[h3]1.4.0 Update Video:[/h3][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]Graphics and Performance Improvements:[/h3]A large portion of this update was focused on optimizing the game and improving the look and feel of it. The planetary environment has received a complete performance and visual overhaul. It now performs much better, looks much better, and is more realistic. For many players, their frame rate will have doubled and most will now be able get 60 FPS or higher with normal video settings.
[h3]VLAR Bot:[/h3]Under normal circumstances, the "Versatile Light Autonomous Repair" bot assists station personnel with repairs and maintenance tasks. It is exhibiting some very strange behavior.
[h3]Electroshock Weapons:[/h3]The game now includes electroshock weapons. Normally there is no need for weapons on the station, thus, they can only be manufactured and not found.
Makeshift Electroshock Weapon:A makeshift defensive weapon that projects a powerful arc of electricity over a short distance.
Makeshift Electroshock Charge:A single charge for the Makeshift Electroshock Weapon.
Electroshock Pod:A high tech pod filled with electrical energy. It will release its charge upon impact with certain vulnerable equipment.
Electroshock Dart Gun:A high tech pistol that fires small electroshock darts.
Electroshock Dart:A small dart fired by the Electroshock Dart Gun.
[h3]Some Miscellaneous Improvements:[/h3]
More Realistic Pickup/Drop Physics:Picking up items when moving now more realistically affects your velocity.
Windows 7 is supported again:Windows 7 support is back again.
Other Changes:
- Nearly all menus can now be closed or exited using the ESC key.
- EVA Port enter/exit transitions have been improved.
- The Survival menu now shows which items are needed or missing to be able to construct an object.
- Players can now go up to 5 times more distant from the station without reaching the automatic point of no return.
- Camera jittering during the intro cinematic has been fixed.
- Fixed a bug where a completely stationary oxygen candle would not improve the air quality of the containing module(s).
- View orientation will now be properly restored when loading a save game and returning from the station view.
- When most items are dropped during EVA, they will now be tracked on the HUD so they are not lost to the player.
- Lighting artifacts have been fixed on the cold breath.
- The maneuverability of the EVA jets has been increased by 50%.
- Affliction information on the character menu will now include the approximate remaining duration of the affliction.
- The New Game menu will now default to the procedural generation system when starting a new game. Previous scenarios are still available in a "Legacy Scenerios" box off to the side.
- A Vibro Hammer will now be guaranteed in the starting module of a procedurally generated station.
- Fixed a bug where the occupied module could be incorrect.
- More containers have been added to procedural modules.
- Cold breath will now be deactivated when condition reaches zero.
- There is now a minimum air quality within affected modules if at least one oxygen scrubber is active.
- Fixed an issue where sleeping in a vertical sleeping pod could cause the view to spin.
- Fixed an issue where using cold packs and hot packs from the inventory menu would not apply all of their conditions to the player properly.
- Light sources that can be turned off will now be automatically turned off when sleeping.
- Bandages now no longer remove Infection Risk. Antiseptic or Antibiotics will now be the primary items used to remove Infection Risk.
- Reloading of items in hand is now more realistic. If a reload action is interrupted it will not finish reloading the item in hand.
- Item in hand info on the HUD will now always be displayed when switching between items.
- Many other fixes, changes and improvements.
[h3]Some News:[/h3]Above Earth development continues. The priority now is to create more space station modules inspired by various state and non-state powers in the game.
[h3]A Prize Opportunity:[/h3]The first person to figure out how to destroy a VLAR Bot and send a YouTube video link of themselves doing so to
[email protected] will receive a Steam key to give away to a friend. This prize opportunity will be available until the first valid claim is made or until the end of December 2020, whichever comes first. The key will be sent to the email address of the YouTube account that posts the video. An announcement will be posted to the community Hub here on Steam if and when the first valid claim is made.
The Trello board is updated:
https://trello.com/b/ewpYkK9i/above-earth-developmentThanks for supporting the game. Stay safe out there.
