Black Ice News

Sol Fusion, a megacorporation known for nuclear power and opulent enclosed cities.

Formed from a merger of aging oil export corporate kingdoms, Sol Fusion ascended to megacorp status through the construction of sealed cityscapes to survive the new world climate. Between widescale adoption of nuclear power and their technologically advanced and climate-controlled urban planning, Sol Fusion saved many lives across Africa and Eurasia in the mid-21st century.

At least, that's what their PR department keeps telling us...



[h2]Climb The Lasers[/h2]

Much like Oshiro Orbital, the Sol Fusion tower is an endgame dungeon with servers spanning levels 35 to 49. Hack servers to power laser platforms as you climb. But each additional platform fills the room with more and more lasers. Choose your hacks wisely.

Just watch out for the giant laser well that bridges each floor. It can be a shortcut if used correctly or it could end your run.



Stay safe, hackers.

- superdupergc & Nonadecimal

Systems online.......
After a lifetime hacking in the Supermesh, Ouroboros built an operating system that gamifies network (in)security. Corporate AIs personified as spiders, scorpions, and squids. Viral vectors and brute force attacks visualized as laser fire and... y'know... disco balls spewing even more lasers.

Because an accessible platform for hackers and hacker wannabes puts even more people on even footing with giant megacorps. Even you, Mako. Hack them all!





We improved the waypoint system with cleaner visuals. Red waypoints for servers to hack, green waypoints for servers to defend, blue waypoints for deliveries. Distance indicators make it easier to find servers in twisty indoor spaces and volcanoes.

And the best part? If it's not your primary objective, the waypoints are hidden when you get far away. No more waypoint clutter! Just a focus on the things you're doing right here and now.


Additional fixes include balancing enemy counts on higher level servers, making Treasure Crawlers a bit easier to catch, improving Bounty rewards, and allowing for more explosions at once!



Sol Fusion is coming next! Be ready for another megacorp skyscraper to climb. Just watch out for lasers...

The verdant Green Hills surrounding Helices are finally packed full of towering corporate fortresses, biotech cartels, and toxic sludge that amplifies damage.

Another quarter of the world is filled in with the addition of this swampy cityscape full of 40+ servers for levels 30-40. The new Proxy security type forces you to platform the giant castles to hold unlock points in order to finish the hack. The corrosive sludge being dumped by the warring biotech cartels causes both you and enemies to take bonus damage while standing in it.... use it to your advantage!

We added the much-requested Fast Travel system to the Arcade. You can use the ring of launchers to fly through the air back to locations you've already visited like the volcano, megacorp skyscrapers like Quarkus and Oshiro, and distant locations like the Phish Market or the Scar. You'll have to visit those places again after this patch in order to unlock each launcher. We also added the missing respawn points to Oshiro so you can get back to the fight quicker after dying.


Four new specialty shops like Ol' Glitchy's Bait Shop and the Data Broker in the Phish Market, the Black Market in the Scar, and PiuPew in the volcano make it easier to find specific item types like minions and mods. A fifth new shop in the volcanyon makes it easier for new players to empty their inventory before heading to the volcano.


We also fixed some major bugs like the broken Virtual Virtual Reality perk tryout room, the Oshiro boss fight, and enemies no longer getting stuck in walls (but please tell us if they still get stuck). Along with some level progression balancing after the volcano, we hope this makes it easier to level up and get through Act 2 of the story. And get ready for another megacorp tower to drop in June because Sol Fusion is coming online soon....



[h2]Update Highlights:[/h2]

• New Server Security: Proxy Servers, which lockout and create capture points to unlock the hack
  
• New Perk: Rootkit: Turret minions now have a permanent healing zone around them
  
• Added fast travel launchers to the Arcade to catapult you back to the volcano, Oshiro, and other landmarks!
  
• Added 4 new specialty shops around the world so you can clear your inventory and find specific items like minions and mods! Improved shop visuals to make them easier to spot too.
  
• Fixed enemies getting stuck in walls!!! (but please tell us if they still get stuck)
  
• Added respawn points in the Oshiro towers so you can get back in action faster.
  
• Fixed the Oshiro Orbital boss fight server and added its reward loot.
  
• Fixed the flying aimbots in Oshiro so they don't fly away.
  
• More level balancing to even out the gameplay progression after the volcano.
  
• Fixed multiplayer bugs when someone leaves your game.
  
• Increased the Ouro max capacity so you can get more rerolls.
  
• Fixed the teleport destination for the Virtual Virtual Reality perk tryout room.
  
• Plus way more bugfixes and quality improvements in the full patch notes.

If you're excited about the upcoming megacorp finales, please leave a Steam review as we near the finish line!
-superdupergc & Nonadecimal

Supermesh message received, downloading...

Unzipping...



My grandfather believed the only way to save humanity was to escape Earth. He thought a select few could flourish in space, free from the corruption and catastrophe of our home planet. He was willing to sacrifice the many to advance the few he deemed worthy.

My father, on the other hand, grew obsessed with the virtual: federated communities, simulated worlds, deep space exploration. He believed that if given the tools, the worthy would reveal themselves, ascending to the stars alone by virtue of their own communal labors.

But under my governance, Oshiro Orbital has proven that it is the virtuous few who toil in space to provide for the survival of the many on Earth. Exceptional skills don't place us above others, but below, carrying them on our shoulders. The Oshiro Orbital network, in close partnership with Atlas Foundry, carries the Earth on its shoulders, providing food and medicines the likes of which Earth has never seen before.

Don't worry, we're watching over you.

[The Oshiro megacorp zone is now open for business! I don't want to spoil the surprises it has in store, but you should be at least level 35]

0.9.198 - 1/22/23 Arcade Upgrade 3

• Added four awesome new Courier paths in the Arcade
  
• Reenabled Arcade secret pathway to the Teleporter Arena (in the mirror maze)
  
• Reenabled Arcade teleporter to the Talus Shooting Gallery (first floor, center of arcade)
  
• Lots of work on Oshiro, for release later (but you can explore some now!)
  
• Linked Servers will only send their security affixes up the chain one link, instead of the entire upstream chain
  
• Added link to get sweet Black Ice shirts in the main menu
  
• Arcade puzzle restart button (and guaranteed a reward for solving it the first time)
  
• Enhancement powerups will now show the name as a popup text when you pick them up
  
• Volcanyon and Forest areas are now less flat
  
• Converted some extra servers in the Volcanyon and Volcano into terrain so new players don't get bogged down
  
• Minor arcade visual improvements
  
• Improved Slowing/Corroded Lava colors
  
• Fixed an issue causing sectors to disable and enable repeatedly (this was most noticeable with roaming enemies respawning for no reason)
  
• Fixed an issue where turrets minions would respawn improperly when the player got too far away
  
• Fixed an issue causing enemies to not disintegrate properly
  
• Fixed several arcade shop color issues
  
• Minor performance improvements