Time (or time of day depending on the version being played) is a mechanic first introduced as part of the 2.5 update, titled Survival of the Pack: Deluxe Edition.[1] The feature was a winning entry for the new ideas contest as decided by the community in a poll run by the WolfQuest Team.[2]
In WolfQuest: Anniversary Edition, time returns as a dynamic element, continually flowing naturally in the background while the player's wolf roams through the Yellowstone wilderness. Unlike its predecessors, time cannot be directly controlled anymore; only through sleeping can the hours be manipulated.
Unlike its predecessors, the Anniversary edition ties time with a hidden in-game calendar used to control seasons.
In WolfQuest: Classic, the feature hasn't changed too much from the previous free versions. Once again it is a static element, and there are still four time of day states that occur when triggered by the player:
- Dawn
- Day
- Dusk
- Night
In Legacy versions, time is static, meaning it doesn't flow naturally over the course of the game.
Time has no effect on NPCs or their behavior. During single-player, the player chooses when time advances by pressing the Z key and selecting one of four predefined hours of the day. Time can only be 'controlled' of sleeping. In multiplayer however, time could only be determined by the game host; sleeping is disabled, meaning time may only be defined once per session. A session restart (defined as ending the game, then configuring and starting a new session) would be required to change it again.
Gallery[]
Anniversary Edition Gallery
Contributions for Time in the Anniversary Edition are welcome in this gallery! Try to use clear weather conditions for the best clarity.
This version features two versions of the Lost River game map.
Lost River (Anniversary Edition) Gallery
This article documents add-on content distributed via computer DLC and mobile in-app purchases.
This is paid content. |
This gallery is composed of screenshots from the modernised Lost River map.
Lost River (Classic) Gallery
This gallery is composed of screenshots from the original Lost River, now dubbed Lost River (Classic). This revision was ported from Classic 2.7 into the Anniversary Edition engine.
Contributions for Time in Classic are welcome in this gallery!
Contributions for Time in Legacy versions are welcome in this gallery!
Mobile[]
It isn't currently known whether dynamic time will be supported in the mobile port for the Anniversary Edition.
“ | Are you guys changing the skybox and adding a daylight cycle?
Despite the issues I described in this blog post, we very much want to add a continuous day/night cycle, at least to the PC/Mac version of the game. It adds so much to immersion, and since our game levels last months, it’ll help convey that passage of time. And with the new lighting system we’re using, sunset and sunrise are just gorgeous. But there’s a good chance it just won’t work on mobile, and that (along with other factors) may well force is to split multiplayer into separate PC and mobile lobbies. |
” |
pending
Legacy versions are not available on mobile devices.
Trivia[]
- Time was suggested in the big ideas contest under the name "Weather and Time", categorized as a Game Enhancement idea. It was submitted by forum member Exiah, who won the Grand Prize category. She and a guardian attended a meeting with Eduweb to discuss the submitted game idea as part of a free trip to Minnesota.
- The subject of dynamic time of day features was raised early in 2.7 development. While it may be possible for the computer version of the game, it may not be feasible for the tablet versions due to varying device specifications and, respectively, possible limitations.
- By the time of release in late 2015, it was clear that dynamic time would not make an appearance in 2.7; all platforms utilize it as a static/fixed element.
- It would later debut in the Anniversary Edition remake.
Anniversary Edition Trivia
- The first indications of dynamic time were seen (albeit very subtly) in the Hydration and Something New on the WolfQuest Menu Mule Deer! teasers.
- It is currently unknown whether this change will be carried over into the mobile editions or if they will retain use of skyboxes and static time due to device limitations.
- A full day (24 hour cycle) takes approximately 65 minutes in real time.[4]
- A full, uninterrupted sleep cycle advances time by 8 in-game hours.[5]
- If sleeping in the Fixed Schedule sleep mode in multiplayer, a nap may take longer than the usual 8 hour period.
- Sleeping inside a den will always cause the player to have a dream.
Classic Trivia
- Elk bugling and planes tracking wolves equipped with a radio collar may occur in any map at any time of the day.
Classic and Legacy Trivia
- The same skybox assets used in the cattle ranch appear to have been reused to some extent in Lost River's midnight time of day setting, albeit with pre-rendered terrain overlays.
- At night, the sound of owls hooting and crickets chirping can be heard. Sometimes, coyotes' yowls and distant wolf packs' howling can also be heard.
- During the day/afternoon, birdsong is most prominent.
References & External Links[]
- ↑ wolfquest.org • WolfQuest 2.5: Survival of the Pack Deluxe is released!
- ↑ The contest entry topic, posted on June 28th 2010: wolfquet.org • The Big Ideas poll for the WolfQuest 2.5 Design Contest. The winning entries, posted July 12th 2010: wolfquest.org • The results for the 2.5 Design Contest are in!
- ↑ Questions About Other Enhancements, cited from wolfquest.org • FAQs about WolfQuest 3: Anniversary Edition.
- ↑ This was observed simply through playtesting, and watching the sun move through the sky, and timing it until it reaches the same spot.
- ↑ This can be observed in game, since after doing 3 full naps, the sun is always exactly at the same position, hence a 24 hour time period. 24/3 = 8, therefore a full sleep cycle advances time by 8 in-game hours.
Environment | ||
---|---|---|
Game World | Birds • Insects • Seasons • Time • Vegetation • Weather | |
Technical | Skybox • Time • Weather |
Technical | ||
---|---|---|
Configuration | Graphics Quality • Launcher • Shaders | |
Features | Accounts • Achievements • Age perks • Customization • Elder wolf • Experience points • Friends • Human Impacts • Multiplayer • Pack • Rest • Sleep | |
Game Files | Add-ons • Audio • Models • Music • Textures | |
Game Mechanics | Affinity • AI • Auto-save • Companionship • Death • Difficulty • Fondness • Scent view • Spawners • Weather | |
Interactive | Animations • Carcass • Courtship (Anniversary) • Den sites • Emotes • NPCs • Hunting • Map • Pack Rally • Rendezvous sites • Social arena (Classic/Legacy) • Time • Zones | |
Interfaces | User Interfaces • Heads-up Display • Pack Stats (Legacy/Classic) • Pack Info (Anniversary) • Tutorial | |
Miscellaneous | Bugs and Glitches • Cheats • Development builds • Developer shortcuts • Skybox • Troubleshooting | |
Operating Systems | Linux • Macintosh • Windows • IOS • Android • Kindle • Storefronts | |
Versions | Legacy (1.1.0-2.5.1) • Classic (2.7.X) • 10th Anniversary Update history • Hidden updates |