Discord Server
Our Discord chat server is up and running. The devs often idle in this channel, as do our beta testers. Drop in and ask a question or find someone to play with!
Thanks to Our Testers!
Our beta test group continues to grow. Thanks to everyone who has joined us for multiplayer matches. We appreciate your feedback and we love watching you learn to play (and in some cases beat the devs!). To learn more about our beta, check out this forum thread.
Networking & Steam Integration
Networking has been optimized since our last developer update, reducing traffic by about two thirds. Disconnects are now less frequent, depending on your connection. Further improvements are in testing that will further reduce disconnects, particularly between players in distant geographic locations.
Other improvements include:
- We reduced the number of “clicks” it takes to get from JOIN GAME to actually playing with other players.
- We now allow you to invite Steam friends into your current game lobby.
- We reduced “zombie” servers from showing up in the temporary server browser. All servers listed should be for active servers, not disconnected ones.
Maps & Modes
Our current lineup of test maps, now in beta testing, is...
Crossroads: best for 2 - 4 players and Free-For-All Deathmatch.
Company Town: best for 4 - 8 players and Team Deathmatch
Deathmatch 02 (working title): best for 4 - 8 players and Free-For-All Deathmatch.
Base Assault mode is still simmering in the background, waiting for some systems to get rebuilt / replaced. As always, additional modes are still under consideration, including Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, Sumo and Race.
Friendly fire is now OFF by default (will be a server option), and now prevents you from killing yourself with your own weapons.
Vehicle Configuration
Our Configurator (vehicle customizer) is being rebuilt, along with the system that all vehicle weapons and equipment relate to. The new system will allow us to more easily make new weapons and status effects.
Recent configuration improvements include:
- Sentry turrets now a stock option on L-Type vehicles, have been balanced better (are easier to kill).
- Paired fixed weapons now coordinate fire on the same target.
- T-Type (tower) vehicles now have much better handling (still low top speed).
We are also narrowing down on a systems design for build points that will restrict the number and type of equipment modules to be accessed.
Menus
All of our menus are being redone. Some of this new material is visible in the game, but most is not wired up yet. When complete, all the game menus should have a unified look and feel, with no glaring placeholder graphics. Menus will be in line with what you’d expect from a multiplayer combat game.
Currently our main menu has been stripped way down, and only allows you to JOIN or HOST. Local games are hidden temporarily, as is our Tutorial story.
Controls
- Camera is now smarter, clips less into map geometry.
- E-brake now interrupts throttle, helping with tighter turns.
- Steering is less twitchy at high speeds.
The Ninjas Are Coming!
As promised in a previous developer diary, we are adding a new faction to Auto Age: Standoff.
The new faction--currently in internal testing--has three new vehicles, and our goal is to go to beta testing with these as soon as possible. We intend on pairing these vehicles with a new weapon type--lasers! This new weapon is in development.
Here’s a look at our Neon Ninja faction, which is currently planned to be available to both SAIGE and Dark Jaw teams for testing.
Below: Neon Ninja L-Type
Below: Neon Ninja M-Type
Full Release Pushed to 2017
We’re moving our release date from fall 2016 to a date to be determined in 2017. We have been testing the game with our audience and with industry folks for the past year. We all agree that the game needs more content and more polish.
At this time, we are taking the “we’ll release it when it’s ready” approach. It’s in our best interest to finish these improvements as soon as possible, but we don’t want to rush the product.
Stay tuned to our Steam group for updates and join us for ongoing testing as we continue to make “Auto Age: Standoff” even better!