IndieBase

A lot of balancing in this patch, in addition to some new features,bug fixes,balancing and optimization. 191 is a quick hotfix to clean things up a bit. However the next build is going to add the Onos, a jetpack, and other things that have not yet been announced. The developers have released a video showing the new features as well as some gameplay.

Build 190

Features

 

• Added Whip “bombard” ability. Mature Whips can throw ball projectiles to destroy metal structures and corrode marine armor.
• Added skill-based movement to Skulk: try jumping off walls and props for a small speed boost
• Added support for ladders
• Added loading screens
• Added the ability to connect to a server while it is still loading
• Added changemap console command to the server to change the map while keeping the clients connected
• Pressing tab when running the dedicated server opens the console window
• Added average packet choke percentage to the net_stats display
• Added net_snapshot command on the server to log information about the state snapshots being sent to clients
• Changed the net_classes console command to output information about the size of the individual fields in the class
• Changed the net_log console command to accept a number specifying how verbose it is
• Added net_log, net_loss and net_lag console commands to the server
• Added retry console command to reconnect to the server last connected to (Thanks acid_rain!)
• Added an option in options.xml to disable multi-threaded rendering
• Added an option in options.xml to restrict the number of frames the CPU can get ahead of the GPU (defaults to 1)
• Added multiple collision representations for objects to make some targets easier to shoot, movement collision smoother, etc.

 

Balance

 

• Flamethrower and shotguns don’t slow you down quite as much now
• Hydras have more forgiving collision shapes

 

Fixes

 

• Reduced input latency
• Parasite is no longer removed when a Marine enters the command station (Thanks Motig!)
• Fixed teamNumber out of range error message for doors
• Removed duplicate error messages when a file could not be precached
• Leaping while Parasite is the active ability will now play the leap sound effect
• Fixed bug where ARC cannot deploy during attack mode
• ARCs will stop their charge up effects when undeploying
• Fixed issue where the server would choke client snapshot packets incorrectly
• Alerts that trigger when a Hive or Command Station are taking damage will now always be heard by players no matter how far away from the structure they are
• Fixed the mouse cursor not being properly displayed
• Voice over will no longer announce “Command Station is under attack” when the Infantry Portal is being attacked
• The backpedal step sound will no longer play while side stepping, the normal step sound plays in this case now
• Changed how potential Egg spawn points are calculated to ensure enough exist around each Hive (Thanks Matso!)
• Fixed bug in Egg spawn time calculation code when a player spawns from an Egg (Thanks Matso!)
• Whips will now trigger mines when walking over them
• Fixed bug where mines would play the spawn item effect each time they get revealed for a player
• Player names won’t get truncated anymore at the first space in the spectator message
• Mini-cysts may no longer be connected through walls and ceilings (Thanks Matso!)
• Flamethrower will no longer do more damage the faster the trigger is pressed
• Resource points will show the steam effect when the attached resource tower is visible
• Smashed tech points will now only adjust their animation state once they have been scouted (prevents early scouting of alien start point by marine commander)
• Egg mist effect will now be triggered client side only if that egg is visible (prevents early game hive scouting through the egg mist being visible)
• Med/ammo packs cannot be used anymore to scout alien start locations
• Gorge will no longer be spammed with messages if they hold down the build Hydra button in an area it cannot be built
• Marines that are Parasited or on standing on Infestation will now be sighted and show on up the minimap (Thanks Matso!)
• Fade may no longer stab while blinking
• Fixed calculation of ping times
• Fixed a networking bug with acknowledging reliable packets
• Marine rifle bash will no longer hit the wall behind the Marine
• Fixed bug making it appear that Parasite can be used more often than it actually can be used
• Structures/units will not update their energy anymore until the round has started
• Fixed a bug where marines blood effect plays at world origin when hit by spikes or heal spray
• Health circles will properly display for each individual entity selected as commander now instead of sharing one health circle
• Fixed bug where players were not always frozen during the round start countdown period
• Fixed bug where sometimes ready room players could become frozen during the round start countdown period
• Fixed unclean shutdown of the dedicated server
• Fixed shutdown process when exiting from a script error or an assert so that it doesn’t crash or generate additional errors

 

Sound

 

• Hooked up special hit sound effect for the Lerk spike played on the Marine
• Hooked up special hit sound effect for the Gorge spit projectile played on the Marine

 

Optimizations

 

• Path is no longer constantly generated for AI units (Thanks Matso!)
• Improved performance of code that searches for nearby usable entities for a Marine on the Client
• Inventory weight is only calculated when the inventory changes instead of every frame
• Some of the sentry effects are now handled client side only (reduces network traffic)
• Optimized Lua memory allocator
• Changed physics objects to use instancing and aggregates
• Server no longer simulates rag dolls unnecessarily

 

SDK

 

• New CSS-based UI layout system (not in use yet)
• Changed child entities to only be relevant if their parent is relevant (used to force the parent to be relevant if a child was relevant)
• Removed redundant Client.SetMouseCaptured function
• Added collision representation parameter to sweep API functions

Build 191

Balance

• Buying mines now gives you 2 mines instead of 3.
• Increased mine arm time from 3 seconds to 4 (to reduce them in-combat).
• Mine health, armor, and point value lowered.
• Mines now set off other nearby mines when they explode.

 

Fixes

• Alien commanders are no longer able to see flamethrower effects when they don’t have LOS to the Marine firing it.
• Dropped weapons no longer collide with the player controller.
• Fixed bug where console commands on the server were not properly verified to be coming from a local client.
• Fixed bug where players were not always frozen during the round start countdown period.
• Fixed bug where sometimes ready room players could become frozen during the round start countdown period.
• Fixed bug where the game did not use the Lua entry points specified in the game_setup.xml file.
• Fixed rally points.
• Fixed various script errors (thanks dePara!).
• Prevent slowing down of leap when leaping off a wall.
• Removed additional resource display for alien buy menu.
• Restored docking props to the build.
• Changed nano-shield “create” and “take damage” sounds from 2D to 3D (so you don’t hear them everywhere).
• Skulks will not land on their back anymore when jumping from the ceiling in tight corridors.
• Less dubstepy nano shield damage sound.