Steam News18 June 20215y ago

Vidya Poker 3.0 Released!

Hey Vidya Poker players! coolnames here, and do I have a juicy patch for you all! Optimizations More than 80% of the code has been rewritten for efficiency and performance.

In this update9

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Full Vidya Poker update

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Repeated intro

Hey Vidya Poker players! coolnames here, and do I have a juicy patch for you all!

What changed

0 fixes10 additions5 changes2 removals

Performance
Gameplay
UI and audio
Store

addedOptimizationsMore than 80% of the code has been rewritten for efficiency and performance. So much of the code was initially 'hacked' together to get functionality working for the sake of time. Logic for scoring, stat tracking, and manipulating the objects on screen have all been boiled down to run fast! Here is an example, green bit on the left is new, red bit on the right is old:

removedOptimizationsAn important step for an Unreal Engine game is the minimization of casting being used. Casting is basically how objects and variables are linked/shared/communicated between one another when using UE's Blueprints. Casting in Vidya Poker has been almost completely removed, increasing performance and benefiting memory use.

addedOptimizationsAlso, many old assets in the project have been culled. Even with the addition of new assets in this patch, the overall install size of the game has been reduced!

addedQuality Settings for Graphics and Visual EffectsFor anyone running the game on Skynet or a potato, and everything in between, you can now select any of four Quality presets to get the game running/looking just the way you like!

removedQuality Settings for Graphics and Visual EffectsAt default High, all visuals will have their full, intended fidelity! As you decrease Quality, visual candy is either reduced or removed. Laptop players should now be able to enjoy Vidya Poker at a good framerate!

changedQuality Settings for Graphics and Visual EffectsQuality adjusts the following: fire and ice effects, lighting, space background, space clouds, card electricity effects, fireworks, and several UI elements.

Vidya Poker changes

addedMore than 80% of the code has been rewritten for efficiency and performance. So much of the code was initially 'hacked' together to get functionality working for the sake of time. Logic for scoring, stat tracking, and manipulating the objects on screen have all been boiled down to run fast! Here is an example, green bit on the left is new, red bit on the right is old:

removedAn important step for an Unreal Engine game is the minimization of casting being used. Casting is basically how objects and variables are linked/shared/communicated between one another when using UE's Blueprints. Casting in Vidya Poker has been almost completely removed, increasing performance and benefiting memory use.

addedAlso, many old assets in the project have been culled. Even with the addition of new assets in this patch, the overall install size of the game has been reduced!

addedFor anyone running the game on Skynet or a potato, and everything in between, you can now select any of four Quality presets to get the game running/looking just the way you like!

removedAt default High, all visuals will have their full, intended fidelity! As you decrease Quality, visual candy is either reduced or removed. Laptop players should now be able to enjoy Vidya Poker at a good framerate!

Optimizations

More than 80% of the code has been rewritten for efficiency and performance. So much of the code was initially 'hacked' together to get functionality working for the sake of time. Logic for scoring, stat tracking, and manipulating the objects on screen have all been boiled down to run fast! Here is an example, green bit on the left is new, red bit on the right is old:

An important step for an Unreal Engine game is the minimization of casting being used. Casting is basically how objects and variables are linked/shared/communicated between one another when using UE's Blueprints. Casting in Vidya Poker has been almost completely removed, increasing performance and benefiting memory use.

Also, many old assets in the project have been culled. Even with the addition of new assets in this patch, the overall install size of the game has been reduced!

Quality Settings for Graphics and Visual Effects

For anyone running the game on Skynet or a potato, and everything in between, you can now select any of four Quality presets to get the game running/looking just the way you like!

At default High, all visuals will have their full, intended fidelity! As you decrease Quality, visual candy is either reduced or removed. Laptop players should now be able to enjoy Vidya Poker at a good framerate!

Quality adjusts the following: fire and ice effects, lighting, space background, space clouds, card electricity effects, fireworks, and several UI elements.

New Stat Tracking

Vidya Poker has been using Steam's stat tracking up until this patch. I have since simplified how stats are tracked to help with adding new content to the game as well as when the game is ported to other platforms.

Because of the change, a player's unlocked customizations they bought with Diamonds are now reset and Diamonds refunded. On your first launch of the game with patch installed, you will see this screen displaying your refunded diamonds:

New Controls

Quality can now be changed on-the-fly by pressing the 'Q' key on the keyboard.

But, the best control additions have to be the new Mouse button mappings: Right Click to trigger DEAL/DRAW Thumb Button 1 Click to replicate pressing the 'Esc' key on keyboard or the Back button.

Middle Mouse / Scroll Wheel Click to toggle Auto-Play

Using Right Click to DEAL/DRAW has made the game much faster and intuitive to play, imo. I have been loving playing this way...very fast!

HOLD/HELD Text Looks Better

Text now has a nice contrasting black stroke. Looks much better now!! Nuff Said!

Thank You!

I really appreciate your support while developing this game. More content and tweaks will be coming!! Be well!

PATCH NOTES

Vidya Poker v3.0

6-18-21

STATS:

New Stat tracking system implemented. All player stats from Steam players are maintained; Spent Diamonds are now REFUNDED when loading the game for the first time. All customization unlocks are reset to default.
ACHIEVMENTS ➡ New Achievement added for 'Unlocked All Toons'
ACHIEVMENTS ➡ New Achievement added for 'Unlocked All Toon Skins'

INPUT:

KEYBOARD ➡ 'Q' Key ➡ Cycles Quality levels.
MOUSE ➡ Right Click ➡ Triggers DEAL/DRAW button during poker gameplay.
MOUSE ➡ Thumb 1 Click ➡ Replicates pressing 'Esc' on Keyboard or clicking on the Back button in UI.
MOUSE ➡ Scroll Wheel Click ➡ Toggles Auto-Play.

UI:

Source

Steam News / 18 June 2021

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