Couch Planes News

[p]Hi Test-Pilots![/p][p][/p][p]For anyone playing this weekend we have created 2 short videos to help you with your first steps in Couch Planes.[/p][p][/p][h2]Video #1 How to Play[/h2][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h2]Video #2 Advanced Maneuvers[/h2][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p]We hope you are enjoying your time in the game, and let us know if you have any questions or found any bugs! Comment below or join our Discord server to engage with us directly: https://discord.gg/mDw4npCy8J[/p]

[p]Hi Test-Pilots,[/p][p][/p][p]we have published a small patch that addresses game breaking bugs in the Hatch Race online game mode, plus a few other easy to fix problems we noticed when watching your streams and content. Thanks for your support and keep the content coming, we are watching it all![/p][p][/p]

• [p]Tentative fix for player nests not showing player avatar images in Hatch Race online match.[/p]
• [p]Tentative fix for UI not showing player avatars in Hatch Race online match.[/p]
• [p]Fixed a bug where the wrong winner name was displayed in Hatch Race at the end of the match.[/p]
• [p]Fixed a bug where the egg would not break when dropped in Hatch Race online match[/p]
• [p]Fixed a bug where the left side of the racing track would not correctly show the level bounds animation when approaching it.[/p]

[p][/p][p]If you come across problems or bugs, please continue to report them on our Discord channel![/p][p][/p][p]The playtest will remain playable for the rest of the day. Thank you so much for participating and we are very curious about your feedback! [/p][p][/p][p]See you in the skies![/p][p][/p]

[p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]We are happy to announce our very first private playtest for Couch Planes! We will start tomorrow, Friday at 5pm CET (11am EST) with a short live session on Discord! For anyone who cant make it, the playtest will remain active for the whole weekend.[/p][p]It's the first time that we allow players to access our game and we are super excited (and a bit nervous)! Since we have never done it before, we are also not 100% sure that everything will work out as planned, but we hope for your understanding in case anything goes sideways. You waited long enough and it's about time we get some real world feedback![/p][p][/p][h2]Scope of the Playtest[/h2][p] We are very much looking forward to hearing your opinion on the game mechanics. The test will include two game modes: Racing and HatchRace and we are looking forward to try these out with you![/p][p]Please be aware that this is not yet a beta test and we still have a lot of things to work on. There will be bugs, unfinished mechanics and unpolished UI in this version of the game. We still hope you will have fun and we really need all the help we can get from the community to make sure we make this game the best version it could possibly be.[/p][p]This play test WILL include split-screen plus online play on dedicated servers, so you are welcome to invite your friends.[/p][p][/p][h2]How to play[/h2][p]To participate in this playtest, join our discord server: https://discord.gg/mDw4npCy8J [/p][p]Next, go to the Couch Planes store page on Steam and click "Request Access":[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]That's it and you are all set until we start playing together tomorrow.[/p]

[p]Hey Pilots,[/p][p]This time, we’re doing something a little different: a look back at what we were working on earlier this year. The footage you’ll see in this Dev Blog is from a less polished stage of Couch Planes, but we thought it’d be fun (and hopefully interesting!) to share how things have been shaping up behind the scenes.[/p][p][/p][h3]Matchmaking & Dedicated Servers[/h3][p]We know how important smooth online matches are, so we’ve been hard at work setting up dedicated servers and matchmaking.  [/p][p]The matchmaking will prioritize matching players of similar skill level into a match to make sure that everyone is having both an equal chance and a good time. We also made sure that matches that already started, but are no longer full, get filled up with new players. If a player joins a match that has already started they can observe the current race until its over and the next one starts where they then get to play themselves![/p][p][/p][h3]Turbo Rocket FX[/h3][p]A party game isn’t complete without over-the-top action, right? We’ve upgraded the visual FX across the board — from drift to flow shader and added a turbo rocket FX to make the fun look (and feel) even wilder.[/p][p]During development we noticed that due to a bug the drift FX of player 1 would also be applied to all other split-screen players. It was very tough to circle this one down, but we hope to get to the bottom of it, soon![/p][p]Another thing that we noticed is that the more we refine our visual materials like the river flow shader, the more we need to rework existing maps with the improved visuals. This results in multiple passes over and over on the maps and consumes quite a bit of time. We hope that as we build the game over time, we will also become more aware of pitfalls like this and to improve our workflows for maximum impact![/p][p][/p][h3]A Brand-New Map (MAP 6!)[/h3][p]And finally… we’ve been crafting a brand-new map. This was the first iteration of the tropical island map that you can now see in our trailer! [/p][p]This is just a glimpse into how Couch Planes has evolved over the months. Sharing these earlier stages with you feels important, it shows not just where we are now, but how far we’ve come.[/p][p]This is just the beginning. Thank you for being part of this journey, your support and feedback mean the world as we keep building Couch Planes together.[/p][p][/p][p]👉 Watch the full Dev Blog video and let us know what you think![/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p] [/p][p]See you in the skies,
– The Skylab Interactive Team ✈️ [/p]

[p]Hey Pilots,[/p][p]Today we’re opening the hangar doors for the very first time to introduce two of the aircraft you’ll be able to fly in Couch Planes.[/p][p][/p][h3]The Nova![/h3][p]Legend says the Nova was first spotted on a moonlit night, glowing so brightly that pilots swore it left a trail of stardust behind. Nobody knows who built it, only that it was made for one thing: pure speed.[/p][p]With its two propellers, the Nova launches forward with blazing acceleration and keeps that momentum at high speed. But beware: all that power comes at a cost: it’s harder to control. Its heavier frame can bump rivals out of the way, though it still falls short of the raw force of the Rocket Punch.[/p][p]In Couch Planes, the Nova is fast and wild. Perfect for pilots who aren’t afraid to wrestle with the controls to claim first place.[/p][p]
[/p][h3]The Rocket Punch: Heavyweight of the Skies[/h3][p]If the Nova is built for speed, the Rocket Punch is all about raw impact. This big, brawny biplane may not be the quickest off the line, with slow acceleration and handling that takes some muscle, but once it’s up to speed, it holds its ground. [/p][p]Its strong bump weight makes it perfect for shoving rivals out of the way, turning collisions into a weapon of their own. Think of it as the flying battering ram of Couch Planes: not the most graceful, but always unforgettable when it hits.
[/p][p][/p][p]So… which one will you take to the skies first?[/p][p]See you in the skies,[/p][p][/p][p]– The Skylab Interactive Team ✈️[/p]