Space Grunts 2 News

A smaller updates this week, but that doesn't make it less important. This is version 1.0.0 which signals two things: the game is now pretty much feature complete (in regards to the features I had planned to be in the full game) AND it also means today (as this version goes live on Steam Early Access) the game launches on iOS!

I'm not done with the game yet tho!  There are a still a few alternate area's I want to add to the game, and I have a list of card ideas that I need to go over and check out some of the better ideas for implementing into the game. The plan is to keep the Steam version in Early Access until 2nd or 3rd week of January, this should also be after the various Steam sales and holidays are done.

With this version also comes a nice "launch" trailer which gives a quick overview of the key elements of the game. This Thursday's vlog will be about the creation of the trailer, giving a little insight on the process behind it, so make sure to check out both videos!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

As bonus video, you might want to check out my 15-years-Orangepixel video telling you a little more about the history of me and my games:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Full changes list:

• added: some cards are now limited to character class
  
• added: new card - Redorang
  
• added: new card - Chip
  
• added: new card - Omega
  
• added: good portion of new level layouts
  
• added: new card - Booster
  

Fixes and tweaks:

• fixed: rare bug teleporting into a small side-chamber
  
• fixed: hours not included in leaderboard scores
  
• fixed: invisibility ignored at exitconsole, stations and non-alien entities
  
• fixed: rare chance of not having a red/blue key available
  
• tweak: Metal crates now more likely to have rare/higher-skill items
  
• tweak: Metal crates now spawn bunch more goodies (makes more interesting to waste attack on them)
  
• tweak: Metal crates now have a small random difference in their energy / hit-count
  
• tweak: Fists now have strength depending on characters attack-skill
  
• tweak: invisible card should end current battle
  
• tweak: Tinybombs (dropped by cybergon) now do more surrounding damage (more dangerous)
  

I decided to implement Daily challenges into this version. Originally planned to be part of an update, but I was comfortable enough in my planning that this seemed like a good idea!

There's also a new region added where you get to visit the Heroes of Loot Dungeons and find a very unique item to help you in the rest of the game. These special items are now placed in special, and more easily identified, crates with a little Orange logo on them.. just to make sure the player is more likely to actually find those.

The rest of this update is a huge list of fixes and changes. I've still noticed that some crates/barrels remain after being blown-up.. so that's one of the few bugs I know are still in the game.. but getting close to a very solid version!

Which is great, cause this game will be released on iOS on December 3rd for the first time! even tho PC remains in Early Access for a few more weeks, and I might put out an Early Access for Android soonish.

I'm very happy that the bug I was hunting last week hasn't shown it's ugly head anymore, so I guess my big bug-hunt was worth the time! Check my vlog on that one here:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Full changes list:

• added: inventory flashes when new items are added to it
  
• added: items in "alternate" worlds are now in special crates (more noticeable)
  
• added: Dungeons world (alternate route)
  
• added: improved gameover screen
  
• added: actual ending after defeating the Blob
  
• added: Daily Challenges
  
• added: item Powerglove (VERY rare)
  
• added: "dialog" for super rare items (powerglove, weboftime, genocidedevice)
  

Fixes and changes:

• fixed: Drill card could make fist card go missing
  
• fixed: double tutorial dialog popping up at once
  
• fixed: player-icon on mapview now correctly on top
  
• fixed: map-view now centers player on screen
  
• fixed: skip "spam" messages in hud (i.e: inventory full)
  
• fixed: empty crates didn't make a noise
  
• fixed: special-crates wouldn't always spawn special item
  
• fixed: web of time card doesn't function correctly
  
• fixed: crash bug with drill-card on small deck (
• fixed: some entities not being killed/exploding when low on energy
  
• fixed: minutes played counter didn't reset between games
  
• fixed: End-boss level had two exits
  
• fixed: optimized save-game files
  
• fixed: The Blob has graphics mess when hit
  
• fixed: cards still fly to deck even if inventory full
  
• fixed: touch-controls don't set to correct transparency
  
• fixed: game auto-plays when using Invisibility card
  
• fixed: reset "tapcount" on non-selected cards
  
• fixed: show "X in deck" when card is selected by touch (uideck + uiplaycards)
  
• fixed: uidailygame doesn't show back button on mobile. Does work
  
• tweak: move "deck-count" up a little bit
  
• tweak: Modifier cards are now moved to Pause screen (free some screen space)
  
• tweak: make player dot on "on-screen radar" bigger
  

If you take a quick little look to the changes list at the bottom of this post, you might notice the amount of fixes and tweaks easily outweigh the amount of new additions in this weeks update.. for good reason!  My main goal this week was to squash any bug I ran into, and also rebalance a bunch of things to make the game a bit easier.  With the original Space Grunts game I think I hit the right sweet spot between "difficult but possible" and my aim is to get as close to that with this game.

A few things I did in this update to accomplish that is tweak the settings on a bunch of aliens, from attach chance to hp and more. But I also tweaked a bunch of cards and gave the characters more HP from the start.  I noticed that right now, altho I haven't complete the game, I do have that feeling that I could do it if I don't make too much mistakes.. it might still need a few changes left and right, but it's getting close!

A lot of time was also put in squashing a crash-bug that happened way too often between two levels, and I'm now 99.9% sure I fixed the cause of the crash!

In the latest devlog I also talk a bit about all the polish that goes into getting a game ready for release, so check that out here:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Full changes list:

• added: new card Drill
  
• added: new card Block
  
• added: new skill card - Cautious
  
• added: Touch controls don't have icons on them
  
• added: double-click / tap cards to play (alternative to dragging)
  
• added: aliens can now run away from things like fire
  
• added: dialogs for player getting sick + better
  
• added: Event - Hunter/Predator
  
• added: map-view now shows player's head instead of a small orange dot
  
• added: inventory + skill cards to continue-game screen
  

Fixes and tweaks:

• fixed: reactivated tutorials (oops!)
  
• fixed: hud shows +4 on first level entry
  
• fixed: wall-shades still visible in darkness
  
• fixed: some aliens leave invisible blockade on the map (hopefully)
  
• fixed: crash at new level loading (hopefully)
  
• fixed: inventory cards now fly properly from A to B
  
• fixed: using Boring skill made aliens go into 0hp mode and sometimes unbeatable
  
• fixed: tricorder fails if creature dies that turn
  
• fixed: increase pause-button touch area (mobile)
  
• fixed: fire now damages plasmabombs
  
• fixed: "phantom death sounds"
  
• fixed: some attack-points on "non-attack" cards didn't register
  
• fixed: dialogs/tutorials/info not correctly showing up
  
• fixed: added "modifier" cards to the savegame
  
• fixed: bibot doesn't show up in level-progress (head-icon)
  
• fixed: if player is sick, fists don't do any damage at all (feels weird)
  
• fixed: when playing EMP card, opponent doesn't respond to it until ending card-battle
  
• fixed: pressing button on character-select screen (without selecting) crashes game
  
• fixed: teleport card during uiplaycard does work, but doesn't exit "battle"
  
• fixed: Random crashes between level
  
• fixed: various moments where a hit isn't doing damage to an alien
  
• tweak: added deck-card animation
  
• tweak: player being sick isn't apparent (effect is, but what it means isn't)
  
• tweak: alien-spawn count now corrected for "alternate routes"
  
• tweak: special inventory items aren't shown at entities if already "mounted" (ie.: grunt-boots at acid barrel)
  
• tweak: huge amount of stat tweaks on items and aliens (balancing)
  
• tweak: flamethrower now ends round
  
• tweak: gave characters more HP (balancing)
  

Polish till it shines! This week's update comes with a lot of polish, from simple things like centering text on the screen, to complete new screens like the "Continue game" screen or the Statistics screen.

I've also started on some big re-balancing sessions, as I'm pretty sure the game is TOO challenging at this point, so you'll find that with this update the game has gotten slightly easier and you should be able to get deeper into the space base.

Finally a big feature this week are the Leaderboards! It will now track your best time/level combo and place you in the various boards based on your Character and in the Overall boards.  You'll also notice there is a 4th character leaderboard, and I will write up a newsletter soon with the information on unlocking that character, so sign-up if you want it!

In this weeks vlog I talked a little bit about the code that goes into making the aliens move and run around the levels, so if you're interested in that, check out last Thursdays video:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Full changes list:

• added: Bonus character (subscribe to Newsletter for info coming in next mail!)
  
• added: Statistics screen
  
• added: Leaderboards
  
• added: entity codex
  
• added: Credits screen
  
• added: improved interface and restructured menu systems
  
• added: improved UI
  
• added: continue game has proper own screen with info on the game
  
• added: new card Knife
  
• added: new card Vial
  

Fixes and tweaks:

• fixed: skill-icons flashing rendering bugs
  
• fixed: text-wrap bug in speech (hud)
  
• fixed: limit/slow-down messages shown in HUD
  
• fixed: using mouse/touch in card-codex caused crash (at last card)
  
• fixed: leaderboard bibot shows scores of class Grimm
  
• fixed: most stars in backdrop starfield stood still
  
• fixed: pause menu opens codex instead of options
  
• fixed: Dialogs are tapped too quickly and disappear directly. Same with game over screen
  
• fixed: wall-mounted rockets should show "range" on the floor (like flamers)
  
• tweak: various card drop-rates and usage stats
  
• tweak: made avatars more colorful / stand out
  
• tweak: Gadget can now level-up slightly faster
  
• tweak: made less tutorials pop-up in a new game session by delaying events/situations
  
• tweak: made important card info more clear with highlighting
  
• tweak: few improved sound effects
  

This week my main focus has been on fixing tiny bugs and making various little improvements to different parts of the game and interface.  I did manage to sneak in a couple of new items/cards to use in the battles, so there is of course a great reason to give the new version a proper play through!  I really love the Flamethrower, it has a very destructive strength, but a lot of that destruction can really turn on you and isn't the safest weapon to use. But effective in almost all cases!

And if the new cards aren't enough reason, then maybe the first batch of Achievements I introduced to the game might make you want to play. There are 18 achievements added and I probably will add a few more, but these ones are already a nice variation of "easy" "medium" and "hard" achievements.. so there's something there for everyone!

My next focus will be on adding that actual ending when you slay The Blob, add a proper credit screen, complete work on the codex, and work on a statistics screen to keep track of your victories, biggest enemy, and other such silly but fun stats to look at!

There will also be a special item added to the game which can only be unlocked through instructions in one of the upcoming Newsletters, so make sure to sign-up for that one!

And of course there was also another vlog on the games' development, this time showing the creation of a new tentacle obstacle:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Full changes list:

• added: skill icons light up when leveling up/grunt-manual card
  
• added: station info pops up as speech bubble
  
• added: new Alien card - Scratch (lesser version of claw)
  
• added: first batch of Achievements
  
• added: new card Flamethrower
  
• added: new skill-card Web of Time
  
• added: Tentacle creature now attacks when woken up/appearing
  
• added: touch/mobile specific interface
  
• added: backdrop to menus
  
• added: zoom-in on cards for touch-screens (when long-pressed)
  
• added: character select now uses proper card-interface
  

Fixes and changes:

• fixed: don't show spore-info dialog when spore are killed off screen (by fire)
  
• fixed: walking through heal spores doesn't heal correctly (crystal)
  
• fixed: more satisfying explosion for bigger creatures
  
• fixed: robots sometimes run backwards (visually)
  
• fixed: syringe effect and other pop-up messages are now visible
  
• fixed: can now open map-view on touchscreens
  
• fixed: projectile effects (like railgun) have rendering artifacts
  
• tweak: wall-spider-cracks now only crack if player is near them (not at 2-3 tiles anymore)