AI War 2
5.614 Classic Fusion Returns
This one gets Classic Fusion working again. That's a total conversion mod that makes this game function like a hybrid of AI War 1 and 2. Some other mod updates had broken this one, and it's been broken for a while, but now it's back. Big thanks to Badger for getting the code in place for those fixes, and to Puffin for recompiling it.
Badger's Sidekicks mod has a variety of cool updates in this one, including various balance and bugfix updates to the new features in the prior build. This includes improvements to the Dark Zenith Empire, which remains such a cool new way to experience the game.
In other news! Heart of the Machine is coming to early access on January 31st. Be sure to wishlist it to hear about updates! It is seriously huge for launch, and I'm excited to explore it more with you during EA: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/
Also the demo is updated recently, and there's a new trailer. The language translations are increasingly excellent in the demo, but still have another week or so of going through LQA.
5.613 Dark Zenith Empire
If you haven't tried the Sidekicks mod, it's really worth a go -- more each build. It's by one of the main developers of the game itself, so as far as mods go... well, it's practically like a fourth expansion, but for free. I take no credit for any of that, it's all Badger and what he's wanted for his own multiplayer sessions.
This particular build adds a full "Dark Zenith Empire" option, alongside the sidekick version of the same idea. You've played as the spire, but have you ever played as the Zenith? It's worth noting that the developer behind this mod is literally the same person who developed out the Zenith factions for the main game, so this is... prime stuff. Seriously, more people need to play it!
In other news, Heart of the Machine has an official release date: coming to Early Access on January 31st! If you haven't wishlisted it yet, be sure to do so! https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/
There's also an updated trailer for the game, AND a fully updated demo with new content, a complete ui overhaul, and a ton of other goodies.
5.612 More Sidekicks Mod Updates
Full release notes are here: https://wiki.arcengames.com/index.php?title=AI_War_2:Post_Completion_Part_II#5.612_More_Sidekicks_Mod_Updates
In other news, Heart of the Machine keeps drawing closer and closer. And we do still have slots open for the beta test!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/
5.611 Sidekicks Mod Updates
If you haven't tried the Sidekicks mod, it's really worth a go. It's by one of the main developers of the game itself, so as far as mods go... well, it's practically like a fourth expansion, but for free. I take no credit for any of that, it's all Badger and what he's wanted for his own multiplayer sessions.
In other news, Heart of the Machine is coming quite soon! If you haven't wishlisted it yet, be sure to do so! https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/
Minor Mod updates
5.609 Evil Armories
The Scourge Infused Empire from last build's update have gotten more updates to them, including to their armories and to the AI enemy spawns.
This build also fixes a bug with some accidental quadratic scaling for damage done by hacked officer ships.
There are also quite a number of updates to all of Arphar's mods in this one, with some noted fixes to League of Evil, Azaran Empire, and Fantasy War. I think there are actually more tweaks than the release notes currently list.
Enjoy!
In other news, the heart of the machine demo is still available, and playtesting applications are also still open. The UI overhaul is still ongoing, which isn't available in the demo yet, but I should be finished with that in the next week finally. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/
If you want to try those things sooner than later, and also see past where the demo currently ends and help provide feedback and bug reports prior to the game launching later this year, then do be sure to sign up for the playtest! We have over 200 folks participating at the moment, but are always wanting more. Just fill out this form: https://forms.gle/sYj9hH3Bh2TJ2Hbx5 And then make sure you're a member of our discord: https://discord.gg/arcengames Some folks did the form without joining the discord, and they don't wind up getting a key.
5.608 Scourge Infused Empire
This one has a bugfix to the experimental stacking algorithm, and then a host of mod updates from Badger.
The sidekicks mod has gotten a number of balance updates and minor new features, and then one large new feature -- the "Scourge Infused Empire." This is a regular human empire like you are used to, but comes with a vassal Scourge faction under it. This vassal faction is less independent in some ways than the regular Scourge as allies, and the vassal version allows for you to do construction and technology choices for them directly.
Enjoy!
In other news, the heart of the machine demo is still available, and playtesting applications are also still open. There's a large UI overhaul going on right now, which isn't available in the demo yet, but will be in a few weeks. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/
If you want to try those things sooner than later, and also see past where the demo currently ends and help provide feedback and bug reports prior to the game launching later this year, then do be sure to sign up for the playtest! We have over 200 folks participating at the moment, but are always wanting more. Just fill out this form: https://forms.gle/sYj9hH3Bh2TJ2Hbx5 And then make sure you're a member of our discord: https://discord.gg/arcengames Some folks did the form without joining the discord, and they don't wind up getting a key.
5.607 Imperial Mercy
Some speculate that the Imperial Spire were showing mercy in their restraint against the AI Homeworlds. Others that these inscrutable aliens were simply allowing their powerful human allies the honor of the killing blow. But the truth is far more strange: about five different bugs in their programming, and them not being updated to properly handle dire guard posts when we added them to the game.
Wait, let's go with... mercy. They were being merciful, and no longer will be so. ;)
There are also a solid number of updates to the Sidekicks mod.
In completely other news, you can still try the demo at the moment for Heart of the Machine. It's massive, and there are more updates coming for it in the near future: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/
If you want to get those updates sooner than later, and also see past where the demo currently ends and help provide feedback and bug reports prior to the game launching later this year, then do be sure to sign up for the playtest! We have over 200 folks participating at the moment, but are always wanting more. Just fill out this form: https://forms.gle/sYj9hH3Bh2TJ2Hbx5 And then make sure you're a member of our discord: https://discord.gg/arcengames Some folks did the form without joining the discord, and they don't wind up getting a key.
5.605 Multiplayer Optimization
This one has some notably new options for multiplayer, to allow clients that are over-saturated with data to basically do less diff-checking in the background and thus reduce the incoming traffic.
This mostly applies to really heavy games with a ton going on in them, but Badger was able to get notable improvements (like 50% reduction in network traffic) with some of the options -- and then other times there was not really any improvement at all. So the options are there, with clients being able to try them out if they run into issues on a specific campaign, and we'll see how that helps.
There are also many updates to the Sidekicks mod, and a couple of minor bugfixes.
Enjoy!
5.604 Lunar Invasions
This one has a couple of small multiplayer improvements, and then a new Lunar Invasions feature in the Sidekicks mod.
If you've missed it, Heart of the Machine's demo from NextFest is still active until the end of this month! https://store.steampowered.com/app/2001070/Heart_of_the_Machine/
If you didn't miss it, and you're itching for more sooner than later, then be sure to join our discord -- and our tester group here: https://forms.gle/nNwEnzRyVPMS7bYg6