That is nice idea about seasons. I do not know where I saw it but someone did a video of Mystery Lake and with the snow melting and grass growing.

[Michael]

I think that since the animal meats dehydrate you very quickly we might as well be able to add salt to them to preserve them, maybe even make our own jerky or stew from them A rabbit and reishi stew sounds kind of good.

[Andi]

I think if there's a studio that could fill other seasons with as much detail, gameplay mechanics and atmosphere its hinterland. In the end, that mix is what its all about, the story just doesn't matter imo...

[Bole]

I agree, story mode is complete waste of time. Go fetch missions to attract new group of customers, they are trying to increase sales ok, i understand, but now 2 years of sandbox development will be lost on this.

[CountZero]

Originally posted by Tyranyd:

Originally posted by Bole:

Thanks, I think the same way

Originally posted by Fleurdyllis:

I always have doubts with the language, ty mate.

I know about the wish list, but just wanted to discuss this, not a wish cause it would be an enormous effort by hinterland, and they are too busy with story mode and other improvements

Thanks for the reply again :)

Originally posted by Qossuth:

And I would pay for it. It could be a nice DLC or expansion for the game, and encourage them to work on other aspects to add as extras. I'm not a fan of the DLC trend the gaming world has taken, but if a DLC is 1) an extra, not a core mechanic cut from the game 2) adds real content, I'm 100% sure I will buy it, and hope more people would do.

Regarding the map idea, I don't think it would work. They can do them for sure, and everytime maps get better and better, but maybe paying for individual maps is a bit too much.

Originally posted by bajo.seidl:

I definitely see mods as something we will eventually get. Maybe someone does seasons for us. Thank you for the reply!

I second DLCs

A season pack of 3 (autum, spring, and summer) and one to kick it all off of new maps with standalone objects and possiblities...objects that only would be able to transport back to the original maps in special seasons...(to keep the contain restricted until you've bought all the DLCs). That way we could surport once again to one of the best games I've played so fare....

[Icarus]

Adding seasons to TLD would be HUGE and i do hope it will happend one day , i just wonder what would happen during summer , would the ice melt and fishing cabins sink ? Would we have to attempt and save one , or as many as we can ?Leaving us with less or none for the next year?

But if we dont think bout this stuff , yea , i would LOVE to see green one morning , maybe we can start with spring so we get to see nature slowly growing back , adding new foraging options to the game too !

Tbh im not sure it will ever happen , just by how the game has been dev so far ..
I mean , i think the moose gets to roam free in the next update , we have yet to hear any news from the mountain lion tho.. we ask for entire seasons when we have yet to hear about this one animal (which does actually require some pretty complicated animations and mechanics , we talk about a MASTER killer and a TRUE athlete ,climbing ,jumping,stalking n stuff
Finding one of these unprepared should be a death sentence .

Seasons ask for SO MUCH tho , and this isnt Dont Starve , even if DT is a 3d world its in 2d animations , with a very simple art style and absolutely no intention for realism ( im not saying its bad , just easyer to add lots of stuff to) , TLD has a much fancyer artstyle and while its not 100% realistic , it actually does justice to real life survival/bushcraft/extreme camping , how you are basically FORCED to do the chores you would do IRL if you want to live(or a warm night) , for warmth food water safety etc (i wish hyegene and sanity mechanics would be added too )

They like the slow and steady strat , and they do good , if seasons will ever be added in TLD i dont expect it this year , not even next one ..
This would be a huge project and if they will ever get on it , its gonna involve ALOT of work behind the scenes and im sure we wont here about it until it actually becomes a thing

You do have good ideas tho ! Thats what i hope for too , LONG seasons , not in DT style , with the nature around us slowly growing back and by the mid-end of the season new harvestables should be available around the world , also maybe a small cabin or too that were undersnow and become accessable late spring-early summer , like why not.. why not ..cmon

[jeffrey.t.sparks]

Another vote for the turning of the seasons in sandbox. Spring Thaw & Melt, Summer Storms, Cold snaps in Autumn. Even a slight lowering of bear/wolf aggro in the warmer months, but up the deer and moose's (mating season!). Canoeing the lakes, swimming, etc.

[sugarland24]

Originally posted by Tyranyd:

Hello everyone.

First things first, this is not a complain nor a wish, just curiosity.

Some time ago Hinterland published a roadmap with the features they'd like to add to this awesome game.

One that, in my opinion, shines above all, are seasons. I would like to know what you guys/girls expect of this, your thoughts about it and all that stuff.

Personally, I imagine seasons lasting +- 90 days, and winter waaaay longer, as it should be. Seasons would allow the respawn of birch, reishi, etc..., all natural plants. It also may change animal patterns (wolves, bears and deers should have their babies, protect them, occupy caves or different areas as a way of prptection, aggresive behaviours etc...).

Weather should also change a bit, of course, and that can be conected to sweat mechanic or something like that (imagine wearing a bearskin coat during summer lol), and would give a different aproach to the game. Iced areas like mystery lake, forlon muskeg could change a bit.

Also, for balance reasons, decay time for food should be changed. Nowadays you can place raw food outside, let it go to 0% then cook it and eat it. Maybe increase the decay time, and make it so when it reaches 0% you can't cook it. That applies only to wild food, some human made food should last a bit longer. This way you would be forced to hunt almost every day, explore, travel to other locations.

Maybe they could add, with the future cooking improvements, a way to make food last longer (not forever). It could be a craftable item, a cooking method, so you can spend your spring/summer/autumn time gathering resources and hunting a bit and be prepared to the rough winter time.

And of course, as time goes on, winter will be harder and harder, and warm seasons would not be as warm.

Those are my thoughts, what do you think about them?

And, if anybody hasn't get it, I love this game, and wouldn't change the core of it, just thinking about that roadmap and what it could bring to the game.

PS: sorry for the mistakes, english isn't my native language

This is the one thing I wish for the most! What I wouldn't give to see the frozen landscape come alive with colors. Green grass, flowers and leaves on the birch trees. I would pay almost ANYTHING for it! A girl can dream, can't she?

[Grym]

Great idea......but just imagine the work needed to retexture almost every bit of outdoors in a different colour theme per season? Let's not think about the raging torrents of water all that melting snow and ice would generate, and the impact that would have on the landscapes.

Maybe only one zone on the edge of the game world gets enough +0 temperatures to grow a bit green around the edges, rather than the whole world?