Bottle Cracks News

[p]This update focuses on improving Fire Wall and Barrier modes, refining online behavior, and fixing several gameplay and audiovisual issues.[/p][p][/p][h3]Features[/h3]

• [p]Added new sound effects to the Fire Wall. Flame sounds can be heard when nearby, and drums will play when getting even closer.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]Fixes[/h3]

• [p]Fixed cage bouncing in the Castlecuco map during online play by disabling cage rotation synchronization, which removes the physics delay causing the issue.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue with bottle sounds in cooperative play where they would not be heard correctly when the camera was zoomed out.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue in online Barrier Mode where changing direction could kill non-host players.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue where the Fire Wall would not return to the start of the map if the host was a bubble far from the beginning.[/p]
• [p]Fixed a Fire Wall camera issue where excessive zoom occurred when the camera was focused on a single player.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue where the player would not jump in the correct direction after stopping being a bubble.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue where a bubble player had no valid target to move toward, causing them to drift away or remain stuck in place.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue where popping a bubble did not visually show that the last checkpoint was activated.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue in Fire Wall Mode where the level would end if all players died at the same time; now one player will remain and the level will continue.[/p]

[p]This update improves gameplay comfort, reworks a game mode, and fixes several online and stability issues.[/p][p][/p][h3]Features[/h3]

• [p]Barrier Mode improved: the camera zoom has been completely reworked, making the mode much more comfortable to play in both local and online matches.[/p]
• [p]Fire Wall Mode (rework): replaces Leader Mode; the camera now focuses on all players in local play, while in online matches each player has an individual camera; a sound effect will be added soon.[/p]

[h3]Fixes[/h3]

• [p]Adjusted the ending of Level 4 in the Playground map to make it fairer.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue that occurred when the host closed the lobby while a player was on another tab.[/p]
• [p]Fixed a translation issue when trying to join a lobby while already being in another one.[/p]
• [p]Potential fix for the version mismatch issue when joining online lobbies (still in testing).[/p]
  • [p]If the problem persists, please check the Player.log file at:[/p][p][c]AppData > LocalLow > AlunovaStudios > Bottle Cracks Demo[/c][/p][p]Look for the line:[/p][p][c]Trying to join lobby with version: XXXX | My current version is: XXXX[/c][/p][p]This information would greatly help identify and fix the issue properly![/p]

[p]Bottle Cracks DEMO is OUT! [/p][p]Play it now solo or with friends. Both local and online! After several months, the demo is finally available! It includes new changes, one of the biggest being online mode! Making physics synchronize isn’t as easy as it sounds![/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h2]What’s in the demo?[/h2][p]The demo offers between 30 minutes and 2 hours of gameplay, depending on how you play![/p]

• [p]New bottle designs, with 6 to choose from[/p]
• [p]2 maps available to try[/p]
• [p]3 game modes:[/p]
  • [p]Barrier Mode[/p]
  • [p]Leader Mode[/p]
  • [p]Race Mode (available online)[/p]
• [p]Online mode:[/p]
  • [p]Create or search for public rooms[/p]
  • [p]Or make private rooms and invite friends via code or Steam[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Roadmap — What’s coming next?[/h2][p]Over the next few months, I’ll continue updating the demo.[/p]

• [p]Improve the overall demo experience[/p]
• [p]Fix bugs and improve quality of life in Leader and Barrier modes[/p]
• [p]Add one extra map to the demo[/p]
  • [p]I’ll design several and add the one I like the most[/p]
• [p]Add bottle customization[/p]
  • [p]I want bottle colors to no longer be tied to their shape. (Maybe add hats?)[/p]

[p]This is how I’d like to keep the demo alive! The rest of the content will be saved for the full game release, planned for mid-year, after the June Next Fest. So stay tuned![/p][p][/p][p]If you want to leave feedback, report bugs or help me with ideas, you can join our Discord! Thank you so much for your support![/p][p][/p][p]— FrowsyFrog[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]Hello Everyone! First of all, a huge thank you for all the support Bottle Cracks has been getting. All the feedback has been crucial in improving the gameplay experience and fine-tuning every detail. We really appreciate it a lot![/p][p][/p][h3]A new playtest update?[/h3][p]Yes! This will be the last update for the playtest, unless there’s a major bug that needs fixing. Here’s a breakdown of what’s new and what’s changed:[/p][p][/p]

• [p]🗺️ New Map: Playground[/p][p]A completely new map, featuring new mechanics and bears![/p][p][/p][p][/p]
• [p]🏆 New Game Mode: Leader Mode[/p][p]This mode is for players looking for a more competitive experience, perfect for playing with friends.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]⚙️ New Game Options[/p][p]You can now customize your games even further. Don’t want checkpoints? Disable them! Prefer bottles not to collide? You can disable that too![/p][p][/p]
• [p]⚖️ Balance Changes[/p][p]We’ve made some small tweaks to the first map, Castlecuco, to improve balance and gameplay.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]Stats so far[/h3][p]Thanks to you, the playtest is growing faster than we expected![/p]

• [p]+1500 sign-ups for the playtest[/p]
• [p]+900 players have entered the game[/p]
• [p]+390 wishlists on Steam[/p]
• [p]+15 cracks joined our Discord (join here!)[/p]

[p][/p][h3]What’s Coming Next?[/h3][p]From now on, we’ll be working hard to launch the official DEMO. [/p][p]This means you’ll soon be able to play ONLINE, without needing to be on the same computer or use tools like Steam Remote Play or Parsec.[/p][p][/p][p]Once again, thank you all so much for the support! [/p][p]We can’t wait for you to enjoy this update, and we’ll see you soon![/p][p][/p][p]- FrowsyFrog[/p]

[p]Hey everyone! After almost 3 months of development, I’m super happy to finally announce that the Bottle Cracks Playtest is now public![/p][p]You can play it right now on Windows! The game includes controller support, though there might still be a few small details to polish.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]What’s included in the Playtest?[/h3][p]This version is still a small preview of what the full game will become, but your feedback means a lot and will help shape it![/p][p]Here’s what’s included so far:[/p][p]🍾 4 different bottles (models will be improved later!)[/p][p]🗺️ First map: Castlecuco, featuring 4 unique levels[/p][p]🎮 Controller support (still experimental)[/p][p]👥 Local multiplayer or play solo[/p][p]🌐 English and Spanish language support[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]This playtest is all about hearing from you! What’s fun, what could be better, and what ideas you have![/p][p]Join our Discord community to share feedback, report bugs, or just hang out with other players:[/p][p]👉 Join the Bottle Cracks Discord![/p][p][/p][p]It feels amazing to finally make this public, and I’m really grateful for everyone who’s been following the development. I hope the community keeps growing, and together we can make Bottle Cracks the best it can be![/p][p]Thank you so much for playing and see you in the game![/p]