Hey Survivors! Welcome to the latest edition of the Community Crunch!

The Community Crunch is where we share important things going on with ARK, as well as host contests and showcase creations made by the community! Let's get started with some news.

PS4 Sale!

ARK's first ever PlayStation Sale is live right now! PS Plus Members can grab the Survivor's Pack for 20% off this weekend. Pick up your copy for yourself or a copy for a friend today!

No Taming Servers!

In addition to the No Taming servers on PC, we've just launched some new experimental Official Servers on Xbox and PS4! These are a bit different to our standard servers as they do not allow players to tame, ride, or breed creatures. ARK has a lot of core survival elements to it, and we wanted to see how players would find playing the game without the help of their trusty tames. Of course, this doesn't mean we're moving to a non-dino focused environment, it's just another customisation we've introduced for everyone. So give it a go, let us know what you think!

Console Features:

100 Players

No Taming

Boosted Harvesting and EXP Rates! (2x rates of normal -- so with the Evolution Event, it's pretty much 6x OLD-ARK!)

Titanosaur has been removed

Auto Turrets have been removed

Difficulty Level is currently set to 2.0

Tribes are limited to 10 players

Isolated Cluster

50% Higher Base Weight and 50% increase per level too

No alliances

So we're interested in the dynamic that this experiment brings, please keep in mind that it is EXPERIMENTAL so there's a chance that the servers do not stay online / saved data could be wipe -- though our intention is to keep it online!

To find the server, just search for this in your server filter: NoTamingExperiment

Valentine's Day Event!

As a reminder, the ARK Valentine's Day Event is currently live across all of our Official Server Network until February 20th! The Valentine's Day event adds these additional features:

Dinos have a 5% chance to drop a Box of Chocolate when they mate. Box of Chocolates can be used for a Full-Heal or to advance 50% of a Taming Dino's Bar

New Unlockable Facial & Head Hairstyles (via craftable Items), for Male & Female

New Unlockable "Heart" Emote

Servers can launch with "-vday" to get (extra): 2x Mateboost Range, 3x Mating Speed/Mating Recovery, 3x Baby/Egg Maturation Speed, 1/3rd Baby Food Consumption

ARK: Evolution Event Weekend!

Survivors across ALL Platforms will be receiving a special Evolution Event perk this weekend! It's already live now and will remain active until Monday the 20th at 12PM EST. All Official Servers will be undergoing this evolutionary change which includes:

1.5x Harvesting Rate

1.5x Taming Rate

1.5x EXP Rate

Reminder: this 1.5x bonus is on top of the 2x rates that are now standard on our official servers!

Community Contests!

Player Procedurally Generated Maps!

The Procedurally Generated Map system allows players to make their own ARK maps by determining a myriad of landscape options from the heights of mountains, depths of valleys, and the number of lakes, rivers or oceans, to the kinds of each biome they want, and more! Let's check out the entries for this weeks contest! This week's contest winner is...

Lost Lands by Wolf Angelus!

PGMapName=LostLands PGTerrainPropertiesString=MapSeed=212;LandscapeRadius=1.0;Water Frequency=4.7;Mountains Frequency=7.0;Mountains Slope=2.04;MountainsHeight=1.92;Turbulence Power=0.0125;Shore Slope=1.0;WaterLevel=-0.72;GrassDensity=1.0;JungleGrassDensity=0.05;ErosionSteps=4;TreesGroundSlopeAccuracy=0.5;DepositionStrength=0.5;ErosionStrength=0.75;OceanFloorLevel=-1.0;SnowBiomeSize=0.15;RWBiomeSize=0.12;MountainBiomeStart=-0.35;MountainsTreeDensity=0.06;JungleBiomeStart=-0.65;IslandBorderCurveExp=4.0;MaxSawnPointHeight=0.2;SnowGrassDensity=0.25;MountainGrassDensity=0.007;SnowMountainGrassDensity=0.15;UnderwaterObjectsDensity=0.5;SnowMountainsTreeDensity=0.03;TreeDensity=0.005;JungleTreeDensity=0.55;RedWoodTreeDensity=0.031;SnowTreeDensity=1.2;RedwoodGrassDensity=0.07;ShoreTreeDensity=0.32;SnowShoreTreeDensity=0.04;DeepWaterBiomesDepth=-0.24;InlandWaterObjectsDensity=0.5;ShorelineStartOffset=0.01;ShorelineThickness=0.015;MountainGeneralTreesPercent=0.15;TerrainScaleMultiplier=(X=1.0f,Y=1.0f,Z=1.0f);SnowBiomeLocation=(X=0.7f,Y=0.7f);RWForestBiomeLocation=(X=0.35f,Y=0.35f);NorthRegion1Start=(X=0.25f,Y=0.0f);NorthRegion1End=(X=0.416f,Y=0.5f);NorthRegion2Start=(X=0.416f,Y=0.0f);NorthRegion2End=(X=0.582f,Y=0.5f);NorthRegion3Start=(X=0.582f,Y=0.0f);NorthRegion3End=(X=0.75f,Y=0.0f);SouthRegion1Start=(X=0.25f,Y=0.5f);SouthRegion1End=(X=0.416f,Y=1.0f);SouthRegion2Start=(X=0.416f,Y=0.5f);SouthRegion2End=(X=0.582f,Y=1.0f);SouthRegion3Start=(X=0.582f,Y=0.5f);SouthRegion3End=(X=0.75f,Y=1.0f);EastRegion1Start=(X=0.75f,Y=0.0f);EastRegion1End=(X=1.0f,Y=0.333f);EastRegion2Start=(X=0.75f,Y=0.333f);EastRegion2End=(X=1.0f,Y=0.666f);EastRegion3Start=(X=0.75f,Y=0.666f);EastRegion3End=(X=1.0f,Y=1.0f);WestRegion1Start=(X=0.0f,Y=0.0f);WestRegion1End=(X=0.25f,Y=0.333f);WestRegion2Start=(X=0.0f,Y=0.333f);WestRegion2End=(X=0.25f,Y=0.666f);WestRegion3Start=(X=0.0f,Y=0.666f);WestRegion3End=(X=0.25f,Y=1.0f)

If you'd like to learn more about PGMs, please check out our quick start guide:

NVidia Ansel Photography Contest

Super Resolution Version: http://images.nvidia.com/ansel/SuperResolution/ARK-SuperResolution1/ARK__Survival_Evolved_HighRes_2016_09_01_-_14_38_36_55.html

ARK: Survival Evolved and the Scorched Earth Expansion Pack now include support for NVIDIA Ansel -- a revolutionary new way to capture in-game shots. Compose shots from any position, adjust with post-process filters, capture HDR images in high-fidelity formats, and share the screenshots in 360 via a smartphone, PC or VR headset.

Learn more about these features from the NVIDIA blog.

Now let’s get to the contest!

There were 3 potential categories for survivors to enter their shots into and they were the following:

Three Categories

Super Resolution: These should be taken at 8x Super Resolution. Players can optionally use Depth of Field effects accessible in Spectator mode by pressing the [Delete] key.

Panoramic 360 Stereoscopic 3D: These should be taken at 4x Super Resolution, in 360 Stereoscopic 3D mode. We will crop them to 2D for web display, while also providing the 3D version for viewing within VR display.

Freeform: Any settings, whacky and creative use of Ansel filters are encouraged. Adding humorous titles/captions in Photoshop is also acceptable for this category!

And now without further ado, here are your entries!

You’ll want to click on the image title to be able to download the maximum size image, we’ve resized them for display purposes

Super Resolution!

Winners!

Wolf Angelus - Renaissance Fair

AsH - LoVely palms

Runners Up!

FataL1ty - Casual Stroll

Pollti - Ruins on Cragg's Island

EXFIB0 - Caves

Honourable Mentions!

Wolf Angelus - Library

AsH - Bronto Hugs

FataL1ty - Advance!

EXFIB0 - Rotated

EXFIB0 - Redwood Waterfall

Wolf Angelus - On Patrol

FataL1ty - Deadeye

Wolf Angelus - Jousting Arena

FataL1ty - Scorching of the Earth

FataL1ty - Alpha

FataL1ty - Feed

Panoramic 360 Stereoscopic 3D!

Winner!

FataL1ty - Life and Death

Honourable Mentions!

FataL1ty - Den of Beasts

FataL1ty - Plane

EXFIB0 - Carno Island

Wolf Angelus - Library

Freeform!

Winner!

Wolf Angelus - Something is Not Quite Right....

Honourable Mentions!

EXFIB0 - The Island

FataL1ty - Just Chilling

MRRadioactiv - Swimming with Megapiranhas

ARKVideo!

This contest is open to all types of video be they funny, epic, scenic, stories, whatever inspires you. Just a general reminder that they should remain safe for work, think of the children!

And without further ado, the ARKVideo for Community Crunch 84 is...

WILD WEST QUICKDRAW - ARK Skits by Lame Wolf Productions

ARKitect!

This is an award given to Survivors to celebrate the amazing structures you build. These bases are judged based upon a number of different factors such as their creativity, uniqueness, how fun of a base it is, the difficulty of building it, the functionality it provides and much more!

The ARKitect for Community Crunch 84 is…

Command and conquer (Red ARKlert 2) by Valoule!

If you'd like to check out the submissions from the rest of the entrants, you can do so here:

Fan Feature!

THE EIFFEL TOWER BUILD!!- Ark Building Montage Monday EP 18 by RYANT1UM

ARK Castaway to Saving Private Yody! - ARK Annunaki Genesis Ep. 4 by Yodysseus IV

Pterosaur Educational Special - Pteranodon, Tapejar And Quetzalcoatlus [11] by Shredder

HAIR STYLING | ARK Survival Evolved by GP

The Stable - Equus Prep!! Ep18 : Gaming Evolved by Arahli The Geek

Love Birds - A Valentine's Day Short - ARK: Survival Evolved by Alexis Arcade

Blue Giga Tame !! - Pooptopia Annunaki - S3E17 - Ark Survival by kortniechan Gaming

HUGE TEK TIER BASE RAID | ARK SURVIVAL EVOLVED by The Axe Man

Redwoods Cabin II :: Ark House Building Tutorial :: How To Build An A-Frame Cabin :: UTC Build Guide by UniteTheClans

A Day on Iso Crystal Isles Map - Ark Survival Evolved Mod Spotlight by MeeMaw TheGeekyGranny

NSK's ARK (醉熊记) - The Achatina Song by NSK Videos

Ark Survival Evolved - Modded Volcano Map - Welcome To The DBC! - DBC S1 E1 by No Rush Gaming

THE INVINCIBLE SNAIL - Rise of the Achatina (Episode 2) by Lame Wolf Productions

Spinosaur by Akhoris



Source: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=865680466

Pachyrhinosaurus by Akhoris



Source: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=863589488

Condiment Pals by Cupcake



Source: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=864196631

Dodo Aboriginal by Rosalila



Source: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=863626371

Mother Dodo by Rosalila



Source: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=863820811

Sleepy Azae by Violet



Source: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=864143061

Tala: New ARK OC by TheMightySaurus



Source: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=860621487

Reaver by NutterButter



Source: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=864393903

DodoRex Sketch by Senyor DootNoots



Source: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=862570891

One of my old drawings by mateaperic51



Source: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=863358878

Concept Art by NeroLokin



P.Noctis, S.Saevabellum and B.Prudentia by Kaprodonychus



Source: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=865000372

One Piece Evolved by GEonWAR



Source: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=864727499

Aladdin: Sultan's Palace by Wolf Angelus



Primal Jungle Pachyrhinosaurus by Sharkcat



Source: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=860979331

That's it for this post guys! As always if you’ve got anything to share please get in touch and be sure to follow us on:

Twitter: twitter.com/survivetheark

Facebook: facebook.com/survivetheark

Reddit: reddit.com/r/playark

Instagram: instagram.com/survivetheark

Much love,

Wildcard Jen & the ARK: Survival Evolved Team