Nova Drift News

We've successfully migrated the game from GameMaker Studio to GameMaker 2! This is a huge leap forward in stability, portability, support, and performance. Additionally, in future builds, we can compile to Linux and OSX using the native compiler, and its a step closer to console ports!

This is a big update! You can read the full change log here: 0.20.11 Patch Notes

This patch levels the playing field. The more overpowered interactions have been addressed or redesigned outright, allowing for a far greater variety of builds to be competitive. Weaker mechanics have received some love. Here are some of the highlights:
- Sweeping construct balance changes
- A complete overhaul of the Research ship body, with a new unique ability
- Blast Radius and Splinter Shot overhauls
- Corrosion rework
- Settings for analog and digital control styles
- A great deal of performance optimizations

I'm excited to say that with the engine migration out of the way, I'm able to focus fully on creating new content! We've got some exciting new things coming up, and not only what's on the roadmap. There's also this!

Naturally, with an engine transition comes different problems for different hardware configurations and software. I can say with confidence that more people are now able to play on this version than than before, but some did encounter new problems. Most of them have easy solutions, such as restarting, disabling third party software, white listing on antiviruses, or reinstalling. Problems with OBS can be solved through OBS configuration settings. Please contact Chimeric directly with any problems:

Email: [email protected]

Or chat with me here: Discord

Thanks for your continued support! And HAVE FUN!
Best,
Chimeric

Starting the 1st of May, We'll begin resetting the Steam Community leaderboard on a monthly basis. We hope this encourages ongoing competition, as well as mitigating the effects of Steam Leaderboards being hacked (This hacking isn't a problem with Nova Drift-- it's possible to completely circumvent the game to submit a score to Steam). Here's what you can expect moving forward:

• As new game modes are added, new Leaderboards will allow you to compete in that particular event.
  
• Once we impliment a checksum system to determine legitimate scores, a more persistant leaderboard will also exist.
  

Looking forward to seeing everyone's names up there! We'll be competing too, so if you are so inclined, you might consider bringing it.

- Miles & Jeffrey @ Pixeljam / Chimeric

Hello all,

In addition to the current 10% discount we are running on Nova Drift this week, Pixeljam's entire library of older games is on sale for 85% off. Check it out:

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/1028/The_Pixeljam_Collection/

This includes Last Horizon, a game that Chimeric was also involved in, as well as our most well known title Dino Run DX and many other games and soundtracks.

Thanks for looking!

-Miles @ Pixeljam

Hello all,

For the sake of long term support, stability, performance and porting to consoles (!!), we need to migrate Nova Drift from GameMaker Studio 1 to GMS2. This is a huge deal! And as any developer knows, when you migrate engines you create a world of possibilities for new bugs an issues to pop up.

The migration to GMS2 has already begun, and we need your help to make it stable and fit for public consumption. So....

Please try out the BETA branch of the game - currently version 0.20.2. If you encounter any issues, please report them to the BUGS forum (and make a note that it's the beta branch) or better yet, join our discord server and report them there: https://discord.gg/Zp2MkPJ.

Thanks so much!

PS - the BETA branch is probably not fit to stream, but if you do stream, we'd love to know how OBS / other capture software works with the new version - please try running the game and your capture software together but NOT broadcasting to twitch, youtube, etc. Thanks!

Hello all,

We hope everyone has been enjoying the game so far. We've listened to your feedback (there was a lot of it!) and have put together the first major update to the game, which should be waiting for you in the main branch... you might have to restart Steam to get it.

There are a few ways you learn about the updates. If you just want a summary, read below or check this big tweet . Bonus points for RT'ing to boost the signal!

You can read the entire report / patch notes here.

This update focuses on quality-of-life changes, balance, and raising the power level of several formerly uncompetitive loadouts such as engineer and architect construct builds, shielded construct builds, and Siege Weaponry / Saturation Fire builds.

Construct AI has been given quite a few advancements, including the ability to lead their targets, dodge hazards, and multitask while repositioning. They're generally more graceful and well positioned. These changes, combined with the addition of level-scaled assembly time, have given constructs far greater sustain in late waves. Buffs have also been given to Apex Machinery and Shielded Constructs, which is now quite viable defensively, compared to other defensive set ups.

Self-Damage systems such as Siege Weaponry, Saturation Fire, and Antimatter Rounds have been rebalanced and made more dynamic. Siege Weaponry no longer damages you on the first strike, provides more benefit up front, and spools up smoothly. Saturation Fire now allows the full range of calibrate's affects and works with more set ups. If you've ever wanted to convert Pulse into a long range auto-shotgun, now you can!

Additionally, there are quite a few new small features: The Stealth body gets bonus damage when breaking stealth, the game has been zoomed out, a new music track has been added, burn damage numbers can be shown, more statistics are displayed, and many bugs have been fixed along with a number of sizable optimizations. For Streamers with wide aspect monitors, windowed mode is now a fixed 16:9, with more dynamic options to come.

The next major update will feature new content!

Also, please consider RT'ing the original launch announcement if you have not yet.

Finally, join our discord community! This is the most direct way to chat with other players and submit feedback, bug reports and feature requests.

Keep on drifting….
-Miles @ Pixeljam