[i]*Note - These changes are only on the Experimental Branch. To access the Experimental Branch, be sure to select it in your Steam Library. If this app does not appear, please check if this app is hidden in your Library. Experimental Branch changes typically upgrade to the primary branch monthly.[/i] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/3f8c086eb06bb080184c088552259cbc016db76d.png[/img] Hey explorers! We’re so happy to be sharing our latest Experimental Branch build with you today, comprising an enormous amount of new features and overall clean up. Our goal on this has been to clarify the game modes, shape the new Story Mode, and clean up the thousands of little things that go into making an fun experience. [h2]Story Campaign - First Pass[/h2] Continuing from our opening cinematic: [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/819a8938ba11827119ae43f8f3a968ef53f691ce.jpg[/img] We now start the action here: [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/12f2b29886b3445ff9a761758918d831e43ffc26.jpg[/img] We invite you to check out the new Story Campaign mode. This mode features refined missions and level layout. Note this is a work in progress and there’s more we have planned, but this is a step in that direction. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/3ee4c4d7f0dc29eb4c257cd329435a25fe24df5f.jpg[/img] Crafting abilities unlock through a progression in this mode, and you are rewarded with new crafting abilities as you traverse through the adventure. Your System Computer narrates missions and provides tips and explanations for you as you go. [h2]Survival Challenge[/h2] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/2f209ae13504c9d34fa3a72ba378d97ea0c4b768.jpg[/img] A mode we’ve had planned internally for a long time, essentially a “Naked and Afraid” style mode where you choose a planet and starting gear and see how long you can last. Again, this is a first pass and we’ll likely add a leaderboard and permadeath to this mode - maybe even some fun contests! As in Story Mode, crafting abilities are unlocked through mission completions and discoveries. [h2]Creative Mode[/h2] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/bc512d40174edb07a3f939bb772cdd40aab5a1f6.jpg[/img] The creative character selection now gets its own mode and now has the ability to choose a starting planet! [h2]Main Menu Overhaul[/h2] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/9f14e3206e43b4da3d767b24b15ec5287b2e7f57.jpg[/img] Single Player mode selection. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/7d04a352ad8f66ff0bc979be38e6d42fd1ac6663.jpg[/img] Multiplayer mode selection. Inching ever closer to our final Main Menu, this update features our new mode selection panels and improved character selection, management, and creation tools. We’re also inching closer to having each class more meaningful, which will continue to get refined as we go. [h2]Starting Worlds for Public Servers[/h2] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/9034b54f573a84fb8dc5ff771918c6cbd7b35ad0.jpg[/img] Now each server will have its own starting world, giving more variety and challenge. [h2]Terrain Deformation[/h2] Large structure building has never been better with simple but powerful terrain deformation. Finally, you can build a sprawling base without the worry of hills and inclines stunting your build plans. Note this only applies to large structures - many smaller utilities and huts will just sit on top of terrain. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/67a4c87f1fdc1eae04ac0e1576217fe065761ba7.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/de7b322035bfba2b428f3b8dc69e9d2993d244a6.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/9e78eeb0dfd22b221a839b539f208ed063cf5f30.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/0ee53de2db18972889f23810c59404b972584565.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/730422cb476943343cc3e5d767be1869a3c4d578.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/b9ad98a3f3c8823db97522940c2d91c66d717e64.jpg[/img] [h2]First Person Animations[/h2] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/a7b467efb5a179e9fee0568d6eb5af63894ebb2c.jpg[/img] This was a ton of work, but we now have some nice animations and FX in first person. Patching your suite has never looked better or been more immersive. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/700aa407a9aa28cb612f282727d25d2bc54ee0af.jpg[/img] [h2]Third Person Animations[/h2] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/02e8a2ae85e998c2a9f9a14e65cee41a7d02da66.jpg[/img] Building, crafting, eating, healing, even gathering liquid are now fully displayed through beautiful animations and sound FX. [h2]Water Interaction[/h2] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/5df6d4aa5e408532ea6750dc9a8a0530ad0eec3e.jpg[/img] Step through and splash in the bodies of liquid. Creatures act in the liquid too! [h2]Plant Interaction[/h2] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/3c0f623af8f50fb5c50cb36fbdcd2a20f5f25bd4.jpg[/img] Walking through plants now has animation and sound giving more immersion to the experience. [h2]More Map Features[/h2] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/2d2f071221498a49f1b269c553c0ae60f16441db.jpg[/img] Back by popular demand we added in the filtering feature to allow for searching for minerals by type. Also, type is now listed by hardness instead of density for to better align with your gear capabilities. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/1febc36a6dc895c800e22680cc0a05b5bba0a540.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/7d8c6f853ab69cffaad0cf959ebcf82549f02b53.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/9558df10c5092597c8cb7f78e31791004cb4dbae.jpg[/img] Geysers and Liquids have also been added to the Map features. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/d31f96fba890cdbc6b2855108bc43eb51ac54f3a.jpg[/img] [h2]Sound Mastering[/h2] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/cce638449b05cd0b99370f92a17b42b8d16915e1.jpg[/img] A lot of time went into cleaning up all the beeps and chimes in the UI, making the sound more balanced and focusing on real world sounds for immersion as opposed to sci fi beeps and buzzes. [h2]System Computer Voice[/h2] Speaking of sound, we have our final System Computer voice implemented and she sounds great! Missions are also given through the System voice. [h2]Build Goal Management[/h2] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/0016eae07e6183670971108743b638630ca62add.jpg[/img] A hotly requested feature, now you can add to your build goal to create an overall shopping list. [h2]Thousands of Minor Tweaks[/h2] Too much to list, but we’re sure you’ll notice as you play through the experience. Just hundreds and hundreds of tiny adjustments to dial in the final polish. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/4f0be80217c278708c10c55bac6ef3a187f3ced8.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/6f139e08562e6bc923d76db0d8ce90cc4551a203.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/9aa52de47a9bedc58212d871889f77d9832977f9.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/6b93b9c89d81f6fb92a63604aa8dd90ed10bc194.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/2c8f1ddd79319c84d639f9634b895669128c2d4f.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/9d2a55e72cdfa86d1032fa0c0b8e3d50b562a691.jpg[/img] [h2]Known Issues and To Do’s[/h2] From here on out, we’ll be listing what is left to do and what we know still needs to be addressed. This will hopefully minimize the feedback loop and let you know what is coming and what may need fixing: [list] [*] Creatures and Drones updates were left out of this update and will be the primary focus after this branch goes to Main. Crab Larvae (Snubs) has gotten the most attention and is the leading quality bar for the other creatures. [*] Space travel and the Spaceship will be getting another pass soon. Currently, the spaceship ramp needs sounds and FX and the spaceship control and landing gear will be improved. [*] Most of the balancing and level design has gone to the Proteus worlds. Aziel, Lutari and Zer will be getting more attention in the next round. [*] Power Distributor is not yet saving connections. [*] Mid and Late game tools, weapons, and structures will be getting the same round of polish as the early game objects received for the next update. [*] Build Goal is not yet incrementing by type. We almost got this solved but ran out of time. [*] Suit Upgrades need work and will be addressed for the next release. [*] Radar maps will be getting final backgrounds soon and are currently not accurate. [*] Localization is untested in this build and is possibly a mess. We’ll do a full and clean localization pass prior to Early Access release. [/list] [h2]Change List[/h2] Added - missions in all modes except Creative Added - Crab larvae sound Added - Sound pass on Utilities Added - Sound pass on Airlock Added - Terrain Deformation Added - Sound pass on Player movement Added - Sound pass on Player voice sounds Added - Sound pass on in game UI Added - Sound pass on Main Menu UI Added - Additive Build Goal Added - third person animations Added - first person animations Added - Water interaction Added - mission to get oxygen from pod Added - system Computer voice to missions Added - Plant interaction Added - Gasses and liquids added to map Added - Map filters by hardness Added - Mouse over map icons shows type Added - Dust storm damage logic added to not damage interior structures or objects behind terrain Added - Progressive unlock system in Story mode of all crafting abilities and recipes Added - Save Option from menu in Story and Creative mode Added - Combat balance pass for early game weapons and creatures Added - Sounds for drinking and eating Added - Geyser sounds Added - Giant worm has been added to some craters - mwa ha ha! Added - Crafting Table UI expanded Added - Skills and Stats are now on the same screen Added - Patch Tape screen FX Added - Sound and FX added to dismantle action Added - Save game image added to confirm quit screens Added - ground vignette in Main Menu for each world Added - Saving and autosaving by mode Added - Progressive crafting unlocks by mode Added - Crafting Table progressive unlocks by mode Added - opening shot in Story mode Changed - Improved lighting and rendering in Proteus levels Changed - Improved Proteus mine art Changed - Cleaned up liquid gathering Changed - Updated missions Changed - Crash site is now spawned and harvestable in Challenge and Multiplayer modes Changed - Highlighter clean up Changed - HUD interaction UI clean up Changed - Faster tool harvesting and repairing Changed - Overhauled repair system to be more detailed and responsive Changed - Improve UI alert placement and auto shadow when over other UI Changed - Map feature overhaul Changed - 3rd person hit detection clean up Changed - Updated starting mission in Story Mode Changed - Time to use bed has been reduced Changed - Save game and auto save game clean up Changed - Crafting button clean up throughout Changed - Characters now have starting stats auto applied Changed - Fuel amounts have been balanced by giving more fuel to objects Changed - Upgrade utilities have been cleaned up Changed - All in game UI panels have been updated Changed - Crafting is faster throughout Changed - Repairing is faster throughout Changed - Improved repair and tool sounds and FX Changed - Game options have been cleaned up Changed - Logic added for interior helmet Changed - Interior helmet graphics and lighting pass Changed - Improved sound and atmosphere in Proteus mines Changed - Cleaned up loading into levels Changed - Load screen now shows images based on world being loaded Changed - Improved movement and speed in low atmosphere or gravity worlds Changed - Characters in Main Menu are now sorted by date properly Fixed - Repair persistence Fixed - crafting table recipe taking bug Fixed - space travel save bug Fixed - transparent FX sorting with atmosphere Fixed - Melee stance when right clicking in 3rd person Fixed - Weapon idle animation cleaned up Fixed - Player IK clean up Fixed - repairing objects with recipes Fixed - Picking up Inflatable Domes Fixed - Crafting table buttons now refresh properly Fixed - Minerals and plants anchored in Proteus levels Fixed - wrong attachments showing in Main Menu Fixed - Reflection graphics overhaul and fixes Fixed - weather and rain no longer enter structures on Proteus 2 B Fixed - Audio Mixing of outdoor sounds Removed - establishing shot in multiplayer modes Removed - Cinematic in all modes except Story mode Removed - solar panels showing range - no longer needed OK! We'll be back with the rest of the Story mode shortly along with a focus on the items in the To Do list above. Thank you for sticking with us during this crazy long Early Access process and we very much appreciate your support. In the meantime be sure to join our [url=https://discord.gg/EnnrtSk]Official Discord Server [/url]. -Brian [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/26301716/f5bd5db4c71562c7989739e9485c24b747df32a1.jpg[/img] [i]"Ray, when someone asks you if you're a god you say yes!"[/i]