Starbrew Station v1.5.13

Overview

Version 1.5.13 is a stability hotfix focused on eliminating memory corruption crashes and further performance optimization. This release fixes critical crashes during boss fights and scene transitions, adds new contextual tutorials, and improves overall game responsiveness.

Key Highlights for v1.5.13:

• Fixed heap memory corruption crashes during boss fights

• Fixed crashes during scene transitions from looping animations

• New contextual tutorials for Fighter Units, Support Units, and R&D Wing

• Additional performance optimizations for UI updates

• Improved Health Inspector and Deck 6 prestige flow

Crash Fixes

Boss Fight Stability

Fixed critical memory corruption issues that caused crashes during and after boss fights.

• Fixed heap corruption crashes - Tweens and timers with callbacks now properly tracked and cleaned up

• Fixed use-after-free crashes - Added validity checks in tween callbacks to prevent accessing freed objects

• Fixed projectile/effect cleanup - All 7 tween instances in projectile spawning now properly managed

• Fixed inspection boss fight crashes - Damage label and sprite color flash tweens now properly cleaned up

Scene Transition Stability

Fixed crashes when transitioning between scenes while animations were playing.

• Fixed looping tween crashes - Infinite animation tweens now properly stopped on scene exit

• Fixed save indicator animation - Save status indicator tween cleaned up on exit

• Fixed rush hour pulse animation - Progress bar pulse effect properly disposed

• Fixed loading screen glow - Glow animation tween cleaned up during transitions

• Fixed scroll hint animation - Sidebar scroll hint pulse properly cleaned up

• Fixed chat bubble async patterns - Added validity checks after await in unit chat systems

New Tutorials

ARIA now provides guidance at key progression milestones!

• Fighter Unit tutorial - First-time fighter purchasers get combat system guidance

• Support Unit tutorial - Learn about support mechanics when hiring your first support unit

• R&D Wing tutorial - ARIA explains research mechanics after your first prestige

• One-time display - Each tutorial only shows once per save file

Performance Optimizations

UI Update Efficiency

• Optimized number formatting - Replaced O(n^2) string operations with efficient O(n) array operations

• Throttled UI updates - Machine count display reduced from 60fps to 1Hz, rush hour timer to 2Hz

• Cached scroll containers - Virtual cursor no longer scans scene tree every frame

• Fixed rush hour indicator - Theme color override no longer called every frame

General Optimizations

• Cached deck unlock checks - NextGoalsPanel now caches results instead of recalculating 3x per update

• Batch stats queries - StatsManager uses shared processing helpers for efficiency

• Cached UI references - RDWingPortal and ModifierDisplay cache references at startup

• Optimized rush hour pulse - Replaced expensive sin() calculations with tween animation

• Cached unit data - TwitchIntegrationManager caches unit data instead of reloading

• Consolidated loops - TimeManager combines two unit_counts iterations into one

• Batched Steam API calls - AchievementsManager spreads initialization across frames

UX Improvements

• Improved prestige flow - Health Inspector and Deck 6 prestige experience streamlined

• Better tutorial timing - Contextual tutorials appear at natural progression points

Compatibility

• Full backward compatibility with v1.5.x saves

• All progress and achievements preserved

What's Next

This hotfix addresses the remaining crash reports from v1.5.12, particularly around boss fights and scene transitions. The new contextual tutorials help guide players through key mechanics at the right moments. Thank you for reporting these issues - your crash reports helped us identify and fix these memory corruption bugs!

Brew on, Commanders!

o7,

David (HeartCoded)