Other than (potentially) one more patch, this will be the final build of Consortium: THE TOWER that uses the UE4.15 engine. The TOWER project at large has long since been moved up to UE4.27 to co-exist with CONSORTIUM VR/Remastered and now shares many heavily updated resources, such as choreo systems, user interface, game mechanics, AI, a brand new save/load system and more.

This updated UE4.27 version of Consortium: THE TOWER is not yet playable yet but when it is ready, it will be coming as “Alpha v2.0”.

SPECIAL NOTE to all CONSORTIUM Remastered / VR players that are interested in continuing their story. We do not recommend proceeding too far past the rooftop of THE TOWER in general, if you do decide to buy and play right now. The roof is indicative of a finished part of the game, but everywhere is in various states of deep incompletion and bugginess.

ALPHA v1.12 of Consortium: THE TOWER fully supports importing Universes from CONSORTIUM VR / Remastered. We also made a few other changes. Because it has been so long since we’ve updated this for you all, we have decided to open up more of what iDGi-1 has managed to map out of the Churchill Tower - seekers can theoretically get as far down as the parking garage now, though it is exceedingly cold and hazardous.

CAUTION: The iDGi-1 signal strength is still very low for most of these new lower Tower areas (though we have forcibly filtered out the visual distortion so that it is possible to navigate these “proto-areas”). Only the most stalwart and determined seeker is invited to go down there…save spheres are rare.

NOTE: Just in case, the old December 2019 build of Alpha 1.11 can still be accessed by opting into the “alphatest” Steam beta (no password required).


RELEASE NOTES

• Supports importing universes from CONSORTIUM VR / Remastered
  
• Updated Main Menu
  
• Fixed a bug that would cause the ISS system to be spammed with “Stop fighting” player dialog choices endlessly, preventing the player from saving their game.
  
• All on-screen HUD icons have been disabled for this build. Reason: it is too cluttered, we think it’s better overall without and will instead be streamlining this system in Alpha 2.0.
  
• Never before seen office complexes and industrial areas around/above/below the C.T.P.F. can now be partially accessed.
  
• More water tunnels have been mapped out and can be accessed.
  
• The parking garage can now technically be reached, but be warned - iDGi-1 signal strength is exceedingly bad down there right now.
  
• Completely removed the functionality of the broken NewsWire panels for now until they have finished content.

Greet1ng2 Seekers,

Wit2 th1s year’s massive solstice iDGi-1 signal boost, the CONSORTIUM VR / Remastered project is now juuuust about complete. Brand new Consortium King convo, finished briefing, tutorials. Major fixes, completely finished choreography, new music.

We just released V0.1.24! Now available to all players of CVR Beta Early Access and CONSORTIUM Remastered Playtest. Here is the complete changelist: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1428880/view/3864716013041789752

The release of this Beta playtest update (CVR Beta Early Access and CONSORTIUM Remastered Playtest) is basically the signal of the start of the FINAL Beta Test phase. Further patches will largely be only for last minute tweaks, fixe2, music 1mprovements and finishing the very very ending. We can now confidently say that –


For 14 years or so since it originally came on-line, iDGi-1 has been revealing more and more of a world that is, in some ways, a bright mirror to our own; an aspirational world, but some terrifying events have been chronicled in the CONSORTIUM and TOWER streams. How does it all end? It may still take awhile longer, but we simply will not stop until the TOWER stream is completed.

We once again thank everyone that reads this who continues to be patient with our long and drawn out project timelines. We sincerely wish each and every one of you a relaxing and peaceful holiday season.

Can we ALL somehow find a way to make it collectively through 2024 in one piece?!

Namaste,

–iDGi[idgi1.ca]

–iDGi on Discord[discord.gg]

“Sometimes you can find peace of mind by transferring yourself to different situations. They're just reminders to stay ... calm.”
—Yves Behar

"It's one world, pal. We're all neighbors"
—Frank Sinatra

To all current owners of CONSORTIUM (2014) on Steam: You will be automatically gifted CONSORTIUM Remastered when we take it out of Beta.

1) Right click on CONSORTIUM 2014 and click "Properties"
2) Click on Betas
3) Enter the following password into the field: 4Owners0fCons0rtium0nly

Come let us know what you think in the iDGi Discord server[discord.gg]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2380550/CONSORTIUM_Remastered/

CONSORTIUM Remastered fully supports a much wider range of PC setups, controllers, Steamdeck and V.O.I.C.E: You can play through the entire story by literally talking out loud and making friends (or enemies) with Consortium’s diverse cast of characters.


Today we are also announcing that we have decided to make the CONSORTIUM VR Beta available on Steam VR via Early Access. Just like the flat-screen Remastered edition, we have added many new elements to the game, along with improvements planned over the Early Access period. Please checkout the store page and read the Early Access description for more details!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1428880/CONSORTIUM_VR/

If you want to try out CVR for free, and you have a Quest 2, search for CONSORTIUM VR in the Quest store and use the “Try Before You Buy” feature to play for 30 minutes.

We hope to see you all in the iDGi Discord server![discord.gg]

Namaste,

--iDGi[idgi1.ca]

“Our imagination is the only limit to what we can hope to have in the future.”
― Charles Kettering

Happy 21 day everyone,

Earth Day is almost here. A day where we celebrate our shared home, planet Earth, and its incredible beauty and diversity. Let's take a moment to appreciate the natural wonders that surround us and commit to nurturing our environment for future generations. Here's to a brighter, healthier, and more eco-friendly world!


Consortium: THE TOWER remains an active project at iDGi. The Early Access 4.15 build, available on Steam since late 2019, signifies the completion of Phase One of production. While the development process has been lengthy and complex, our original vision for THE TOWER has not changed. Please checkout the following post for more information on our motivations and plans as a company moving forward:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/626250/discussions/0/3829791007686976119/


We are nearing completion of CONSORTIUM VR / Remastered, bringing us closer to commencing Phase Two of Consortium: THE TOWER's production. We have begun integrating the latest CONSORTIUM VR / Remastered features and content into THE TOWER, with plans to release "Alpha 2.0" later this year.

As a result of this effort, Consortium: THE TOWER will now fully support V.R. and V.O.I.C.E. This means that THE TOWER will eventually be coming to Quest and other VR platforms, and the Steam build will soon natively support V.R. (no extra cost to Steam owners).

The transition between engines UE 4.15 and 4.27 involves significant changes, requiring a substantial amount of time to ensure everything functions correctly. We anticipate that THE TOWER will be released as a UE5 title, but to achieve this, we must first ensure compatibility with UE4 4.27.
Lastly on THE TOWER front, we’d like to share a first glimpse of a choreographed scene in Consortium: THE TOWER, showcasing a little bit of our progress thus far.

Finally, we have a small surprise for you all... Now that V.O.I.C.E. is "out of the bag", we have decided to make the backer build of THE TOWER available for everyone. That means that anyone can play with the prototype version of V.O.I.C.E. in Consortium: THE TOWER right now. Simply ensure that your Default Mic is on, and you can literally speak dialog lines rather than punch keys.

Namaste,

--iDGi[idgi1.ca]

“Our imagination is the only limit to what we can hope to have in the future.”
― Charles Kettering

Happy 21 day to all!


Please free feel to help share the following announce trailer video far and wide across the internet:

We will be sharing our Beta to the public via the Meta Quest 2 [www.oculus.com] AppLab on February 21st. We are new to VR and want to carefully ease into this brand new market. We aim to ensure that we address all core player concerns during our final polishing rounds.

When CONSORTIUM VR graduates out of Beta later this year, we will be releasing v1.0 right here on Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1428880/CONSORTIUM_VR

The PCVR build will be largely similar to the Quest 2 build, but with the addition of a bunch of graphical options such as volumetric clouds, fully dynamic lights and shadows, amped up particles, etc.


To all of you folks that bought here on Steam that are reading this in frustration: We truly are genuinely sorry that we’ve had to take such a drastic detour from updating Consortium: THE TOWER (The Tower) here on Steam. In exchange for this long wait, future builds of The Tower will be directly receiving many benefits thanks to the CONSORTIUM VR project. This includes features that go beyond what we originally promised backers back in 2016. This means:

-Full V.O.I.C.E. support. You will be able to use your own voice to conduct dialog in The Tower - zero button pressing.
-Full native V.R support. The Tower will now be coming to VR as well as flat-screen.
-Massively improved combat A.I., FX, inventory systems and general GUI.
-Most of the Virtual Trainer content of CONSORTIUM VR, including the VT editor and mod tools

Finally, if you’re a Steam Tower owner/player that is feeling ignored/abandoned, please hop into our Discord server[discord.gg] and ask for the “Tower Steam Owner” role - you will receive a special icon next to your name and receive special perks and future sneak-preview builds of The Tower, just like Tower backers currently do.

More info about V.O.I.C.E and about CONSORTIUM VR will be coming over the next few weeks. Until then, it’s back to the dev caves for us!

Namaste,

--iDGi[idgi1.ca]

“Want to change the world? Upset the status puo? This takes more than run-of-the-mill relationships. You need to make people dream the same dream that you do.”
– Guy Kawasaki

Happy 21 day everyone,


The Announce Trailer for our VR INTERACTIVE CINEMA[www.idgi1.ca] production is getting close to done. The front-end is feeling pretty good now. Credits are almost done. We’ve been continually testing, fixing and polishing the whole thing, but with a particular emphasis on on the ending and beginning.

Today marks 2 years since we’ve started updating you all each and every month on the 21st. It’s also been just over a decade since we first revealed the initial glimpse of CONSORTIUM. Here is a very brief look of our game development efforts over all this time.

Wait for a never before seen glimpse of Consortium: THE TOWER’s Act 2 at the end.

With a bit of luck, we’ll be releasing the Announce Trailer before the December holidays and you’ll all finally realize what we’ve accomplished for VR and how it relates to THE TOWER…

To all of you in the USA, we wish you a wonderful thanksgiving!

Namaste,

--iDGi[idgi1.ca]

“Imagination allows you to think of the journey worth making. Motivation gets you started. But, it’s patience and perseverance that get you there.”
– Ernie J Zelinksi

Happy 21ish day everyone,


Our VR INTERACTIVE CINEMA[www.idgi1.ca] production has now technically, FINALLY reached early BETA! However – contrary to what we told you last month, we still aren’t ready to let new playtesters in just yet. We’re a very small team and can only move so fast and work on so much at one time.

We’ve been working on things like the game ending, credits, the front-end and the announce teaser trailer video. Once this video is ready, we’ll properly announce the project and make our store pages live! THEN we’ll let in the first wave of beta testers…

Here’s a new little glimpse of something else we’ve been working on via iDGi-1:



Calling all VR game streamers!

We are now actively looking for no more than 21 folks who are into streaming VR games, with the only requirement being that said streamer must have an audience of at least 100 subscribers. A mixed reality setup using Liv would be ideal!

Everyone chosen will be gifted a DEMO copy of our VR INTERACTIVE CINEMA[www.idgi1.ca] game. Streamers will get the first chance to put on a performance for their audience unlike any they’ve ever done (we promise!). You will also be the first to experience what we hope will be seen as a brand new genre of VR game.

Twitch streamers will get the chance to play with our game’s unique Twitch integration that we’ve taken to calling “Breaking The Fifth Wall”.

Hop into our Discord[discord.gg] and let us know if you are a VR game steamer (Meta Quest 2 and/or PCVR), or know someone that may be interested. Or, perhaps reach out to your favourite streamer and plead with them to get on our list. ;-)

To be considered for the “VR INTERACTIVE CINEMA Streamer List of 21”, simply shoot an email to support@interdimensionalgames.com with the subject line “VR INTERACTIVE CINEMA Streamer List of 21”. Please include in your email a link to your channel where you do VR streaming (Twitch page, YouTube channel, etc).

So what exactly IS VR Interactive Cinema, you ask? Use your imagination and you just might not be too far off…

Once again until next month, it’s back to the dev caves with us!

Namaste,

--iDGi[idgi1.ca]

“War, except in self-defense, is a failure of moral imagination”
– Bill Moyers

21212121 212121,

212121:

212121 2121 21212121, 212121 2121 21212121 2121 21 2121 2121.

212121 2121…

21,

--iDGi[idgi1.ca]

“21212121 2121 212121 2121, 21 2121212121 2121 2121!”
– 212121 21 2121212121

Greetings 212121s,

Today, we have a continuation of some technical details of the C-3800 Consortium Command vessel.

We are happy to report that if things keep going well, within a handful of weeks we will finally reach the early Beta stage of both SKUs of our VR Interactive Cinema experience[www.idgi1.ca] ( Meta Quest 2 and PCVR ). This means that the entire VR Interactive Cinema experience is poised to be playable from beginning to end, is largely feature complete and only requires more polish and testing.

Until next month, peace and love to you all!

It’s back to work for us...

Namaste,

--iDGi[idgi1.ca]

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
– Harriet Tubman