Greetings And Salutations
Hello there!
A new update has been released today finally launching Retron One. A new model has replaced the old one for the SD-01 and I've added volumetric fog to a number of levels with the ability to turn it on or off in the video options.
The Inspection mechanic has been tweaked slightly so that you can still zoom in a bit when not wearing your suit along with some other tweaks and I also tweaked the volume and attenuation of the Android's voices.
A number of other tweaks have been made which I will list below as well as going into a number of these in more detail. Read on!
Tweaks, Fixes And New Content
Here's the full list of tweaks and fixes:
- Replaced the model for the SD-01.
- Added Volumetric Fog to several levels. (turned Off by default)
- Retron One now playable.
- Tweakeded the inspection system.
- Added a zoom notification to the HUD when inspecting.
- Added zoom ability while inspecting without helmet and added vignette.
- Reduced Android voice volume as well as the range they can be heard.
- Changed Earth's rotation.
- Added in new STARDROP Background Info at Aryn's Apartment.
- Fixed door triggers in Aryn's Apartment
New SD-01 Model
The SD-01 has been upgraded. As much as I loved the old model it had to be replaced by something that is in line with the recent STARDROP ship model. The two now truly look aesthetically the same. As if made by the same company.
I hope you guys will love the new model just as much as I do but I know not everyone likes certain kinds of changes but then again, it was a long time coming. Let me know what you guys think.
Retron One
Finally Retron One is now playable. There is only one arcade abailable currently but more will follow. I have a new arena map in the works and it will be added inside the STARDROP Cafe at the office section.
I just played it a few times again in the new build and it's still more fun then I thought. Keep in mind that Retron One is never meant to be a full fledged game, it just tries to emulate being one. It's also not finished.
I still need to tweak some stuff and I want to expand on it some more but for what it tries to do I would say it does it adequately. It's just a simple arena shooter that ramps up the more kills you make.
I am working on a small guide for it, so keep an eye out. The guide will go into the game mechanics, how stuff works etc. But you can have some fun yourself and just see what its like.
Volumetric Fog
I've added in volumetric fog on a number of levels, mostly the ones in space to add more depth to the scenes. I personally am pretty excited with the changes but I didn't want to force it on anyone.
So by default Volumetric Fog is turned off. You can enable it inside the Video Options. The changes ar noticeable but I tried to keep it subtle. So far the PT's have reported no extra strain on their GPU's so it seems it won't be a taxing feature. Below is a comparison between the "OFF" and "ON' states.
Volumetric Fog: OFF
Volumetric Fog: ON
As you can see there's a difference but it's not incredibly different. Just an extra touch of awesome. ;)
Object Inspection Updated
The object inspection system has been updated yet again. I noticed that some people didn't use the zoom function when inspecting, making it harder for themselves to read some of the reports. Therefore I have added a notification on the HUD that basically says "PRESS Z TO ZOOM", or whatever key you have bound the zoom function to.
On top of that I have also added a milder zoom function when inspecting objects when your not wearing your suit. This is to make sure people can still read documents even without the helmet.
I have also added a nice vignette around the edges of the screen while inspecting. This has been done in the least intrusive way possible and it help to put the focus on the object that you're looking at. It blends in and out nicely when you pick it up or put it back.
And this segways into the next topic.
STARDROP Background Info In Aryn's Apt
I felt that the email inside Aryn's apartment simply wasn't enough. I've added a new document that covers more of the background regarding the STARDROP. I also added two neat photo's that you can check out yourself.
I hope that with this you'll understand a bit more about what's what before heading there. It tells just enough but still not all that much and it raises even more questions even if you've played chapter 3 already. :)
Final words
So, that's it for today. I hope you guys enjoy the new updates and as I mentioned in the previous post I will put my focus on updating Echoes and Odyssey as well as trying to get the translations working again.
Of course there will also be more fixes and changes before I will continue work on the main campaign. But I think the game is in such a good state right now I am super happy with it.
Take care everyone and stay tuned, I hope you guys are glad to have been supporting the game. I can't thank you enough for all the support !!!
Joure & Team V