Xsyon - Prelude News

Over the years, Xsyon's primary audience has switched from players familiar with the MMOs of the past to a newer audience accustomed to the sandbox survival games of the present.

Accordingly, I am working on revising the interface and basic actions to accommodate and be more welcoming to new players. Most interface revisions will be optional and customizable to adapt to new player but keep things as is for veteran players of the game.

Today's patch is the first in a series that will continue to include improvements based on player suggestions. This patch includes:

- New Crafting Panel
-- Panel automatically displays all materials currently available in the player's packs for the active scheme. Players no longer have to search through their packs for tools and materials.
-- The currently selected scheme displays the final bonuses an object will receive based on the input tools and materials. This allows players to know exactly what their results will be before they craft an object.

- Top Menu Option
-- This option, available in the Options panel and set as the default for new players displays interaction buttons for a currently selected building, item, creature or player at the top of the screen without requiring the player to right click to select an action. All actions available are displayed and available until the player deselects the currently selected object.
-- For players that prefer the older right click menu, this legacy option is still available.

- Active Mode Interactions
-- Pressing and holding E while in combat mode (now called Active Mode) selects an object and displays options for interacting with the selected object. (Previously, players could interact with objects only in Passive non combat mode)

- Pressing the Escape Key deselects the currently selected object.
- Pressing the Escape Key without an object selected opens or closes the Exit / Logout Panel.
- Animations removed for some quick actions including opening containers, settings permissions and settings locks.
- Releasing left click when both right and left buttons are held down (used for movement) won’t deselect a currently selected object.
- Using a cart auto closes the cart and open cart containers.
- Hot keys available for Pet Commands. These keys can be set in the Keybinds Panel.
- Hot keys available for opening and closing packs. These keys can be set in the Keybinds Panel.
- The turn commands (previously assigned to Q and E) have been removed as they are not necessary and not typically used.
- Crafting and interaction commands revised on the server for improved speed and functionality.

To report problems with this patch or provide suggestions for upcoming patches, please join us on the Developer Zone on the Xsyon website.

Enjoy!

Hello Xsyon Citizens!

With bows released I have switched to focusing on interface and interaction improvements. My primary goal is to make Xsyon more simple and welcoming for new players.

I've started with a revised crafting panel that is currently on the Test Server. This panel automatically selects materials for a selected scheme from the player's inventory and displays additional information such as the properties of a crafted object before it is crafted.

Feedback on this panel is welcome in the Developer Zone on the Xsyon website.

I am also seeking suggestions and input on what general improvements and options players would like to see with the interface and basic actions.

I've started a general feedback thread here on the Xsyon website.

In general I'm going to try to simplify actions (such as gathering) and the interface and provide an alternate interface style more similar to other 'sandbox survival' games. I plan to make many of these changes controllable through settings in the Options Panel to accommodate players that want to continue using the current interface.


Overall I hope to make the game experience easier and more welcoming for new players to get more new players past the basics and involved in tribe building and the more social aspects of the game.

Thanks!

Bows and arrows are now live!

In celebration, Xsyon will be on sale through Monday, May 31st as part of the 'Steam Open World' Sale.

This long awaited feature completes Xsyon's major planned features required for removing Early Access on Steam. However, I will be patching some interface and gathering action revisions before finally removing Early Access.

These upcoming changes will include revised crafting and construction panels along with streamlining the interface further in general and providing players with interface options to accommodate different styles of play. I will be working directly with players to improve the interface and game interactions over the next month. All players will be welcome to join in testing and feedback sessions.

A feedback thread for the current patch has been posted in the Developer Zone on the Xsyon forums.

Enjoy!

Ranged combat is finally available for public testing on the Test Server!

This long awaited feature is nearing completion and all feedback is welcome. Please check out the Feedback Request thread on the Xsyon forums for bows and join in the test session.

To celebrate this major testing session, Xsyon will be on sale (67% Off) through Monday, May 3rd.

Bows just need some final adjustments to be ready for patching to the live servers. This is the last major feature required to remove the Early Access label from Xsyon on Steam and I am really looking forward to this big step.

I will post information on what else is currently in the works in a few days.

Enjoy!

Hello Xsyon Citizens!

I would just like to give you a current update of what is in the works.

1) Website backend

I’m getting the website updated to work with the latest version of PHP and other backend software. This won't change anything noticeable with the site but it needs to be done. I've patched some of the updated files but most of the changes are on a mirror of the website that I am using to ensure the required changes don't cause any issues or interruptions to the live site.

2) Bows

I still have a few steps to finish for this but I’m working a bit on it every other day and bows should be ready for public testing within the next few weeks.

3) DirectX

This is another necessary and very time consuming update. I’m spending about half my time on this major update from DirectX 9.c to DirectX 11 and 12. 11 and 12 are similar enough that I should be able to allow players to choose between these when I’m done. This update is going to take a while as it requires an overhaul of all the graphics code but it will improve performance and set things up for improved graphics when it’s done.

Once the graphics have been updated to these more recent versions of DirectX I will be able to implement requested visual improvements such as more dynamic lights, effects and improved terrain and environmental graphics.

4) Bugs

I am continuing to fix outstanding glitches with the recent patches and bugs on the forums. A few things are still being reported and there are around 10 open bug reports. I’d like to get them all closed out in addition to issues that get reported directly to me and through crash logs.

5) Interface and interaction

One of my current main focuses is to continue improving the interface and simplifying or speeding up the more time consuming game actions so that players can focus on the more enjoyable and creative aspects of the game.

I have been checking out other 'sandbox' and 'survival' games that new players tend to compare with Xsyon and taking notes on changes I can make to make Xsyon more accommodating to new players and more streamlined for veteran players.

Once bows are in game and basic actions are made more user-friendly I will finally remove Xsyon from Early Access on Steam although Xsyon will continue to evolve, add features and improve over time as usual!