Hey Vidya Poker players!
coolnames here, and do I have a juicy patch for you all!
Optimizations
More than 80% of the code has been rewritten for efficiency and performance. So much of the code was initially 'hacked' together to get functionality working for the sake of time. Logic for scoring, stat tracking, and manipulating the objects on screen have all been boiled down to run fast! Here is an example, green bit on the left is new, red bit on the right is old:
An important step for an Unreal Engine game is the minimization of casting being used. Casting is basically how objects and variables are linked/shared/communicated between one another when using UE's Blueprints. Casting in Vidya Poker has been almost completely removed, increasing performance and benefiting memory use.
Also, many old assets in the project have been culled. Even with the addition of new assets in this patch, the overall install size of the game has been reduced!
Quality Settings for Graphics and Visual Effects
For anyone running the game on Skynet or a potato, and everything in between, you can now select any of four Quality presets to get the game running/looking just the way you like!
At default High, all visuals will have their full, intended fidelity! As you decrease Quality, visual candy is either reduced or removed. Laptop players should now be able to enjoy Vidya Poker at a good framerate!
Quality adjusts the following: fire and ice effects, lighting, space background, space clouds, card electricity effects, fireworks, and several UI elements.
New Stat Tracking
Vidya Poker has been using Steam's stat tracking up until this patch. I have since simplified how stats are tracked to help with adding new content to the game as well as when the game is ported to other platforms.
Because of the change, a player's unlocked customizations they bought with Diamonds are now reset and Diamonds refunded. On your first launch of the game with patch installed, you will see this screen displaying your refunded diamonds:
New Controls
Quality can now be changed on-the-fly by pressing the 'Q' key on the keyboard.
But, the best control additions have to be the new Mouse button mappings:
- Right Click to trigger DEAL/DRAW
- Thumb Button 1 Click to replicate pressing the 'Esc' key on keyboard or the Back button.
- Middle Mouse / Scroll Wheel Click to toggle Auto-Play
Using Right Click to DEAL/DRAW has made the game much faster and intuitive to play, imo. I have been loving playing this way...very fast!
HOLD/HELD Text Looks Better
Text now has a nice contrasting black stroke. Looks much better now!! Nuff Said!
Thank You!
I really appreciate your support while developing this game. More content and tweaks will be coming!! Be well!
PATCH NOTES
Vidya Poker v3.0
6-18-21
STATS:
- New Stat tracking system implemented. All player stats from Steam players are maintained; Spent Diamonds are now REFUNDED when loading the game for the first time. All customization unlocks are reset to default.
- ACHIEVMENTS ➡ New Achievement added for 'Unlocked All Toons'
- ACHIEVMENTS ➡ New Achievement added for 'Unlocked All Toon Skins'
INPUT:
- KEYBOARD ➡ 'Q' Key ➡ Cycles Quality levels.
- MOUSE ➡ Right Click ➡ Triggers DEAL/DRAW button during poker gameplay.
- MOUSE ➡ Thumb 1 Click ➡ Replicates pressing 'Esc' on Keyboard or clicking on the Back button in UI.
- MOUSE ➡ Scroll Wheel Click ➡ Toggles Auto-Play.
UI:
- OPTIONS ➡ VFX Quality combo box added to increase performance on lower end systems and mobile.
- OPTIONS ➡ Screenshots will not be available to the player if Steam/Steam Overlay is NOT running.
- All mention of "Money" is now changed to "Coins"
- Player now has the ability to Reset Gameplay Stats, Coins Stats, and Diamonds Stats, each independently.
- HOLD/HELD text above cards is now 3D with black contrasting bevels.
- Tooltips added for descriptive information for certain UI elements.
- Notification text can now be shown in the top left corner of screen when triggering a Quality or Auto-Play change.
- NEXT and PREV buttons when in customization menus are now disabled when the player is focused on either end of displayed list of items.
- Blur effects for UI elements/background are now affected by Quality setting.
- Attempting to select a card when the player is not able to, the DEAL button text will pulse a red color.
- When the round is over, Pulse the DEAL button yellow.
- Toon uses HOT animation when in the Customize Menu
- Removed 'HIDE' toggle button for Paytable during play.
- Player Stat tracking for most favorite Poker type and Toon now tracked.
- Design for Bankrupt notification has been updated.
SOUND:
- SFX ➡ Ice sound plays when losing a hand in a Cold streak.
- SFX ➡ Counting of Winning Coins AND spending of Diamonds now has varying pitch for a unique feel.
GRAPHICS:
- Toons now have realistic lighting when in High and Med Quality settings.
- Toon now is color tinted depending on Hot / Cold mode player is in.
- On lower quality, change cubemap tint on skysphere when in cold/hot.
OPTIMIZATIONS:
- Removed old UI assets from packaged project.
- On LOW quality, changed all fire VFX to low shader impact version.
- Reduced casting of BPs almost entirely in project.
- When in Hot streak, launch fireworks to the left and right of Hot/Mult text, making them more visible.
BUG FIXES:
- FIXED ➡ Mouse controls are no longer being treated as Touch Input, increasing accuracy and enabling ToolTips to be used for Hover functions.
- FIXED ➡ Cards no longer fall infinitely when falling after Deal/Draw
- FIXED ➡ SFX for payouts of coins/diamonds & when purchasing unlocks now play audio clearly and consistently
- FIXED ➡ Transition time of music tracks between Hot/Cold/Normal has been reduced.
- FIXED ➡ New Player, Game opens in default Windowed mode.
- FIXED ➡ New Players now have the correct default Card Back selected on first play
- FIXED ➡ When returning into gameplay from the Main Menu, when in COLD mode, ice effects are now orientated properly on cards.
- FIXED ➡ SFX for MainMenu button in Pause UI is now functioning properly.
- FIXED ➡ Last selected Toon Skin is now maintained even after changing Toons.