We hope this message finds you well. We want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for your continued support and enthusiasm for LithoBreak. Your feedback and engagement have been invaluable to us as we work to make this game the best it can be.
Pause on Episode Development
We have an important update to share regarding the development of Episode 1 and future episodes.
After careful consideration, we’ve decided to temporarily offload work on the episodes during early access. This means that while we have updated the Steam 'default' branch to include multiplayer functionality, it does not include Episode 1 content.
We understand that this news may be disappointing, knowing most of you have enjoyed Episode 1 and are eagerly awaiting Episode 2. However, we believe this decision will ultimately benefit the game and the community in the long run. By focusing on completing and polishing the core gameplay loop, we can ensure a more robust and engaging experience for everyone in all game modes.
Why This Change?
Improved Story Content: When we reintroduce the story content, it will be refreshed and be built atop a solid foundation of core gameplay mechanics. This allows us more creative freedom and ensures a seamless experience.
Resource Efficiency: Maintaining Episode 1 through development is resource-intensive for our small team. Offloading this work allows us to focus our efforts on enhancing the core gameplay and adding new features.
Access to Original Episode 1: For those who wish to experience the original Episode 1, we’ve added an 'ogepisode1' branch on Steam. This way, you can still enjoy the story content while we work on bringing you an even better experience in the future.
Current Development Focus
Here’s an update on where we are at and what we’re working on:
Multiplayer Testing: We’ve recently completed a round of testing, open to everyone who had purchased LithoBreak, to validate that multiplayer functionality works seamlessly. Thank you to everyone who participated in this testing phase!
First-Person Mechanics: In direct response to the feedback received through the multiplayer testing, we’re adding more first-person mechanics to give multiplayer gameplay more depth and meaning. This includes animated character models and Gadgets (holdable and useable items) that players can utilize.
Community Poll for Next Gadget: We’re excited to involve you in the development process! We are hosting a week-long community poll to decide what the next Gadget should be over on Discord.
Looking Ahead
While this shift in focus may be challenging in the short term, we are confident that it will lead to a more polished and enjoyable game for all. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we make these necessary adjustments. Your feedback and support are crucial to us, and we encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas.
Following the Gadgets mechanics will come the much anticipated Custom Buildings and Custom Vehicles, so stay tuned for that!
Thank you for being a part of the LithoBreak journey. Together, we can create something truly special.
Warm regards,
The LithoBreak Development Team
October Video Update
Greetings, LithoBreakers! 🌟
👋 Welcome to the October LithoBreak update from Tau Ceti Labs!
🚀 Finally, some good multiplayer content! Amirite? 😅
👋 Welcome to the August LithoBreak update from Tau Ceti Labs! Our host Moe guides you through what's new and exciting in the world of LithoBreak, covering everything from our latest hexagon advancements to equipment rendering optimizations. Enjoy!
As always, your thoughts, feedback, and suggestions matter to us. Engage with our vibrant community, and let's shape the future of space exploration together!
Buckle up for our July 2023 Development Update! This time, we're bringing you new, dynamic gameplay elements, thrilling visual enhancements, and a sneak peek into our future plans. Let's fire up those engines! 🚀
🔩 Ceramic Equipment Reconfiguration with Hexagon Snap Parts We have brought new life to the ceramic equipment! These Hexagon Snap parts will also become the foundation of the much anticipated factory and habitat building system, providing you with even more freedom and creativity.
🚀 Rover and Ceramic Equipment Development in Test Environments Get behind-the-scenes insight into how we develop the Rovers and Ceramic Equipment in our test environments. Witness the meticulous process that crafts your adventure!
🕴️ Player Movement Improvements – Jumping and Jetpacks Feel the thrill of improved mobility! We've added jumping mechanics, and a sneak peek at the upcoming jetpack feature promises a new dimension of exploration!
🔌 Visual Updates – Power Room Textures Indulge your eyes with the final texture updates for the Power Room. We've crafted every pixel to perfection for an immersive aesthetic experience.
🌔 Visual Enhancements on the Moon – Nitrogen Atmosphere Immerse yourself in the enhanced lunar landscapes, complete with a visible nitrogen atmosphere. Experience the moon in a way you've never seen before!
⛏️ Improvements on the Mining Console Visuals Mine with style! We've refined the visuals for the mining console, providing you with a more immersive and intuitive mining experience.
As always, your thoughts, feedback, and suggestions matter to us. Engage with our vibrant community, and let's shape the future of space exploration together!
We're super excited to bring you our June 2023 Development Update, which is jam-packed with new features, system improvements, and a glimpse into the future of LithoBreak! There’s also a behind-the-scenes look at how our team has been working to make your space adventures even more thrilling. Let's dive in! 🌕
🚀 First Steps towards Multiplayer! One giant leap for LithoBreak kind! Get ready to explore the universe with your friends. Join us in this video as we announce the upcoming multiplayer playtest signups. A new frontier awaits your crew!
🤖 State Machines Under The Hood Modders, rejoice! We're showcasing our new state machines that not only enhance the game’s performance but also open up a plethora of possibilities for modding. Watch how these nifty systems are bringing the game to life.
🌍 Language Support and Translations Bonjour! Hola! Привіт! LithoBreak is breaking the language barrier. In this update, we reveal our plans for translating the game. Ukrainian will be our first test language, with many more to follow.
🔩 Material Transfer Systems Operational Resource management is crucial in space. In this update, we present our light-weight simulation layer for material transfer. Check out how the materials are moved between equipment with seamless efficiency.
🛠️ Visualize Part Damage Maintaining your equipment is essential for survival. See how we visualize part damage, giving you vital information to keep your ship and gear in tip-top shape.
🚀 Karo Station's Grand Update Life in space just got more exciting. Explore the newly added Life Support, Waste Management, and the colossal Power Rooms within the Karo Station. It's a sight to behold!
🔭 What's Next? We wrap up the video by giving you a sneak peek into what we have planned next. But no spoilers here – you’ll have to watch the video to find out!
As always, we’re eager to hear your thoughts, feedback, and suggestions. Join the conversation and be a part of our vibrant community!
We're back with our May monthly video update, bringing you the latest on our game development progress. This month's highlights include:
Standardizing Parts:
We've started reshaping our parts to standardize them across equipment, reducing the number of unique parts and aligning them with hexagon grids. This makes parts more versatile and gameplay more streamlined.
Grid System Expansion:
We've expanded our grid system, introducing nested grids of different sizes - 1m, 3m, and 9m. This new system will simplify gameplay from personal item placement to configuring larger equipment.
Material Transfer Mechanism:
We've developed a material transfer mechanism that allows efficient material movement between equipment pieces, utilizing our new hexagonal grid system. Watch the video to see how it works in action.
State Machines for Equipment:
We're transitioning our equipment systems over to state machines, making them easier to maintain and improving game performance.
We continue to appreciate your support and feedback. We invite you to join our community discussions here on Steam and on our social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn).
Happy building, and see you on the moons!
The LithoBreak Team
April Video Update
Greetings LithoBreak Community!
We're excited to bring you our latest monthly video update, packed with exciting progress and developments! In this update, we'll cover:
Multiplayer Progress:
Console activation: Experience seamless collaboration with friends and other players by activating consoles in multiplayer mode. Silo equipment placement: Work together to efficiently place silo equipment and expand your operations on the moons.
Power Room Sneak Peek:
Get an exclusive first look at the layout of the Power Room, showcasing the arrangement and connection of vital equipment, such as the fusion core, superheater, boiler, pumps, generator, deaerator, economizer, and more. This behind-the-scenes look will give you an idea of the exciting gameplay elements that await you in this essential room.
As always, we appreciate your continued support and feedback. Stay tuned for more updates, and don't hesitate to join our community discussions here on Steam, as well as on our social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn).
Happy building, and see you on the moons!
The LithoBreak Team
February Video Update
Multiplayer Test Game
Power Room modeled
We are quickly coming up on the start of the experimental LithoBreak multiplayer builds, followed by the public multiplayer playtests. Be sure to sign up for the playtest on the Steam Store Page!
In the mean time, all scientists are encouraged to jump on our Discord server and get a taste of the multiplayer and rover physics in the multiplayer Car Explorers test environment: https://discord.gg/z4dGtsZwfZ
