[img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/c10b630cbb8647113c63e52507fed9d6d13faba2.jpg[/img] Community members! We are currently working on the next update for Call to Arms - Gates of Hell. This update will bring features and content to all players, like the 2 community updates (and 5 game updates) that came before it. As its name already suggests, it will add a number of things that were requested by the community. Curious? Keep reading! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/a92b9dd80ee352574800b41b1265a7b69d6aebca.jpg[/img][url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/a92b9dd80ee352574800b41b1265a7b69d6aebca.jpg]HD Link[/url] [h1]Community Update 3[/h1] So what do we add? We get requests for every development category from our community; in fact, there are so many it’s impossible to fulfill all of them. Some requests might not fit our design choices; for instance, requests for prototypes or designs that never appeared on the WW2 battlefield in real life. Then again, that still leaves plenty of options! Let’s have a look at the community suggestions we selected. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/d137b1c3bea17692dc309678405ca36f71143516.jpg[/img][url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/d137b1c3bea17692dc309678405ca36f71143516.jpg]HD Link[/url] [h2]Optimization[/h2] We have been working on optimizing the game. We have addressed a bug that created frame drops. Additionally, our lead programmer has been optimizing the mesh group technology which will improve the overall performance. The results are extremely promising, improvements during testing show significantly fewer frames dropped during camera movement. We also Improved performance on minimum and low settings and optimized US humanskins and vehicle 3d models to reduce VRAM usage and added LODs. https://youtu.be/iI73L__8j2g [h2]New PvE game mode[/h2] We are very happy to present a new PvE game mode: "Last Stand". In this exciting new gamemode, you will be defending against multiple AI waves. This is an excellent battleground for new players to have fun with the game in its most comfortable environment: Defending against enemy bot attacks in a controlled manner. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/a4836c3f799202c5c01cac2d125d7013548fc7d5.jpg[/img][url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/a4836c3f799202c5c01cac2d125d7013548fc7d5.jpg]HD Link[/url] It's also an excellent opportunity to get your friends to play the game together. As with the other multiplayer game modes, you will be able to change war period, doctrine and other settings. This is one of the two game modes we want to introduce this year. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/e52f629ef6d5e0a6329731fcf9768df8ea977d5b.jpg[/img][url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/e52f629ef6d5e0a6329731fcf9768df8ea977d5b.jpg]HD Link[/url] [h2]New human models[/h2] As we discussed in [url=https://steamcommunity.com/games/400750/announcements/detail/6001676034293463551?snr=2___][b]Developer blog 143[/b][/url], the new German and US models will also contribute to more optimization for the game, despite the higher graphical fidelity. For example, one of the optimizations (currently WiP) is for U.S. humanskins. These will have divisional patches as part of their meshes instead of being separate textures. This will reduce memory consumption. We have engineered the human models to work as best as possible with the current game engine architecture, like mating a hand into its glove. The new German models also use the fully modular approach we pioneered with the US models. This means that modders can make their own combinations and customization of human models without any knowledge of 3D modeling! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/0673a53978e9603a0fcc7272d4cd3cafe19a5542.jpg[/img][url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/0673a53978e9603a0fcc7272d4cd3cafe19a5542.jpg]HD Link[/url] [h2]New tutorial missions[/h2] We're completely re-doing our tutorials. As our game grows, it attracts more and more people from outside of the GEM-engine ecosystem, and their comments remind us that the learning curve is steep in any GEM2 game. We are working hard to reduce the learning curve, and we expect that novice players will have way less trouble to settle in and have an overall better experience with these new tutorial missions. Until now, the tutorial was one long mission. We have decided it was too long, and we’ve broken it down into several smaller missions where the players learn specific parts of the game. As a result, players will be able to come back and re- visit specific missions for specific gameplay aspects without the need to re- do the entire tutorial. The new tutorials are also more user friendly. For the first time, they will feature tool-tips and explanation video pop-ups, which will make things much easier to understand. As a very nice spinoff, modders will also be able to take advantage of the new in-game video popup technology for their own creations. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/cf216c4df8c15977439455a6ba3f6178e4ebe9f9.jpg[/img][url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/cf216c4df8c15977439455a6ba3f6178e4ebe9f9.jpg]HD Link[/url] [h2]Sound Overhaul Part 2[/h2] We're really excited to present to you the second part of our critically acclaimed sound overhaul. In Community Update 3 you will be able to hear all the new tank gun and explosion sounds, which will make the game into an even more immersive and cinematic journey. Our sound designer, known in the community as HangEmHigh, summarizes the overhaul as follows; "Sound Overhaul 2 aims to bring explosive and cannon sound layers up to the same standard as small arms set with Sound Overhaul 1. This means that the total amount of sound variation for these items has increased exponentially, in an effort to both convey a sense of 3d space and keep the soundscape as interesting and dynamic as possible. Each variation now consists of 3-4 unique sound layers which play with each cannon shot or explosion, like small arms fire; these fade into one another over distance to convey a sense of depth. The sounds themselves have been designed to be realistic and impactful, while also being unique enough from one another so that, with time, players may be able to discern weapons and explosions of different types and sizes, even at distance. Sound Overhaul 2 aims to bring a lot more intensity to the combat experience and I look forward to our players experiencing it, I think it will have been well worth the wait". -HangEmHigh We have also introduced a new feature to the engine. When a rocket or artillery shell flies by, you will be able to hear the whizz. Previously, we had a separate whistle sound to play with mortars, but now the sound is fully linked to the projectiles. This is particularly immersive in third person. https://youtu.be/NeTLzd_3Vh4 https://youtu.be/CA6IYtfKAe8 As you can see, a sound overhaul isn’t something you can put together on a sunday afternoon. We are very happy with the new sound design, and you’ll probably agree when you get to hear it yourself, as soon as Community Update 3 is live. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/c0a051139e820c992510a8e1f74e7c03e15d50f6.jpg[/img][url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/c0a051139e820c992510a8e1f74e7c03e15d50f6.jpg]HD Link[/url] [h1]Planning[/h1] We are still in the middle of development; it’s too early to determine the exact release date for Community Update 3 right now. However, it will probably be done and tested mid-spring. We will also run an open beta for CU3 before release. We will keep you posted of course, stay tuned! [h1]Did you know?[/h1][list] [*] Community update 3 is the 8th big free update for our game [*] Our game manual is linked on the store page, and [url=https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/400750/manuals/CtA_-_GoH_Game_manual_1.0.pdf][b]HERE[/b][/url] [*] A new version of the manual is in the works as well[/list] Did your suggestion make it into the update? Let us know in the comments! That’s it for this blog. Thanks for stopping by, and see you on the battlefield! [url=https://discord.com/invite/zyRrWbDV2F][img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/10379584/199e04efee454ca9eca8491d8f1d0299ad146a8e.png[/img][/url]