Schwarzerblitz News

A major bug that caused the input to lag on Steam Deck or Linux + Proton while playing with a joypad has finally been fixed. Thank you for your patience and massive thanks to everyone who helped fixing it!

[h2]Long version[/h2]

[h3]The bug[/h3]
Several users reported input lag spikes after playing through the game's story or tutorial mode on Steam Deck. The issue only happened when playing with a joypad and only on Steam Deck or Linux + Proton (albeit more rarely), while Windows was completely unaffected.

[h3]The cause[/h3]
Back in 2016, I edited the irrlicht source code to allow for detecting joypads more than once. The original behavior was to keep adding joypads at every new detection, effectively duplicating the list. This was fine at the time because the function to detect joypads was meant to be called only once, when the game started up.

My modification cleared the list of detected joypads before starting a new detection, to solve this issue. Unfortunately, what I didn't do was also releasing the already detected devices, which somehow still lingered in memory, causing the input events to be duplicated or missed entirely after enough detections had been triggered.

[h3]The solution[/h3]
The solution to this bug was going back to that 2016 code and release all the previously detected devices before clearing the list. This apparently was the core of the issue.

[h2]Special thanks[/h2]
My thanks go to the members of the community that helped me tackle this nasty bug, since I didn't own a Steam Deck to check it. In no particular order:

• Desaeta, who first reported the bug and helped me find the root cause (see this thread)
  
• Gamingjunkie222 for confirming the bug independently on Twitter, which made things easier to deal with (i.e. showing me it wasn't a bug that just affected one single user)
  
• GamingWarthog and 4C3M4N777, who verified that the fix is indeed working as intended
  

[h2]Character changes[/h2]

[h3]Lucia[/h3]

• 9P can now be cancelled on whiff (rationale: Lucia, contrary to most other characters, couldn't cancel any of her moves on whiff. This update gives her at least one whiff cancelable move)
  
• 9P has now Low invul from frame 1
  
• 9P (Supreme) can cancel into 1P
  

[h2]Bug fixes[/h2]

• Fixed bug that persisted since v1.0 that caused some text boxes and menus in Borderless Window mode to appear off-centered
  
• Fixed some older memory leaks that went undetected since v1.0 too
  

[h2]Miscellaneous[/h2]

• Added extra options for switching off joypads and switching off the joypad reconnection check. This might be useful for some bizarre configurations that don't work with the current game and allow the use of software such as Antimicro or Joy2Key in case of need
  

[h2]Note[/h2]

• A bug that affects the game on Steam Deck is still under active scrutiny. See this thread for more information on the bug and possible workarounds.
  

Seven years after the first alpha version and four years after the Steam debut, the lightning strikes again! Schwarzerblitz receives one new massive update!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

• A new playable character: Lucia Lunarossa joins the cast, this time for real!
  
• New costumes and some revamped animations
  
• Version select: choose your favorite old moveset from the alpha and beta times (must be toggled in the options)
  
• Unlockable story NPCs, playable in Versus Mode
  
• A short bonus story chapter
  
• New arcade endings for Lazor and Rattlebone
  
• A new, revamped juggle system
  
• New advanced combo trials
  
• Balance adjustments all around the board
  
• A new secret arcade boss
  
• New training options
  

Thanks for having been here for the ride and, once again, let the Black Lightning strike! Detailed patch notes for each character will follow in the coming weeks!

[h3]A short technical delay[/h3]
Due at least two other indie fighting games coming out on May 30-31st and Steam Next Fest approaching, I've decided to postpone the release of Schwarzerblitz v1.6 to the middle of June.

[h3]Wanna see your fan art in the game?[/h3]
To celebrate the upcoming launch, fan-art submissions are open for the in-game gallery. If you have drawn any Schwarzerblitz related art piece, feel free to contact me to have it added to the game. Rules as follow:

• latest submission: 15th June 2024
  
• must be SFW
  
• must only feature Schwarzerblitz characters (characters from the short stories allowed)
  

[h3]Open beta still running[/h3]
In the meanwhile, you can still play on the endless-beta branch (password: mysteryjohnson) to get familiar with the new character and additional features!

Thanks for your continued support! See you in 2-3 weeks!

Schwarzerblitz v1.6 is coming soon as a last big update... and I need all the player feedback I can get! The release candidate version is available in the endless-beta branch of the game. To access it:

• Right Click on Schwarzerblitz in your Steam Library
  
• Select Beta
• Input the password mysteryjohnson to access the endless-beta channel
  
• Switch to the endless-beta channel and let the game update
  

[h2]A new character[/h2]
Lucia Lunarossa, originally released as a Workshop character, will be added to the game in an official form as character #28, to be unlocked by clearing Arcade mode with Mira and Lazor OR Leo and Rattlebone OR Renzo, Mono, Wally and Shaz. She sports an updated and more polished moveset (and, hopefully, more balanced), while still having access to all her transformations



[h2]A new juggle system[/h2]
The juggle system has been revamped to allow for more freeform combos. Every character has now access to a universal launcher that costs one Bullet Counter and a new evasion mechanic called Trigger Escape. A new tutorial section has been added specifically to address this new content.
Each character will also receive a new combo trial that makes use of the new juggle mechanics.



[h2]Version select[/h2]
You've read it right! All the characters have now access to most of their old movesets, ranging from the very first 2017 Alpha version to the latest update. Version select must be toggled in the options and changes, among other things, how gravity, juggles, mechanics and wake up options behave. If you want a taste of an older Schwarzerblitz version, be sure to check it out!



[h2]Unlockable story characters[/h2]
Previously unplayable characters that appeared during the story, such as Army Soldier and Broken Krave, can now be unlocked for Free Match. They can be selected by keeping the Trigger button pressed down while hovering on a certain character.



[h2]To cry wolf[/h2]
In addition to the above, there is also a new secret arcade boss fight. The conditions to get it are pretty hard, but not impossible if you have already met and beaten Arkaneis in Arcade Mode:

• Don't get any Perfect wins before match #3. If you meet K-069 at any moment during your run, you failed this condition.
  
• Obtain at least 2 Perfect wins after match #3.
  
• Play at Hard or higher.
  
• Win two times or more by Ring Out
  
• Never lose a round nor continue
  
• Defeat Doll in match #6
  
• The new boss will replace Donner as the final arcade boss
  

[h2]Quality of life improvements[/h2]
As one last thing, there will be a couple bug fixes and general improvements, such as:

• Replaced some old animations, such as the universal backdash and Kiyoko's run
  
• Improved Record&Replay function in Training Mode
  
• A 3-frames buffer for making links more consistent
  
• A general rebalancing of the cast
  
• Small improvements to the CPU-controlled opponent logic
  

The update will drop within a couple months, so any additional feedback NOW is well appreciated!