Hello everyone! I am in fact still alive and working on this game, and it's time for another update :). Sorry for the long wait times.
The primary new feature in this update is the updated Tank AI. There are several new options related to dodging bullets and approaching the player on line of sight included, which the default tanks now use. There are also miscellaneous improvements to tank AI that hopefully results in fewer silly moments like tanks shooting bullets toward nowhere repeatedly.
What's new in Tanks v1.5.2:
- Improved and adjusted tank AI
- Added new 'Bullet avoid type' to tank customization
- Added 'Sidewind' and 'Backwind' sight behavior
- Bug fixes and other minor improvements
The new bullet avoidance types are the following:
- Intersect - this is the old AI. The tank will move away from the intersection of a bullet's path with a box around the tank. It is used by more primitive tanks. This is less good than the others at keeping the tank alive and is thus used for the more primitive tanks.
- Back off - the tank will move away from bullets, and may back into corners. This is used by black tanks.
- Dodge - the tank will move away from bullets at an angle. This is more accurate, and used by dark green, light pink, mimic, purple, and white tanks.
- Aggressive dodge - the tank will move toward incoming bullets at an angle. This is used by orange and angry light pink tanks.
A new option to seek open spaces has also been added to tanks. This makes tanks try to navigate towards open spaces when threatened by a farther away bullet. Black, light pink (not angry), mimic, orange, purple, and white tanks use this.
The new on-sight behaviors of tanks are as follows:
- Sidewind - the tank will zig-zag in towards the player, used by angry light pink tanks
- Backwind - the tank will zig-zag away from the player, used by salmon tanks
This update also has some major behind the scenes improvements to rendering that I've been working on in the last year, which may improve performance in some levels.
"Tanks" for sticking around and enjoying the game! The next big updates should bring more customization towards bullets, items, and the player tank.
Enjoy!