Deep Space Outpost News

Just a little update to fix a game crash. Silly issue with missing tooltip text. Couple other improvements also included.

• Improve: Mining droid repair docking position/angle not precise, could cause odd 'wobble'.
  
• Fix: Missing repair tooltip text caused crash.
  
• Fix: Missing docking permission translations.
  

Nick

We now have a station communications panel, where you can control space station docking for friendly spaceships and trade / repair them!

It's taken a bit of time to get this update out, as there are quite a few changes. The station computer (which previously was fixed and ended the game when destroyed) now behaves like any other item. If you don't have it, you just wont be able to trade or repair spaceships.

With the station computer working, it now allows you to bring up the communications panel (a new button in main controls). Here you can see any ships nearby or due and give them docking permission. Once docked and with the correct permission, you can trade or repair them from here.

Yes, the repair bay has been expanded so as well as fixing your mining droids they can now repair friendly ships and earn some credits. Clicking on the repair bay will show the repair range, so make sure you have enough docking areas around it.

Previously the game only ever spawned one trader if your navigation beacon was enabled, but now many more are supported. Also note:- ships can dock at an airlock, a repair bay or a docking connect. So make sure your station has enough docking facilities! Spaceships currently all require a free 3x3 tile size space.

Enjoy!

Nick

Hey everyone,

Just a little update with droids and how job priorities are now handled. There is now a job priorities popup, where all droids can be seen and what jobs they are set to do. You can also sort by job type so now much easier to see which droids are set to which tasks. Oh and can also use right mouse button to cycle down.

I have also disabled the automatic switching of job priorities meaning jobs can have the same job priority setting (still 1-4), but as indicated at the bottom of the new screen, the jobs left most will have priority. Eg:- Emergency and Repair if both set to the same value, Emergency will take priority.

That's it in this update, let me know if something isn't working, or further improvements i could make with this new screen.

Thanks,

Nick

Just a few fixes and improvements, mainly with repair changes.

• Improve: User repair check can call more often.
  
• Improve: Repair bots don't just stay in one place whilst fixing.
  
• Fix: Internal floor tile test not check construction corners - optimise floor check algo.
  
• Fix: Refinery info window processing settings layout for languages.
  
• Fix: Repair time of mining bots and droids. Was too quick, needs to be proportional to build time.
  

Main addition with this update is the new repair bay. With this built you can fix your mining droids (that now take wear damage). Repair bay will eventually be used to fix other ships as well, but the first step is there.

Also lots of changes with construction, mainly just to make things simpler and more intuitive. Do let me know if anything still not as 'expected'.

• Repair bay added. Currently fixes just your mining droids.
  
• You can now delete mostly any wall or floor now and there is no automatic attempt to build walls to keep your station floors internal. I think this makes things simpler.
  
• New internal overlay type. This helps to see why you cant place items, or items stop working (production items require internal area).
  
• Salvage depots now have to connect to a structure (wall/docking connect), so their construction now same as turrets.
  
• Dock area added to overlay, so can see where ships can dock with repair bay and docking connects. Repair bay has a repair range, which is shown.
  
• Improve: Scrap/Mining Lasers now only deduct power when in use.
  
• Improve: Damage from external collisions now have own values.
  
• Improve: Most repair costs are now refunded if repair item destroyed before repair starts.
  
• Fix: Droid repair now fixes % at time of order, not 100%. Also fixes in increments, not all at once.
  
• Fix: More missing translations fixed.
  
• Fix: Docking connectors added to routine repair checks.
  
• Fix: Repair tooltips incorrect in some instances on why can't fix
  

Cheers, Nick