it has been a few weeks since the last update and I want to give you a small update on whats been happening here at worldofdex.de. Ever since the initial Launch and #IndieSelect ended, I've been collecting feedback for a bigger update to come - 1.0.6. A lot is here to change, a bit is here to stay, and a huge chunk I'm going to explain - so grab a beer, sit back and enjoy!
UI/UX and Sound
A lot of feedback was about the volume levels, the unintuitive UI and User Experience (UX), so I am currently looking for a UI Artist on commission basis to iron out my terrible developer art, and work together to make the first few minutes easy and bearable. The general feel of a UI should be more welcoming instead of confusing.
Sound also was an often requested change. As a patron you get exclusive access to a new game branch, so you can see the changes first, and the "Futurist"-Branch soon gets a new Audio Control Interface, where you can control individual channels, from ANGEL to the exceptional background music.
Universe Size and Persistance
With nine systems in total, the AotFA-Cluster was too small to allow extensive gameplay - this is being fixed with 1.0.6, which lays groundwork for some pretty major changes. The Cluster is getting expanded to 29 Systems and starts getting dynamic background simulation. This means explored sectors stay explored, conquered sectors stay conquered (for a while until war breaks out again) and the persistence lays the groundwork for a future feature: player owned structures.
The expansion of the universe also adds more unique opportunities to explorers and, for the first time, traders. The upcoming updates 1.0.6 allows you to buy and sell wares at stations across the universe - with a dynamic supply and demand system to determine resource pricing and demand.
AI Upgrades / Rewrite
The Game AI, T.O.A.St. or long "Tactical Oriented Artificial STupidity", is a self-written module that controls all aspects of the AI and had been updated to version 9.0 for the Launch of AotFA. Now it is time to iron out crucial flaws with T.O.A.St. and completely rewrite the mechanics. Currently TOASt goes through the list of ships in the system by number, and since the player is kept as number 0 in the location database, you are always the prime target for all hostile AI in system. A relic from Sirius Online times, where the AI lies dormant when far away and only checks when a player is near them.
The T.O.A.St. Update will remove dependencies of distance as well as the substates of a role, so each ai type will get its own controller, being able to control types individually - and with that, more efficient and less convoluted.
Twitch Integration
The System to connect to Twitch, Privacy Ensuring Network Interfacing System (P.E.N... well, imagine the rest of it yourself. We Devs like to chuckle once in a while ;) )is pretty much done, but I'd like to update the visuals and performance of the backend to allow more varied events and interactions, like story decisions, faction invasions and so on..
Support the Development of AotFA, Night of the Sandwich and more
You are now able to support the long term development of the game for a small monthly contribution and get lots of extra perks! Join the Patreon-Campaign and help us make more and better games!
After the quick succession of patches last week I took some time to go for the things mentioned in the recent review and the constructive criticism, to improve on what is in and what can be made better.
I am still hard working on things like derelict ships, better Story handling and an all new tutorial with subtitles, as well as usable menus.
This was, as you know the old start menu:
In 1.0.5, it is replaced with this, a far superior, more readable and usable version.
There are more changes coming along, like an automatic loot tractor beam, removal of manual mining, hidden treasures, minefields that can be weaponized, radiation zones, Epstein Jumpdrive Fields, hazardous zones. I hope I can deliver this Patch somewhere between tuesday and thursday and hope you will definitely like it :)
Regards,
Dex
Patch 1.0.4: Ships Galore, Levelled Loot and Balancing, whee!
Hello Agents!
Patch 1.0.4 has been deployed.
Following things have been done:
Updated Inertia Handling for the Player. Ship should have more weight now
Updated Damage and Turning Values for all NPCs
Updated all Models to use less resources
Updated all Textures to optimize visibility
Updated Loot to have different longevity levels
Updated Target Interface Reticule
Unlocked the Ability to have NPC spawn in all 5 Classes.
I hope you enjoy this update and more features to come soon,
Regards, Dex
Sirius: Age of the Free Agents 1.0 is live!
Hello upcoming Pilots!
Age of the Free Agents has just released, and is ready to be explored by you and with this, I start into a week full of extra stuff you get and will be fully able to answer all you feedback and critic.
I plan to release more story episodes over the year of 2019, but that only happens with YOUR help. As a 1-man Development Studio, I rely on outside bugreporting and feedback. I will do my best to help you out on issues - to my ability.
I hope you enjoy the game as much as I did making it.
