Squirrelmageddon! News

[h2]'Squirrel Brain'[/h2]
A condition of mild insanity; often affecting game developers while optimising multiplayer networks and trouble shooting data replication systems.

• objectives now replicate to clients
  
• client side objectives are being recorded server side
  
• client objectives HUD status now updating
  

Tweaked lighting for a more darker tone in the Specimen Observation Lab and the Training Gauntlet.



[h2]Full Update List:[/h2]

• MULTIPLAYER UPDATE: turret replication tweaks
  
• MULTIPLAYER CO-OP FIXES: mission objective replication
  
• LOBBY UPDATE: first spawn as squirrel
  
• WEAPON UPDATE: muzzle particle effect smaller on rifles so can see squirrels better
  
• WEAPON UPDATE: AK-47 ADS reversion from true ads to skewed ads (better vision)
  
• SQUIRREL UPDATE: collision update (affects hit box and interaction)
  
• SQUIRREL UPDATE: player squirrel eyes now reflective
  
• UI UPDATE: scoreboard border
  
• UI FIXES: game over pop up player name
  
• UI FIXES: old button hover tool tips removed
  
• HIVE MAPS: darker lighting
  

I'll be streaming for the next hour or so after this is posted. Tune in if you can - otherwise I'll just be rambling on to my squirrels... as usual - lol.

[h2]NEW: squirrel masks[/h2]
It is done... the squirrels are MASKED. The squirrel is a symbol... it's now just obvious - lol.

ASAP: ability to turn the masks off in GAME SETTINGS.

[h2]Steam Repository Updated[/h2]
I've had to cleanup and update the Steam Repo to remove old beta files. This has resulted in a full game re-download from Steam being required.

So sorry, but I really had to clean up the repo!



[h2]In this update[/h2]

• FIXED: bunch of multi-player issues (MP is now a primary focus)
  
• UPDATED: multi-player mission zones now only include small maps for performance
  
• UPDATED: lots of UI updates for multiplayer menus
  
• UPDATED: squirrel brain for multiplayer. They will now chase the closest player bringing back the 'protect your comrade without shooting them' aspect of multi-player.
  

[h2]MULTIPLAYER: The State of the Squirrel[/h2]
Things are running much smoother now! I've reduced the mission zones to small uncluttered maps Training Grounds and the Specimen Observation Lab.

MP is still go for a quick survival / shoot fest and to hunt other player soldiers as a squirrel. I'm working on some multi-player mode ideas such as MOB and Squirrel Racing... heh heh.



[h3]MULTIPLAYER STUFF I'M WORKING HARD TO FIX:[/h3]
- 'rubber banding / stutter' (might be turrets or projectiles or both or other!)
- mission data replication to clients (fix objectives system for CO-OP)
- fix character mesh replication (server gets client mesh - WTFix soon!)
- other various data and actor replication bugs
- intermittent client crash (still gathering data)

ASAP: more small maps for lower spec machines + multiplayer!

Stay squirrely and see you top-side!

[h2]MERCHANTS UPDATE[/h2]
Over the last week I've added the ability to reset soldier skills and suit mods. You can now retrain and reconfigure soldiers to suit your play style and mission zone strategies.



- NEW FEATURE: uninstall all suit mods and receive a full refund
- NEW FEATURE: reset and retrain all soldier skills
- MERCHANT UPDATES: adding dialogue to all merchants.

[h2]MAP WORK[/h2]
I am starting to rework all the base maps and missions to suit different types of builds, gameplay styles and high score strategies.



- MAP UPDATE: Squirrel Town is now the fist top-side mission zone. This size map appears to be the sweet spot for tight, contained and more intense gameplay. Smaller maps will also give me more time to really 'craft' the mission experience.

[h2]WEAPON UPDATES[/h2]

Weapons have had more work on the ADS and Projectile sub-systems. The focus was on satisfying play and pacing rather than 'accurate weapon simulation'.



- WEAPON UPDATE: plasma grenade explosion effect
- WEAPON UPDATE: ADS camera positioning tuning most weapons
- WEAPONS UPDATE: added the Burst Rifle and Heavy AR weapons to starting weapons inventory

[h2]BUGFIXES[/h2]
- FIXED: rare crash related to squirrel spawning where no matching spawns found



[h2]MISC UPDATES[/h2]
- PLAYER HUD: re-added 1st Person cross-hairs (soz, my bad!)
- UI GENERAL: interface colour revert
- UI LOADOUT: some tweaks / replaced left right arrow seletors
- LOBBY: mission name added to mission brief panel
- LOBBY AVATAR UPDATE: single player avatar always spawns in the middle slot

Still working on customisable controls. I have to integrate the saved changed into all UI elements and hint text before deploy.

Stay squirrely, have fun and see you top-side!

Dev plays and talks about the latest release and future plans for new stuff!

- URGENT FIXED: projectiles colliding with / not spawning inside some trigger zones
- FIXED: exploding barrel inner radius (squirrels too close to barrel would sometimes escape damage)
- FIXED: training and suit max level checks
- UPDATED: UI loading hint + weapon level up