I have just updated the Beta to Version 4.3
Lots of new features and fixes this time around, here is a summary of the main ones:
Map Scanner
- You now have a small top-down mapping device in the default weapon position (instead of nothing) so you can always see the closest way to the landing craft. It also points to caves once you find them.
- Caves you have entered are colored blue, so you'll know which ones you've been in already.
- It also works in caves, pointing the way back to the exit.
Tutorial
- Pressing TAB will open a context based tutorial for new players.
- Depending on where you are in the game, it will remind you of your main objective, and give hints on what you can do in your current situation.
Planet Update
- Planets are now solid objects with their own gravity. You can no longer pass through them, and you will crash if you are pulled in too close.
- When leaving orbit, you will see a warning, and may have to hold down "S" until you are clear of the gravity well.
- The orbit graphic has also been updated to look more circular.
Player Updates
- Your weapon is now lowered and raised up whenever you switch weapons or reload. It's just a visual effect that makes a little more sense, but I am too lazy ... er ... busy to do real reload animation at this point.
- Player oxygen will run out a little slower, and movement will not slow down as rapidly when damage is taken.
- Only after reaching 50% or less will the player start slowing down.
Effects
- Weather Effects - rain, thunder, lightning, snow
- Lava Effects - lava steam and improved lava texture
- Lava planets are hotter now. You will no longer freeze to death while submerged in lava :)
- Ice levels have also been updated with a new ice texture. It's no longer a mirror, but the frame rate has been improved a lot.
- Space dust is now darker and somewhat purple in color - it got a bit confusing to fins stars some times.
Resolution Issue
- This may be controversial but I have limited the screen resolution to a maximum width of 1280.
- Fonts and certain effects were not scaling up or down to match the resolution, so the game looked off when using higher or lower screen widths.
- To ensure a consistent experience, this is the best way to prevent strange errors like those mentioned in the short term.
- I am open to feedback on this, and I am considering how to resolve those issues while retaining higher resolution options. However, the game is not really cutting edge in terms of its visual appearence, so if this does not bother too many people I may keep it this way.
Other Fixes
- Loading issues occurred if you wrote your name then cancelled in the new game menu. Those should be resolved.
- Quest prices have been increased in some cases, and decreased in others.
- Ice should now reload correctly when returning to an ice planet
- Ores that are blasted from rocks should not get stuck in mid-air anymore.
- Floater should reload with a planet correctly (they were disappearing on revisiting some worlds)
I was getting a game crash with the new mapping scanner, but I have resolved that issue, and all subsequent testing has resulted in no errors. Let me know if this causes any issues for you.
I am also narrowing down the cause of the terrain generation bug. It seems to happen on worlds with a vapor atmosphere. Avoid those worlds if you want to avoid this bug for now. If you do encounter it, it will stop right when it looks like the terrain would be fully generated, just before adding features like rocks etc... when the loading bar is halfway across. If it happens, please send me the file generated.