Hello dino hunters!

After 2 weeks of testing and plenty of feedback gathered, I've finally released Beta 2 for the upcoming v0.98.0, if you're already playing with Beta 1 (v0.98.0pb1), it should automatically update to Beta 2 (it's savegame compatible!).

If not, to access the beta, go to your Steam Library -> DinoSystem (right click) -> Properties -> Betas -> Choose 0.98.0pb1 (it says pb1, but it's public beta 2).

Here's the full list of changes/additions since Beta 1:
[BETA] means it's a change internal to the beta

- [Survival] Creation/info player screen now has two modes - Basic and Advanced:
...... Basic shows only body features and few info.
...... Advanced shows also skills and advanced info.
...... The first time you play, it is shown as Basic, but will remember your choice if you switch to Advanced.

- [Survival] Improvements to Combat Stance:
...... Most actions that alter Combat Stance will revert it as soon as the action is completed.
...... When Combat Stance is disabled, weapons wielded will be grabbed with the right hand, and vice-versa.
...... When enabled, Combat Stance triggers a sound, and UI panels become red.

- Improvements to animal seed storing mechanics:
...... Changed how seeds are stored in animals: an animal has a chance to get the seed/spore of the plant/tree/mushroom it eats, which is released into the Dung as soon as it excretes.
...... When dead, animals storing a seed pass it to their carcass, which has a chance to pass it to carnivores eating it.
...... At game generation, animals/carcasses/dung have a chance to start with seeds stored.

- Rebalanced terrain fertility values "absorbed" by vegetation.
- Slightly reduced vegetation eaten by herbivores, to lessen their impact on the ecosystem and allow for bigger populations.
- [Survival] In the brief moments before character creation during island generation, loading tips are shown partially (to prevent the player from being unable to read them fully before character creation screen shows).
- Loading tips suggesting a control will show the actual key instead of the default one.
- [Survival] Crafting/carving/firemaking and such actions are no longer interrupted by performing an other action (like toggling Equip Mode or selecting an item), and tweaked other interruptions.
- Improved items collision with walls/boulders/mountains.
- [Survival] Fixed item collision with walls/boulders/mountains sometimes glitching if hitting the character.
- Fixed tree canopies not updating fast enough during Aim Mode or God Mode's camera movement.
- [Survival] Fixed a rare bug causing crafting buttons to not update correctly based on available components.
- Fixed +/- buttons continuing to be pressed while holding the mouse button far from them.
- Fixed Didelphodon occasionally rebuilding their nest on top of their previous one.
- Lightning hitting the sea will reduce fish population in that spot.
- Made several terrain and water mechanics tweaks to improve the long-term ecology simulation.
- Added total fish count next to Pteranodons.
- [Survival] Dropping the weapon from an animal attack now shows a warning message.
- All damage texts now have "-" before the value, for consistency.
- Leaf rotation speed from wind increased.
- Tree canopies (fake) SSAO improved slightly.
- Improved some cursor icons.
- [Survival] Improved Stick/Torch placement when sheathed on character's back.
- [Survival] Player Actions key is now used to trigger target action (if the mouse is on a target), otherwise it shows the player actions (as before).
- [Survival] Pteranodon is no longer mouseover-able in Survival (to prevent accidental conflicts with a current action).
- Ponds shape/bed slightly improved.
- Slightly reduced chance of female T-Rex deciding to fight a male approaching for mating.
- Island creation will generate more small ponds during Autumn and Summer.
-[BETA] Island creation will generate more lush terrain in all seasons, especially Autumn and Summer.
-[BETA] It's no longer possible to sprint while pulling, if moving with the mouse controls.
-[BETA] Added glow effect to firemaking minigame yellow bars.
-[BETA] "Light Fire" mouseover hint in firemaking minigame renamed to "Strike".
-[BETA] Fixed Fur Cape recipe requiring Hide in some circumstances.
-[BETA] Tutorials are no longer re-enabled at Reset settings.
-[BETA] Fixed a bug causing Fishing action to freeze the character if skill Zoology is 30+.
-[BETA] Menu music now starts with a delay
-[BETA] Show Chance setting is once again ON by default (reverted Beta1 change).
-[BETA] Default mouse control scheme reverted to pre-0.98 (LMB: Attack, RMB: Aim) with the option to enable mouse movement.
-[BETA] Fishing skill is used along with Zoology to assess fish population (the one that's higher does the skill check).
-[BETA] If MMB or RMB are assigned to Attack/Movement, is the mouse is on water, for inspect the key will be used, and the mouseover hint will suggest it.
-[BETA] Meat/Fish drying progress rate increase by 10%.
-[BETA] Fixed Light Fire UI getting stuck if disabling the Mini-games setting while performing the action.
-[BETA] Added two new music tracks for rainy and windy.
-[BETA] Minor interface fixes.

Here's the full changelog for 0.98.0

Happy testing!

Dan