Here's a quick overview of what to expect with the upcoming game updates.
Coming Soon
The next update will mainly focus on introducing a new propulsion module class - Walker Legs. This new propulsion type will allow for creation of highly maneuverable and stable, but somewhat slower vehicles. The update is expected to arrive sometime in February. More information and previews will follow soon!
Additionally, new structural modules are also planned, as well as more in-depth module configuration options.
Later
Work also continues on new game modes, including an arena mode, which will let you quickly test and showcase your units in a multiplayer setting.
As always, stay tuned for more news!
Update: Teams, Multiplayer Bots
What's new?
This update introduces several new multiplayer and skirmish mode features - the ability to play in teams, and the ability to play with bots in multiplayer games. Additionally, a few new structural modules were added.
Teams
When setting up a multiplayer/skirmish game, players can choose their team (denoted by letters A, B, C, and D). Players on the same team will also have shared map vision, and the game will end when only one team remains. Here's an example of a 2v2 game:
Structural Modules
The update also brings a few new structural modules (variations of already existing modules featuring a new reflective, heat-resistant material, and a completely new module).
Other
Minor campaign balance tweaks;
Minor interface improvements and bug fixes;
As always stay tuned for more announcements coming soon!
Update Notes: Unit Designer Improvements
What's new?
This latest update brings many unit designer improvements meant to ease the overall unit building process. With the introduction of new tools, and reduction of steps needed to perform actions, expanded hotkey capabilities - the unit design process is faster than ever before.
More hot keys: module rotation, cycling between connectors, repeated addition, etc;
Better camera controls: added camera elevation control;
Better unit repositioning tool;
Additional tools - bounding box toggle, unconnected part selection;
Overall interface improvements.
Check out this new tutorial to get a better idea of how the updated designer works:
https://www.youtu.be/0prGNcFUJbs
Upcoming Updates
The next update is scheduled for 22nd of November. The main focus of the update is on the unit designer. With the introduction of new tools, and reduction of steps needed to perform actions, expanded hotkey capabilities - the unit design process is faster than ever before. More details will follow when the update releases.
What's next?
After this November update, the focus will shift towards bringing a new game mode that will allow both single and online co-op play. Tentative release date for the mode is early next year (January). More details about the mode, and a more precise date will be announced soon!
Update Notes: Radar, Reactor, Additional Unit Slots
What's New?
This latest update brings a new systems module, a facility to convert resources, as well as many gameplay and user interface improvements - including the ability to assign custom unit hotkeys. The player can now also build twice as many units in skirmish and multiplayer modes.
Radar
A new module that increases unit's sight range. Any one unit can be equipped with up to 5 radar devices (one radar per computer). For every radar equipped the unit gains a set increase in sight range.
Reactor
A new facility that allows resource conversion (Heavy Pellets to Pellets). Useful in situations where the player ends up with an excess of Heavy Pellets and a deficit of regular Pellets making it impossible to produce units.
Hotkeys
In addition to an expanded overall hotkey set, the player can now assign custom one-letter unit hotkeys. This feature also works with generic weapon racks - by holding the hotkey button instead of pressing it, the weapon selection window will appear; from there only a single click is required to switch weapons.
More Slots
The number of Slots in skirmish and multiplayer games was increased from from 100 to 200. The number of Slots in the campaign has also gone up significantly.
Sample Repository
The game now also comes with a sample unit repository. It contains several units that demonstrate module usage; they can be useful as an introduction to unit buliding, or a quick way to start playing without the need to design everything from ground up.
Other
General interface improvements including the map selection menu, repository menu, etc.
Various optimizations and bug fixes.
Stay tuned for more info on upcoming updates as work continues on new unit designer features and improvements, as well as new game modes!
Upcoming Update: Radar, Reactor, More Unit Slots
The next update is scheduled for 29th of September. It will bring several new gameplay expanding features as well as general performance improvements and interface improvements. Here's a list of the major new additions and changes!
Radar
A new module that increases unit's sight range. Any one unit can be equipped with up to 5 radar devices (one radar per computer). For every radar equipped the unit gains a set increase in sight range.
Reactor
A new facility that allows resource conversion. Useful in situations where the player ends up with an excess of Heavy Pellets and a deficit of regular Pellets making it impossible to produce units.
Additional Slots
With the upcoming update the game will see a general army size increase. The number of Slots in skirmish and multiplayer games, for example, will go up from 100 to 200. This change is brought about due to a new round of performance optimizations, and a recognition that larger armies can bring many new gameplay possibilities.
Update Notes: Expanded Base Building
What's New?
With this latest update players can now build additional Build Pads and Factory Pads (Field Factories) anywhere on the map. New Build Pads can be established near any Construction Tower (a new special building type also introduced with this update).
New Building Types
Field Factory - just like any other factory this structure is able to construct units. However, while regular Factories cannot get damaged, Field Factories have a limited amount of hit points (350), and thusly can be destroyed;
Construction Tower - a building which is capable of constructing new build pads, and has greater vision range than most buildings;
Barrier - a relatively cheap way to cordon off and block parts of the map.
New Weapon: Fragmentation Launcher
Fragmentation Launcher is a new projectile weapon. It is the least powerful rocket-based weapon. However, what it lacks in firepower it makes up in splash damage - making it useful against swarming enemy units.
Balance Changes
Resource amount per patch increased from 500 to 1000;
Rocket based weapon firepower and hit damage reduced;
Skirmish map bases modified in order to facilitate new build construction.
Other
Various minor bug fixes and improvements.
Expanded Base Building Coming August 14th
The final release date for the upcoming base building update is August 14th. As mentioned before, the update will feature the ability to construct new build pads and factories anywhere on the map.
Additionally, the update will also introduce a new projectile weapon (Fragmentation Launcher) capable of dealing considerable splash damage.
More information on balance changes and other improvements will be posted when the update releases. As always, stay tuned for more news!
Upcoming Update: Expanded Base Building
As it stands, building construction is possible using pre-existing build pads, and acquiring additional factories requires a lot of effort, and is rarely practical. While this approach works well enough, it has tangible limitations - especially for macro oriented strategies.
In order to address those limitations, the upcoming update will introduce the ability to construct new build pads and factories anywhere on the map. This change will provide new opportunities for map control, as well as shift focus towards the macro aspect of the game.
The update is scheduled for early August. More information and feature previews will follow soon. Stay tuned!
Artillery Gun is a new powerful, long range weapon. It deals a lot of damage in a single hit and has a very long reach, but is quite slow moving. Its projectiles have a ballistic trajectory and take some time to land. Because of these limitations and the fact that this gun can fire much further than the unit can see, it's recommended to always send supporting units together with the artillery.
Other factors to take into account when designing an artillery unit:
Recoil - Artillery Gun has significant recoil. If the unit in question is not stable enough it might be in danger of flipping over. Additionally, any unit movement during a shot will dramatically reduce its accuracy.
Artillery Gun counts as two weapons when installed on the unit, and thus a 5 slot unit can have only one weapon of this type.
New Unit Behavior
Auto Re-orient Behavior (Toggle Icon: ) - units that are equipped with magnets and have this behavior enabled will automatically try to reorient nearby upturned friendly units. If the unit performing the action is busy mining or moving, it will pause its current task until the target unit is set back upright. This behavior is enabled by default.
Extended Zoom Range
The camera can now zoom out significantly further out (50% increase).
) - units that are equipped with magnets and have this behavior enabled will automatically try to reorient nearby upturned friendly units. If the unit performing the action is busy 