What changed
1 fix5 additions3 changes0 removals
- Gameplay
- Compatibility
- UI and audio
- Performance
changedOver 1 year ago the Bloc-Age was released on Steam. Sadly, due to loss of team member due to lack of interest in the project, lack of funding and being trapped by the original concept of the project, I can truly say the original release was rough. But I had faith in the potential the Bloc-Age had, so I took what was there, cleaned it up the best I could with what time I had, and release it. I then returned to the factory full time and in my spare time I continued to update the Bloc-Age as needed. After many updates I found that the only way to salvage the project was to do a major overhaul of the Bloc-Age, ranging from general under the hood improvements, graphical updates breaking from the original retro-styled concepts that were holding the project back, and better controls. Following is a checklist of the major changes to the Bloc-Age, and further on will be a detailed explanation of each of the changes.
changedSystem: - Reduced language support - Updated frame rate system - Better startup to catch compatibility errors - Better culling system for levels - Improved setup and input menus - Mouse over help text
addedGraphics: - Updated tileset textures for all regions - Added glow effects (sky, projectiles, effects, lights...) - Added projectile trails - Smoother lighting - Improved level design and lighting - Increased FOV
addedControl: - Added controller support - Auto left-hand weapon select
addedReduced language support: As the project has become a pure hobby project with limit people and time, I will only be supporting a few core languages. This will allow me to provide updates quicker in all the supported languages. If you feel that there is a language that should be supported, please contact me and if there is a large demand for that language, then it will be added. Also, there could be some issue with the new 'exe' if you were using a now unsupported language. If this happens deleting the 'language.txt' file from the '[users]\Saved Games\Atomic Hick Software\BlocAge\' directory will solve the problem.
fixedUpdated frame rate system: A reported problem by some users that the old frame rate system was failing, cause unplayable conditions. I believe that I found and fixed the issue, but sadly every system that I have access to did not have issue with the old system and therefore I cannot verify that the issue is truly fixed, but the new system will provide smoother gameplay.
Bloc-Age: Path of the Oracle changes
changedOver 1 year ago the Bloc-Age was released on Steam. Sadly, due to loss of team member due to lack of interest in the project, lack of funding and being trapped by the original concept of the project, I can truly say the original release was rough. But I had faith in the potential the Bloc-Age had, so I took what was there, cleaned it up the best I could with what time I had, and release it. I then returned to the factory full time and in my spare time I continued to update the Bloc-Age as needed. After many updates I found that the only way to salvage the project was to do a major overhaul of the Bloc-Age, ranging from general under the hood improvements, graphical updates breaking from the original retro-styled concepts that were holding the project back, and better controls. Following is a checklist of the major changes to the Bloc-Age, and further on will be a detailed explanation of each of the changes.
changedSystem: - Reduced language support - Updated frame rate system - Better startup to catch compatibility errors - Better culling system for levels - Improved setup and input menus - Mouse over help text
addedGraphics: - Updated tileset textures for all regions - Added glow effects (sky, projectiles, effects, lights...) - Added projectile trails - Smoother lighting - Improved level design and lighting - Increased FOV
addedControl: - Added controller support - Auto left-hand weapon select
addedReduced language support: As the project has become a pure hobby project with limit people and time, I will only be supporting a few core languages. This will allow me to provide updates quicker in all the supported languages. If you feel that there is a language that should be supported, please contact me and if there is a large demand for that language, then it will be added. Also, there could be some issue with the new 'exe' if you were using a now unsupported language. If this happens deleting the 'language.txt' file from the '[users]\Saved Games\Atomic Hick Software\BlocAge\' directory will solve the problem.
Bloc-Age: Path of the Oracle – Major Update December 16, 2024
Over 1 year ago the Bloc-Age was released on Steam. Sadly, due to loss of team member due to lack of interest in the project, lack of funding and being trapped by the original concept of the project, I can truly say the original release was rough. But I had faith in the potential the Bloc-Age had, so I took what was there, cleaned it up the best I could with what time I had, and release it. I then returned to the factory full time and in my spare time I continued to update the Bloc-Age as needed. After many updates I found that the only way to salvage the project was to do a major overhaul of the Bloc-Age, ranging from general under the hood improvements, graphical updates breaking from the original retro-styled concepts that were holding the project back, and better controls. Following is a checklist of the major changes to the Bloc-Age, and further on will be a detailed explanation of each of the changes.
System:
- Reduced language support
- Updated frame rate system
- Better startup to catch compatibility errors
- Better culling system for levels
- Improved setup and input menus
- Mouse over help text
Graphics:
- Updated tileset textures for all regions
- Added glow effects
(sky, projectiles, effects, lights...) - Added projectile trails - Smoother lighting - Improved level design and lighting - Increased FOV
Control:
- Added controller support
- Auto left-hand weapon select
- Reduced language support: As the project has become a pure hobby project with limit people and time, I will only be supporting a few core languages. This will allow me to provide updates quicker in all the supported languages. If you feel that there is a language that should be supported, please contact me and if there is a large demand for that language, then it will be added. Also, there could be some issue with the new 'exe' if you were using a now unsupported language. If this happens deleting the 'language.txt' file from the '[users]\Saved Games\Atomic Hick Software\BlocAge\' directory will solve the problem.
- Updated frame rate system: A reported problem by some users that the old frame rate system was failing, cause unplayable conditions. I believe that I found and fixed the issue, but sadly every system that I have access to did not have issue with the old system and therefore I cannot verify that the issue is truly fixed, but the new system will provide smoother gameplay.
- Better startup to catch compatibility errors: Again, due to my limited number of systems to test the project on, some users have found situation where the program crash on startup. The new startup system should give the user more information on why this is happening and can relate the information back to me so that I can have a better chance of fixing the issues.
- Better culling system for levels: Due to time constraints the original release had no culling in game levels. Some larger level did experience low frame rates due to this, but now with the new culling system, all level should run at very high frame rates.
- Improved setup and input menu: Both setup and input menus are now organized better to allow you to more quickly find and update the options you need.
- Mouse over help text: Now all menu buttons will display information about what it
