Above Earth
VLAR Bot Prize Promotion
Although this promotion is now over there may be similar ones in the future.
Thanks for supporting the game and stay safe out there.
Version 1.4.0 Is Now Live
1.4.0 Update Video:
[previewyoutube="CVgWiGQQ1ug;full"]
Graphics and Performance Improvements:
A large portion of this update was focused on optimizing the game and improving the look and feel of it. The planetary environment has received a complete performance and visual overhaul. It now performs much better, looks much better, and is more realistic. For many players, their frame rate will have doubled and most will now be able get 60 FPS or higher with normal video settings.
VLAR Bot:
Under normal circumstances, the "Versatile Light Autonomous Repair" bot assists station personnel with repairs and maintenance tasks. It is exhibiting some very strange behavior.
Electroshock Weapons:
The game now includes electroshock weapons. Normally there is no need for weapons on the station, thus, they can only be manufactured and not found.Makeshift Electroshock Weapon:
A makeshift defensive weapon that projects a powerful arc of electricity over a short distance.
Makeshift Electroshock Charge:
A single charge for the Makeshift Electroshock Weapon.
Electroshock Pod:
A high tech pod filled with electrical energy. It will release its charge upon impact with certain vulnerable equipment.
Electroshock Dart Gun:
A high tech pistol that fires small electroshock darts.
Electroshock Dart:
A small dart fired by the Electroshock Dart Gun.
Some Miscellaneous Improvements:
More Realistic Pickup/Drop Physics:
Picking up items when moving now more realistically affects your velocity.
Windows 7 is supported again:
Windows 7 support is back again.
Other Changes:
- Nearly all menus can now be closed or exited using the ESC key.
- EVA Port enter/exit transitions have been improved.
- The Survival menu now shows which items are needed or missing to be able to construct an object.
- Players can now go up to 5 times more distant from the station without reaching the automatic point of no return.
- Camera jittering during the intro cinematic has been fixed.
- Fixed a bug where a completely stationary oxygen candle would not improve the air quality of the containing module(s).
- View orientation will now be properly restored when loading a save game and returning from the station view.
- When most items are dropped during EVA, they will now be tracked on the HUD so they are not lost to the player.
- Lighting artifacts have been fixed on the cold breath.
- The maneuverability of the EVA jets has been increased by 50%.
- Affliction information on the character menu will now include the approximate remaining duration of the affliction.
- The New Game menu will now default to the procedural generation system when starting a new game. Previous scenarios are still available in a "Legacy Scenerios" box off to the side.
- A Vibro Hammer will now be guaranteed in the starting module of a procedurally generated station.
- Fixed a bug where the occupied module could be incorrect.
- More containers have been added to procedural modules.
- Cold breath will now be deactivated when condition reaches zero.
- There is now a minimum air quality within affected modules if at least one oxygen scrubber is active.
- Fixed an issue where sleeping in a vertical sleeping pod could cause the view to spin.
- Fixed an issue where using cold packs and hot packs from the inventory menu would not apply all of their conditions to the player properly.
- Light sources that can be turned off will now be automatically turned off when sleeping.
- Bandages now no longer remove Infection Risk. Antiseptic or Antibiotics will now be the primary items used to remove Infection Risk.
- Reloading of items in hand is now more realistic. If a reload action is interrupted it will not finish reloading the item in hand.
- Item in hand info on the HUD will now always be displayed when switching between items.
- Many other fixes, changes and improvements.
Some News:
Above Earth development continues. The priority now is to create more space station modules inspired by various state and non-state powers in the game.A Prize Opportunity:
The first person to figure out how to destroy a VLAR Bot and send a YouTube video link of themselves doing so to steve@midwestvideogames.com will receive a Steam key to give away to a friend. This prize opportunity will be available until the first valid claim is made or until the end of December 2020, whichever comes first. The key will be sent to the email address of the YouTube account that posts the video. An announcement will be posted to the community Hub here on Steam if and when the first valid claim is made.The Trello board is updated:
https://trello.com/b/ewpYkK9i/above-earth-development
Thanks for supporting the game. Stay safe out there.
Version 1.4.0 Coming Soon
Version 1.3.1 Is Now Live
Consistent Module Orientations During Procedural Generation:
If this setting is checked, the procedural generation system will generate the station modules using consistent orientations. It will be enabled by default. This will make it easier for players to orient themselves inside the station but will somewhat limit the number of possible module combinations.
Other Changes:
- Fixed a collision bug in one of the modules that could prevent players from progressing in the game.
- Made some balancing tweaks: There will now be an air tank guaranteed in the starting module during procedural generation.
Some News:
Above Earth development continues. The priority now is still an experimental feature.
The Trello board is updated:
https://trello.com/b/ewpYkK9i/above-earth-development
Thanks for supporting the game. Stay safe out there.
Version 1.3.1 Hotfix Coming Soon - Will Obsolete Old Saves
Version 1.3.0 Is Now Live
1.3.0 Update Video:
[previewyoutube="hVHXxLaRZnY;full"]
Procedural Generation:
The new procedural generation system will randomly generate a space station. This will increase the replayability of the game as players will need to adapt their survival strategy to the random space station.
The procedural generation system has made constructable station mechanics much more likely given that they would ultimately share many of the same underlying systems.
New Module Alcoves
Cupola Alcoves:
A cupola style view port.
Side Port Alcoves:
A side alcove style view port.
More Realistic EVA Debris/Wreckage/Cargo Movement
The debris and wreckage scattered around the station are no longer stationary. They will drift around the station in a more realisitic manner.
Other Changes:
- During equipment repairs the chance of injury will now be displayed to the player.
- Debris and wreckage will now be tracked on the HUD while drifting during EVA.
- A minor collision bug has been fixed inside the starting module of the station.
- The new procedural generation system has necessitated significant rebalancing of the difficulty levels. Many changes will be noticeable in the game on all difficulty levels.
- Many other fixes and improvements.
Some News:
Above Earth development continues. The next priority is going to be another experimental feature.
The Trello board has been updated or will be soon:
https://trello.com/b/ewpYkK9i/above-earth-development
Thanks for supporting the game. Stay safe out there.
Version 1.3.0 Coming Soon - Will Obsolete Old Saves
Version 1.2.4 Is Now Live
1.2.4 Update Video:
[previewyoutube="j4HIKNpUKA0;full"]
Communications System:
The Communications System can scan for radio signals.
Auto-Cafe:
The Auto-Cafe produces various hot and cold beverages.
Battery Charger:
The Battery Charger is a battery recharge system.
Tank Refill System:
The Tank Refill System mixes chemicals and refills compressed fuel and air tanks.
Medi-Factory:
The Medi-Factory is a medical manufacturing system.
New Items:
Many of these are related to the new equipment above.
Coffee Grounds:
Used by the Auto-Cafe to produce Coffee and Cappuccino.
Cappuccino:
Created by the Auto-Cafe. Cappuccino provides a slightly higher boost than plain Coffee does.
Dead Power Cell:
Used by the Battery Charger to produce usable power cells.
Auxiliary Water Filter:
Used by the Water Recycler to provide a boost to water production rate.
EVA Drink Bag:
Created by the Auto-Factory. It allows water to be drunk during EVA.
A New Cinematic
There is now a short cinematic event unlocked by the Communications System that will provide some clues related to the events occuring in the game.
Other Changes and Fixes:
- The UI has been improved. Icons now appear next to almost all item texts which will help players better understand crafting and other actions.
- All crafting equipment will now display the crafting item in the game world as it is being crafted.
- Most crafting operations can now be cancelled with items being refunded appropriately.
- EVA Ports can now detect fuel and oxygen sources in both the player inventory and their own inventory. This simplifies loading fuel and oxygen into EVA suits.
- Crafting equipment such as the Auto-Factory can now detect crafting requirements in both the player inventory and their own inventory. This simplifies crafting.
- Collision has been improved. Collision accuracy has been improved. Various collision bugs have been fixed.
- Fixed a bug that caused estimated salvage times to be negative or otherwise incorrect.
- Fixed a bug that caused the clausterphobia affliction to occur more often than it should.
- Player inventory size has been increased.
- The new equipment and items in this update have necessitated significant rebalancing of the difficulty levels. Many changes will be noticeable in the game on all difficulty levels.
- Many other fixes and improvements.
Some News:
Above Earth development continues. The next priority is going to be something experimental.
The Trello board has been updated or will be soon:
https://trello.com/b/ewpYkK9i/above-earth-development
Thanks for supporting the game. Stay safe out there.
Version 1.2.4 Coming Soon - Will Obsolete Old Saves
The complete update notes will be posted around the same time.
Version 1.2.3 Is Now Live
New Survival Menu and Limited Construction
The 'Survival Menu' provides a quick and intuitive way to build survival structures and items. Containers can be constructed using it. The following video showcases some of its functionality:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP2x1T_nW4g
New Breathing Steam/Fog Effect
This effect will be visible when the temperature gets low enough inside a station module. The following video showcases this effect:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuYxbXBSrk8
New graphics options are available including presets and auto-detect.
These should make it easier for people to get the game running at an optimal frame rate. Motion blur can also now be disabled but is recommended for any average FPS of 60 or less.
It is now possible to disable Ironman Mode when starting a new game.
This is an expirimental option included in the game on a temporary basis. If you get a chance to try this and you like it, consider leaving your feedback on the forums and it will remain in the game.
Other Changes and Fixes:
- Fixed an issue where opening a save or load menu and having a corrupt save file could cause a buffer overflow.
- You can now right click(by default) on most moveable items in the game to reposition them in space.
- A makeshift 'Sleeping Harness' can now be constructed in the Survival Menu to provide useful but reduced sleeping bonuses compared to the sleeping pod.
- Added an option to disable the on screen tutorial text. This option can be found under the Gameplay Options.
- Drifting is now more intuitive to speed up time when performing longer EVA's.
- Most containers can now be dismantled to recover some materials.
- Aurora particle effects on the Earth are now much less performance intensive.
- Fixed an issue where collision injuries could happen at very low speeds when scraping across certain surfaces.
- Fixed an issue where retracting a tether line gun and opening the station menu at the same time could confuse the camera system.
- Fixed an issue where distances displayed on the station menu were not as relavant as they could be.
- The first accessible Auto-Factory is now fully repaired on the both "Trainee" and "Astronaut" difficulties. It is still damaged on "Legend" difficulty.
- A Vibro Hammer and Tool Battery are now guaranteed on "Trainee" and "Astronaut" difficulties.
- Many other fixes and improvements.
The save directory has changed:
The save location for save games has changed to be more consistent with where most games put their save files. On Windows they will show up here:
C:/Users/(username)/AppData/Local/AboveEarth/Saved/AboveEarthSaveGames/
Some News:
Above Earth development continues. The next priority is going to be to knock out some of the more specific equipment types: Coffee/Cappucino Machine, Chemical Mixer/Tank Refiller, Medi-Factory, Battery Recharger and Radio/Communications Equipment.
The Trello board has been updated or will be soon:
https://trello.com/b/ewpYkK9i/above-earth-development
Thanks for supporting the game. Stay safe out there.