Update 41 - Open Testing in Steam Beta Mode Begins
Hey Everyone,
After a number of delays - caused by adding more and more new features, our milestone update 41 is finally here! Today we begin a week long beta run, and hope to push this update live towards middle of next week.
To activate the beta, right click on Stars End in your Library, then select Properties, and then the beta Tab, and Opt in there.
The main features of this update is the completely redesigned planet environments. Combined with ability to display hundreds of terrain objects like trees on screen, and better performance, we were able to transform how the game looks, starting from the main Beta Prairie planet. We have also redesigned audio system and reworked how player now locates objects in the world – hold the Middle Mouse Button to discover this feature.
With update of this magnitude, we still have a few things that we need to polish and fix up, but we expect to get through this during the next few days in the beta. Keep in mind we will be patching the game often during the next few days. The current build still has couple of issues that we should iron out over the weekend. Including using spotter ability while in vehicles, and being unable to repair buildings.
We hope to be able to do 2-3 more updates to this beta build over the next few days, and push it back early next week.
If you play it - please keep in mind that you need to hold middle mouse button to activate spotter ability and see nav points.
And here`s the patch notes for Update 41:
Major New Features
Fully redesigned Beta Prairie planet with new trees, grass, terrain and more
Fully redesigned environmental sound engine with individual sounds from objects
New day, night, weather and rain sound effects
New spotter system – hold Middle Mouse Button to scan for resources and nav points
Resources completely rebalanced for an easier access
New engine terrain features allowing placing large number of terrain objects
New engine features greatly increasing performance
Added new Spotter item system that allows scanning for resources
Updated material used on most buildings on Beta Prairie
Redesigned most building exteriors and interior walls on Beta Prairie
Fixes and Additions
Reworked hand combat – simple left mouse button click now
Reworked melee combat – longer range, hits always land
Can now sneak up on AI creatures, out of line of sight, or by using crouch or prone
AI creatures will stop chasing player if he`s far enough from them
FOV setting max value decreased to 90.
Mining and cutting trees now easier with longer range
Improved the look of the roads with grass going all the way towards the asphalt
Update to main menu news and other sections
Updates to Compass GUI
Fix for land mines not expiring and not removing when destroyed.
Players who disconnect do not get spawned in another player's vehicle.
Milestone Update 41 is almost here!
Hey Everyone,
Thanks for the ongoing support and hope your enjoying Stars End, some bugs aside.
After a number of delays - mostly caused by adding more and more awesome new features, our milestone update 41 is almost there, and will be entering the open beta testing within a few days, with hopeful release the following towards September 16th.
We have a lot in store for you, in a way this is a total makeover of Stars End, at least visually.
The main features of this update are:
Complete redesigned planet environments
Ability to display hundreds of terrain objects like trees on screen
Much better performance, considering how much we are pushing the new tech
Complete redesigned audio system - it`s getting just as much an update as our visual system
Completely redesigned the way players locate objects in the world with a new spotter system
Fixes for the last of the vehicles, item and claims bugs
So much more - but you`ll need to wait for the full beta patch list.
Leaving you with another preview...
Once again sorry for the delay with the update, but the wait is well worth it. We can`t wait to share the beta with you this weekend.
Update 40 - FOV Slider & More Fixes is live!
Hey Everyone,
We just released the last part of the server stability updates that we had to implement following the server downtime last weekend.
This update also includes many important fixes and some new features. All the issues with missing vehicles should be fixed, we also temporary disabled the info vehicle screen. In addition this update adds FOV slider to the options, and again switches to having FPS view be default.
We might have one more smaller update later this week before we release the long awaited planet terrain update.
This update comes with a short patch notes, as we mostly worked on fixing the issue. Lets take a look at Update 40:
Fixes and Additions
Add FOV slider to the graphical options
Fixed the last issues causing servers or solo downtime
Fixed major issues causing vehicles to disappear
Cleaned up the database from all the incorrect or missing vehicles effecting players
AI is a lot less aggressive towards player, and agros at shorter distance
Added sneaking ability - crouching or pronning allows to get much closer to AI
Default game view changed to FPS
Increase the camera movement around the horse
Fixed players being able to add more items to vehicle inventory that inventory size
Update 39 - Server Downtime Fixes
Hey Everyone,
We had to sidetrack our plans for the big update release by a few days. As you might have noticed this weekend we had quite a bit of server instability, with players getting stuck at the Please Wait screen as some servers became inaccessible. The issue was caused by some players with pirated copy of the game trying to log into the servers.
We are working on a permanent solution to this issue now, and todays patch tries to fix this problem. Although it might take us another update this week before we can fix this for good. Meanwhile we will continue to manually restart servers as they become effected.
Thanks for your continuous support, and you can find full update details on our Steam page.
This update comes with a short patch notes, as we mostly worked on fixing the issue. Lets take a look at Update 39:
Fixes and Additions
Various fixed for server downtime issues with servers due to invalid steam user logins
Implemented first layer of anti hack and anti-pirated version protection
Fixed issues with camera when walking, sleeping or sitting inside the space ship
Misc stability fixes
Update 38 - Additional Fixes
Hey Everyone,
Today`s update continues fixing last of the remaining issues, as we get ready for the big update next week. Of note is the balancing for AI, as we greatly reduced the number of hostile creatures in the world. We also included new collision for space ships, that will now bounce off asteroids and other objects on impact. In addition we have fixed last issues with claims, login, game starting, and other last major bugs remaining.
There were a dozen more fixes and improvements we wanted to add to the game before we release the big terrain and visual update next week. Today`s update fixes a few annoying issues like bow, info vehicle screen exploits, issues with claims and a few other things.
And sorry for the delays with our big foliage update. Next week we will finally bring you this massive update that we`ve been teasing about for a while now. That update will include major changes to the planet graphics, style, and huge leap forward in performance.
Here`s the latest preview
And with that said, introducing Update 38
Fixes and Additions
Implemented ship bouncing off surfaces when colliding with asteroids and other surfaces
Major update reworking all terrain shaders on all planets - in preparations to next week`s major visual update
Fixed lack of gravity while piloting an airship.
There`s now proper gravity on planets pushing ships down
Increased camera movement range in horses.
Fixed issues with info screen not correctly removing vehicles sometimes Placing objects disables squash damage to prevent the player from killing itself with the item. Improvements to the falling through ground fail-safe.
Fixed rare event where it was extremely hard to find a horse to claim
There`s a better balanced number of vehicle and nova wrecks, and more horses
There`s now a lot less aggressive AI creatures on the planet
Fixed issue where players could place claims partly inside other player claims or inside the hubs
Player claims territory is now a lot larger, making it easier to place vehicles
Implemented a message to tell players if they have too many claims or vehicles
Selling used vehicles now gives much better credits value
When exiting a vehicle it gives a new message on how many days before it expires
Massive 55% Sale & Upcoming Updates
Hey Everyone,
As we are working on wrapping up the major visual update for Stars End, we wanted to bring you some news on what`s happening this week.
55% off Sale
As we getting ready to release the biggest update to Stars End, we thought it would be fitting to also put the game on it`s biggest sale, to help us attract some new players. So from today until August 23rd Stars End will be 55% off.
Finishing Major Update
Meanwhile we are puttying finishing touches on the major planet terrain redesign update. Aside from letting us generated hundreds of trees and other vegetation on screen - where we`d usually see a dozen, this update completely eliminates all the performance issues, letting us have massive lush forests and jungle environments without any FPS drops.
Also the big update will be unrolled in two update 39 and 40. As we want to switch things like rocks and resources to the new system as well.
We will be doing a bigger preview on this update on Wednesday with new screenshots. Couple of low res editor shots are bellow.
And here`s the new full resolution preview
Update 37 this week
Also sorry for a bit of a delay, but we are looking at the end of the week, if not even early next week before this massive update finally goes live. Meanwhile we will have another smaller update this week. It included fixes to a few remaining bugs, as well as completes reworked how space ship collision and navigation works, with collisions physics, and bouncing off surfaces so that space ships don`t get stuck on asteroids, trees e.t.c
Thanks for your support!
Update 37 - More Polish
Hey Everyone,
And we are back with another update. There were a dozen more fixes and improvements we wanted to add to the game before we release the big terrain and visual update next week. Today`s update fixes a few annoying issues like bow, info vehicle screen exploits, issues with claims and a few other things.
Next week - we will finally bring you the massive 38th update that we`ve been teasing about for a while now. That update will include major changes to the planet graphics, style, and huge leap forward in performance.
Thanks for your continuous support, and meanwhile, lets look at the fixes in today`s Update 37:
Fixes and Additions
Fixed major bug with some of the spawn points making player unable to exit spawn escape pod
Fixed major issue with bow freezing after using the last arrow
Increased fuel per container for land and air vehicles.
Claim component damage fixed where it was randomly destroying components in a single shot.
Fixed an issue where Death Loot did not remove after it expired.
Changed PvP so that repair tools (repair hammer, grazer) work correctly on claims and vehicles. (The grazer no longer heals players in the same crew.)
Vehicle INFO now updates correctly and placing the Used Vehicle restores equipment, stats, and inventory. Selling the Used Vehicle pays out less than a new vehicle, and destroys the inventory and equipment.
Fixed some item handling bugs that were causing random incorrect items, errors, and players unable to log into the game.
Fixed claim placement and removal issues. Claim markers and components no longer dupe.
Metal doors and sleeping bags now take damage and can be repaired.
Territory Refinery works now and has been adjusted in size for player "comfort of use".
Fixed the issue with claim count not showing the correct number of claims a player has.
Changed the asteroid system for better looks and performance.
Update 36 - Last Daily Update
Hey Everyone,
We would like to apologize for several daily updates over the past few days. With 3Gbs download for each update, this has been overwhelming to players with limited internet connections.
Now that we are finally done with all the critical fixes, we can switch to weekly updates, and today`s update fixes the last of game breaking issues.
We will continue with the massive 37th update within a week, this update will include major changes to the planet graphics, style, and huge leap forward in performance. Sorry for a bit of a delay with this update - but it needs some extra polish, and well - we do need to give our playerbase a break from large daily downloads.
Meanwhile, lets look at the fixes in today`s Update 36:
Fixes and Additions
Default view in-game in all instances switched to TPS, can still access FPS view by pressing T key
Fixed major bug where logging out while on a vehicle would cause you to loose the vehicle
Fixed bug with logging out on a vehicle causing you to be at different location
Fixed issue with AI units not showing when on a vehicle on SQL Hosted server
A lot of improvements to AI units showing while riding a fast-moving vehicle
Draw-distance visual improvement (need to reset Visual Options for this to take effect)
Fixed issues with game world looking extremely bad on all but Very High graphical settings
Improved the look of Nav Point - smaller and more stylized
Improved Russian Translation of the game
Fixed Mechs not doing any damage to the player
Fixed a dupe with building components sometimes being added twice to inventory
Fixed being unable to move on space stations
Fixed extremely weird gravity while on NOX moon
Various improvements to the distance fog on the planet
Fixed the strong white fog being there when approaching planet surface all the time
Fixed bug with refuelling vehicle not remembering how much fuel was added on relog
Update 35 - Progress Revert & Fixes
Hey Everyone,
As you might have noticed, there were some leftover issues after the 35th update. And we are glad to say we managed to sort out vast majority of these problems. Today we have a smaller follow up update, that fixes some of the leftover bugs from the last update. These bugs including not seeing items in wooden boxes, having empty claims around and not being able to properly remove vehicles in the info screen.
Unfortunately, with this update we had to revert the database back couple of days. We are deeply sorry about the lost progress over this weekend.
This update also completes the game`s translation into French, German, Russian and Chinese.
And we hope we can make up for the revert with the major upcoming update this Tuesday. We have been busy working in the new tech into the game, that allows us to have hundreds of trees in the area, instead of a dozen like in the current design. Same tech will be used for all sort of props, vegetation e.t.c. This update will now only make the game world look much better, but greatly improve the performance. Here`s a very low quality preview from the Unity editor.
Meanwhile, lets look at the fixes in today`s Update 35.
Fixes and Additions
Translated all the game text into French, German, Chinese and Russian
Spaceships that went missing after update 34 are back
Most items missing after update 34 are back
Fixed issues with wooden container boxes not showing items
Fixed issue with vanishing vehicles on area change
Fix items deleting when placing a vehicle
Fixed various other issues with different container boxes
Fixed various spawn issue and character sometimes looking broken on spawn
Escape menu can't be opened during death which resulted in broken GUI.
Fixed extreme shaking while in the NOX outpost
Fixed various issues with airlock doors not always working correctly
Fixed rare bug being unable to pass through airlock doors
Fixed being able to fly through some of the asteroids in the asteroid belts
Various adjustments and fixes to navigation points to minable asteroids
Rebalanced bullet damage making necessary fixes – in most cases reducing the damage
The booster ful now runs out much faster, but still enough to cross between planet with 1 fuel
Fixed common container error due to player not in same relativeArea.
Fixed common error with POIs resulting in trees or terrain loading at odd points
Fix for error when player has disconnected while picking up a vehicle.
Fixed a lot of visual bugs while in space, such as white flash of stars ever few seconds
Correct text on fiber and wooden sticks on the ground.
Update 35 this Saturday - Fixes and Massive Redesign
Hey Everyone,
We are glad to see the new update 34 brought some very well needed changes, and fixes. Thanks for all the kind words and great feedback.
But as some of you have noticed there`s still a couple of bugs we need to iron out. For example with the items inside the Wooden Boxes - this is just a temporary problem, and once we release the 35th update this Saturday morning - everything will be back in place.
Also we can`t wait to share the new graphics and planet surface update with you this Saturday. We have been busy working in the new tech into the game, that allows us to have hundreds of trees in the area, instead of a dozen like in the current design. Same tech will be used for all sort of props, vegetations e.t.c
This is a low quality preview from the Unity Editor
This update also greatly improves performance.
Thanks for your patience with the couple of ongoing issues, and we can`t wait to share this new update with you in a couple of days.
