Hi all. I hope you are all doing well and enjoying Main Update 5 released last week.
64bit Update and Steamworks- Build 0.8201
You may or may not have noticed that Space Bob requires a large update. The reason for this is that a new 64bit version of the game has been uploaded. This is what you are downloading. The previous version was 32bit only, but we now have two versions of the game - one for each OS.
The reason for this is that Facepunch Studios Steamworks is currently being implemented into Space Bob so that we can have leaderboards, achievements, and maybe some other steamworks goodies. One of the first issues while setting this up was the discovery that leaderboards are not currently supported on 32bit systems. This may or not be a permanent issue but thankfully only a tiny percentage of Steam users are still running 32bit Windows. The game will continue to run on 32bit systems but without the upcoming leaderboards.
Steam will automatically re-download and update you to the new 64bit version of Space Bob as long as you haven't disabled automatic updates. There are no noticeable changes in this build other than the version number will now read 0.8201 on the main menu screen.
However, behind the scenes there's some new code that will be talking to Steam to help test the new Steamwork integration.
Please Launch Space Bob after the update (at least once).
This 64bit update includes some new code that will send a random high-score to the new Space Bob leaderboards on Steam whenever you launch the game.
You don't need to do anything other than launch the game and wait a few seconds for this process to happen. This will confirm that your game is successfully communicating scores to the leaderboards but will also help to facilitate the development of the new in-game leaderboard UI over the next couple of weeks, so please do quick launch of the game whenever you have the time to help out.
New Score Multiplier System
There are two big jobs to implement before Update 6 will go live. There's the full implementation of leaderboards but also a big rework to the current scoring system and it's UI. The new system is going to have a score multiplier that increases as each of the game's main objectives are completed. (Eg, Defeating replicon stations and collecting power cubes.) The more objectives you complete before going through the jump gate the higher the score multiplier will grow.
This will encourage Bob to do as much as possible before going to the jump-gate to increase his Total Score. Only then will his Total Score be updated to the leaderboards. If you take too many risks and die before you get there then your total score will be reset to zero (as it does already). However, after reaching the jump-gate, and updating your leaderboard score, you can continue with that game to increase your score further but your multiplier will be reset. This is how the game's Total Score system already works but after the next update the score multiplier system is going to allow for scores ten times higher than can be achieved currently in the same time frame.
Don't worry, you will still be able to save your game at any time, and build up your Total score over multiple game sessions. As long as Bob doesn't die, his Total Score will be sent to the leaderboards upon going through the jump-gate no matter how many times you save, reload, or use the jump-gate.
WARNING: Main Update 6 is going to require a server wipe.
The game doesn't actually have any servers but the equivalent of a server wipe is going to happen. Your previous high scores, game saves, and entire game progress is going to be reset. This is an unfortunate necessity. Many of the game's data files are going to be updated to help prevent cheating and thus they will no longer be compatible after the next update.
Don't worry too much about losing your high-scores though; you are going to be able to get much much higher scores after the update. However, if you are currently deep into the game you may want to try and finish your playthrough over the next week or so to prevent losing that progress.
ETA
I can't wait to get the new scoring system and leaderboards implemented. I think they are going to add so much replayability and challenge to the game. Being able to compete against other players is going to be great but the new score mulitiplier system is also going to encourage totally new ways to play the game where huge risks convert to huge scores but with the chance of losing it all if you die.
If you want to prove you're the best Bob out there, it's time to practice. The very highest scores will be from players who do everything in a single game : defeat the first replicon station, then the second, then collect all the power cubes, and finally defeat the mothership all before going to through the jump gate for the first time to upload their score to the leaderboards. Sure, you can play it safe by going to the jump-gate whenever you want but that will reset your score multiplier. You'll need to risk it all if you want to be #1.
I don't want to guarantee a release date for this update but I'm aiming for the end of next week. Only time will tell if everything works out that way. I'll be sure to update this announcement if that looks like it won't happen.
Edit: In hindsight, it's makes sense to also implement achievements before releasing Update 6 so a release next week is probably a little optimistic.
Edit 2(Thu, 14th June):
A quick update. The new score multiplier system, Steam leaderboards, and the new UI to support them is now all done. Work on implementing achievements is next so Main Update 6 will likely go live early next week if things go as expected.
Thanks
Thanks as always for your continued support and don't forget to launch the game at least once to upload a random score to the leaderboards to help out with testing.