Upcoming Content Update Preview - Levels 7 & 8 Featuring ALL RANGE MODE
Hello All,
We are very close to releasing the first major content update for Ex-Zodiac. Here's a little preview:
This is unpolished footage of Level 7, and as you can see it features all-range mode. Level 7 & 8 both feature this mechanic and are more connected than other levels in the game so far, so we are releasing them both at the same time. We expect the update to be ready within a month or so.
Thanks for the continued patience and support!
-Miles @ Pixeljam
Version 0.6.23 is Live: Steam Cloud Support / Mouse Controls / Auto-Fire
Hello All,
0.6.23 is live, and introduces some important new quality-of-life updates:
Fixed background in Cyberspace stages when game is run in 16:10 mode
Updated aiming reticule colours/size and also added available/used lock-on indicator to the bottom of the far aiming reticule
Added Steam Cloud save support. Saves will now be uploaded to the Steam Cloud each time the game saves, and downloaded each time the game is executed.
Added option for separate laser/missile buttons. This also doubles as an auto-fire option, as holding down the fire button will instead shoot a continuous stream of lasers instead of charging the missiles.
Added new mouse input mode. When enabled this will override any joypad/keyboard settings use for ship direction/movement. All other joypad/keyboard input can be used in conjunction with the mouse input if desired. Mouse buttons can now also be used without "???" showing up.
Mouse cursor will now be hidden when game is set to fullscreen mode or mouse mode is enabled (pausing the game will show the mouse cursor again)
We hope you enjoy the new features, please do tell us if anything is amiss in the forums or on discord.
- MNKY / Pixeljam
0.6.23 Beta update
Hey Everyone,
The beta branch has been updated to 0.6.23 which now features the much requested mouse input options, separate fire/lock-on button option (which also doubles as a rapid-fire option when enabled) and also the initial efforts for Steam Cloud save integration (only the game progress is saved, config data isn't saved as this is generally different for each system you play on).
We've put this build on the beta branch as we'd like a bit more feedback on these features before we put it on the main branch.
If you'd like to test it out, you can go into the properties of the game in your Steam library and select the beta test branch under the 'Betas' section.
Let us know what you think either here or on the Steam forums.
Thanks!
Chinese & Spanish Support / Upcoming Updates
Hello All,
Ex-Zodiac now officially supports both Traditional and Simplified Chinese, as well as Latin American Spanish. Here are some other things currently in the works:
A new control scheme using the Mouse
Steam cloud saves & multiple save slots
Extra options for rapid fire / thumb fatigue
After those are live, it's finally on to new levels and content.
Thanks to everyone that has played the game so far. Much more is coming soon!
-Miles @ Pixeljam
Update notes for 0.6.22
The "Traditional Chinese" in the language selection was incorrect (繁体中文), was changed to "繁體中文"
Localization data updated
Spanish "Propulsión" (thrust) moved further up on HUD as it's position was off
Boss timer was continuing to run even when the game was paused
Cyberspace stage 6 boss didn't clearly indicate damage when shot
When game was running at 15 FPS, items could fall through the floor in Xenon
Ignice had incorrect enemy count
Xenon's "vehicle approaching from behind" warnings didn't display in hi-res mode
Boss 4 red lasers sometimes continued after death
Boss life bar reappeared briefly after boss has been defeated
Euclides Belt satellites were triggering the combo meter incorrectly which left it hanging around on screen
Some of the rail cops in Xenon appeared too early
0.6.21 Minor fix
- Stage 3 was starting from half way through the level, but this is fixed now
Ex-Zodiac 0.6.21 patch notes
- HUD items now translated (except for Japanese and Chinese) - Blank dialog no longer appears in the Map screen - Homing missiles no longer circle around the jet-skis in stage 5 - Player is now invincible after a boss is defeated, just in case any stray lasers/missiles are left over - Added 16:10 aspect ratio - Score combo now has a bit more time before it cancels, damaging enemies also keeps the combo timer going - Bonus stage access (from the map) is now available as long as you've collected the chip in the main level (bonus stage doesn't have to be completed) - Mouse cursor now hidden when entering fullscreen mode - Refactored level complete/death animations so that weird bugs like water splashes on the surface of the ocean don't continue once the ship flies away
Update notes for 0.6.19
Fixed Boss 1 achievement
Credits should now display properly in retro and Hi-Res mode, Megabackers & Intergalactic Sponsors have been added to the credits as well
Fixed pressing "Options" on title screen more than once accidentally triggering "Start" instead
Pause function is disabled once an option has been chosen from the pause menu, restart mission, return to map/title etc. Prevents weird bugs.
Hopefully fixed weird bug with Boss 1 intro animation not completing and then wind turbines and trees spawning continuously until the game chugs.
Fixed typo: "an" frozen wasteland in Ignice dialogue
Fixed type: Epaphos description, 'civilisaition' (didn't need the last "i")
B (on Xbox controller) or O (on PS controller) will now back/cancel out of menus
Added option in Display Options to disable the flashing beams when a boss explodes (for epileptic folks)
Disabled built in auto screenshot function (a debug feature) that was also tied to Steam's screenshot button (F12), as this was causing performance issues when a screenshot was taken every second
Fixed enemy count in Euclides Belt
Lowered S and A rank requirements for Epaphos
Fixed skipping result screen score calculation as it was displaying the wrong total when skipped
Removed "Restart Mission" from special stage pause menu
EX-ZODIAC Is Now Available!
We're pleased to announce that EX-ZODIAC is live and ready to play!
The current Early Access version of the game has 6 main levels and 6 secret bonus stages as well. More are on the way...
Huge thanks to all the backers and supporters over the past few years that made it possible.
Enjoy the game!
- EX-ZODIAC Will Launch Into Early Access on July 21, 2022 -
Hello all,
We're pleased to announce that Ex-Zodiac will finally be available on JULY 21, 2022. This version of the game will contain 6 main levels and 6 bonus stages as well. The bonus stages were recently added and bring the 80's/90's nostalgia to a new level! Check them out in Ben Hickling's latest announcement on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenHickling/status/1539275535301353474
We look forward to getting the game into everyone's hands next month. Thanks for the patience!
