Primeval News

Map Switching

The game world is now broken into smaller maps. This was done to improve the game's frames per second. You can switch to a different map at the main menu. More maps will be added in the future.

When continuing as an existing dinosaur, the player starts at a random position on the map.

If the player tries to create a new dinosaur on a map that does not have a nest for that species, the map's default nest is chosen and temporarily turned into a nest for the player's chosen species.

All dinosaurs now smell for a longer duration before the smelling highlights disappear.

The 'Return To Nest' button is now the 'Get Unstuck' button. It now teleports the player to a random location on the map according to the player's dinosaur's natural environment.

Dinosaurs no longer get thirsty from regenerating health and stamina, it was causing dehydration more than desired.

Biome-Specific Dinosaur Spawns

Each species of dinosaur now only spawns in specific biomes. Each dinosaur can have different spawn rates per biome, Common, Uncommon, or Rare. This determines how often they are encountered.
Increased the range at which all pack followers will follow and stop following their leader.
Adjusted some dinosaurs' 'Dominance' value. Now herbivores are less dominant than an equal-sized carnivore. This means carnivores are more likely to attack herbivores.
Aquatic dinosaur spawns have been increased from 500 to 800. With the addition of biome spawn rates this should provide more smaller dinosaurs for food in the ocean.
Different music now plays in each biome.
Our composer has finished another music track, one for the jungle biome. You can hear it randomly play in the jungle along with a placeholder music track.

Dinosaur Weight

Reduced the game's R.A.M. usage from approximately 5.9gb down to approximately 4.9gb.
All dinosaurs now have a weight.
Changed how much meat dinosaurs have on their body. I based this on their weight.
Brachiosaurus has increased in size. From a scale of 1.6 to 2.6. Their overhead health-bar's position has been adjusted.
Archelon has increased in size. From a scale of 2 to 2.7. Their overhead health-bar's position has been adjusted.
Triceratops has increased in size. From a scale of 2.2 to 3.2. Their overhead health-bar's position has been adjusted.
Adjusted all dinosaurs' bite size to be based on their body weight. 1.8% for carnivores and 0.18% for herbivores.
The amount of food on trees has increased to be twice as much as previously.
Dinosaur growth point requirements has changed for all dinosaurs. It is now based on their weight.
The rate at which dinosaurs gain growth points passively over time has changed. For hatchlings, they gain 1% of their required growth points every 6 seconds. For juveniles, they gain 1% of their required growth points every 60 seconds. For sub-adults, they gain 1% of their required growth points every 600 seconds. For adults, they gain 1% of their required growth points every 6000 seconds.
The rate at which dinosaurs gain experience points from food has been adjusted to be based on their weight.
The amount of food a dinosaur has to eat in order to not starve has been changed to be based on their weight.
The amount water a dinosaur has to drink in order to not dehydrate has been changed to be based on their weight.
The rate at which dinosaurs get hungry has been changed to every in-game hour, which is two and a half minutes.
The rate at which dinosaurs get thirsty has been changed to every in-game hour, which is two and a half minutes.
A different set of music now plays while the player is underwater. Included in this set is one new musical track made by Will Dodson!

CPU and GPU Performance Optimizations

Changed the game's render distance to be three times its current value. Now land and vegetation can be seen very far away.
Adjusted the overhead health-bar offset of some aquatic dinosaurs.
Adjusted the height offset of the camera to be based on a dinosaur's health-bar offset and height. Also the closer you zoom in the less affected the camera is by the health-bar offset, so its more centered on the dinosaur.
Corpses no longer turn into a pile of meat when half of their flesh remains.
The CPU now uses around 35% less processing power to play the game. The GPU uses around 50% less processing power to play the game. As a result of these two improvements the game's frames per second has decreased. I will be looking for solutions to this setback.
The underwater effect for freshwater has been temporarily removed.
Rain particle effects are now working!
Grass throughout the biomes has been changed.
Overhead health-bar render distance has been increased from 100 to 500.
The terrain's textures have received a visual overhaul. Also, terrain textures no longer appear extremely glossy in the sunlight.
The amount of flesh a dinosaur's body contains has been increased.
Player dinosaurs no longer stand when smelling if they were sitting or sleeping, they instead will smell or cancel smelling.
Player dinosaurs can now cancel smelling during the smelling cooldown phase.

FPS Increase

Made a game optimization that increased FPS by 10 to 30 FPS, it varies by location in the game.