Here's a first minor update that fixes some of the issues you all have been having. Keep in mind we are very hard at work and will be updating in the coming days as well, so feel free to report bugs, we will get around to them!
Change Log v0.2.0.2.5
Now the bug reporter smtp mail server should be able to send all the bug reports without softlocking the game.
Now the bug reporter sends us less data to avoid crashes.
A bug in events that softlocked the game updating crew data has been fixed.
The crew weapons have been improved.
The text "Dice do not add up" won't appear again in the dice combat screen.
A bug that disabled the buttons in the event "Delivery" (#77) has been fixed.
Several texts have been corrected.
A bug that softlocked the game when a new member joined to the crew has been fixed.
Now the docking number is correctly shown in the stations exit button.
We hope you enjoy the game! If you do, feel free to leave us a nice review!
Between the Stars is now available for purchase!
Today, 28th of May, we've launched the Early Access version of Between the Stars. In it you can find four of the six main story chapters, as well as over one hundred secondary events.
During our Early Access period we will work to implement content, as well as polish that which is already there, as well as work towards the Kickstarter rewards. Among the new characteristics we want to add you will find:
Two new chapters to the main story.
More secondary events.
Controller support.
Improved photo mode.
New playable ships.
New weapons
Wave mode.
New skills.
Reassembly chamber.
Color blind support.
New objects.
Implementing crew medals.
Improved crafting and salvage system.
Improved planet interface.
Improved stellar map interface.
General balance.
Improved optimization.
Please send your bug reports through our in-game bug report system. These reports help us make the game better, thank you so much!
We want to thank our Discord and Kickstarter community for their support during these months. Don't forget to leave a review if you've liked it, it helps a lot!
Worldwide launch time list
It's finally time to release Between the Stars today. We are very excited and wanted to share the launch time list with you all so you know what to expect.
Between the Stars will be released on Steam Early Access today at 18:00 CEST.
May 28th
Los Angeles 09:00
Denver 10:00
Mexico City 11:00
Houston 11:00
Chicago 11:00
Washington D.C. 12:00
New York 12:00
Ottawa 12:00
Caracas 12:00
Brasília 13:00
Buenos Aires 13:00
London 17:00
Lisbon 17:00
Paris 18:00
Berlin 18:00
Madrid 18:00
Rome 18:00
Ankara 19:00
Moscow 19:00
Helsinki 19:00
New Delhi 21:30
May 29th
Hong Kong 00:00
Singapore 00:00
Beijing 00:00
Seoul 01:00
Tokyo 01:00
Sydney 02:00
Please remember that Steam may take a few minutes to update and it might not be available right on the hour.
Between the Stars keys for backers have been sent!
The time has come, Captains, to join the ranks of Between the Stars. Anyone with the Captain rank and above will now have an Early Access key!
Early Access will launch on the 28th of May, but we’ve pushed forward the launch of the keys in so we can count on you to help us find any last-minute bugs or issues that may have cropped up. If you find a bug please report it using the in-game system!
Those of you who have access to the OST will receive it in a few weeks, the rest of the backer rewards will be given throughout the Early Access period and prior to the 1.0 launch.
If you still don’t have your rank on discord, please join and let us know!
Thank you so much for your support, we hope you all enjoy the game!
Demo update and game improvements
There are only 8 more days to go until Between the Stars finally launches on Early Access.
New Steam features
We have updated the game to give support to Steam Cloud saving, so now you can save “on the go”!
We’ve also set up the game with Steam “Enhanced Rich Presence” which will let your friends see your captain’s level, whether or not you are in battle, and basically what you are doing in the game!
Would you like the Enhanced Rich Presence system to show more information in particular? Please write down your ideas in the comment section below!
Demo update
We’ve also updated the Demo to have it on-par with the latest version of the game. Some of the changes that the Demo now contains are:
We've added Steam Cloud support.
We've added "Enhanced Rich Presence" support. Now when you're playing your friends will be able to see your captain level, if you're fighting or in which space station you are docked.
4 new music themes have been added.
We've fixed a bug that softlocked the prologue when there are no scientists or engineers in the crew.
A bug that duplicated the item "Corrupt Data" in the prologue has been fixed.
A bug that gave the item "corpse" when a crew member died has been fixed. Now the crew member dies directly.
Now the native screen ratio will be detected correctly.
Now the screen resolution and screen ratio should be loaded correctly in window screen mode.
Now controls configured by the player will save correctly.
We've added graphical detail in enemy ships.
The lighting has been improved.
We corrected the engine lighting on some of the ships.
A bug that softlocked the game when the player used the star map in the docking area has been fixed.
EA launch date and demo update - May 28th
Early Access Launch Date May 28th
We’re proud to announce that Between the Stars finally has an Early Access launch date. The 28th of May, just a few short weeks away! This marks the culmination of almost 4 years of work and we’re truly humbled by the onset of support we’ve seen since our Kickstarter in 2018.
We’d also like to take the opportunity to announce that we will be available on Steam and GOG as soon as we release on the 28th, so you’ll be able to purchase from your preferred platform!
https://youtu.be/rm4uofSc74w
Main changes in the new version of the demo
General performance upgrades.
Loading time has been reduced considerably.
Build size has been reduced.
We've added the new loot system (no more loot boxes).
Checkpoint save feature in the demo.
We have also included countless bug fixes and upgrades to the graphics and gameplay that come with the base game.
Beta keys sent!
After many months of hard work, we’ve finally sent out the keys for Early Access beta. Please watch your Inbox in your e-mail in which you’ll receive your code to place in Steam (everything after the early bird commander tier).
This beta is an early access version of the same version that will be launched at the end of May. As such, there’s still polish and content implementation work to be done, and we will be updating throughout the upcoming four weeks.
Please keep in mind that this is a work in progress, and as such there will be bugs, issues, missing voices and other niggles. We will be hard at work during the next month to ensure that all of these factors are more than taken care of by our EA launch date.
Any bugs, errors, grammar mistakes you may find should be reported to us directly using the in-game bug report button. It will be of great help to us to be able to count on your support, every little bit makes a difference!
This version of the game currently has the Prologue chapter, as well as the first three chapters in the overarching story (alongside a lot of side events), but our end-goal is to add the two final chapters, as well as many more weapons and secondary events to the game after the Early Access launch.
Game modes and news
News from the latest Alpha update
Backers with access to the Alpha (those who paid 100€ or more) can now play the second chapter in the main storyline.
We have also added a character editor as a new feature. The editor lets you create a captain of your choosing. Shape their look any way you like, change their name, background and even special attributes.
Right now we are adding new events and main missions to the game and in a few weeks we will work on important features such as controls, performance issues, camera etc…
https://youtu.be/mczWxQ1RqdU
Game modes and salvage pods
One of the most asked questions we have received is about the stash system on the stations and the salvage pods. We’d like to clear up that salvage pods are completely free. Between the Stars will not have any form of in game purchases.
-Salvage Pods are rewards obtained when sacking a destroyed enemy ship, or purchasing it in certain space stations. In them we will find weapons, systems, materials, money… A juicy bit of loot that you’ll want to open immediately. These boxes can also be stashed away on stations so you can open them further along on other play throughs.
-Space station stashes will allow you to store these boxes in order to recover them on other playthroughs after your death. This will let captains to supply themselves prior to a new battle. Every time your captain dies you will have a series of penalty’s depending on your chosen method of play.
-Normal Mode: Your captain’s death penalizes you.
You will appear in your previous save point, with your captain and crew intact (if they were still alive at this point). Nonetheless, you will lose all weapons and objects in your inventory (keeping items coupled to your ship). In this moment a thrifty captain will have access to loot boxes that he had stored up for himself previously in his stash to be able to stock up and continue on the adventure.
-Hard mode: Death is the end.
Your captain’s death is the end of the game, but not the end of the game. In the next playthrough you’ll have access to your blueprints, unlocked ships, and salvage pods that you had stashed away on the station when you start fresh.
Demo version update
Hello everyone!
We've updated the demo so it is on-par with the main game.
We've added the following:
More inventory space and stackable items.
You can open multiple boxes at once to save time.
We have modified the space station menu with location points.
Stellar map updated.
General performance has been improved.
You can now change keybindings.
Modified loot system, you no longer have to search for the red dot.
Dice rolls on events.
We have added a dice battle (although it is difficult to get it to show up currently!).
As you can see we've been very busy! We hope you guys join us when we launch Early Access in May!
Cheers!
New features and information
Hello everyone!
Sorry for not updating recently, but we’ve been immensely busy as of late.
We’ve got a few updates to bring to you:
- Dice rolls: In the demo the decisions you made had an indication of success and failure that was automatically calculated based on crew and character statistics. We’ve augmented the system to implement dice rolls, making them visible when determining said results. A character trained in charisma will have a much easier time getting a good oratory skill, barter or intimidation roll than one specialized in leadership or physical aptitude. This system isn’t only made for events, meaning we have quite a few great surprises related to their functionality.
- New UI system on stations and planets: The new UI system shows the location of stores, text events and points of interest on stations and planets.
- Dice Combat Rolls are now in. You will now have Dice Rolls to determine and simulate battles and other skill checks. During battles you will be able to use Items and special weapons to turn the tide of battle in your favor.
- We’ve made a ship store. You will now be able to purchase ships in ship stores (NO! NOT FOR REAL MONEY!). The interface is still being designed.
- We’ve updated the stellar map and refined its controls. Now it’s easier to read the stellar map and its locations.
- We’ve added surprise battles, Children of the Sun can find your location and intercept you.
- We’ve upgraded performance and loading times considerably.
- We are adding new events and content. We have almost 150 events written!
Design and work on the game is going well as planned, but not without its caveats. We have decided to push back the game’s launch by a few months in order to correctly polish and focus on the launch properly.
The current estimated date is between MAY and JUNE 2019. When we get closer to launch we will fine-tune the launch date.
