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Worlds Adrift
The Pumpkin Patch: Update 28 Patch Notes
Spooky seasonal items available in game for a limited time only... Find the schematics, and it's yours for keeps! Available from Loot Ruins, Loot Containers and Loot Chests.
Tech Tuesday: Performance Anxiety
Greetings Travellers,
It’s Sylvain here, your CTO (Chief Tricks Officer) here at Bossa.
It is pretty clear you have been concerned about Worlds Adrift’s performance, and wondering how come it’s not completely fixed already. I’ll try to give you some explanations as to why it is a hard problem to track and how you can help.
This is long one, so if you do not care about the reasons we have issues, but still want to help, then just jump to the last section.
Framerate, Performance, Optimization, Lag, Stutter - what does it all mean?
The game you see is an animated sequences of rendered frames, if anything on screen does not update fast enough (25 frames per second at least) your brain perceives what it sees as a sequence of frozen frames rather than smooth movement. We have what we can call missed frames issues.
The second effect on some game implementation is that your control becomes sluggish as something called time dilation happens. This is when what was supposed to take, for example, 33ms (30 FPS) to render now takes more. The effect on screen is that things (animation, creatures, character control, etc) start to move slower. You could experience that even with a smooth game running at 30FPS instead of a planned 60FPS. The time dilation issue can be solved usually by performing any operations in the game proportionally to the duration of the render frame (we cheat and use the previous frame duration). E.g : if the software runs at 30FPS rather than 60FPS, move twice as much as you would per frame. All of Worlds Adrift code does this and only when reaching very slow frame rates would time dilation be a problem on your computer.
The third effect can be actions taking longer to respond than acceptable. This one is definitely specific to MMOs and Worlds Adrift in particular. This is related to any non-physical action you take in the game (change inventory, learn knowledge, access a chest. etc..) if the servers running that logic are under too much load then these operations that cannot be ignored start queuing and until the queue is empty, you will experience delayed response to your actions. This is the only one that does not take the effect of a sluggish game or animation, but of an unresponsive system. Operations take longer than expected to take effect. So usually this starts becoming a problem when the delay hits 1 second or more. Let’s call it Delayed Online Logic because we need to give it a name.
Different types of missed frames
So let’s look at the different types of missed frames we can identify.
Who’s fault is it then?
First is code optimization, or the lack thereof. Worlds Adrift is made of 3 separate code bases for the runtime rendering the frames, plus a bunch of other ones for slower systems like login, etc. Each system you see on screen has part of its functionality on more than one of those three parts. Until the whole game runs together with players putting load on it, it is hard to know what will be expensive and optimizing everything before knowing what is expensive can be an infinite time sink - one of the most effective ways to never release a game. So we needed information about what what to fix and how much effort to put towards it, and how to prioritize it against delivering actual game features. You can help with that.
The Worlds that are Adrift are big: each part of the world is simulated by different servers and this can make it difficult to even know that there is a problem. We cannot observe every part of the world at all times, and knowing that there are issues and where they’re at is part of the Early Access process. Some will result in needed optimization, some in modifying the server configuration, and some in changing the game map. As a result, knowing which area of the game world is having performance issues is important. You can also help with that.
This is your game too: By that I mean that most of what happens on screen is an expression of players’ choices. The islands were player created, the ships are player created, the players gathered together trading are based on player choices. We really only fully control the clouds and the creatures (they still react to players in some ways). This makes it hard for us to anticipate which parts of the system the player choices are going to put under stress. Knowing what players choose to do and where and how much/often and with whom is critical in focusing our development efforts. Knowing which scenarios you put yourself when experiencing performance issues is important. You can help with that.
Why should you care?
Worlds Adrift is a technological achievement and an ambitious design. Made by an indie studio, it achieves what no AAA studio even dares to tackle. Online multiplayer freeform physics play in a massive world created by players, with huge customization options. And it works… most of the time. So when it does not as well as expected, it is easy to ignore all of that and put out a review complaining about general performance issues. But if you want to help make Worlds Adrift better, please provide as much information as you can when reporting issues. Anything from that list (or all of it!) helps:
The amount of information helps us differentiate between the report being a statistical bit of info helping prioritize to actually pointing at one specific issue that we can then fix right away.
In the end, rest assured that your issues reports are all helping us. Even the general “Performance issues” ones. They help us decide where to focus our efforts and what to fix first for the biggest positive impact on gameplay.
We have already prioritized fixes for the upcoming updates : Ship rubberbanding (Updates 27, 28, 29), Delayed Online Logic (Update 29), general bad FPS issues (Updates 28 and 29), Frame stutter (Updates 27 and 29). These will not fix all of these problems completely, so please keep reporting as you have been already!
Thank you for your support and your help in making game history.
Sylvain
⛵Captain's Lag⛵ - LAGGIN'
Greetings Travellers,
Hope you've had a lovely weekend!
The team is concentrating on some lag fixing, whether it's on Live or PTS (which is totally back online btw). It's a delicate process~
PVE Server Experiment
In case you missed it, on Wednesday we had some Surprise Maintenance on the Kubo PVE Server. This was intended to fix some server lag issues (chests taking over 10 seconds to respond, items not reacting, etc), HOPEFULLY this has worked!
We would very much like to know if your experience has improved since then! Let us know in the comments below, or by creating a support ticket on support.bossastudios.com
This has also raised a new topic... Why do we refer to everything as lag?
Who can explain these things to us?!
How do we fix these thing?!
Q&A Stream with the CTO
We roped the Chief Technology Officer for some candid questions about that!
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/323853654
Featured Topics:
Community Questions:
RitchieJ says:
It’s Sylvain’s fault that I started playing WA!
First heard about it at his ‘MegaLuug 1’ talk, University of Greenwich, August 2016.
Questions :
1. Regarding the PvP/PvE server split what part did Unity Analytics play in the decision making?
Subjective forum feedback is one thing but I guess access to hard data would have been more influential.
2. Two years down the line from that Greenwich talk has the game development process – on the shoulders of server tech itself in early development – been easier or harder than you anticipated back then? What were the unforeseen challenges?
Ena says:
Hey, multithreading is the way to go – why is this “advanced” physics game – still just using 1 core. What can be done against the performance issues ? Even on a 8700k the frame drops are causing the physics to go nuts in a fight.
In short terms – what can really be done to increase the stability of frames for a smoother experience ?
Atreties says:
Duplicating items has been an issue since day 1 of Closed Beta. Since then, we have had (at least) 10 different methods of duping.
1) When will you be looking at some sort of background Unique ID system for all items in the game?
2) Why wasn't the game initially built with some sort of Unique ID system? Duping has been an issue in every game without one.
Hope this has been informative, kiddos! Next Tech Tuesday will be the cheat sheet we mentioned on the stream.
What have the devs been up to last week?
See you in the skies :D
Julia & WA Team
🔴LIVE Q&A with our CTO
Worlds Adrift is by far one of the most unique games out there in many ways... But it’s what’s underneath that counts, right?
No joke. The tech under the skin of this game is INCREDIBLE.
This Wednesday we will be doing a LIVE Q&A with our CTO Sylvain!
@ 5 PM BST (6PM CEST, 12 PM EDT, 9 AM PDT)
👇👇👇
twitch.tv/bossastudios
We will be chatting about:
Got burning techy questions regarding Worlds Adrift development - ask them live on stream!
Can’t make the stream/participate in chat? Ask in the comments below!
⛵Captain’s Log⛵ – WE MADE A THING
Greetings Travellers,
What MAD WEEK, EH!?
We successfully kicked New Foundations out of the nest and our baby flew. It's been very busy in the studio and the busyness won't be subsiding anytime soon.
We are now concentrating on Update 28 which will include some bits that didn't make it into New Foundations along with some major performance fixes. This is due in a few weeks, so keep them bug reports and support tickets coming across the forums and support website.
Have you seen our spicy new trailers?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5MPZsNSwTs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OQiI7YoBNg
Who's up for a Worlds Adrift animated series? I am.
Podcast
It's been mega-update week, and we realised how WRONG we were to hold back PVE and PVP for so long! We are back with EPISODE 9 the Worlds Adrift podcast, hosted by Malford and Julia featuring the Legendary Luke!
Topics we discuss:
https://youtu.be/kFrvKpzv1Mg
Want us to answer your questions? Comment below and we will pick a few awesome ones to ask our next guest(s)!
We are now on iTunes and Spotify, so if you're enjoying the podcast give us a review to help us get heard!
Spotify: Clicky HERE!
iTunes: Clicky HERE!
Like us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/worldsadrift/
Follow us on Twitter:
@WorldsAdrift
Moster - @fatt__mo
Malford - @Malford_
Julia - @lady_jeanette
Race Winners
Capulca
🥇 Fauzty & crew
🥈 Dokasha & crew
🥉 White FoX & crew
Darat
🥇 Machine Maker & crew
🥈 Kintey & crew
🥉 N/A
Dino
🥇 Profane & Tripp Dino & crew
🥈 Desdymona & Korgothy & crew
🥉 Adeymn, Fearlessjake, Yarns, Ultra & crew
Redusa
🥇 Trouble & crew
🥈 Gammaray Burst & crew
🥉 N/A
Ten Rui
🥇 Panzercult & crew
🥈 Pahricida & crew
🥉 Klepto Manix & crew
Fastest Ship - Machine Maker & crew on Darat!
PVP winners are under investigation ;)
What have the devs been up to this week?
Have a fantastic gaming weekend, and we will see you in the skies :D
Julia & WA Team
Get 25% OFF for a Limited Time ONLY!!
It’s time to raise your glasses, Travellers, and not least of all because alcohol has finally made it into Worlds Adrift (don’t drink and fly!), but because Update 27 - New Foundations - has officially taken flight!
Not only does it mark the largest addition of new features (including cooking, expanded customisation and suction boots!) since Worlds Adrift launched into Early Access last May, but also introduces the long-requested PvE server, allowing for a more exploration-based style of play.
But the best part of all?
You can currently get 25% OFF Worlds Adrift right now! So what’re waiting for? The Marauder Rums are on us... *Hic!*
New Foundations - Update 27 Patch Notes
Update 27 Patch Notes
PVE SERVER
HAVEN
NEW FEATURES AND CONTENT
NOTABLE BUGFIXES AND CHANGES
OTHER FIXES AND TWEAKS
NOTABLE KNOWN ISSUES
⛵Captain's Log⛵ - WIPE HYPE
Greetings Travellers,
Exciting times are ahead of us! New Foundations are approaching fast. 9th of October we are wiping and launching the PvE Server.
Important things to remember in this update:
Podcast
We are back on track with EPISODE 8 the Worlds Adrift podcast, hosted by Moster, Malford and Julia!
Topics we discuss:
https://youtu.be/HD5wWUuX26c
DISCLAIMER: Totally only fixed the spectator camera internally.
Want us to answer your questions? Comment below and we will pick a few awesome ones to ask our next guest(s)!
We are now on iTunes and Spotify, so if you're enjoying the podcast give us some loves <3
Spotify: Clicky HERE!
iTunes: Clicky HERE!
Like us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/worldsadrift/
Follow us on Twitter:
@WorldsAdrift
Moster - @fatt__mo
Malford - @Malford_
Julia - @lady_jeanette
What have the devs been up to last week?
Have a fantastic weekend, and we will see you in the skies :D
Julia & WA Team
⛵Captain's Log⛵ - New Era!
Hey Travellers,
News
Hope you are doing well and dandy! Apologies for last week's radio silence, but yours truly was away with the Surgeon Simulator CPR team at the EGX convention in Birmingham where we all proceeded to get ill. *sniff* Hence here's a very late podcast episode that was recorded last Tuesday! Sorry folks, next episode will be in a timely fashion again :D However... There's some news you've been waiting for...
WIPE/Update News
It's official.
Update 27 is landing on the 9th. Hip hip HOORAY!
EVENTS
End of an Era Pre-Wipe Event
End of an Era Pre-Wipe Event next Saturday 6th October!
What? A short race and an open PVP Event to kiss all your old ships goodbye!
When? This event will be on Saturday 6th October at the following times: This event will be on Saturday 6th October at the following times: 7pm BST/2pm EST - Ten Rui; 8pm BST/3pm EST - Redusa; 9pm BST / 4pm EST - Capulca; 10pm BST / 5pm EST - Dino; 11pm BST / 6pm EST - Darrat.
Where? Rally points and finish lines are TBC in next week's Captain's Log.
Prize? YES. First across the finish line and last ship afloat will get cosmetic prizes after the wipe! YOU GET TO KEEP THEM!
Save the date, lovelies <3
Battle Regatta
This Saturday will be the Battle Regatta - Brainchild of the Catalina Wine Mixer!
What? A PVP race across the map! Four ships, no crew limit, random crews, two ship building stops, ending with a Trippaholic treasure hunt!
Where/When? This will take place on Dinoue and will be at 1pm CST. Catalina Wine Mixer will supply materials for your ship build this Saturday!
The Battle Regatta will start on Ishtar, in R1, go to H5 - Radar station for a rebuild (where you will be met by Stormageddon with new ship frames ready for you), and end in U1 where you will meet Tripp at The Cube. We will take people who need a ride to R1 over by shuttle. The event starts at 1pm CST. To participate you can join the in discord HERE OR jump on either of these streams and give your name to be added to the crew:
The Profane Professor
Stormageddon
Trippaholic
Got questions, jump into the Catalina Wine Mixer Discord and the mentioned streams!
Podcast
Without further ado, welcome back to EPISODE 7 the Worlds Adrift podcast, hosted Malford, Moster and Julia!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjwmrnctctY
Topics we discuss:
And as always, we answer all the Community Questions some of which are absolutely BRILLIANT and we love your brains!
Want us to answer your questions? Comment below and we will pick a few awesome ones to ask our next guest(s)!
WE ARE ON ITUNES AND SPOTIFY
So if you're enjoying the podcast give us some loves <3
Spotify: Clicky HERE!
iTunes: Clicky HERE!
Like us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/worldsadrift/
Follow us on Twitter:
@WorldsAdrift
Moster - @fatt__mo
Malford - @Malford_
Julia - @lady_jeanette
What have the Devs been up to the past two weeks?
Love,
Julia & WA Team
PTS IS BACK: UPDATE 27 Build 844 – PATCH NOTES
IMPORTANT NOTES
As Update 27 is a full wipe, the PTS will also start all characters off fresh. To speed things up for you guys, scrap metal and trees give 10x metal and wood in all biomes. In the next PTS build, databanks in Expanse, Remnants, and Badlands will give 10x what they do in live.
This PTS release will be of the PVE server! Later in the week we’re planning on replacing this with a PVP server.
Please check the list of Known Issues at the bottom!