Rover Builder update - Slider part (previously steering), move tool and keybind display
We just shipped an update! Here's what's new:
The old steering part is now rebranded as a Slider part. It looks the same, but has a lot of new functionality:
Another new thing is the updated toolbar in top left corner of the building mode. There’s now a selection tool, and a move tool. The selection tool works like the rectangular selection has worked before, but the move tool is new.
Right now the move tool will only move everything that’s attached to the part you’re moving, so it’s not yet possible to only move selected parts. However you can disconnect e.g. a steering system from the rest of the build and move it independently. The moving works in 90 degree angles. Keep in mind that the mirroring plane will not move with the central box, so there’s center lines visible in the grid while you move, to help to keep the rover centered.
Shortcut for moving is Ctrl.
(We are working on a splitting/joining tool for steel beams, which will also make it a lot easier to disconnect certain parts of the build for moving. Hopefully that makes it to the next update)
The selection logic has also changed a bit. Now you need to have the selection tool active to select multiple parts, otherwise only the last clicked part will get selected. This basically means you have to hold Shift to select multiple parts when e.g. the steel material is active. (as the shortcut will temporarily activate the selection tool)
There’s now a panel that shows all the different parts’ keybindings in the building and driving mode. You can minimize it by clicking the little arrow in the top left of the panel. The keys will also act as clickable buttons in driving mode. We are planning to add more functionality to this panel in the future, but right now it’s mainly a place to easily see all the key commands.
Other smaller changes/fixes:
We are working on making the steel joints a bit more durable with bigger structures, but it’s still a work in progress and there’s no big updates on that yet. The physics have gone through some refactoring already though, so hopefully you’ll see a little less explosions with this update already!
The old steering part is now rebranded as a Slider part. It looks the same, but has a lot of new functionality:
- There’s now a “motored”-option. It’s checked by default, but if you uncheck it the slider will just slide freely across the whole steel beam it’s attached to. Lots of new possibilities!
- There’s now a couple options for the motored mode:
- Movement range: you can now define how long you want the slider’s movement to be
- Motor speed: Lets you control how fast the movement is
- Return to center: Checked by default. If unchecked, the slider will just leave where it is after you stop pressing the movement keys, without returning to the center. This opens up a whole new world of cranes, balancing systems, active suspensions etc! - The sliders can now be placed directly above each other for more compact slider systems (before the gears would’ve gotten in the way)
- You can now flip the sliders sideways on the axis of the steel beam, for more flexible placing
Another new thing is the updated toolbar in top left corner of the building mode. There’s now a selection tool, and a move tool. The selection tool works like the rectangular selection has worked before, but the move tool is new.
Right now the move tool will only move everything that’s attached to the part you’re moving, so it’s not yet possible to only move selected parts. However you can disconnect e.g. a steering system from the rest of the build and move it independently. The moving works in 90 degree angles. Keep in mind that the mirroring plane will not move with the central box, so there’s center lines visible in the grid while you move, to help to keep the rover centered.
Shortcut for moving is Ctrl.
(We are working on a splitting/joining tool for steel beams, which will also make it a lot easier to disconnect certain parts of the build for moving. Hopefully that makes it to the next update)
The selection logic has also changed a bit. Now you need to have the selection tool active to select multiple parts, otherwise only the last clicked part will get selected. This basically means you have to hold Shift to select multiple parts when e.g. the steel material is active. (as the shortcut will temporarily activate the selection tool)
There’s now a panel that shows all the different parts’ keybindings in the building and driving mode. You can minimize it by clicking the little arrow in the top left of the panel. The keys will also act as clickable buttons in driving mode. We are planning to add more functionality to this panel in the future, but right now it’s mainly a place to easily see all the key commands.
Other smaller changes/fixes:
- The wheel joints are now a bit stronger, so they don’t fall off as easily
- The wheels now have a little less friction, which should help with overall stability and skid steering. It also feels more natural.
- There’s now a confirmation box when loading/removing rover designs. You can choose to not show it again.
- In the launcher window’s “input” tab there’s now some more relevant keybindings to modify
- Left/Right arrow keys reversed for the horizontal rotation of the camera in building mode
- Fixed a bug where the mission scene would get messed up if you clicked Start repeatedly
We are working on making the steel joints a bit more durable with bigger structures, but it’s still a work in progress and there’s no big updates on that yet. The physics have gone through some refactoring already though, so hopefully you’ll see a little less explosions with this update already!