NeonXSZ cover
NeonXSZ screenshot
Linux PC Mac Steam
Genre: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Indie

NeonXSZ

Build 0.836 Released.
This is a minor hotfix to address a few small issues and requests from players.


  • Arena Map Marker colors should now update after reloading games to correctly represent the Arena's controlling faction.
  • New 'Straighten Ship Speed' slider added to Options/Gameplay. This will allow you to customize how quickly your ship will level out while holding the 'Straighten Ship' hotkey. Max setting will straighten your ship instantly.
  • When using the 'Quick Save' hotkey it will prevent you overwriting saved games with longer recorded play times than your current game.
  • Checkbox added to the key configuration screen to enable/disable the reading of controller input while setting keys.

Thunderbirds Are Go!
After nearly three years of development, and eighteen months of alpha testing, NeonXSZ is now live!

6 Hours to Go!
In less than six hours NeonXSZ will go live on Steam.
S^&t just got real!

Thanks to everyone who has offered support and encouragement over the last few days. We can't wait for you all to get your hands on the game.

3 Days to Go!
Each week FedoraG4mer, the host of the Randomly Generated Podcast, along with his co-host GingerDragon invite a game developer to showcase their game, and a YouTuber or Streamer to join in the fun.

This week I was invited to show NeonXSZ and HayzeMH joined in the fun with her quirky English humour.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKPNet92x6w

Video Contents - Click here to expand



  • 00:00:00 : The podcast's first hour is an informal chat about the games everyone has been playing and discussions on recent gaming news.

  • 00:10:45 : The chat turns to talk about playing NeonXSZ
  • 00:11:15 : Discussing Challenge Arenas in the game
  • 00:12:50 : The reason behind some of the more unusual design decisions
  • 00:14:20 : Discussion about the lack of hand holding and the help system.

  • 00:17:20 : Back to talking about other games and gaming news.
  • 00:57:40 : Fish plays pokemon.

  • 00:58:00 : NeonXSZ footage starts
  • 00:59:30 : Gameplay starts
  • 01:00:00 : The unique enemy AI in NeonXSZ
  • 01:01:00 : Loot and the game's currency, Uranium
  • 01:02:30 : Death and spamming missiles
  • 01:03:30 : Loot Explained : How to aquire new weapons and equipment
  • 01:05:00 : How to level up from installed equipment.
  • 01:05:30 : Buying a weapon. Quake's influence on the game's weapons.
  • 01:07:30 : The interactive cockpit.
  • 01:09:00 : Overclocking and upgrading weapons.
  • 01:10:40 : Duplicating discovered upgrades to specialize your ship
  • 01:11:15 : Upgrade balancing. Upgrade mass and energy requirements.
  • 01:12:00 : The game's factions and the map.
  • 01:13:00 : Using the TLHUD marker to find appropriate enemies quickly.
  • 01:14:00 : Persistent enemies with the freedom to move anywhere.
  • 01:15:30 : Flying 101 : How easy it is to fly in NeonXSZ.
  • 01:17:45 : Challenge Arena chat
  • 01:18:30 : Physx based loot and other loot tips.
  • 01:20:00 : Simply click on enemies to target them.
  • 01:20:35 : Enemy factions and their AI
  • 01:23:00 : Collision damage - being a mad man is encouraged.
  • 01:23:55 : Cost of upgrades and gaining money
  • 01:25:00 : Challenge Arena difficulty balancing discussed.
  • 01:26:40 : Taking over arenas
  • 01:27:35 : Dog shit fighting. Core game design discussion.
  • 01:29:00 : Choosing sides - Making the game a personal experience
  • 01:30:30 : The hyperactive bumblebee - Ship choices for the player.
  • 01:34:00 : Docking. Using the garage. Swapping upgrades.
  • 01:36:00 : Buying and selling
  • 01:37:10 : Fast shopping using a Data Transporter hull.
  • 01:38:00 : Using the TLHUD marker to level up quickly.
  • 01:39:00 : Heading into the Sphere and taking on the first Challenge Arena
  • 01:46:45 : Discussing fun gadget combinations.
  • 01:47:30 : Arena defeated. Converting it to a friendly faction.
  • 01:49:30 : NeonXSZ coverage ends.
  • 01:50:00 : Kickstarter spotlight for 'Jotun'.


If you enjoyed the video please take the time to share it and go support FedoraG4mer, GingerDragon and HayzeMH. Like myself they do all of this because they love gaming.

@FedoraG4mer: https://www.youtube.com/user/FedoraG4mer

@GingerDragonYT: http://www.youtube.com/user/GingerDragon87

@HayzeMH : https://www.youtube.com/user/HayzeMH

Thanks for inviting me to the show guys. It was great fun and good luck with all your endeavours in the future.

Free Steam Keys for Desura Players
We are happy to announce that free Steam keys are now available for everyone who owns the game on Desura.
These keys will allow you to play the game here on Steam once the game launches on August 22nd 2014.

In order to collect your Steam Key, you will need to head over to Desura and sign in, go to your Collection page (http://www.desura.com/collection). There, you can locate NeonXSZ and click on the link labeled 'keys' next to it. A window will pop up and provide you with your Steam Key.

Saved games are compatible


Once you launch on Steam the game should automatically find your saved games. You can play either here or via Desura with the same saved games.
NB: If you haven't played for a very long time (6 months or more) there is a chance your old saved games will no longer be compatible.

Can I buy and play now on Desura and still get a free Steam key


Yes you can :)

All old and new customers on Desura will always be able to get a free Steam key.

If you go to the game's website (http://www.NeonXSZ.com) and click on the Buy Now button, an additional 15% referal bonus will go straight to the developer. This is not true if you go directly to Desura to buy the game so please consider doing this to help us out.

The game is the same price on Desura as it will be upon release here on Steam. For the first week of sale here on Steam the game will be 10% off. This 10% discount has already been applied to Desura and will end on Aug 29th 2014.

Is there any difference between the Steam and Desura builds?


Yes, but nothing significant. A handful of minor bugs were cleaned up ready for the Steam release.

The only bug you would probably even notice is easy to fix in the Desura build. If the huge sphere in the centre of the world is bright pink go to Options/Video/Presets/Custom and untick 'Advanced Sphere Shader' in the list on the right. This will fix the problem. The Advanced Sphere Shader was completely removed from the Steam build due to incompatibility with certain video cards which caused the sphere to turn bright pink.

Thanks


Thanks to everyone who supported us on Desura over the last year and for all of your amazing reviews there.

You can see the Desura player reviews here.


10 Days To Go
The moment of truth is nearly here. NeonXSZ will go live on Steam in 10 days!

Thanks to everyone who signed up for the early alpha testing 18 months ago and helped shape the game to where it is now; to everyone who bought and supported the game on Desura, to everyone who voted for the game on Greenlight and especially all you Shackers and Redditors, to everyone on r/gamedev for an endless stream of great tips and advice, to everyone who sent messages of support, to everyone who posted previews, reviews or shared news about the game, to the streamers who streamed and the YouTubers who tubed; to the f%^kers who robbed me and made me utterly determined, to ForceX (I haven't forgotten about you buddy), to Qon for being the game's biggest supporter and bug tester, to Aus4000 for always being there for Linux testing, and to our glorious saviour Gaben for making this possible.

I'm Paul F, Neon's solo developer. But solo is never really solo. I need to make a final big shout out to Python Blue. While NeonXSZ still looked like crap he took a gamble on both me and the game and started creating all the music without payment. I'm hoping I can soon afford to send him a cheque to say thanks for all his support and belief in the project.

In 10 days we will all find out if it was worth it. <3
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