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subROV News

Update 0.7.28 (Beta)

Hello subROVers!

This Beta update adds a new tool, the Gas/Liquid Sampler, which allows you to sample Gas Seeps (also new to the game), storing the samples in independent bottles.

The all-new gas sampler, docked on the Experiments Platform

The Sampler is a modular tool that consists of several identical units (three, in the current configuration), connected to a common funnel.Each unit consists of a bottle connected to a valve system, which is operated with a handle that rotates into three positions: closed (handle’s arrow points up or down), open (arrow points right), or purge (arrow points left). To sample a gas seep, you rest the sampler directly on it, and open any of its valves. A blue light blinks while it's filling up, and turns green when it finishes. The same light turns red if you happen to sample a second source with the same bottle, indicating an invalid mix, which should be discarded. To empty any of the bottles, you set the valve to "purge".

Opening the valve. It is not necessary to fit the grip with such precision, but i does fit

Currently, the Gas sampler can be found on the South-East vent site at the Rise of the Vents dive, though we'll gradually incorporate it to more dives, where you'll use it to sample gas seeps, gas leaks from pipes, and fuel/oil leaks.



After adding the Sampler to the game, we've made several fixes and improvements to the arm and grip, and devised an automatic system that keeps tools in place while they are being transported on the Platform (in real life they would be secured beforehand); we've also improved handling of the Platform itself so it is less prone to "breaking through" the arm's grip while held, if the ROV moves or turns around fast. This will become increasingly important as we add new tools and objectives that require transporting them to different sites, or if we eventually allow deploying and retrieving the platform itself from the ship.

In-editor capture transporting the Platform, loaded with tools

This update touches some of the most finicky systems in the game, so we'll keep it in the Beta branch for a few days while paying extra attention to your feedback. The plan is to keep testing it while we add a few low-risk tweaks and assets in preparation for v0.7.3, which we'll then roll to the main branch.

Update: The latest version of the manual is now online, with a new section on taking gas samples (p.32).

Happy subROVing! 😁

Update 0.7.26 (Beta)

Hello subROVers!

This Beta update focuses on the Time Control, the feature that allows you to descend and ascend rapidly between 50 m depth and 50 m altitude.

The speed increase was achieved by making the game itself run at a higher time scale, but at the highest setting (8X), the frame rate dropped noticeably in some computers. This had no effect on gameplay but didn't look good, so we've revised the feature to achieve the same effect without going into 8X. We've also renamed it to "Turbo Lift" because the name describes better what it does, regardless of how it works internally, and we've substituted the "timesX" indication with triangles representing steps.

Happy subROVing, and HAPPY NEW YEAR! 😁

Update 0.7.25

Hello subROVers! We've just updated the game to v0.7.25 😁



This update focuses on collision sounds: we've added collision and scrape sounds to the buoy and the ROV (with individual sounds for the body and arm), and while we were at it we've also added sounds for the ROV entering and exiting the water.
Finally, we've aged the docking platform as now it's obvious that the ROV scrapes against it when docking.

(before/after)

Our approach when adding these new sounds has been cautious; in most cases, you will hear them only if you pay attention (but you will hear them if you are reckless: see exhibit A).
The arm in particular is fairly quiet; you'll hear collision sounds if you ram, say, the experiments platform, but most small interactions and touches will be silent (which we can reason by saying that the arm is decoupled from the body, so by default you shouldn't hear it).
Over time, our goal is to keep refining the system to give as much feedback as possible while avoiding annoying retriggers.

Here's the full log:

New Features/Improvements:
  • Dives: (feedback) New collision/scrape sounds
  • Dives: Added enter/exit water sounds to the ROV
  • Dives: Added wear and tear to the ROV docking platform
Bug Fixes:
  • Dives: Tuna makes instantaneous turns (sorry, tuna! 😅)

[h3]Get In Touch[/h3]

Updates will slow down a bit in the next week or so for obvious reasons, but we'll be active if you need any help. Here's a list of the many ways in which you can reach us:
  • From the game -press F8
  • Through the forum right here on Steam
  • Through our Discord Server,
  • Through Twitter,
  • By email (info 'at' sqr3lab.com)

[h3]Support subROV[/h3]

If you enjoy subROV and would like to support us, please consider leaving us a review. Steam is a big ocean, and reviews really help us stay afloat!

This said, it's time to wish you

[h2]HAPPY HOLIDAYS!![/h2]

Wherever you are, stay safe, stay warm, and have a whale of a time!

Happy subROVing! 😀

Update 0.7.20

Hello subROVers! We've just updated the game to v0.7.20!



The most notable feature in this build is that the HUD will now show the "common name" of anything you scan, right after you scan it:



This is a small change but one that makes the scan interaction much more rewarding, as you can see a tangible result right away. This also helps clarify the ID of variations of specimens in the gallery.



Also, if you take a look at the ROV readings in the screenshot above, you'll notice that the Oxygen reading is colored red. We've added a color grading to the reading so it's easier to know at a glance if the levels are low (e.g. when finding Humboldt squid).

Finally, we've added an accessibility option in the Options menu that makes the texts in the "chat" area of the main screen both bigger and bold, after a request from people who found them a bit too small.



Here's the complete list of new features and fixes:

New Features/Improvements:
  • General: (feedback) Added game option to make the texts in the dive’s “chat window” bigger
  • Menu: (feedback) Main menu now opens with the last dive site you visited
  • Menu: (feedback) Removed placeholder items in Gallery
  • Menu: (feedback) Humpback whale description revised
  • Dives: ROV HUD shows IDs of scanned objects
  • Dives: Revised ROV HUD colors
  • Dives: Oxygen readings’ text changes color according to level (helps find the minimum oxygen zone intuitively)
  • (0.7.1) General: (feedback) Game now playable with ultrawide resolutions
Bug Fixes:
  • Dives: (feedback) Hawaii - Beacons in beacon mode don’t show map icons after exiting and reentering dive
  • Dives: Minor ROV HUD flickering at great depths
  • Dives: “Orphaned” Ping dots in Humboldt Dive
  • Dives: HUD text in Up ROV camera has no background
  • (0.7.1)Menu: (feedback) Sponges not appearing in gallery after scanned

[h3]Get In Touch[/h3]

All the items marked with (feedback) above come from your feedback, suggestions, and reports. Thank you very much!

Here are the many ways in which you can reach us:

  • From the game -press F8
  • Through the forum right here on Steam
  • Through our Discord Server,
  • Through Twitter,
  • By email (info 'at' sqr3lab.com)


Again, thank you, and happy subROVing! ⚓ 😁

Ultrawide screens patch

This patch allows people with ultrawide screens to play the game by disabling a postprocessing effect that was obscuring parts of the interface in the Main Menu, and adjusting the menu's elements to fit the available space.

Note: parts of the main menu still require further work to remove misalignments (dive log)