Deep Space Outpost News

When placing a station at the start of a scenario, you can now press 'R' to rotate the station. This allows better placement, as you can line up specific parts of your station alongside asteroid or scrap fields (eg your tractor beams/scrap depots). I've been meaning to add this for a while, as it's very useful. The station overlay has also been improved so you can make out walls/floors and doors.

I've also managed to get some optimisations in with solar panel efficiency calculations. I received a save file that had showed some stuttering. The save had a large number of solar connects, that caused issues with checking connected solar panels and working out best efficiency. I've improved this so only closest solar connects are counted now. But could be further improvements here, do let me know if you see any issues, or if you have any save files that show any performance issues.

Patches notes:

• Can now rotate station on placement, press "R".
  
• Station placement overlay distinguish between walls/floors and doors.
  
• Improve: Power update alter set tile path efficiency to limit lookups.
  
• Improve: Power update only called on build/destroy/repair if power related/connected tile.
  

Nick

Just a quick update as was made aware of a crash issue today. Was a problem with contracts and when they lapsed could cause a crash. That's now fixed, along with a collision boundary issue when placing a default station in scenarios (was out by a tile). So now consistent with placing a custom station (along with the dashed outline).

Patch notes:-

• Improve: Show dashed line outline on default station placement.
  
• Fix: Station placement, fix collision check with default station.
  
• Fix: CheckContracts, if lapsed skip complete check, as deleted (crash).
  

Previously an asteroid field could be generated on map creation. This has been a bit limiting, as it always appeared in the same position, meaning you had to build to the same leftside location if you wanted to use tractor beams to grab asteroids from it.

I've now removed that asteroid field (apart from existing saves), and now asteroid fields can appear in multiple locations around the map. They behave like the scrap fields, although generating asteroids (not scrap) every so often. Think this gives much more variety to maps, and gives more ore resources for tractor beam usage.

Patch notes:-

• New asteroid fields created across the level on map generation.
  
• New asteroid fields generate asteroids depending on size.
  
• Old asteroid field generation removed (except for previous saves).
  

Nick

Spotted a bug with uploading stations to Steam workshop, where it could possibly fail to complete. So thought i'd get this fix out. Have also managed to get screenshots now displayed for workshop stations, which is very useful and added a browse button, so can bring up a browser and go directly to the workshop to view items.

Notes:-

• Improve: Workshop load - make info double space, show screenshot.
  
• Improve: Add a browse button to DSO workshop url.
  
• Fix: Workshop upload/update, cast returned published_file_id for field updating.
  

Nick

We now have Steam workshop support for your station files. When loading or selecting station files, you'll now have the option of selecting the 'workshop' button, where you'll see any subscribed station items. Saving a station likewise gives you the workshop option, where you add a title/description and can upload it. Currently you are automatically subscribed to your uploads, so you can see them in-game immediately.

Couple of improvements still to make here though, do take a look at this workshop discussion.

I've also made a reasonably significant change to deconstruction. It was pointed out to me last week that build orders can be cancelled (if no droid assigned) but the same is not true for deconstruction. So now you can cancel your deconstruct orders (again use the build menu 'delete' on tiles/items set to be deconstructed, but not yet assigned). Also note that refunded metal costs now happens when a worker has finished each deconstruct job. Which actually does makes more sense! :o)

Patch notes:

• Load/select station files can now browse steam workshop.
  
• Save station file, option to upload to steam workshop.
  
• Saving owned workshop station file to workshop, give update option.
  
• Uploading station to steam, set to subscribed.
  
• Improve: Can cancel deconstruction if droid not assigned.
  
• Improve: Deconstruction metal refund now made after job finished.
  
• Fix: GUI panel locations not consistent between Main/Pause menu, occasional overlap.
  

Nick