The Zone: Stalker Stories News

[p]This month we get some nice QoL features and important fixes. However, most of the hours have gone into implementing the new Cinema biome. Behold![/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]https://www.youtube.com/embed/TGTiWSY0-IM?si=1P3W1vpADWxB_tBf[p](Just a tiny sneak peek. There's going to be a lot to see!)[/p][p][/p][p]The art assets are 95% complete, and I'm well underway with the collisions and visuals/lighting. Just a matter of putting in the work and getting the art finished for the TWO unique bosses in this biome.[/p][p][/p][p]I wasn't kidding when I promised this would be our biggest, most complex isometric environment yet.[/p][p][/p][p]This brings me to a question I'd like to ask you guys:[/p][p][/p][p]Would you like the game better if it were fully isometric instead of part-isometric, part top-down?[/p][p][/p][p]It's a change I've been thinking about for a long time, and I would like the levels to be more consistent than they currently are. But of course there's work and expense involved recreating the early levels... So if you guys are really passionate one way or another, you could sway me.[/p][p][/p][p]Let me know in the comments. For now, I wish you happy Stalking, and will see you in the Zone![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]v0.7.7.4 Changelog:[/p]

• [p]Running (Shift key/Left Trigger) now costs Stamina and reduces starting Stamina if caught in combat (No proper running animation yet but someday)[/p]
• [p]Animated Stamina readout for running[/p]
• [p]Updated & improved Research UI[/p]
• [p]Unique deck view UI during research[/p]
• [p]Closing world map without selecting a destination no longer breaks scanning[/p]
• [p]Rewrote Opportunity handler for reliability[/p]
• [p]New (WIP) background & battle scene for Snake Fang intro fight[/p]
• [p]Fixed other issues with world map[/p]
• [p]Fixed Stash sprites not working properly[/p]
• [p]Battle UI tweaks[/p]
• [p]Fixed inventory Storage container placement[/p]
• [p]Starting a new game with intro no longer gives double starting money[/p][p][/p]

[p]Working with human artists is both a delight and takes a long time. Still, the results speak for themselves![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p](A smattering of finished art and works in progress.)[/p][p][/p][p]There's a lot more to show than this, but I can't spoil everything. Suffice it to say we've got new art for one of the best-looking environments in the game nearly completed, and I'm replacing lots of nasty temp stuff together with the new team members.[/p][p][/p][p]Things are progressing on the writing and implementation front too. This update's got new conversations, important fixes... But the focus right now is on the art, which has been our biggest bottleneck for far too long. I need to get the new environments done in order to be able to progress the main story, and August promises to be the month where we finally get another one of those implemented.[/p][p][/p][p]Thanks again for your support all this time. Even if progress seems slow at times, I'm keeping things rolling as best I can.[/p][p][/p][p]Enjoy the new update, and I hope to see you in the Zone.[/p][p][/p][p]

v0.7.6.9 Changelog:[/p]

• [p]New story scenes with Dominica & Louis[/p]
• [p]Several new enemies[/p]
• [p]New cutscene in Wharf[/p]
• [p]Redrawn & animated Louis sprite[/p]
• [p]New expressions for Louis[/p]
• [p]Inventory improvements[/p]
• [p]Updated and improved shop UI[/p]
• [p]Improved game performance in Wharf[/p]
• [p]Fixed data being improperly saved & loaded[/p]
• [p]Fixed some background size errors[/p]
• [p]Fixed colours and water not lining up in Wharf[/p]
• [p]Fixed potential crash in Sending a Message quest debrief[/p]
• [p]Improved Louis UI sprite[/p]

[p]The next version is on the way but not ready.[/p][p][/p][p]In semi-related news, my new job is going very well, and the lifting of financial stress been very good for my mental health. Working (both at the day job and on Zone) has become fun again.[/p][p][/p][p]In extremely-related news, our new artists are creating at a good clip, and we're working on gradually replacing the game's current crop of non-hand-drawn temp art with nicer stuff. I'm actually in the process of hiring even more people right now to keep things moving forward. Definitely excited for the future.[/p][p][/p][p]In closing, a sneak peek of something which you will be able to encounter in the upcoming new biome...[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

It's that time of the month again -- another new update for Zone! This time I've been focussed on two things, especially new environments and artwork, as well as putting in a chunk of effort to ensure that the main plot can be properly experienced.

Here is a glimpse of our next isometric environment, the Cinema:
(Don't ask what those coloured areas are hiding...)

And if you remember seeing sketches of the top-down exterior we were working on, the Greenery -- that one's still coming too. Not to mention we've got multiple new enemies in the works...

[center][/center]
(You might remember the cheerful fellow in red from a previous preview -- you may have to fight him sooner or later...)

Of course all this is taking a long time to cook, but I'm excited to show you everything once it's ready.

For now, check out the log below for a list of changes, and let me know if you run into any other issues! I'll get on it right away.

See you in the Zone...


v0.7.6.5.1 Changelog:

• # Certain damaging anomalies now repel the player
  
• # Fixed crash when viewing certain status effect pop-ups
  
• # Fixed certain inputs not being recognised on some control devices
  
• # Starting equipment is now guaranteed to spawn
  
• # In the prologue, player can no longer exit Esper without a pack
  
• # Fixed crashes/locks when speaking to Simon in prologue
  
• # Female Snake Fang enemy no longer disappears when stunned
  
• # Fixed story interactions in late Chapter 2/Chapter 3
  
• # Fixed Chapter 3 crash
  
• # Fixed quests not being triggered/added to the quest log when appropriate
  
• # Can now properly deliver the Core Box to Dominica
  
• # Fixed numerous problems & crashes when using quest log
  
• # List of choices no longer obstructs blinking light animation in train yard story
  
• # Replaced some nasty temp art
  
• # Psi Spark animation no longer loops erroneously
  

The roof is fixed, and I've been sleeping in a proper bed again for nigh on a week! Plus, I've been busily plugging away at that new side quest I promised, which is now complete.

The quest, Missing Persons, will require you to gather information and explore unexpected corners to uncover the mystery...

(The door's open. It's a friendly place!)

Other than that, I've made a number of important fixes that should sort out remaining instability in the story segments. This involved rebuilding certain systems from scratch, which were old and coded by a younger me who didn't know enough yet to build them properly... So it goes.

I've not been able to test the new content very thoroughly, so if you run into any problems, please drop a report on the discussion board and I will fix them ASAP as usual.

More environment work is underway -- I'm hoping to get the revamp of the train yard done for the next update, and work proceeds on new enemies and environments for the main quest. This has been our biggest bottleneck recently, but with some old friends rejoining the team, progress is in the wind.

Until the next update -- Happy Stalking, and enjoy the Zone...!


v0.7.6.3 Changelog:

• # New side quest Missing Persons available from Chapter 1
  
• # New unique dialogue, art, sound & environments for Missing Persons quest
  
• # Fixed numerous issues with story intro
  
• # Fixed story segments getting stuck on certain lines when using TTS
  
• # Quest turn-in no longer breaks when quitting the game before turning in a quest
  
• # Starting equipment should no longer be given multiple times when starting a new game
  
• # Fixed status effect particle animations bugging out on defeated enemies
  
• # Dominica is no longer restricted to Chapter 2+ for dialogue in the lab
  
• # Some grammar corrections