Xsyon - Prelude News

Hello Xsyon Citizens!

As many of you know, there were big problems at the data center that hosts Xsyon's game servers over the past few weeks. I've been moving things around and also upgrading the database code.

For now, there is a new Xsyon Launcher for players that play directly and off of Steam. You can find this launcher linked to in the old Launcher window or through your account page on the Xsyon website.

I am testing out locations for a future and more final move but at the moment everything is up and running and I hope it stays that way!

I am returning my focus to the game. I think it will still be a few months before I can release the DirectX graphics update. This mess at the data center was a big distraction but I continue to move forward with the code.

That's all for now!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Xsyon is on sale at a big discount of 75% off through January 4th! We also have a few events coming up thanks to our Guide Team. Come join in the fun!

Important Note:

Unfortunately I am posting this announcement late as the Xsyon servers are currently unavailable. There is a major problem at the server host data center that is being dealt with and may take another 24 to 36 hours from the time of this post to resolve. Once the servers are back up I will work quickly to set up any players that attempted to create new accounts during this down time.

I apologize for any inconvenience and thank players for your patience!

Christmas gifts:

During the Winter Sale Xsyon we will be distributing Christmas gifts. I am extending the gift period to January 11th because of the server down time.

To receive a gift, please open a help ticket and request one blueprint, pattern or scheme. You will receive that gift in addition to a Christmas outfit and some cash.

In your ticket, please note your character name, tribe name and the X, Z and Zone coordinates to the location of a basket that you leave in game (preferably at your tribe's totem).

Please make sure to send us a request before January 4th.

Gathering Events:

Guide Elijah will be running a different kind of event in January. Although the event sounds simple enough there is a lot of distance to cover and explore and you will be crossing paths with legendary creatures along the way.

On the Peace Server this event will start on Saturday, January 13th at 12 noon PST and will run for one week until Saturday, January 20th.

On the War Server this event will start on Saturday, January 20th at 12 noon PST and will run for one week until Saturday, January 27th.

The starting location for the event is at the dock at the Bay Watch tribe. Guide Elijah will summon players to the start location 30 minutes before the event commences.

Fish up 10 Cutthroat Trout fish from the dock at Sunset Cove. These can be of any quality. Next, scavenge 10 premium Mink Furs from the scavenger piles outside of Silverleaf. Once you have gathered all of these items, bring them back to Guide Elijah at the Bay Watch Tribe on Mystery Isle.

Once you have turned in the items to Guide Elijah, he will spawn in a baby mutant of your choice and set
its age to 1 and health to 100 to make it a little easier for you to tame.

Here are map coordinates to help you get to the event locations:

Peace Server:
Sunset Cove Dock Zone: 687 X 741 Z 476
Bay Watch Infirmary Zone: 779 X 531 Z 829
Scavenger Pile outside Silverleaf: Zone 796 X 20 Z 410

War Server:
Guide Elijah's Home Infirmary: Zone 779 X 402 Z 737
West Coast Fishing Location: Zone 687 X 771 Z 490
East Coast Scavenger Pile Location: Zone 796 X 20 Z 410

Update:

I am continuing with the DirectX graphics, interface and interaction update and will post an update on what’s been completed and what’s still in the works in the New Year. It’s coming along but there are many little things to wrap up and optimize.

Enjoy the holidays!

Hello Xsyon Citizens!

I’ve been making steady progress with the DirectX graphics update. As I’ve mentioned before this is a massive update to the game engine. The code for most rendering functions had to be completely rewritten. This is a necessary step though so it will continue to be my focus until it’s done. We’re getting there!

Since my last major report I’ve completed the following:
- Improved lighting functions (torches, though not yet implemented will be finally possible!)
- Fires.
- New cloud system.
- Reflections on water.
- Sun and moon rendering implemented.
- Sunlight and moonlight functions revised.
- Improved shadows.
- Ground texture improvements.
- Bump mapping for ground textures completed and optimized.
- Terrain conversion to World Machine, potentially allowing for better overall surface distribution.
- Post processing effects for adjusting brightness and contrast.
- New font system.
- Interface function adjustments to accommodate the new font functions.
- Hero panel update.
- Chat panel adjustable transparency.
- New HDR rendering system.
- Revised loading functions to work with the new graphics system.
- Optimization of graphic systems implemented so far.

Here’s what I’m working on next:
- Continued work with World Machine. My goal is to use World Machine to improve the overall ground surface texture distribution.
- Finalizing distant terrain.
- Finalizing trees. I’m hoping I will be able to use the latest version of Speed Tree though for now I’ve converted the older version but still need to improve some of the lighting and distant tree functions.
- Adjusting some rendering functions to work properly with the new HDR rendering system.
- Ensuring that zone crossings are 100% correct.
- Continued improvements and options for interacting with objects and the interface.
- Revised tutorial.
- Checking through everything and updating anything else that I’ve missed!

This DirectX update is taking a while and there have been several snags over this past year where I found that functions had be coded using completely different methods to achieve the same or a similar effect.

While revising the font system at first I implemented a system that would allow players to use any font on their computer. Unfortunately that system was too slow. Instead I implemented a fast system and have converted 10 standard fonts for players to choose from. In the near future I will post a feedback thread for players to request additional fonts as I can add a few more and maybe remove some of the redundant fonts that I’ve set up.

At this point, my goal is to release this graphic update including the War system, improvements to the interface, interactions and the tutorial in January. I don’t wish to release a big update like this and remove the Early Access tag during the winter holiday season as Xsyon tends to get lost among other big releases and popular titles on sale.

I will post more regularly as I wrap up this update. Thanks again for your patience. Revising a graphic engine is a lot of work for one programmer!

Enjoy!

The Xsyon Coastal Region Treasure Hunt Event

The Event will run for one week's Time.

Starts: Saturday July 1st at Noon Pacific Time
Ends: Saturday July 8th at Noon Pacific Time.

Start and Ending Location: Just outside of
Sunset Cove near the West Lighthouse

A message from Guide Elijah:

I will hide 60 treasure baskets on the morning of the Treasure hunt. One or 2 baskets in each Region listed below. Each basket contains items of one treasure type as listed below.

You are only allowed to take one item from each basket. You can either keep the items or turn them in on a one for one basis for event tokens. If you turn in all 60 different treasure items instead of turning them in for event tokens, then you get a chance to tame a baby mutant of your choice that I will summon in.

Good luck in your treasure hunting!

Region and Treasure Type

Campana: Feldspar
Cedar: Gold Metal Decoration
Griminger: Gold Small Metal Block
Simpson: Gold Metal Rod
Devil Peak: Gold Metal Ring
Placer: Gold Rivets
Forest Hill: Gold Wedge
Forest Hill: Gold Spikes
Emigrant: Gold Small Plate
Midas: Gold Small Metal Sheet
Celina: Quartz
Blackjack: Chrome Metal Decoration
Beartrap: Chrome Small Metal Block
Coppins: Chrome Metal Rod
Independence: Chrome Metal Ring
Loyalton: Chrome Rivets
Haskell: Chrome Wedge
Burma: Chrome Spikes
Burma: Chrome Small Plate
Peavine: Chrome Small Metal Sheet
Black Springs: Obsidian
Hungry Sun: Titanium Metal Decoration
Hungry Sun: Titanium Small Metal Block
Curnow: Titanium Metal Rod
Pah Rah: Titanium Metal Ring
Moses Rock: Titanium Rivets
Secret Canyon: Titanium Wedge
Pierson: Titanium Spikes
Caletorn: Titanium Small Plate
Caletorn: Titanium Small Metal Sheet
Outlands Isle: Electrum Metal Decoration
Outlands Isle: Electrum Small Metal Block
Talapoosa: Electrum Metal Rod
Talapoosa: Electrum Metal Ring
San Juan: Electrum Rivets
San Juan: Platinum Wedge
Tibbie: Platinum Spikes
Tibbie: Platimum Small Plate
Virginia: Platimum Small Metal Sheet
Virginia: Platinum Metal Decoration
Silver: Flint
Hackett: Silver Small Metal Block
Hackett: Silver Metal Rod
Dayton: Silver Metal Ring
Copper: Silver Rivets
Copper: Silver Small Plate
Churchill Isle: Brass Wedge
Churchill Isle: Brass Spikes
Alkali: Brass Small Metal Sheet
Alkali: Brass Metal Decoration
Singatse: Nickel Small Metal Block
Singatse: Nickel Metal Rod
Mason: Nickel Metal Ring
Mason: Nickel Rivets
Shamrock: Nickel Small Plate
Shamrock: Stainless Small Metal Sheet
Wilson: Stainless Metal Decoration
Wilson: Stainless Metal Ring
Smith: Stainless Rivets
Saroni: Stainless Small Plate

Hello Xsyon Citizens!

I’ve patched the latest build with minor changes not including the upcoming graphics update. This build features the architecture snap feature that makes aligning similar construction parts to each other much easier.

In addition this patch is a preparation for the upcoming graphics update and War System. A lot of the code has been cleaned up with many functions prepared to be compatible with the DirectX 11 changes. These changes should not have any noticeable effects on the game.

If you do notice any issues with this patch, please report them on the Xsyon forums in the Developer Zone.

Enjoy!