Squirrelmageddon! News

Just a quick patch note - full post soon!

- NEW: Game Options
-- True Scavenger mode (still beta) : removes 'glow / sparkles' on objects and objectives

- NEW: Video Option
-- Experimental Retro Mode (just some nostalgia) : adds a dither post process filter to in-game cameras

- ACTUALLY LOOKS BETTER: A.I. 'art' removed and replaced with screenshots + photoshops, including all UI elements

- LIGHTING: map lighting tweaks (dark as night / fog system)

- bunch of stuff, will go through commits and add all to full post soon

Stay squirrely people! Thanks for your support and yes, the squirrels ARE MUTATING:

THE WHITE SQUIRREL EXISTS:
https://www.logandaily.com/news/logan-neighborhood-being-visited-by-small-tree-climbing-mutant/article_447e95c0-1370-11ee-b70a-b7850d25a20a.html

MUTANT BLACK SQUIRRELS ON THE RISE:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2666977/Rare-black-genetic-mutant-squirrel-pictured-visiting-familys-garden.html

It is with great disappointment and more than some sadness that I have to remove all AI assisted 'art' generated for Squirrelmageddon from both the game and all past Steam posts....

AI assisted 'horror squirrel art' gave me hope... so much hope and joy in seeing my squirrels finally rendered into reality.. they were so cool, so crazy...

Alas, Steam says no.... for the time being. This is completely understandable and reasonable until legal finality on the subject has been arrived at.

From here on out there will be NO AI 'ART' or AI GENERATED ASSETS in the Squirrelmageddon! Game or Steam page that could be subject to copyright claims.

In game images will be blanked until replacement images can be created and added.

I plan on working more posed and real time in-game screenshots in Photoshop as before. This is going to take quite a long time, but I am actually looking forward to doing this and learning some new skills!

I want to thank everyone who is following Squirrelmageddon! and showing support with comments and thumbs ups - you all have kept me going though all the insanity that Squirrelmageddon! has brought to my life!

(oh soooo much insanity... only another solo game dev would know the true depths of one's pain and suffering delivered by the claws of Ratatosk!)


NOTE: for the time being I will still be uploading 'AI assisted concept art' to the game website gallery at www.squirrelmageddongame.com

Stay squirrely and I'll be back topside again real soon!

Ton of fixes and updates this patch. Full patch details with video soon!

Gameplay is now a little more hectic / difficult.

The core of the patch:
- Squirrelmadillos and green swamp squirrels now fire projectiles
- Ultra squirrel has leap + stomp attack
- Some maps have moveable large spotlights
- Reworked all map post process lighting
- Tons of fixes and improvements

(note not fully tested in multiplayer - but appears to be working ok)

[horror]
(AI concept art)

- FIXED: new Turret FX no longer tanking framerates
- FIXED: player squirrel broken post process
- FIXED: computer terminal screen emissive textures
- flashlight updated (more realistic / horror atmosphere?)
- point lighting overhaul lobby and hive (better like flashlight?)
- map fog / night work (better with fewer 'anomalies')

[horror]

(AI concept art)

Gameplay update: initial Flashlight drains suit battery charge - this little change has made it so at some point... you will be in the dark with the squirrels... fear the squirrel... out of charge, you won't be able to jump so you had better ruuuun...!

ROFL - is this even still a 'squirrel' ?!
[horror]
(AI assisted concept art only)

[h2]v1.07.739 - PATCH NOTES[/h2]

• MAP UPDATE: Deadlands repawned new forest (improves framerates)
  
• GAMEPLAY: continuing mission keeps inventory!
  
• REMOVED: destructible windows / doors (improves performance single and multiplayer + opens up run / skill jump lanes through houses making houses more survivable)
  
• FIXED: squirrel spawn counter - stops too many squirrels from spawning
  
• FIXED: texture lighting issues on electronics and plastic
  
• FIXED: rope bridge rope collision Squirrel Town
  
• HUD: damage health border overlay at 20% health left
  
• UI QOL: prices added to item rows !!!
  
• FX: Orb of Delight pickup particle effects so you know if pickup bonus active
  
• FX: Turret plasma core added to replace always glow location marker particles
  
• UI Improvements: game over screen and score popup tweaks
  
• LOBBY / MAP LIGHTING: working in the fog
  
• 'ART': new AI images for some missions (more to come)
  

[horror]
(AI assisted concept art only)

I am continually amazed at how AI is, for the most part, at least a hundred times more insane than any human... perfect for generating horror squirrels - lol... but yeah, I did seed it's algo with the Ginger Bomber Squirrel... I had no idea Squirrelmageddon! would come to this:

[horror]
(AI assisted concept art only)

OR (my favourite so far) THIS:

[horror]
(AI assisted dev mental relaxation concept art only)

Peace out squirrelies - GLHF and I'll see ya top-side!