Big Journey to Home News

Hi all, dear fans of the game!

You may have noticed that since January 16, the game at the launching gave an error and crashed. I deeply apologize for this problem! I'm fixed it and a few more in the new 1.3.3 update, which is already available for download on the site, on Steam, itch, Kartridge, Microsoft Store, SlideME and Amazon App Store!

Basically, the new patch fixed a lot of bugs, critical and not so much. Of the particularly unpleasant ones, the controls didn't work in the Xbox One version and cloud saves in BJtH-Online didn't work correctly. In addition, the dialogs on macOS were reworked (now they don't require SDL2), and extension, which involves services BJtH-Online, was rebuilt for Apple Silicon.

As a nice little bonus, the level completion screens have been slightly improved and a boss life bar has been added.

This is actually the main changes of this update. The full list of changes, as usual, at the end. Thank you for your support! Enjoy the game!

Full changelog:

• Game crash on launch outside of Christmas period was fixed
  
• BJtH-Online cloud save function was fixed
  
• Gamepad control was fixed
  
• BJtH-Online service on Android 9 and higher, macOS with Apple Silicon and Linux with ARM was fixed
  
• Message boxes on macOS was reworked. Now they don't require SDL2 and work on Apple Silicon
  
• Screen content with level totals was fixed
  
• Bug with music when switching to a boss room was fixed
  
• Some bugs in dark rooms was fixed
  
• Boss life bar when Hardcore mode is turned off was added
  

Yours, Silver Sword!

Hello everyone!

It's been a long time since release of The Light Sword Team games. Big Journey to Home has a decade of history, Spectrubes was created as an experiment, ported to Xbox One, and grew into big project Spectrubes Infinity with Steam Workshop support. I remember times of development and releases with great warmth, it was awesome! Thanks to everyone for bringing these games into the world and having you play them (though not as often as I'd like)! Thank you all those who helped with development and supported me! Thank you for your votes on Steam Greenlight when they were so important to release of games on Steam platform!

As you know, Apple recently introduced their computers with own processor. I was greatly inspired by this and decided to port games to this wonderful platform. So, new updates are already coming out! Of course, apart from just porting I did some more innovations. Original Spectrubes game remained unchanged and hasn't been ported, but I made a little surprise for the owners of this game too!

Now directly to the Big Journey to Home update.

The game now supports Apple Silicon processors on macOS and ARM processors on Linux! Unfortunately, there may be problems because other libraries were not recompiled. Hopefully, the game will run stably overall.

Next, I finally implemented function to skip any room in the single player game. All you have to do is press F4 while playing the game. Of course, you can't do this without consequences. Skipping adds 2500 moves, and if you choose to skip more than 2 rooms per level, you won't be able to post a highscore and get achievements during it. Try the new feature (just try not to abuse it :P)!

I've also optimized saves within a single room. They work faster because they are now written to RAM instead of hard drive. Especially this is noticeable on computers with HDDs and with not powerful smartphones.

The game has been added a few small things and some bugs have been fixed. I want to mention separately the removal of BJtH Updater. In the regular version update through the game has been removed, because the game is updated rarely, and mainly update is going through store launchers.

Overall, not bad update came out, I think. As usual, a list of all changes is listed at the very end. By the way, version for Xbox One, Linux ARM and update for Android in Amazon App Store may be delayed for a few days.

Thanks to everyone who is still playing games from The Light Sword Team! I may surprise you with something new soon, stay tuned! ;)

Full changelog:

• Added support for Apple Silicon processors
  
• Added support for Linux on ARM machines (Raspberry Pi and similar)
  
• Added ability to skip rooms in single player mode
  
• Running game on Steam for Linux was fixed
  
• Discord status was fixed and improved
  
• Updating via BJtH Updater was removed
  
• Save system within a room was optimized
  
• Christmas snow was added, it goes in main menu from December 15 to January 15 if effects are enabled
  
• Team logo was updated
  
• Game engine was updated
  
• Icons in versions for macOS, iOS and Android was updated
  
• Moderation of levels in BJtH-Online was removed
  
• Chat in cooperative mode was moved to F3 button
  
• Message boxes was fixed in version for macOS
  
• Processing of non-standard aspect ratios on smartphones was fixed
  
• HUD was fixed when touch mode is on
  
• Bug with end of game result screen was fixed
  
• Bug with opening registration in version for iOS and Android was fixed
  
• Bug with inability to change hero in side story in version for Android was fixed
  
• Possible issues with rooms with special effects was fixed
  
• Main menu interface was fixed when touch mode is on
  
• Fixed typos of text
  
• Updated the news feed
  

Yours, Silver Sword!

Hi all, dear fans of the game!

Today new patch 1.3.1 has been released! Unexpectedly, isn't it?

In new update has been added Discord support. Now your friends can see, which level you're exploring on current moment.

Also, save system in room has been changed. Now you can save on the scrolls infinite number of times, R button rolls back on one save before. If you press R multiple times, you can return in start of current room. E button is not using for roll back now. Try to use this saves. They're more usable than previous one!

In this update also has been fixed a some bugs and added other little improvements. You can read full list of changes, as usual, below.

Thank you all again for supporting the game! I can't say for now, if game gets new updates or not. If you find any critical bug, write about it!

Full changelog:

• Support for Discord status was added
  
• Save system was reworked. Now on the scrolls you can save infinite number of times, R or left button rolls back one save until completely restart room
  
• Functionality of E and right button was removed
  
• Algorithm of smooth movement of player and monsters was reworked
  
• Steam Cloud functionality has been untied from BJtH-Online
  
• Bug with the animation of the sword attack was fixed
  
• Bug with incorrectly working touch controls in side story was fixed
  
• Bug with clicking on avatar in the side story was fixed
  
• Bug with displaying Xbox buttons on pause screen was fixed
  
• Bug with displaying dialogs in side story was fixed
  
• Bug with creating a clone in level editor was fixed
  
• Aspect ratio of the screen in full screen mode was fixed
  
• Game size has been optimised
  
• Game engine was updated
  

Yours, Silver Sword.

Hi all, dear Big Journey to Home fans!

I'm thought a lot after the Xbox One release and decided to make the last update. Last update was released about 3 years ago. And as result, I was worked 20 days with a few new functionality and bug fixing.

I'm thought about increasing Xbox One version, and other versions too. I knew that cooperative game mode is not popular and I was added this levels for playing alone. Now you can complete it. New 40 rooms for single player! I named it "Side story", you can change stories from main menu in top right corner. But how it can be played, if you must play with 2 characters? Switching through Tab button, it's simple! By the way, cooperative game is now fully fixed, earlier few rooms causes crashes.

Next, I wanted to redesign dialog system. Earlier they are appeared above speaking character and was pretty small. Now they're big and appearing below screen, character name is write before a dialog. It's good choice for small screens! If you don't like this appearance, you can change dialog system in settings.

According to your wishes BJtH-Online linking is now optional. In main menu registration window isn't appeared every time, achievements and leaderboards are now working without BJtH-Online registration. Unfortunately, for technical reasons achievements are still requires Internet connection, and if registration in BJtH-Online had complete after getting Steam achievements, they can't be transferred.

Last thing that I wanted to make was modify macOS version until fully working state. Now it's fully working! Also, iOS version is built, and the game changed game engine. Now it's GMS2. Unfortunately, game is not working on 32-bit OS Linux and Windows XP. Saves from older versions also may be not work.

Game has more new useful functions, but this post is too big, so, as usual, I will show full changelog below. And check this new update trailer. Thank you all for game supporting!

https://youtu.be/VgYkWbsnvE8

Also, because update is released, you can buy the game in main stores for 50% discount for a week, in Microsoft Store 20%. Hurry up!

Full changelog:

• Cooperative game for playing alone was added
  
• Main menu was redesigned, now you can switch the campaign through the Tab button
  
• New dialog output system was added, now dialogs of heroes are displayed below
  
• Achievements and Steam leaderboards now working independently of BJtH-Online
  
• Game engine was updated, increased system requirements
  
• Faster routes were added for some rooms
  
• The iOS version is out of beta
  
• Game crashes when displaying message boxes in the version for macOS were fixed
  
• Input and login message boxes was redesigned
  
• Game controls was redesigned. Now all the layouts work simultaneously, you can turn on touch controls in the settings
  
• Gamepad control was improved
  
• Some critical bugs in the cooperative game were fixed
  
• Bug with the displaying room numbers in version for Xbox One was fixed
  
• Portrait of Jack in the cooperative game was added
  
• BJtH Updater for Linux was fixed
  
• Updated the news feed
  
• Some cosmetic issues and translation inaccuracies were resolved
  

Yours, Silver Sword.

Hi all, dear fans of the game!

More than three years was passed since release. It's pretty big period, isn't it? Thanks you all, who supported and followed this game! I'm really appreciated this!

Recently I've got an idea, how to refresh Big Journey to Home. And now, this version of game has been appeared. Now you can play on game console Xbox One!

This version of the game includes only single mode, represented by 12 levels. Level editor, cooperative game and BJtH-Online functions has been removed. But this version has new functionality. Achievement system doesn't removed. Achievements and process are saving inside the game, you can look it in main menu. Gamepad controls has been improved and fixed, Settings menu - fully rewritten, now it's look like this from game Spectrubes. Version of the game is 1.2.

If you don't have Xbox One, this version is also working on computer with installed Windows 10. Keyboard and mouse are supporting with "Laptop" configuration.

You can buy it only for 2.49$! Try it now! Also, from now you can buy Spectrubes for Xbox One with 50% discount only until 21 December. Hurry up!



As you can see, support of other version has been cancelled for indefinite period of time. But game servers will not turned off, you can play cooperative game or use BJtH-Online services as usual.

Thank you all again for being with us!

Yours, Silver Sword!