Hi all! Today it's finally that time, we're making available a dedicated beta branch (Windows only at the moment) for those of you who would like to try out the latest updates before we release them to the main game branch. This beta branch is available right now!
Make sure to checkout the information on the Friday Devblog before updating: Friday Dev Blog - 50
In this first beta branch update, you'll be able to play the game without a divegame.net account. This stabilizes the login system and removes a lot of server issues we've been dealing with in the past. Of course, connecting your divegame.net remains as an optional feature to those of you who want to use it. We're looking forward to hearing your feedback on this beta update if you plan on playing it, as we'll use this for bringing this to the main game branch.
NOTE: The matchmaking (Quick game) only works after completing the tutorial. This will be fixed in the next round.
Because of the number of problems people are having with the last update, we are temporarily going back to 0.15.9 until we have a stable patch release ready.
==Art==
- Configured lots of shininess settings on terrain textures
- Added new regulator and inflator particles
- Improved diving base visuals
- Improved U-352 visuals
==Code==
- Added a setting to reduce view distance (fog density)
- View distance now determines the distance at which objects are hidden
- Above water objects are no longer renderer when under water and vice versa
- Added a new way of player rotation in VR based on look direction
- Added a setting to disable strafing in VR to reduce nausea
- Improved fish wandering and flocking algorithms
- Improved performance of fish
- Improved performance of terrain
- Added the Egyptsun community suits
- It's now possible to spawn on the ground
- Configured plankton for better performance
- Generated lower level of detail models of rocks to enable when far away
- Configured level of detail on models to only show detailed versions of models when close to them
- SteamVR works again so we have an alternate VR mode
- Lens flares of mission markers are now disabled at very long range to increase performance
- Lots of code performance improvements
==Bugs==
- Fixed player models being hidden on VR
- Fixed a bug where some settings sometimes aren't saved
- Fixed crocodiles swimming around in a much too small territory instead of their intended territory
- Fixed picture frames being too small
- Fixed the scuba mask screen overlay
- Fixed the '... miles swum' achievements
- Fixed under water fog being too dense
- Fixed the 2D interfaces being too dark
- Under water light color is no longer orange
- Increased cursor size in the vote screen
- Each level can now have its own post processing effects
- Lots of performance improvements
- Menu camera effects are now cheaper to render for better frame rate in the main menu
- Breathing bubble particles are now drawn over the under water fog again
- Plankton particles are now drawn over the under water fog again
- The 'under water effect' (wavey image) is no longer active above water
- Removed models that were under terrains in all levels
- Moved coins and oyster spawn points that were under terrains to above the terrains in all levels
- Increased the maximum slope the player can climb so he's got less trouble climbing stairs
- Increased compression on terrain textures so the total game size is smaller
==Code==
- The Quick Start option in the main menu will no longer freeze the game when joining another session
WoD version 0.15.3 [GAME UPDATE]
WoD version 0.15.3
==Code==
- You can now stay under water on one air supply for 10 minutes
- Added some refill spots in the diving base on places that were far away from missions
- When a web service fails, the game now tries to connect to the server repeatedly until there is a connection or the player cancels
- The login process now starts when the game starts instead of waiting for the player to close the disclaimer
- Added a splash screen before the login screen is shown
- Fixed a bug where a second message dialog would close the one that was open
- Quick game now joins any session if it exists, otherwise lets the player select a map to host
- Optimized not updating fish which are far away
Friday Devblog 38
Swimming with the crocodiles? Available now in the latest World of Diving Steam update! Read more about the crocodiles and Okavango Delta here: Friday Dev Blog - 38
We invite you to the World of Diving Community Livestream. This will be on the 17th of April at 7PM (GMT +1). During this Livestream, we will answer your questions about WoD and we will talk about the new Unity 5 version of the game and about future updates.
If you want your question to be answered you can submit it here.
