We're back again with some more fixes and new content. Including improved matchmaking, improved performance and two brand new weapons!
Fixes
Performance & stability
- Further crash fixes - Improved performance in decal & lights positioning systems - Improved performance of animation systems - Improved performance of (de)materialization effects system - Improved game startup loading times by about 20% on lower end machines - Fixed two performance issues where you could get major lag (spikes)
We are constantly working on improving performance by tweaking small changes like seen above, and will try to further improve the performance step by step rest assured.
Matchmaking
- Improved matchmaking flow to better handle back-filling and team distribution
Keep in mind that with low player population it might still be hard to find a game. Because of this for the meantime we have set the matchmaking open to all, so you can also be queued into matches on other regions.
Animation
- Fixed an issue where the animation rig wasn’t swapped when gender of selected character skin was changed causing incorrect proportions in animation. - Fixed an issue where melee and reload animations wouldn’t play on high latency. - Fixed an issue where the reload animations could play faster than expected. - Fixed third person hit flinching not working on characters when damaged. - Fixed an issue where weapon sway would be applied after landing a vault - Improved all aiming animations slightly - Improved sprint to slide transition
Audio
- Added audio to various UI elements (button hovers and clicks, slider changes, toggle changes etc) - Added audio to progression screen at the end of the game - Added intense background music to signify the nearing end of the game - Fixed an issue with player footsteps not being the correct surface type
Party
- Fixed an issue where the party invite would fail after a crash or alt+f4’ing the game
Visuals
- Reflex sight visibility & clarity improved
Settings menu
- Fixed an issue where pressing “esc” during the rebinding process closed the whole settings menu - Fixed an issue where the resolution was unreasonably small on first startup
Wardrobe
- Fixed an issue where the character skin list would snap to a random location when initialized - Fixed an issue where you could equip a weapon with the “change skin” input
Quick Access Bar
- Increased the scroll sensitivity on the quick access bar (e.g. friends list)
Skin Shop
- Fixed an issue where you could get stuck when pressing esc immediately after buying a skin
Currency Shop
- Fixed an issue where pricing was showing the incorrect currency symbol while the price was localized - Fixed an issue where ended transactions would still show a dark screen over the game
TWO NEW WEAPONS
The Windsong
Crafted from sacred hazel wood and tipped with razor-sharp obsidian, the Windsong is a very versatile weapon. Light and precise, it can get Contenders out of any close combat situation or hit enemies from afar with a single, precise throw, piercing armor and inflicting grievous wounds. In the hands of a skilled warrior the Windsong will tip the scales of battle.
The Matchstick
Ignite the battlefield with The Matchstick, ΣRA's latest incendiary weapon, an advanced firearm designed to deliver maximum impact. Charge the weapon to unleash a devastating torrent of incendiary pellets, engulfing your enemies in flames.
Thank you for feedback and see you again soon!
The StickyLock Team
Hotfix #1 - Initial Fixes and Balancing
Thank you for joining us for the release of Histera! The first hotfix has just been released and includes fixes and weapon balancing changes based on your initial feedback.
Fixes
Crash fix
We’ve applied a fix for one of the more prominent crashes relating to the glitch during gameplay.
HE Grenade
The HE Grenade is now correctly thrown instead of dropped directly at your feet.
Profile Progression
Tiers have been reset and adjusted to reflect the difficulty of the progression steps.
Performance & Stability
Our current focus lies on stability fixes and performance improvements, the latter of which will be rolled out in small steps over the coming weeks. At the same time we are experimenting with smaller changes that might yield improvements to stability even more quickly. We'll keep you updated!
Weapon Changes
We've made several balance changes based on your initial reception and feedback. Let us know how the weapons feel after these changes!
Hunting Bow
Headshot damage multiplier adjusted from 1.5 to 1.7
Projectile size reduced from 0.3 to 0.275
Charge damage multiplier adjusted from 3 to 2
Removed unintended slow
Karabiner 43
Reduced screenshake intensity
Reduced ADS sway
Reduced recoil buildup
AR-77
Reduced ADS sway
Adjusted ADS sway radius
Aim punch speed increased
Damage decreased from 18 to 16
Accuracy adjusted
Bullet spread toned down
Cyclone S6
Damage decreased from 12 to 11
Hipfire accuracy improved
Accuracy adjusted
Bullet spread toned down
Stormbringer T-2000
Base damage increased from 20 to 40
Charge damage multiplier reduced from 6 to 2.5
Electricity status effect removed
Thank you for feedback and see you again soon!
The StickyLock Team
Histera - Out Now!
Era contenders, the arena of Histera is open!
Today marks a monumental moment for us, as we proudly unveil the official Early Access launch of Histera! After years of dedication and hard work, we're thrilled to invite you to enter the arena and fight your way through the Glitch!
Welcome to the Time-Glitching Arena
Step into the arena and experience exciting 8v8 battles like never before. In Histera, the battlefield is in a constant state of flux, because of the mysterious anomaly known as the Glitch. Explore diverse landscapes from different eras, from the futuristic Montorro City to the war-torn streets of mid-20th century Novgorod and the prehistoric Pliocene Plateau. All available now!
Early Access and beyond
This is the time to connect with you our community and gather valuable feedback to enhance Histera from its early development stages, to full release and beyond. We want to collaborate with all of you to refine and polish Histera into the ultimate FPS experience.
We kindly ask all that run into issues to check our known issues list. If they issue or bug has not been reported yet you can report them in game or go to our bugs & Feedback page.
Besides bug fixing and patches, Histera is planned to receive frequent content updates during Early Access as well. New weapons, Eras and skins will be added to the game on a regular basis. You can find the roadmap of everything that is to come after Early Access Launch here: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3270220082
At launch the arsenal you can choose from will feature 8 different weapons originating from the 3 existing Eras. If you think that’s not enough fire power, we have good news for you! After Early Access Launch, we will be releasing 7 new weapons within 2 months. Enough to keep every fight refreshing in the coming period.
Thank you
As we celebrate the Early Access Launch, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible community. Your support, feedback, and enthusiasm have been the driving force behind Histera's development. We couldn't have reached this insane milestone without you.
Exclusive Rewards for Early Adopters As a part of showing our appreciation for your support, early adopters that join us in the arena before July 4 will receive an exclusive skin for the AR-77 and people that join at any point of the Early Access will receive a skin for the Stormbringer. It's our way of saying thank you for being there since day one and joining us in this exciting new phase.
We would also like to thank everyone for their patience during the delay that Histera's launch suffered last month. As a token of our appreciation we will offer 2 free weapon skins for everyone that join us in the arena the first week of launch.
Stay Connected Be sure to stay connected with us on Steam, Discord, Twitter, and Reddit for the latest updates, news, and community events. Your feedback is invaluable to us as we continue to refine and enhance the Histera experience.
Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey. See you in the dome!
The developers will be streaming exclusive Histera gameplay to celebrate the Early Access launch!
Histera - New Release Date
We're back and with a new Early Access release date
Get ready to enter the time glitching arena and dominate the battlefield like never before on June 20. Wield weapons from various Eras, use powerful pick-ups, and fight intense battles through time!
Early Access Launch and why
Early Access, kicking off the 20th of June, is our chance to connect with the community and gather valuable feedback to enhance Histera from its early development stages, to full release and beyond. We want to collaborate with players to refine and polish Histera into the ultimate FPS experience.
How long will the game be in early access?
Taking community feedback and the time to implement suggested changes into account, we anticipate releasing Histera approximately 6 to 12 months after our Early Access launch.
Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?
Histera is a free-to-play game, with a basic monetization system introduced at the start of Early Access, expanding gradually during this period and focusing solely on optional cosmetic items.
What content will there be at early access launch?
At launch we will share with you the exact roadmap of everything that is to come, but from the start players can expect the following:
The Eras inside the arena
The first Eras to be included in Histera are the futuristic Montorro City, the prehistoric Pliocene Plateau and the war-torn mid-20th century Novgorod. With the Glitch, these different eras can merge, posing both possibilities and challenges for players.
The weapons inside the arena
You don't want to find yourself empty-handed inside the arena of Histera. Luckily there is a big arsenal of weapons from the various Eras available for you to arm yourself with. These weapons offer variation in your gameplay and give you plenty of playstyles to work with.
Pick-ups inside the arena
Are the weapons not giving you enough kick? Or are you getting hit too hard? The pick-ups are here to help with that, and make sure you stay on top. Whether it’s a Glitch pickup that boosts your health or damage, or a shield pick-up to ensure you stay in the battle
Thank you
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone in our amazing community for the incredible support leading up to the launch of Histera. Your enthusiasm, feedback, and dedication have been invaluable on this journey.
To show our gratitude and to thank you for being an early adopter, we will be giving everyone that participates in the first two weeks of launch an exclusive skin for the AR-77, and everyone that participates at any point in early access a free exclusive skin for the Stormbringer.
We want to thank everyone for their patience the past month and we can't wait to see what the future brings. This is an exciting and scary moment for everyone at StickyLock, and we’re so happy to have made it this far.
With release around the corner be sure to keep an eye out on our Steam and Discord, as well as our Twitter and Reddit, since we’ll be releasing information and content more and more frequently as we lead up to launch and after!
While you wait for more news on Histera's launch, this week you can read about all the weapons that will be available to you at Early Access launch. From the agile and high fire rate Cyclone SMG to the poisonous Manticore shotgun. There are plenty of options for every playstyle.
The AR-77
With its robust design and sleek red dot, this weapon is easy to distinguish in any fight. The AR-77’s robust design reflects on its firepower, as it packs a good punch in short to medium range and is a dependable weapon with its medium fire-rate and ammo capacity. This weapon is a soldier’s true best friend.
The Cyclone
The Cyclone S6 is the ideal addition to your loadout if speed is what you’re looking for! This futuristic submachine gun is perfect for quick, close-range combat. While it excels in fast-paced, 'run and gun' situations, it's less effective at longer distances, so make sure to choose your fights carefully.
The Stormbringer
This long range sniper rifle from Montorro City is a weapon not to trifle with. When scoping in, the rifle charges its shot, and when fully charged it deals incredibly high damage. If you’re not using cover enough or you’re out of position in the Glitch, you might find yourself dying to this terrifying weapon more than you’d like.
The Manticore
A weapon straight from prehistory, featuring a raw and primitive design. Crafted from bones, wood, and rugged leather, it may look rudimentary, but don’t be fooled, it packs a powerful punch. This unique weapon fires seven darts simultaneously, each laced with venom that inflicts damage over time. Causing your opponent to think they've escaped unscathed, only to realize too late the true damage that has been done.
The Rocktstorm
Inspired by the Pliocene Plateau, this version of the slingshot brings a prehistoric twist to your arsenal. The Rockstorm can charge its shots for increased accuracy and power, making it an excellent choice for picking off enemies. Additionally, when hit, opponents are slowed down, turning the Rockstorm into a formidable tool on the battlefield.
The Whisper
A simple yet timeless weapon, dating back over 71 thousand years, the hunting bow is crafted from wood and sinew. True to its roots, the hunting bow operates with a familiar yet effective design. In a world dominated by advanced weaponry, this classic tool proves that precision and skill remain invaluable in every era.
The Karabiner
Inspired by the Karabiner 43, a carbine used by the Germans during World War II from 1943 to 1945, this iconic weapon is now glitching from its original era to the arena of Histera. The Karabiner is a semi-automatic weapon where accuracy is key, though it's not as unforgiving as a sniper rifle. It provides a fighting chance at medium to long range. Don’t let its age suggest the Karabiner is useless; it remains as efficient and dangerous as it was in its own era.
The Todesfeuer
Just as the Karabiner the Todesfeurer takes it’s inspiration from an iconic weapon from the Second World War. This replica of the Luger PO8 is your best friend when your primary weapon is out of ammo or when you need to take an opponent down at close range. Making it a trusty secondary for any loadout.
These are all the weapons that will be available to you at Early Access launch. But fret not! There will be new weapons added soon after Early Access launch. That wraps up this week's blog, but don't worry, exciting news is on the way soon. Keep your eyes on our Discord and social media. Big things are coming!
First of all we want to extend an extra heartfelt apology for the delay of Histera's launch two weeks ago. We know many of you were eagerly counting down the days, and we apologise for any inconvenience or disappointment this may have caused. Your enthusiasm means the world to us, and we are committed to making this right and giving you the experience you desire and deserve.
Why the delay?
Unfortunately, we ran into performance issues that affected key aspects of the game. The impact didn’t surface until closer to launch. All though we worked 24/7 to try and solve issues, we couldn’t address them properly in the short time frame that we had. Fixing these issues is our top priority and we are thankful that Unity jumped in to help us.
Progression of the Development
Besides fixing these issues, a portion of the team is continuing the development of the game to perfect the experience even more. More content post Early Access Launch is being worked on such as; new features, game modes, and skins. Rest assured, your wait will be worthwhile!
Free Weapon Skins!
As a token of our gratitude for your continued support and patience, we will be offering two exclusive weapon skins for free to all players that log in during the first week. We hope these skins will enhance your gameplay experience and serve as an apology for any inconvenience we may have caused.
Things to do while you wait
We understand that the wait can feel long so here’s some things you can do in the meantime
• Get a playlist ready for your high-octane Histera matches • Warm up in aim trainer • Go for a hike or a walk in nature. Before you’re stuck inside for 2 weeks straight • Make sure you do your laundry
More Info Soon
We will provide an updated launch date as soon as possible. Please stay tuned for further announcements and updates. Thank you for standing by us as we strive to perfect Histera.
Glitch contenders, we come another exciting look inside Histera.
The Glitch. The core mechanic of Histera. It’s a mysterious and unpredictable anomaly that reshapes the very fabric of the arena with each pulse. As a player in Histera, your opponents aren’t the only thing that should be on your mind. The unpredictable Glitch makes every match different and changes the way you play. But fear not, after reading this blog you can learn to use the power of the Glitch to turn the battle in your favor.
How does the Glitch work?
Histera’s arena is divided into five distinct segments, each being able to Glitch to different Era’s throughout the match. Each segment can glitch from and to Ancient prehistoric times, a Frozen war-torn factory and a futuristic metropolis
The Glitch
It all starts with ominous pulses that ripple through the entire map, signaling where the imminent transformation of the battlefield will occur. Use this time to prepare yourself for what’s to come. Will you relocate or stay in the middle of the chaos?
Made you choice? Good. Because as soon as the ripples subside, the segment will start to enter the first phase of the Glitch. It will completely dematerialize leaving nothing but a flat playing field with holographic barriers.
The barriers can be walked and shot through. But watch for the color changes, because when they start to turn red, that means they are about to solidify and do damage. This also signals that the segment will enter it’s third and final phase.
As the dust settles from the transformation you’ll find yourself in an completely new place. Whether you’re thrusted into Novgorod, Pliocene Plateau or Montorro City, every Glitch will force you into new grounds.
‘Why bother risking my own skin going into such a dangerous zone?’ you might ask. Well, amongst the chaos, there are opportunities for those bold enough to seize them. Powerful pick-ups spawn with each Glitch, offering strong buffs for the people that get to them first.
The Glitch opens up new strategic opportunities, forcing players to constantly reassess their surroundings and adjust their tactics on the fly. Yes the Glitch is not without its risks. But it does come with rewards. So, ready your weapons, steel your nerves, and prepare to dive headfirst into the heart of the Glitch on May 16th!
Blog #6 || Designing the characters skins of Histera
Hello again Era contenders!
We've returned, and this time with something special. This week we come with an exclusive look inside the development of Histera.
One of the exciting aspects of making concept art for a game is without a doubt, the conception and creation of character skins, which ultimately allow players to customize their avatars and express their individuality within the game. In this week's blog post, we will provide an in-depth look into the process of creating concept art for character skins in Histera.
Sketching
Creating character skins for Histera begins with brainstorming and sketching. This phase is all about exploring ideas and visualizing the essence of the character. Concept artists sketch multiple designs to capture different elements of the character’s appearance.
Sketches serve as a foundation, helping the artists refine their ideas and make crucial decisions about the character’s design elements, such as clothing, accessories, and overall aesthetic. This phase is crucial as it sets the direction for the next steps of character skin creation.
After this, the refining of the sketches starts, adding more details to the character’s design and the Line art. This provides a clean and precise outline that is used by the 3D artists to create character models.
Using reference material
Artists often draw inspiration from real-life elements by using a variety of reference materials. These sources can include historical costumes, cultural artifacts, as well as elements from nature and architecture.
By transforming these existing elements into new and unique ideas, artists can create designs that are both familiar and original. Reference images play a crucial role in providing insights into details such as textures, colors, and proportions, enabling us and fellow artists to create more realistic designs.
Splash Art
Splash art serves as a powerful visual representation of the character, establishing the mood and feel that grabs your attention.
In the image above, we see a character who originates from the Montorro City era, a futuristic setting in Histera. She is depicted in a dynamic pose, wearing an oni mask, and wielding a futuristic weapon. The background features a futuristic environment. All this emphasizes the era and her criminal persona.
Splash art is an integral part of the concept art process, as it not only showcases the character’s design but also contributes to the Histera’s immersive world and narrative.
Maintaining the opportunity to iterate on the concept art is crucial for achieving the desired visual result and mood for the character. Variations are often made to explore different character features and patterns, as shown in the image above.
From the initial sketches, to the splash art of the character skins, every step of the process was carefully planned and executed to ensure the highest quality. We can't wait for players to explore the world of Histera and unleash their creativity through the diverse character skins! Stay tuned for more updates and announcements as we continue to work hard to bring you an unforgettable gaming experience. Starting May 16th!
