ΔV: Rings of Saturn News

This is another bugfix and polishing release. Changelog:

• AI miners are now much more careful when maneuvering near the player.
  
• Fine-tuned audio for some of the thrusters.
  
• On-board computer is now harder to damage.
  
• Long translations will no-longer break the UI.
  

Following the "fix bug first" paradigm I'm releasing yet another bugfix release. Bugs fixed:

• Fixed a memory leak that caused the game crash when you exited to desktop.
  
• Changed the way game allocates ships. This should lead to improved stability.
  
• Game will no-longer crash in the unlikely event of flying out of the mapped area of the rings.
  
• Fixed a bug that caused upgrade net price to be displayed incorrectly immediately after purchasing new upgrade.
  
• Fixed dust and smoke effects on Enceladus.
  

This release combines tuning of the AI with bugfixes. Changes:

• AI will not be so hostile anymore. Ship captains will give you some breath if you don't actively shoot them.
  
• AI can now decide that the best course of action is to just get away from you without provoking further aggression.
  
• Fixed some causes of crashes, hopefully all of them.
  
• You can no-longer change camera zoom when game is paused.
  
• Mass-driver will now shoot properly when underpowered.
  
• Reactor radiators won't glow through weapons anymore.
  
• You can now always control OMS screen with a mouse.
  
• Fixed a bug that caused bullet time carry over to main menu and Enceladus.
  

This is a storytelling enchantment release. A storyteller module of ΔV is the part that keeps the story going - the pirate attacks, the anomalies in the game, bounty hunters patrolling. It was a bit harsh on a new players, and it's tuned now to be more relaxed.

Changes:

• Increased compassion of storyteller module.
  
• Fixed a but that caused mouse to be blocked when pausing the game while fast-forwarding cutscene.
  
• Fixed a bug that hid tuning options of mass driver.
  
• Fixed a bug that caused "launch from Enceladus" sequence to be automatically skipped every time. You can now skip by clicking, or watch it.
  
• Fixed menu fade at Enceladus Prime when leaving station.
  

Some players argued that ΔV is brutal and hard on the start. This update aims to help with that. It adds an insurance to cover your initial losses when you learn the ropes of the game, and it completely overhauls how the autopilot works.

None of the underlying physics and simulation changed - it's just that some of the on-board system are smarter now.

Changes:

• Complete autopilot overhaul for keyboard+mouse control scheme. Target-locking an object will now cause the autopilot to aim for it automatically, and your movement will be oriented to the object. You can move closer and away from it, and side movement will move you around it. As previously, you will automatically match velocity. It makes it much easier to dig.
  
• Changed the way camera pans around - it will now show more in the way you are pointing towards (as opposed to showing more in the direction you move), and you can pan around a bit by pointing your mouse at a target. It will also try to maintain anything you target-lock in the shot.
  
• Added an insurance to cover the repair costs for initial damage of your ship. You need to start a new game to take advantage of it.
  
• OMS will now work correctly when tutorial is playing.
  
• Stability improvements. Fixed couple of spots that might cause crashes.