Up to Par News

Hi Golfers,

This week's patch is a smaller one, fixing primarily issues with the interface and speeding up game loading. There are some minor gameplay tweaks as well.

Major Changes

• Refactored how game data is stored on disk, which should make loading faster.
  
• Fixed bug where clicking on an item in the game menu would waste a shot.
  
• Chip shot is 20% more powerful.
  

Bug Fixes

• Game end buttons now work in singleplayer modes.
  
• Fixed bug where the game end buttons could be clicked too early in multiplayer games.
  
• Setup no longer shows the unlock prompt when everything is actually unlocked.
  
• Countdown doesn't go below 0
  
• Course list numbering is now correct when setting custom courses in game setup.
  
• Item in shop wiggles as a deny animation if you can't buy it (keyboard & joysticks).
  
• Fixed bug where model normals were being imported wrong and making objects look strange.
  
• "Done" button is now selectable in the shop after you alt+tab.
  
• Fixed bug where contour style reset even when set in settings.
  
• Audio sliders now correctly reset to defaults when you revert settings.
  
• Fixed bug where boardwalks could generate so close to other tiles balls would get stuck in the gap and make the game unplayable.
  
• Resolutions in the game settings fade out when not selectable.
  
• Refactored countdown code so that it's consistent throughout the game.
  

Known Bugs

• Players can still control their butterfly after selecting 'New Round', making the game unplayable.
  
• Keyboard & Controller players can't Ready-up to restart after a match, they need to go back to game settings and ready from there.
  

As always, I hope this update makes your game better! If you run into any bugs at all, please use the F1 report screen to let me know so that I can get them fixed in the next patch release.

Happy Golfing,
Philip

Hi Golfers,

Today's patch brings some small improvements for multiplayer games, and some subtle graphics upgrades across the entire game. The biggest features are a cheaper bank to purchase shots, and something to keep you entertained when you're knocked out in a multiplayer game.

Major Changes

• Purchasing shots for upcoming rounds in the bank now costs 2 instead of 3.
  
• When you're knocked out of 3+ team game, you turn into a butterfly that you can control for the rest of the match. Useful for pointing out the hole to your friends, getting in the way of your friends, landing on top of your friends, and other butterfly-related fun.
  
• We're now sharing the winners of the weekly challenge on It's Anecdotal's social media! Reach the podium, become famous!
  

Bug Fixes

• Fixed bug in 3-team games where a team further away from the hole could be declared winner.
  
• Added glyph support for RU, KO, JA, TC and SC characters. This will fix the squares in names in the leaderboards.
  
• Fixed occasional crash when exiting the game due to a multithread error in the music system.
  
• Game now returns to the main menu correctly when you have items equipped in-game, rather than freezing.
  
• Fixed bug where settings menu would display multiple options if you switched between sections too quickly.
  
• Metal ball and golden ball now have fragments that match their colours.
  
• Updated 2-stroke teleport name to "Skip" to make it clear it's a separate item and doesn't stack/refill.
  
• Enviornments (except farm) should now generate deterministically, especially important in the weekly challenge.
  
• Fixed issue where submitting online data didn't use HTTPS.
  
• Framerate setting now works as expected and doesn't reset.
  
• Unlimited framerate works as expected.
  
• Big update to the game's interface. UI panels look different depending on whether they're interactable or not.
  
• In multiplayer games, you can now see who's ready and who's waiting for that.
  
• Fixed chip shot (again).
  
• Fixed crash for clients in online games when using Gimmie.
  
• Game settings option now only shows for server.
  
• Game setup closes when you use the back button.
  
• Ceiling item now shows it being used as soon as it happens.
  
• Free shot position is now always centered in the course, and won't spawn on awkwardly sloped pieces.
  
• Contour lines are now shown for all non-flat pieces. You can change the visibility in settings.
  
• Fixed some minor missing geometry in the pond levels. Now all gaps have correct walls and there are no odd sharp pieces sticking out of causeways.
  
• Can no longer buy both short and long aim (there's no point). Buying long aim after short gives you a discount, and upgrades the existing item.
  

Known Bugs

• Sometimes client balls spawn out of bounds.
  
• Clients can't score their final shot if it's via teleport.
  
• Butterflies don't animate for clients in online games.
  

As always, I hope this update makes your game better! If you run into any bugs at all, please use the F1 report screen to let me know so that I can get them fixed in the next patch release.

Happy Golfing,
Philip

Hi Golfers,

Today brings a major update to the demo of Up to Par. As well as the usual bug fixes, this version has significantly updated netcode, which should make for smoother hosting and joining games. There are also more descriptive error notifications, and fixes for many networking bugs.

Major Changes

• Purchasing shots for upcoming rounds in the bank now costs 2 instead of 3. (Coming in the next patch, sorry!)
  

Bug Fixes

• Fixed issue where chip shot wouldn't fire.
  
• Ball now correctly despawns in edge case where client disconnected during level change.
  
• Inviting friends to a game now works all the time, not only when they'd already started a game in the same session.
  
• Changed level generation to fix occasional de-sync bug where courses would appear differently for different clients.
  
• Magnet effect now applies to all clients, making for smoother physics.
  
• Made the ocean "wiggle" piece wider so that it didn't block the ball when identical pieces were placed next to each other.
  
• Fixed the pole catcher item that had broken.
  
• Client balls should now always register as being in the hole.
  
• Metal ball now has metal fragments.
  
• Highscore list font support for KO, RU, JA, TC and SC glyphs.
  
• Fixed issue where the tie-break distance from hole was recorded incorrectly when both players were out in the same hole.
  
• Game now correctly quits to main menu with no delay after equipping items.
  
• Fixed bug where ceiling wouldn't fire if you were in line with the hole.
  

Known Bugs

• Playing an online multiplayer game directly after playing the Weekly Challenge will result in connection issues.
  

I hope this update makes your online games smoother! As always, I hope you have fun playing this new version, and if you run into any bugs at all, please use the F1 report screen to let me know so that I can get them fixed in the next patch release.

Happy Golfing,
Philip

Hi Golfers,

This new version of Up to Par has the usual list of bug fixes, but also shakes up the item inventory a bit, with two old items removed and four new items added! I've made my favourite - the Mulligan - unlockable in the demo, and if you're part of the beta testing program (ask me about that on the Discord) you'll be able to test them all out.

New Features

• Removed the Birde and Eagle items. These didn't require any skill to use, and were so overpowered that they were required if you wanted to get a high score - removing any interesting choice of items or tactics while playing.
  
• Added a new Mulligan item that you can unlock in the demo. If you make a mistake and your ball bounces back near where it started, you get a do-over and can take the next shot for free.
  
• Added a Ceiling item. It keeps the ball low to the ground, even if you launch it off a ramp or over a bump.
  
• Added a Chip Shot. Your first shot each hole launches high into the air - giving some fun possibilities for shortcuts!
  
• Added a Free Shot item. A small target appears on each course, and if your ball lands inside the target you get your next shot for free.
  
• Added the Foresight item. It's a permanent upgrade, that shows you the next course when you're shopping. This should make it easier to tune your upgrades for each course, picking the items that will be the most useful!
  
• There's new music for the main menu!
  

Bug Fixes

• Fixed missing toasts/popups saying who has left or joined a networked game.
  
• Stopped balls from respawning on top of moving objects.
  
• When levels generate, corners of courses will no longer overlap and trap the ball.
  
• If a team is out in a 3+ team game, and the game progresses to the shop, the team who is out will no longer get a shop, and won't be spawned back into the game in the next round.
  
• F1 now works to report bugs in the full version of the game for beta testers.
  
• Fixed a bug in the game and settings menu where it was possible for everything to end up unselected and a player using a controller would get stuck.
  
• Stopped game menus and settings menus from appearing
• underneath* the previous menu.
  
• Tweaks to some of the in-game sound effects and volumes.
  
• New sounds for the new seasonal balls.
  
• Fixed bug where the ball would bounce directly away from the pontoon in ocean levels and never cross it.
  
• Sound effects for UI popups.
  
• Graphics pass for the pond level, because reflections weren't rendering for many players. Removed the reflections but added ripples and depth.
  
• Player names in networked games now show up properly along with their correspending controller icon.
  
• Fixed a major bug where slower clients wouldn't show the level introduction information, and could join into the level so late that their ball didn't appear.
  
• Fixed bug where the teleport item, if equipped, was used up fully when the ball was within 1m of the hole.
  
• Teleport no longer drops you onto the pond ramp, or into the troughs on the farm level.
  
• Ball trail breaks correctly when the ball respawns or teleports.
  
• Fixed a bug where a ball would respawn infinitely if bounced off the level during spawn.
  

Whew, another big update, and another few steps closer to release! As always, I hope you have fun playing this new version, and if you run into any bugs at all, please use the F1 report screen to let me know so that I can get them fixed in the next patch release.

Happy Golfing,
Philip

Hi Golfers,

Over the last two months I've been grinding away at all the bugs you've reported, and I'm happy to say that I've fixed quite a lot of them! Version 0.21.2 of the Up to Par Demo is now live. From major connection issues to tiny UI glitches, these are all the things that should be working better now:

• Game no longer crashes when a client player uses a Gimmie.
  
• Lobbies filter correctly for Nobody/Friends/All when set in game setup.
  
• Balls should no longer be able to fall infinitely when hit out of bounds.
  
• Controller now works in Yes/No confirmation dialogues.
  
• The in-game interface correctly disappears when the in-game menu is shown, so they don't overlap.
  
• Fixed the issue where not all teams or balls would appear for all players.
  
• Added a "New Team" button for the mouse player, so they can create their own team.
  
• The shots remaining panel in-game is highlighted for the local player, so that when playing large online games you can tell at a glance which team is yours.
  
• Added some exciting (and secret!) new seasonal balls. Keep your eyes peeled for details.
  
• Balls will now never overlap when starting a new level, this means they won't ever hit each other out of the course by accident when playing with collisions on.
  
• Fixed an infinite-respawn bug that occured when a ball was knocked off the course before the player took any shots.
  
• Tweaked the angle of the row-jumps in the farm crop level obstacle. It's now a bit smoother and more predictable.
  
• Fixed one of the achievements that was broken.
  
• Stopped the aiming cursor showing up sometimes when the ball spawned, before it touched the ground.
  
• Teleport upgrade only fires once per shot, and only uses one of the items in stock.
  
• Teleport also looks ahead to where it's going to drop the ball, and will shorten the teleport length if needed to ensure it never drops out of bounds.
  
• Controller remapping dialogue now shows up correctly in front of everything else.
  
• The remapping settings will appear/disappear when you plug/unplug a controller. This means you can no longer get stuck trying to map buttons from a controller that you can't input from.
  
• Fixed the progression view so that you can't end up with multiple versions of it open at the same time.
  
• Disallowed connecting while a countdown is happening to ensure that all players have had a chance to select their balls before the game starts.
  
• If a client is in connection handshaking when you start a countdown, it will now stop the countdown and wait for them to join.
  
• Added a friendlier error message when something fails in the connection process.
  
• Fixed the missing "Join" buttons for mouse players when setting up a new game.
  
• Fixed the bug in networked games where balls would freeze randomly in the middle of a shot.
  

Whew, what a list! I hope you have a smoother and better time with the demo than ever before. As always, if you *do* run into a problem that I haven't fixed yet, please use the F1 report form to let me know. I read all of them!

If you're hanging out here waiting for the full release, I'm pleased to say that my list of bugs is slowly getting shorter, which means release is getting closer! I don't have a date yet, but you can be sure I'll let you know as soon as I do.

Happy Golfing,
Philip