Mega patch open beta testing is now live!

After over a year of improving almost every aspect of the game I am delighted to open up the mega patch to testing before I release it (details found at the bottom of this post). This patch includes:

• Massive graphical upgrade

• Much faster frame rates

• Streamlined UI

• Streamlined gameplay aka removing unnecessary stuff

• AI Improvements

• Bug fixes

There are a load of changes so I will list the main ones, please do read this else you may get confused.

• Red alert is now Intruder alert which closes doors and no longer affects power

• External defence turrets are now on all the time so no need to remember to switch on and off

• Science cargoships have been removed and now goods are gatewayed to the main base

• Weapons and tech are now automatically updated on new ships

• No more power requirements on designing ships as weapons and specials are now ship specific

• Ships price is now only what the hull costs

• The reactor on ships now controls the weapon strength

• The trader now sells upgrades.

• Reactors in science power stations are automatically upgraded when researched

• Upgrading station tech is now done in a brought back Security Control Room

• Executron facility is now the Fighter Port

• Multitool is now in the pistol slot

• Power screen is now generic.

• Power station sliders are now on the main RTS interface

• Quick design for constructing units has been added on the main RTS interface

• Monolith no longer blows up the sun and targets the HQ

• New targeting terminals have been added for Executrons in various locations such as Gateways/* Tele-ports etc

• Goods factories can now make power cores with Tritanium along with luxury goods from gold and diamonds

• New internal defences have been added including upgrading turrets and doors

• UI changes to construction have been implemented so you just press the HQ to bring up the build screen

• Outpost construction is now done from a construction ship which doesn't vanish afterwards

• Can now upgrade the power on command outposts.

• Space defence turrets are now the same as the ground version where they are just placed within the build radius

• 5 new Executron types have been added with buffs depending on your style of play.

• Executrons can now boost certain buildings through transferring their health power into it through a power booster.

The way outposts has been changed where you no longer need to buy cores from the trader but you make your own with Tritanium at the goods factory, an expandable outpost cap has also been implemented to stop run away economies and make you think more about placement and usage.

That's all I can think of at the moment but those are the key changes to the game, you should find it a lot more fun and streamlined.

A lot of your strategies might need to change due to the way the game is balanced now so please before complaining about something give it a good go first and you'll see the way things work now is much better.

You might also think that it doesn't seem like much has been done for the time its taken but not only has a multitude of scripts been optimised and refactored along with the graphics engine being upgraded but I was also working simultaneously on Hostile Takeover which for now needs a bit longer in the oven to cook. Main things I would like you to look at:

• Your overall thoughts on it, was it all worth it? Are you enjoying the changes?

• Has the “Jank” been removed/lessened?

• Does it feel balanced? Especially with an Executron?

• Exploits

• Does it perform well on your system?

• Ideas on improvements?

Remember that it is in testing and active development so please expect some issues, if you find bugs please post them the usual way through the game as I get a screenshot, saved state and log.

You will notice all your settings have reset too, this unfortunately had to happen due to upgrading the graphics engine and creating a new profile in Windows for it

I really hope you enjoy it all as it’s a massive improvement on the current release and looking forward to hearing how its all going.

To join the testing go to the games properties on Steam, then betas and type in BetabranchtestingC which should activate the branch.

Cheers,

Rob