Demo Update 0.9

Thanks to all of the players who have tried the Backbeat demo in its first month. Production of the full version of the game is continuing, and we have some small updates to the sights and sound of the game to make playing the demo a little easier and a little more funky.

[h2]Options and usability[/h2]

As before you can toggle between fullscreen and windowed mode with Alt-Enter/Cmd-F. Fullscreen is now the default and you can change the window size manually in the new baby Options menu. Language is also no longer constrained to a Steam launch option. You can change between English and Japanese at any time as well. Button guides and WASD prompts have been added until we are able to add mouse support in a future version of the game. As we get closer to release of the full version we'll be adding for options for customization of the dialogue and sound.

[h2]Realtime reverb[/h2]

Speaking of sound, as in Hexagroove, we run our own custom audio engine inside of the game. This month we have upgraded our signal chain to include realtime reverb to simulate the sound of different locations inside of the game. In the full version this will help create a live feeling based on the venue Watts' band is playing, regardless of which pack of sound clips and instruments are used (did we mention the full version has over six configurable instruments and instrument playing styles?), but for now you can hear how music in Josh's Hollywood Movies has gained a more cavernous feeling.

[h2]Club mode++[/h2]



On the other side of the coin, we've added some graphical enhancements to make playback even funkier. When Watts, Toshi, and Josh are strutting to the goal area, the playback feels more like a music video with the addition of camera tilt, disco balls, and pulsing spotlights. Check out their saunter to the stage in Callahan's dive bar for maximum effect.

[h2]Removal of Prologue, 2-1a, and 3-1a[/h2]

Several story-heavy levels were removed from the demo to make the path of trying the mechanics and getting to the big STAGGER resource reveal on level six even faster. If you have already played the prologue, you got a sneak peak! The three removed levels are now sealed and will be waiting in the full version, so if you find them missing it's not a bug, it's a feature!

In addition to the larger adjustments above, there are buckets of smaller stability and performance improvements under the hood. To reinforce the system requirements, when you run the demo on an unsupported version like Windows 7 or macOS High Sierra, a popup will tell you about the baseline.

[h2]More from you![/h2]

Some of these improvements came directly from suggestions made by superfans like you! Do you have another idea for an improvement to make the funky story of Powerslyde even better? Drop us a comment below or shout at us on social media.

Stay cool and funky!
-- The Backbeat team at Ichigoichie



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