Hello everyone!
Thanks for your patience while we worked on this update. I realise this has taken a little longer than the previous updates, but it's also a big new feature!
New structure building system
This update introduces only one new part, the theodolite:
If you don't know what a theodolite is, you're not alone. I didn't know what it was either until we added it to the game, but you've probably seem one if you've ever seen engineers surveying a building site. They'll often be aiming one at someone holding a measuring stick.
With the theodolite, you can build structures such as roads, monorails, power lines, water pipes and fuel pipes.
A new contract type has been added that tasks you with connecting different stations using various structures. For example you might be asked to build a water pipe between a reservoir and a habitat. You are, however, free to build structures wherever you like.
Transmitters are now also structures that you need to build yourself instead of discovering. They have a small cost and need to have line-of-site to each other, which brings a new dynamic to exploring the landscape.
The theodolite part is unlocked with the new Scout blueprint (pictured above) which replaces the Buggy blueprint.
New parcels
New road-trip themed parcels have been added:
along with a few more...
Clouds
Did you know that clouds do sometimes occur on Mars? In the interests of being a 100% totally accurate simulation of Mars, they're now in the game too!
Other stuff
We also fixed and tweaked a few things:
- Increased camera zoom.
- The grapple hook now works on terrain by default.
- The fair contracts are now unlocked together with the other areas, giving you more options from the start.
- More accurate map fog.
- Fixed a bug with the wind turbine delivery zone in co-op.
- Various other minor fixes and tweaks.
Future plans
I feel like we've just scratched the surface of where this new system could go. For example I'm thinking it might be nice to integrate rocket refueling with the fuel pipe lines. Perhaps you have to connect stations to the fuel grid before you can refuel at them?
I'd love to hear your ideas of what new structures you'd like to see in the game.
The next update will probably be more incremental improvements and features, based on your feedback, followed by something new next year and then we should be getting close to 1.0!
I hope you enjoy the update!
Ian.