Hello Everyone!
I'm thrilled to announce the upcoming release of Patch 0.3: New Beginnings for Fargone! This update represents a monumental step forward for the game with almost 60% of the code base being rewritten. With so much changing behind the scenes this post will showcase most of the major changes that will impact the gameplay most. Patch 0.3 will be releasing next week on December 22nd.
A Heartfelt Thanks:
A huge thank you to everyone for being so patient with me while working on this update, I know it's taken a while! I'm excited to return to a rhythm of more frequent and substantial updates now that 0.3 is done.
Diving Into the Highlights
AI 2.0
This update kicks off the launch of the new AI system I have been working on for a while. AI 2.0's biggest strength is in the ability to add to it and improve it as time goes on. The old AI system was not only inadequate but also nearly impossible to work on. This new system has been rewritten from the ground up and, while this is the initial launch of the new system, it is already miles better than the old one. Prepare for more active and dynamic AI that will attempt to flush you out of cover, take cover themselves, and work with each other to gain the upper hand.
Inventory Overhaul
Following your feedback, the inventory system has been entirely reworked. The new custom grid system not only enhances the visual appeal but also streamlines inventory management, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. Whether you’re sorting loot, organizing gear, or browsing shops, the experience is fluid and satisfying.
New Character Equipment System
The revamped modular character system is a game-changer, allowing players to fully customize their characters. This system empowers you to express your style, whether it’s mixing and matching different outfit pieces or completing a coveted set. The hunt for the perfect look is as exciting as the gameplay itself. With the new modular pieces being distributed throughout the loot system, it brings the total number of items to nearly 300!
Reworked Attachment System
Crafting benches are now gone since crafting a holographic sight with some wire and metal seemed very strange! Attachments are now part of the world like any other item, they can be bought from vendors, looted from containers or from dead enemies. You can now also store these attachments in your backpack and swap them out on the fly from within your inventory.
Character Redesign
Stepping away from Synty assets, the characters have been remodeled and retextured. This includes a diverse range of AI and zombie characters, all benefiting from the new modular system. The result is a more unique and visually compelling game world.
Weapon Overhauls
Every gun in Fargone has been retextured and also received an entirely new audio system. In particular, distant gunshots now actually sound realistic, you will hear distant snaps and cracks as AI far away deal with their own situations adding to the atmosphere of the game. Many of the weapons have also received a greater number of available attachments to apply as well, opening up more options for your loadout.
Barrens Local Network System
Immerse yourself deeper into the game world with the Barrens local network system. It keeps you informed of in-game events like shop restocks and toxic storms, adding a layer of strategic depth and enhancing the sense of a living, breathing world. AI will also send messages to each other requesting help or just general chit chat. This system is the first version and it will also be expanded going forward.
Graphical Enhancements
Several areas of the game have received graphical improvements, but the most noteworthy is a new volumetric light scattering effect. This effect looks particularly good during toxic storms as you will see green flashes of light pour through windows as the storm outside rages on.
Customizable Difficulty
Responding to popular demand, I've added customizable difficulty settings. Now, you can fine-tune various aspects like enemy accuracy and loot frequency to create a gameplay experience that matches your preferences.
General Player Improvements
Every aspect of the player experience has been enhanced. New animations for consumable items add to the realism, while the ability to move while consuming items increases fluidity in gameplay. The first-person view and lighting response have also been refined for a more immersive feel.
Optimisations
This update brings with it a host of optimisations to increase performance and lower resource use. In particular, I am targeting making the game run better on the Steam Deck. This update is part 1 of a large optimisation project I am doing for the game, bringing in all the knowledge I have gained building this game to improve the experience.
And There's So Much More...
This update, touching nearly 60% of the game's code, is just the beginning. It lays the groundwork for faster, more efficient future development and paves the way for exciting new content.
Stay Tuned
I'm already hard at work on the next batch of content, so stay alert for future announcements. For now, delve into the detailed patch notes below for a complete overview of all the new changes and enhancements.
Raw patch notes
New Features
Difficulty options added to the main menu screen.
New reworked bunker system.
New rarity system for all items, displayed in the UI.
New grid-style inventory system.
AI
Introduction of AI 2.0.
Significantly improved AI performance and stability.
New AI detection logic.
Enhanced performance in AI rendering and ragdoll components.
Character
New modular armor/clothing system.
New Locations
Weapons
Completely reworked attachment system.
Retextured all weapons.
Reworked scopes and optics system.
Red dot sight for the Glock.
Attachment options for Dragunov and VSS.
Increased attachment options for each weapon.
Items
Added 70+ new clothing and armor items.
New attachment: Advanced Acog.
Weather
New procedural lightning effect in storms.
Graphics
Reworked FPS view handling for more realistic lighting effects.
New volumetric light scattering.
New auto-exposure effect for enhanced realism.
Improved volumetric lighting effects, such as for campfires.
Audio
Entirely reworked weapon sound system.
Reworked character movement sounds.
Updated surface footstep sounds for better surface accuracy.
Reworked several reload sounds.
New audio variants for undead.
Game Health & QoL Improvements
Players can now move while eating & drinking.
Reworked laser sight attachments for realism and utility.
Improved save system for consistent character saving/loading.
Overhauled item system for enhanced loot management.
New, improved developer tools for quicker updates.
Unlimited inventory slots, governed by weight limit.
Enhanced tooltip info for item attachments and upgrades.
3D Text popups for item names when highlighted.
Added LOD groups for all characters and dropped items.
Animations
Improved animations for all consumables.
Several new weapon handling animations.
General Improvements
Optimized code for faster load speeds and stability.
Reworked player inventory code for efficiency and reliability.
UI
Reworked faction icons.
New log notification system for world events.
New log history panel in the datapad.
Updated font in text-heavy areas for clarity.
Streamlined tooltip UI and fixed positioning issues.
New life stats tracking in the datapad.
Reworked container looting screen.
Optimized UI code.
Updated inventory and looting screens.
Changes
Improved save system consistency for shops, items, AI, and containers.
Enhanced scopes and sights for realism and clarity.
Various UI enhancements.
Numerous bug fixes and stability improvements