The Level Editor is LIVE!!!!

http://z6.invisionfree.com/Dark_Castle_Forum/index.php?showtopic=1851

Not a hoax, so jump in, enjoy yourself, and try out the first levelset:

http://z6.invisionfree.com/Dark_Castle_Forum/index.php?showtopic=1853


Happy weekend!

Dark Castle stays in top 50 on app store 2 days in a row

Hey! Return to Dark Castle just got in the top 50 Top Paid Games on the Mac OS App store in it's 2nd day! Thanks everyone! - MSP

Taken from SHFF's Twitter account.

Return to Dark Castle 1.4 on app store!

LINK

$4.99, too. Careful of the screenshots though, they contain spoilers.

No sign of the level editor, PC version, or iOS port, but a step at a time.

2009 article mentioning DC3 iPhone

LINK

This obviously didn't make it out in time for 2010, but who knows the status of it now.

And another tweet from MSP

Tweet: Still waiting on Apple's review/release of DC3 for OSX. Hoping for a good response so we can start providing updates. Bunches of ideas.

Release updates to us early adopters while you wait!

2 More Tweets from SHFF

First: Return to Dark Castle back @ Apple.

Second: Cool news soon... are there other platforms ...

The first one probably has to due with apple approving DC3 with the app store, the second is anyone's guess, it could not have anything to do with Dark Castle, though it is the 3rd tweet in a row, and the first two are Dark Castle related.

Return to Dark Castle heading to the App Store

So it's been confirmed that Return to Dark Castle will be heading to the app store via a tweet by SHFF which can be seen here:

http://twitter.com/SHFF/status/32975713971740673

I am going to assume this is just the Mac version, and not a iOS version, though who knows, it could surprise me.

Say goodbye to eSellerate!

Regarding DC3's DRM

I know many have complained about the harsh DRM (Copy Protection) that Return to Dark Castle uses, and it seems that now SuperHappyFunFun may have heard you too. MSP has said that they are looking into the DRM, saying it "Should only need to connect to the internet once a month." Players know that it tries to connect every time the program launches, which is extremely harsh. So, this isn't a confirmation, but it could be leading to some good news.

SuperHappyFunFun starts twitter account

SuperHappyFunFun has now opened a Twitter account, which should help the community stay in contact with what SHFF is doing, provided they keep it updated.

LINK

How coincidental, I was just talking about this earlier today...

1.3.1 out for real this time

Okay, Return to Dark Castle version 1.3.1 is now out, and can be downloaded by anyone. It contains all the previously mentioned fixes. It can be found here at this link:

LINK

There seems to be a recording problem with the update... Don't worry. All the replays should run fine now, all the ones that have been recorded in 1.3.1 that is. No more out of sync. However, if you try to record, cancel, and record again, it seems to quit. Hopefully this will be fixed soon, in the mean time, try out all the other changes.

Apparently version 1.4 is already in the works, though it could be a while 'till we see it, and who knows what it might contain.

Now, about that Level Editor....

1.3 out... with a catch....

Return to Dark Castle 1.3 is out, BUT, there's currently a catch... it's only out for new buyers, and I am told that a patch is almost here.

In the meantime I got to try out the patch:

It feels as though the game is a lot more like the originals. Random items are welcome, along with lots of little tweaks here are there. Overall, I didn't quite so much like the consolidation of files, as it can be a bit harder for new users to find their saves, recordings and such. But the enhanced movement tracking completely makes up for it, as the game now feels as tight as the originals, and there no more missed jumps to be blamed on the game.

In the end, it's a patch, so there's not a lot to say, other then a feature list, so, as it is fun, I am more looking forward to the level editor.

Demo Version 1.3

Okay, so I know everyone is as tired of waiting as I am, but in the mean time, the demo linked to at SHFF has been updated to version 1.3, and includes all the below listed changes and more, I know it's only a demo, but it's worth checking out if you're bored.

LINK

Return to Dark Castle 1.3 - Coming VERY soon!

Change list:

1.3
• Fixed control responsiveness (keyboard & mouse)
• Fixed replay recording and playback
• Fixed water buckets freeze in observatory
• Fixed hero facing direction after pulling a chain
• Classic Gameplay Changes
° Random Items (rocks, elixirs, food, poison)
° More aggressive snakes
° Faster gargoyles
° Food only restores 50% health
° Slide into dungeons looses health
° Bombed guards don't respawn
° Randomized river logs
° Wizard and Witch kill you if you haven't picked up the orb
° Hero explodes if trying to carry two orbs
• Easier Novice Mode
° Start with 5 lives / Maximum of 12
° Less aggressive enemies
° Fewer traps & hazards
• New Features
° Replays have no recording size limit
° Replays can be paused during recording and playback
° Replays can fast-forward by pressing the right arrow key or caps-lock key
° Replays can skip rooms by pressing the down arrow key
• Files and folders are stored in Application Support folder by default
• Other misc. bug fixes.

Sounds good to me, let me know what you think!

Two "lates" don't make an "on time" (First official review)

Alright, so I missed this news story by a few days, but in context, the site missed the game's release window, by a month or so.

Anyways, here is the first non-user review of Return to Dark Castle on the web, feel free to agree, or disagree with it.

LINK

Update: "Tomorrow's News"

Now, after yesterday's news flash, the news finally came.

Sadly, the game is not out. BUT before you start screaming and breaking things, that doesn't mean that nothing has happened.

Zack Black and SuperHappyFunFun have brought us the 'first' Return to Dark Castle trailer, and good gosh, it's amazing, so without spoiling anything more, I shall link you:

LINK

Enjoy!

P.S. If you would like to discuss it, feel free to visit this forum topic:

LINK

*ANNOUNCEMENT* Big news tomorrow, possible release!

News, news, news, news!

It's been a while since we heard from Zack Black, or Zack Morris for that matter, but this afternoon, Zack Black posted on the forum, mentioning a release date, but not speaking more then that. Additionally, he hinted that the final copy of the game has been sent to SHFF.

Don't throw anything at the computer screen yet, because later he posted a new topic, hinting at a "surprise" tomorrow, which will be a friday, and the first day of February.

First Forum Topic:

LINK

Second forum Topic:

LINK

Keep your eyes on this space!

My first encounter with Zack Black, Chat saved, now posted

I've been meaning to post this for a while, it's the original chat I had with Zack Black, sometime before I started the forum I think. Keep in mind that this may be outdated as it is almost a year old.

It can be found here:

LINK

They are still working on it..

Now, due to people blowing their top over from news that ends up not being as soon as it sounds, take this with a warning attached: Don't get to hyped up, it will lead to disappointment.

Blah blah, now that that is overwith...

Zack Morris:

"we ran into a bit of a bug we are working on today

it's minor, but we can't reproduce it, so hafta send version to SHFF and get responses till it's fixed

there are literally like 2-3 bugs left

and we are in final talks now about distribution and payments and stuff

can't go into details tho, but feel free to tell the forum

and sorry about the web page, we'd update it, but just don't have anything new to report

zack talks to SHFF about every day no

the last month has basically been explaining bugs and gameplay decisions to SHFF and checking them off their beta testing system

there have been some holdups, mostly becase SHFF is more about marketing and we are more software engineers

I'm 90% sure it will come out this fall

if it were up to zack and I, I'd say 99.9%, but SHFF has the final say"

Return to Dark Castle Beta 12.

I FINALLY GOT IT! Here you guys go:

LINK

Zack Black Speakith.

 SHFF closed out all the issues regarding the gameplay or graphics changes today except for a few small things I'll be looking at this week. If they're read, then we should have the intel build of the demo posted any day now.

:)