The new DLC has been approved by Valve!
Download it here
I have also updated a "Testing" version of Anomalies for anyone interested in some of the new features I'm working on.
If you click on "Anomalies > Properties > Betas" ad select "Testing" from the drop down menu, you will be able to download the newest, experimental version of Anomalies.
Features
- Number Keyboard - this is the most prominent new feature so far. When you play Anomalies, you will now be able to use your keyboard's number keys (across the top, not the side one) to play notes in real time with your anomaly. This will enhance Anomalies in its capacity as a musical instrument of the future.
- This keyboard automatically plays note in the same scale as the current Anomaly. For those who don't know, there are different musical scales controlled by the anomaly's segment texture.
- Sound Type - the type of sound the keyboard plays is controlled in the options menu with the "Sound Type" slider. Sound types are numbered 1 - 13. Anomalies automatically play sound types 1 - 12, depending on which segment type is being used. 13 is the sound of nebulas.
- Toggle Segments - Now if you have an anomaly active, you can actually use the mouse to click on one of the segments, which toggles its sound on and off. In theory, you will be able to tweak the sounds made by an anomaly, and turn off any notes you don't want playing. The segment will change colors slightly to show whether it is on or off.
- M-Toggle - Pressing "M" will toggle all the anomalies segments either on or off. If you don't want to hear any sounds from an anomaly, or if you mess around with toggling on different segments, simply press m to reset all the sounds on or off.
- Microtones - If you unclick "Harmonious Sounds Only" in the options menu, Anomalies has a new way of choosing what notes it will play. Previously, these unharmonious notes were based on the size of the segment being played. Now they actually create a unique musical scale based on the color, number of branches and branch distance parameters. These unique musical scales have notes that do not appear on a piano keyboard, and they are known as microtones, since they represent smaller steps than those available on most instruments. I plan to add some kind of display that will show you what sort of musical scale is being used. Try this out, it sounds totally different than most other forms of music.
- Random Rhythms - When you have "Fixed Angles" set to 0, the anomaly will play its sounds in a random fashion. This experimental version of Anomalies uses a different algorithm to play these random notes. Notes are still either harmonious or microtonal, depending on your settings in the options menu.
Anyway, I hope you guys and gals enjoy the new features. Note: If you do download the testing verison, you previously saved anomalies will not work. However, if you reinstall the default version, they should be able to load again.
If you like Anomalies, you might also like my other generative game Star Explorers: http://store.steampowered.com/app/502720/Star_Explorers/
Star Explorers is still in Early Acces, but it allows you to travel through and explore a randomly generated galaxy!