It has taken significant resources to prototype and implement the character customisation system as significant game functionality needed to be rewritten to work with configurable character parts, the 0.3.0 alpha build released with this post, has a functioning character selection screen with a set of sample character costumes for testing (including the existing Kigurumi characters, and a selection from the new Wrestler / Luchador and other miscellaneous outfits).

The 0.3.0 alpha build replaces the 0.1.5a "stable" alpha build as the default build on Steam Early Access (the 0.1.5a build is available for download through the Steam "BETAS" tab as a legacy build for the Early Access community to compare the gameplay, performance, stability, and other game content of the last Unity 4.x build with the Unity 5.x builds).

The 0.3.0 alpha build also replaces the 0.2.6c “unstable” build until the logic for the prototype “break” and “race” game modes is rewritten to work with the character customisation system (the “break”, “race”, “king of the hill”, and “capture the flag” game modes will be exposed for testing in a coming “unstable” alpha build).

The 0.3.0 alpha build also has an improved camera system, a new particle effect system (for the fire on the ‘incinerator’ stage), new post processing and colour grading effects, the first versions of the significantly revised UI and menu systems, numerous modifications to stages (a rebuilt ‘incinerator’ stage, and modified ‘buoy’, ‘girders’, and ‘fans’ stages), and new running, standing headbutt, front slide, rear slide, and sitting character moves.

For reference the full character customisation screen is disabled in the 0.3.0 “stable” alpha build as the UI does not currently protect against conflicts between costume parts, a version of the full character customisation system (with support for saving customisations) will be exposed with other prototype game stages and content in the coming “unstable” builds.

The modifications and fixes made in this build are:

• added character selection / join game screen
  
• added a standing headbutt move (tap the button mapped for ‘duck’ to headbutt)
  
• added a running move (hold the button mapped to ‘jump’ to run)
  
• added a front sliding move (hold the button mapped to ‘duck’ when running to front slide)
  
• added a rear sliding move (hold the button mapped to ‘kick’ when running to rear slide)
  
• added a sitting move (hold the button mapped to ‘jump’ when stationary to sit)
  
• added a setting for enabling / disabling Xinput (to support more than four Xinput devices to be used concurrently) - this setting has been disabled as more testing is needed
  
• added preset Wrestling / Luchador clothing and mask selections (for testing)
  
• added preset miscellaneous clothing selections (for testing)
  
• added post processing and colour grading to game stages
  
• added rebuilt ‘incinerator’ stage
  
• added new menu music
  
• added basic Steam API support
  
• added setting to enable / disable exiting the game with game controllers (if enabled press the ESCAPE key to exit to the game menu when in game)
  
• modified climbing implementation (to make characters feet contact with surfaces when climbing)
  
• modified fullscreen implementation (to test support for Nvidia Game Stream service)
  
• modified object and enemy targeting systems
  
• modified character system to more accurately identify kill volumes
  
• modified B side music for the ’chute’ and ’girders’ stages
  
• modified audio levels and triggers
  
• replaced previous fire particle effect with an improved fire particle effect
  
• replaced the previous game manger systems with rewritten game manager systems
  
• replaced the prototype game camera system with an improved game camera system
  
• replaced music for ‘incinerator’ stage
  
• replaced fade transition implement with a rewritten solution (to fix the transition failure issue)
  
• fixed character explosion issues in some contexts
  
• fixed music warping transitions
  
• removed status bars
  
• removed the rear and front railings from the ‘fans’ stage
  
• removed stairs from platform ends on ‘subway’ stage
  
• temporarily replaced previous water and buoyancy system with a placeholder system (while compatibility issues with the new water and buoyancy system are fixed)
  
• temporarily removed the ‘cat’ kigurumi due to an issue with skinned meshes

It has taken significant resources to prototype and implement the character customisation system as significant game functionality needed to be rewritten to work with configurable character parts, the 0.3.0 alpha build released with this post, has a functioning character selection screen with a set of sample character costumes for testing (including the existing Kigurumi characters, and a selection from the new Wrestler / Luchador and other miscellaneous outfits).

The 0.3.0 alpha build replaces the 0.1.5a "stable" alpha build as the default build on Steam Early Access (the 0.1.5a build is available for download through the Steam "BETAS" tab as a legacy build for the Early Access community to compare the gameplay, performance, stability, and other game content of the last Unity 4.x build with the Unity 5.x builds).

The 0.3.0 alpha build also replaces the 0.2.6c “unstable” build until the logic for the prototype “break” and “race” game modes is rewritten to work with the character customisation system (the “break”, “race”, “king of the hill”, and “capture the flag” game modes will be exposed for testing in a coming “unstable” alpha build).

The 0.3.0 alpha build also has an improved camera system, a new particle effect system (for the fire on the ‘incinerator’ stage), new post processing and colour grading effects, the first versions of the significantly revised UI and menu systems, numerous modifications to stages (a rebuilt ‘incinerator’ stage, and modified ‘buoy’, ‘girders’, and ‘fans’ stages), and new running, standing headbutt, front slide, rear slide, and sitting character moves.

For reference the full character customisation screen is disabled in the 0.3.0 “stable” alpha build as the UI does not currently protect against conflicts between costume parts, a version of the full character customisation system (with support for saving customisations) will be exposed with other prototype game stages and content in the coming “unstable” builds.

The modifications and fixes made in this build are:

• added character selection / join game screen
  
• added a standing headbutt move (tap the button mapped for ‘duck’ to headbutt)
  
• added a running move (hold the button mapped to ‘jump’ to run)
  
• added a front sliding move (hold the button mapped to ‘duck’ when running to front slide)
  
• added a rear sliding move (hold the button mapped to ‘kick’ when running to rear slide)
  
• added a sitting move (hold the button mapped to ‘jump’ when stationary to sit)
  
• added a setting for enabling / disabling Xinput (to support more than four Xinput devices to be used concurrently) - this setting has been disabled as more testing is needed
  
• added preset Wrestling / Luchador clothing and mask selections (for testing)
  
• added preset miscellaneous clothing selections (for testing)
  
• added post processing and colour grading to game stages
  
• added rebuilt ‘incinerator’ stage
  
• added new menu music
  
• added basic Steam API support
  
• added setting to enable / disable exiting the game with game controllers (if enabled press the ESCAPE key to exit to the game menu when in game)
  
• modified climbing implementation (to make characters feet contact with surfaces when climbing)
  
• modified fullscreen implementation (to test support for Nvidia Game Stream service)
  
• modified object and enemy targeting systems
  
• modified character system to more accurately identify kill volumes
  
• modified B side music for the ’chute’ and ’girders’ stages
  
• modified audio levels and triggers
  
• replaced previous fire particle effect with an improved fire particle effect
  
• replaced the previous game manger systems with rewritten game manager systems
  
• replaced the prototype game camera system with an improved game camera system
  
• replaced music for ‘incinerator’ stage
  
• replaced fade transition implement with a rewritten solution (to fix the transition failure issue)
  
• fixed character explosion issues in some contexts
  
• fixed music warping transitions
  
• removed status bars
  
• removed the rear and front railings from the ‘fans’ stage
  
• removed stairs from platform ends on ‘subway’ stage
  
• temporarily replaced previous water and buoyancy system with a placeholder system (while compatibility issues with the new water and buoyancy system are fixed)
  
• temporarily removed the ‘cat’ kigurumi due to an issue with skinned meshes

The 0.2.6 build released with this post is a content release with three new stages (‘billboard’, ‘blimp’, and ‘girders’) and four modified stages (‘buoy’, ‘fans’, ‘ring’, and ’subway’), the build also includes expanded AI behaviours that give AI enemies lifting and throwing abilities.



The modifications and fixes made in this build are:

• fixed an issue that could stop characters entering the climbing state when colliding with walls
  
• added the ‘billboard’ stage
  
• added the ‘blimp’ stage
  
• added the ‘girders’ stage
  
• modified the water shader on the ‘buoy’ stage
  
• modified the geometry for the ‘vents’ stage (now called ‘fans’)
  
• modified the geometry for the ‘ring’ stage
  
• modified the geometry for the ’subway’ stage
  
• modified climbing implementation to support climbing on grabbed surfaces (including other enemy and player characters)
  
• modified climbing implementation to limit / minimise stabilise the accumulation of forces when multiple characters are climbing / lifting each other
  
• modified grip limitations (grip will abruptly fail when hanging from the same surface / object for a protracted length of time)
  
• modified the force characters have on the wave simulation in the ’buoys’ stage (to limit / minimise the frequency of sudden or erratic high waves)
  
• modified the potential delay between AI enemy punches (to increase punch frequency)
  
• modified spawn points on some stages to work better with the current game camera
  
• modified XInput support to be disabled by default to support 5-8 players with Xbox 360 controllers and variants (XInput limits the number of concurrent Xbox 360 controllers to four, see the 'XInput Support' section of this post for more information)
  
• added centripetal forces to subway trains on ‘subway’ stage (trains can pull characters and objects in close proximity towards them)
  
• added throwing behaviour for AI enemies (specific throw actions need calibrating to be effective on complex stages)
  
• added grabbing behaviour for AI enemies (enemies will attempt to grab surfaces, objects, and other characters when falling)
  
• modified (rebuilt) AI enemy nav meshes for all stages (excluding the ‘break’ and ’race’ prototypes)
  
• added throw triggers to stages to support the AI enemy throwing behaviour (excluding ‘blimp’, ‘break’, ’buoy’, and ’race’)

The new and modified stages are work in progress and will continue to be polished and improved in subsequent builds. There are now 16 default stages in the current ‘unstable’ build (‘billboard’, ’blimp’, ’buoy’, ’chute’, ’containers’, ’elevators’, ’fans’, ‘girders’, ’gondola’, ‘grind’, ’incinerator’, ’ring’, ’subway’, ‘towers’, ’trucks’, and ’wheel’), we are still working to remake the ‘incinerator’ stage (the colliders are finished but the scene has not been fully assembled in editor).



We currently plan to add the modified ‘incinerator’ stage and the prototype ‘gymnasium’ and ‘TV studio’ stages to the fork that the customisation system is being merged with but if we identify that this work will delay the release of the next build we plan to move these stages to the same project that the 0.2.6 build was built with (to minimise the length of time before the next build can be published).

For reference the only fencing, railings and similar structures that are breakable are in the 0.2.6 build are in the ‘elevators’ stage, we are working to make the similar structures in the ’billboard’, ’chute’, ’fans’, ‘grind’, ’incinerator’, ’subway’, ‘towers’, and ’wheel’ stages breakable.




We are working with SuperGenius to merge the work on the character customisation system with the current project fork, it wasn’t practical to merge this work with the 0.2.6 fork as the modified game management system (that adds support for the coming “King of the Hill” and “Capture the Flag” game modes) was implemented in a separate fork.

When this work is complete we can publish a build with the character system (with a selection of old and new characters), and the other work from this fork (including support for deincrementing menu selections, a front slide move, modifications to the in-game player information, and the playable prototypes of the “King of the Hill” and “Capture the Flag” game modes).


Disabling XInput forces Xbox 360 XInput controllers and variants to use Direct or Raw input (bypassing the XInput four player limitation and restoring support for 5-8 concurrent Xbox 360 controllers), for reference disabling XInput prevents both Xbox 360 controller triggers from registering concurrently on Windows systems (we are working on implementing an option to support manually enabling / disabling XInput on Windows for a coming build).


To download 'unstable' alpha build of Gang Beasts right-click on the game name on the Steam library page and select 'Properties' from the dialogue window that opens, from this window select the 'BETAS' tab then the 'unstable' option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled 'Select the beta you would like to opt into:' (to revert back to the last 'stable' branch select 'NONE- Opt out of all beta programs' from the same menu).

For reference switching between 'unstable' and 'stable' branches of the game can force the selected build to download to the Steam client.

Gang Beasts is an Early Access game that is currently in uninterrupted development, the 0.1.x and 0.2.x builds have bugs, partially implemented gameplay content and mechanics (please see the Steam Early Access FAQ for more information).

The 0.2.6 build released with this post is a content release with three new stages (‘billboard’, ‘blimp’, and ‘girders’) and four modified stages (‘buoy’, ‘fans’, ‘ring’, and ’subway’), the build also includes expanded AI behaviours that give AI enemies lifting and throwing abilities.



The modifications and fixes made in this build are:

• fixed an issue that could stop characters entering the climbing state when colliding with walls
  
• added the ‘billboard’ stage
  
• added the ‘blimp’ stage
  
• added the ‘girders’ stage
  
• modified the water shader on the ‘buoy’ stage
  
• modified the geometry for the ‘vents’ stage (now called ‘fans’)
  
• modified the geometry for the ‘ring’ stage
  
• modified the geometry for the ’subway’ stage
  
• modified climbing implementation to support climbing on grabbed surfaces (including other enemy and player characters)
  
• modified climbing implementation to limit / minimise stabilise the accumulation of forces when multiple characters are climbing / lifting each other
  
• modified grip limitations (grip will abruptly fail when hanging from the same surface / object for a protracted length of time)
  
• modified the force characters have on the wave simulation in the ’buoys’ stage (to limit / minimise the frequency of sudden or erratic high waves)
  
• modified the potential delay between AI enemy punches (to increase punch frequency)
  
• modified spawn points on some stages to work better with the current game camera
  
• modified XInput support to be disabled by default to support 5-8 players with Xbox 360 controllers and variants (XInput limits the number of concurrent Xbox 360 controllers to four, see the 'XInput Support' section of this post for more information)
  
• added centripetal forces to subway trains on ‘subway’ stage (trains can pull characters and objects in close proximity towards them)
  
• added throwing behaviour for AI enemies (specific throw actions need calibrating to be effective on complex stages)
  
• added grabbing behaviour for AI enemies (enemies will attempt to grab surfaces, objects, and other characters when falling)
  
• modified (rebuilt) AI enemy nav meshes for all stages (excluding the ‘break’ and ’race’ prototypes)
  
• added throw triggers to stages to support the AI enemy throwing behaviour (excluding ‘blimp’, ‘break’, ’buoy’, and ’race’)

The new and modified stages are work in progress and will continue to be polished and improved in subsequent builds. There are now 16 default stages in the current ‘unstable’ build (‘billboard’, ’blimp’, ’buoy’, ’chute’, ’containers’, ’elevators’, ’fans’, ‘girders’, ’gondola’, ‘grind’, ’incinerator’, ’ring’, ’subway’, ‘towers’, ’trucks’, and ’wheel’), we are still working to remake the ‘incinerator’ stage (the colliders are finished but the scene has not been fully assembled in editor).



We currently plan to add the modified ‘incinerator’ stage and the prototype ‘gymnasium’ and ‘TV studio’ stages to the fork that the customisation system is being merged with but if we identify that this work will delay the release of the next build we plan to move these stages to the same project that the 0.2.6 build was built with (to minimise the length of time before the next build can be published).

For reference the only fencing, railings and similar structures that are breakable are in the 0.2.6 build are in the ‘elevators’ stage, we are working to make the similar structures in the ’billboard’, ’chute’, ’fans’, ‘grind’, ’incinerator’, ’subway’, ‘towers’, and ’wheel’ stages breakable.




We are working with SuperGenius to merge the work on the character customisation system with the current project fork, it wasn’t practical to merge this work with the 0.2.6 fork as the modified game management system (that adds support for the coming “King of the Hill” and “Capture the Flag” game modes) was implemented in a separate fork.

When this work is complete we can publish a build with the character system (with a selection of old and new characters), and the other work from this fork (including support for deincrementing menu selections, a front slide move, modifications to the in-game player information, and the playable prototypes of the “King of the Hill” and “Capture the Flag” game modes).


Disabling XInput forces Xbox 360 XInput controllers and variants to use Direct or Raw input (bypassing the XInput four player limitation and restoring support for 5-8 concurrent Xbox 360 controllers), for reference disabling XInput prevents both Xbox 360 controller triggers from registering concurrently on Windows systems (we are working on implementing an option to support manually enabling / disabling XInput on Windows for a coming build).


To download 'unstable' alpha build of Gang Beasts right-click on the game name on the Steam library page and select 'Properties' from the dialogue window that opens, from this window select the 'BETAS' tab then the 'unstable' option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled 'Select the beta you would like to opt into:' (to revert back to the last 'stable' branch select 'NONE- Opt out of all beta programs' from the same menu).

For reference switching between 'unstable' and 'stable' branches of the game can force the selected build to download to the Steam client.

Gang Beasts is an Early Access game that is currently in uninterrupted development, the 0.1.x and 0.2.x builds have bugs, partially implemented gameplay content and mechanics (please see the Steam Early Access FAQ for more information).

We are close to finishing the various modifications and prototype content for the 0.2.6 "unstable" build and expect to publish this work within the next two weeks, we currently expect this to be the last "unstable" build before we can make the Unity 5 port of the game the default version of Gang Beasts on Early Access (the 0.1.5a Unity 4 alpha build will be made available for download through the Steam client "BETAS" tab as a legacy build for making comparisons of gameplay, performance, stability and content with the Unity 5 builds).

http://youtube.com/watch?v=c8xwXkrNfEM
In the last two months we have continued to work on optimisations, new game modes, the character customisation system, character customisations, modifications to current stages, and prototypes for a number of new stages.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lJ833OuAlKw
Work on the character customisation system is at a stage that supports making functional examples of the UI and customisation process and the work on new characters, games modes, modified stages, and stage prototypes is now sufficient to give information on the specific functionality and content we expect to make available in the builds coming in September and October.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uSnqSTm7ecs
The information in this post will summarise the work that has been done on some of the new character customisations, the character customisation system, modified stages, and the new stage prototypes (“billboard”, “blimp”, and “girders”). Specific information about the current stages, new stage prototypes, and the planned escalations for specific stages will be posted as a series of individual threads in the Early Access forums closer to the release of the next build.


For several months we have been working with SuperGenius Studios to implement the full character customisation system for the game and to make a series of new playable characters to populate and test the character system, the work on the first prototype of the customisation system is close to finished and we currently expect to make a version of this prototype available for testing in an “unstable” build later this month (see the YouTube links above for examples of a recent iteration of the character system).

The character system supports a number of slots for different accessories (hats, capes, hair, shirts, skirts etc.), the prototype version of the system has support for handling overlapping geometry, specifically when the geometry of a model or asset passes through the geometry of a second model asset the system indentifies and removes intersecting and occulded geometry where needed (for reference this functionality is not fully working in the linked video).

The current implementation of the system is functional but needs additional work and testing before it can be published in a build, we currently expect to make this functionality available in September. The full system will support the saving and sharing of preset customisations when finished.


We have worked with SuperGenius on a number of new character sets, some sets have been made specifically to use to populate Beef City with pedestrians and AI enemies (for the Streets of Rage, Final Fight, Double Dragon influenced story mode), others have been made to give more scope for customisation (for testing the customisation system).




The logic for the Gang Beasts variations on “King of the Hill” and “Capture the Flag” game modes has been implemented but the specific map locations (KOTH) and flags (CTF) need to be added for each stage, we plan to make a playable prototypes of these game modes available in a coming build for testing and will make more information about the new game modes soon.


We have finished work on the geometry for the modified versions of the “incinerator”, “subway” , “vents”, we are working to make these modified stages to the next build which barring significant issue should be published to Steam within the next two weeks.



Work on the modified "buoy" and "ring" stages is also close to finished.

More information on the rationale and mechanics of the modified stages will be posted in the Early Access forums when the modified stages are released in the next build.


We have prototyped a number of new stages for the game, three of these stages, “billboard”, “blimp”, “girder”, and "gymnasium" are at a stage where they can be play tested and will be included as prototypes in the next “unstable” build. The “billboard” stage prototype is a neglected roadside billboard with breakable panels and front and rear platforms (a modified version of this stage will have breakable railings, lighting, flooring, and a static ladder), the “blimp” stage is a floating dirigible passing through a series of high buildings, the “girders” stage is an aborted high-rise building development with breakable flooring and suspended girders, the "gymnasium" stage is one of a series of stages that are planned to approximate the mechanics and gameplay of the "sandbox" stage from the pre-alpha builds.



We will make information on the other stage that we are prototyping over the coming weeks. Information on the mechanics of the modified stages will be posted in the Early Access forums when the modified stages are released in the next build.


Since getting access to the Unity 5 beta in mid-September 2014 we have prioritised porting Gang Beasts to Unity 5 to exploit the significantly improved physics performance, and other graphics, lighting, audio, and engine improvements, it has been difficult and protracted process that has forced us to fully remake the procedural character animation system and modify the structures and parameters for the numerous stages that were playable in the previous 0.1.x Unity 4.5 builds.

The first prototype of the Unity 5 port of Gang Beasts was made available through Steam as a second optional “Beta” build in April, this was necessary to give access to iterations of the Unity 5 port without removing access to the older 0.1.5a "stable” alpha build (made with Unity 4.5 and PhysX 2.8.3), when the modified “incinerator”, “subway” , and “vents” stages are released in the next public alpha build (build 0.2.6) the “unstable” Unity 5 build will have content parity with the older “stable” Unity 4 build.

If no significant issues are identified with the public 0.2.6 build it will become the default version of Gang Beasts on Steam Early Accesss (replacing the 0.1.5a Unity 5 build) in September.

There are still a number of key optimisations that can be made to the Unity 5 builds but the 0.2.x Unity 5 builds are demonstrably more performant than the 0.1.x Unity 4 builds in most contexts. For information on the performance of PhysX 3.3 relative to PhysX 2.8.x see the High-performance Physics In Unity 5 post on the Unity Technology blog.

We are close to finishing the various modifications and prototype content for the 0.2.6 "unstable" build and expect to publish this work within the next two weeks, we currently expect this to be the last "unstable" build before we can make the Unity 5 port of the game the default version of Gang Beasts on Early Access (the 0.1.5a Unity 4 alpha build will be made available for download through the Steam client "BETAS" tab as a legacy build for making comparisons of gameplay, performance, stability and content with the Unity 5 builds).

http://youtube.com/watch?v=c8xwXkrNfEM
In the last two months we have continued to work on optimisations, new game modes, the character customisation system, character customisations, modifications to current stages, and prototypes for a number of new stages.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lJ833OuAlKw
Work on the character customisation system is at a stage that supports making functional examples of the UI and customisation process and the work on new characters, games modes, modified stages, and stage prototypes is now sufficient to give information on the specific functionality and content we expect to make available in the builds coming in September and October.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uSnqSTm7ecs
The information in this post will summarise the work that has been done on some of the new character customisations, the character customisation system, modified stages, and the new stage prototypes (“billboard”, “blimp”, and “girders”). Specific information about the current stages, new stage prototypes, and the planned escalations for specific stages will be posted as a series of individual threads in the Early Access forums closer to the release of the next build.


For several months we have been working with SuperGenius Studios to implement the full character customisation system for the game and to make a series of new playable characters to populate and test the character system, the work on the first prototype of the customisation system is close to finished and we currently expect to make a version of this prototype available for testing in an “unstable” build later this month (see the YouTube links above for examples of a recent iteration of the character system).

The character system supports a number of slots for different accessories (hats, capes, hair, shirts, skirts etc.), the prototype version of the system has support for handling overlapping geometry, specifically when the geometry of a model or asset passes through the geometry of a second model asset the system indentifies and removes intersecting and occulded geometry where needed (for reference this functionality is not fully working in the linked video).

The current implementation of the system is functional but needs additional work and testing before it can be published in a build, we currently expect to make this functionality available in September. The full system will support the saving and sharing of preset customisations when finished.


We have worked with SuperGenius on a number of new character sets, some sets have been made specifically to use to populate Beef City with pedestrians and AI enemies (for the Streets of Rage, Final Fight, Double Dragon influenced story mode), others have been made to give more scope for customisation (for testing the customisation system).




The logic for the Gang Beasts variations on “King of the Hill” and “Capture the Flag” game modes has been implemented but the specific map locations (KOTH) and flags (CTF) need to be added for each stage, we plan to make a playable prototypes of these game modes available in a coming build for testing and will make more information about the new game modes soon.


We have finished work on the geometry for the modified versions of the “incinerator”, “subway” , “vents”, we are working to make these modified stages to the next build which barring significant issue should be published to Steam within the next two weeks.



Work on the modified "buoy" and "ring" stages is also close to finished.

More information on the rationale and mechanics of the modified stages will be posted in the Early Access forums when the modified stages are released in the next build.


We have prototyped a number of new stages for the game, three of these stages, “billboard”, “blimp”, “girder”, and "gymnasium" are at a stage where they can be play tested and will be included as prototypes in the next “unstable” build. The “billboard” stage prototype is a neglected roadside billboard with breakable panels and front and rear platforms (a modified version of this stage will have breakable railings, lighting, flooring, and a static ladder), the “blimp” stage is a floating dirigible passing through a series of high buildings, the “girders” stage is an aborted high-rise building development with breakable flooring and suspended girders, the "gymnasium" stage is one of a series of stages that are planned to approximate the mechanics and gameplay of the "sandbox" stage from the pre-alpha builds.



We will make information on the other stage that we are prototyping over the coming weeks. Information on the mechanics of the modified stages will be posted in the Early Access forums when the modified stages are released in the next build.


Since getting access to the Unity 5 beta in mid-September 2014 we have prioritised porting Gang Beasts to Unity 5 to exploit the significantly improved physics performance, and other graphics, lighting, audio, and engine improvements, it has been difficult and protracted process that has forced us to fully remake the procedural character animation system and modify the structures and parameters for the numerous stages that were playable in the previous 0.1.x Unity 4.5 builds.

The first prototype of the Unity 5 port of Gang Beasts was made available through Steam as a second optional “Beta” build in April, this was necessary to give access to iterations of the Unity 5 port without removing access to the older 0.1.5a "stable” alpha build (made with Unity 4.5 and PhysX 2.8.3), when the modified “incinerator”, “subway” , and “vents” stages are released in the next public alpha build (build 0.2.6) the “unstable” Unity 5 build will have content parity with the older “stable” Unity 4 build.

If no significant issues are identified with the public 0.2.6 build it will become the default version of Gang Beasts on Steam Early Accesss (replacing the 0.1.5a Unity 5 build) in September.

There are still a number of key optimisations that can be made to the Unity 5 builds but the 0.2.x Unity 5 builds are demonstrably more performant than the 0.1.x Unity 4 builds in most contexts. For information on the performance of PhysX 3.3 relative to PhysX 2.8.x see the High-performance Physics In Unity 5 post on the Unity Technology blog.

The 0.2.5b build released with this post is a bug fix patch for the recent 0.2.5 "unstable" alpha build, and the audio issue introduced in the 0.2.5a build.

The list of modifications and fixes made in this build is:

• fixed an issue that made audio play +20db louder that maximum if volume was set to 100%
  
• fixed stability issue when objects are spawned inside or collide with the support cables on the "elevator" stage (cables now snap instead of becoming erratic)
  
• modified colliders on the handles of the elevator roof hatch to allow players to pass them (without stopping)
  
• fixed audio samples on the "buoy", "elevators", "grind", "subway", "trucks", and "wheel" stage that could play when audio is muted
  
• modified the doors of the "chute" stage to stop characters from passing through them

To download 'unstable' alpha build of Gang Beasts right-click on the game name on the Steam library page and select 'Properties' from the dialogue window that opens, from this window select the 'BETAS' tab then the 'unstable' option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled 'Select the beta you would like to opt into:' (to revert back to the last 'stable' branch select 'NONE- Opt out of all beta programs' from the same menu).

For reference switching between 'unstable' and 'stable' branches of the game can force the selected build to download to the Steam client.

Gang Beasts is an Early Access game that is currently in uninterrupted development, the 0.1.x and 0.2.x builds have bugs, partially implemented gameplay content and mechanics (please see the Steam Early Access FAQ at http://store.steampowered.com/earlyaccessfaq for more information).

The 0.2.5b build released with this post is a bug fix patch for the recent 0.2.5 "unstable" alpha build, and the audio issue introduced in the 0.2.5a build.

The list of modifications and fixes made in this build is:

• fixed an issue that made audio play +20db louder that maximum if volume was set to 100%
  
• fixed stability issue when objects are spawned inside or collide with the support cables on the "elevator" stage (cables now snap instead of becoming erratic)
  
• modified colliders on the handles of the elevator roof hatch to allow players to pass them (without stopping)
  
• fixed audio samples on the "buoy", "elevators", "grind", "subway", "trucks", and "wheel" stage that could play when audio is muted
  
• modified the doors of the "chute" stage to stop characters from passing through them

To download 'unstable' alpha build of Gang Beasts right-click on the game name on the Steam library page and select 'Properties' from the dialogue window that opens, from this window select the 'BETAS' tab then the 'unstable' option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled 'Select the beta you would like to opt into:' (to revert back to the last 'stable' branch select 'NONE- Opt out of all beta programs' from the same menu).

For reference switching between 'unstable' and 'stable' branches of the game can force the selected build to download to the Steam client.

Gang Beasts is an Early Access game that is currently in uninterrupted development, the 0.1.x and 0.2.x builds have bugs, partially implemented gameplay content and mechanics (please see the Steam Early Access FAQ at http://store.steampowered.com/earlyaccessfaq for more information).

The 0.2.5a build released with this post is a bug fix patch for the recent 0.2.5 "unstable" alpha build, the list of modifications and fixes made in this build is:

• fixed an issue that allowed characters and objects to fall through the front of the stage on the “break” game mode prototype
  
• fixed an issue that failed to modify the master, interface, vocal, physics, and ambiance volumes when set in the audio menu
  
• fixed an issue that made the “incinerator” stage not selectable from the “versus" menu
  
• fixed an issue with removing characters that fall from the elevators in the “elevators" stage (manifested as a terrifying partially formed aberration materialising in space (skinned meshes and body parts randomly twitching and stretching)
  
• fixed an issue with the extrude meat paster fails to despawn on the "chute" stage
  
• fixed issues with Kigurumi characters with non-standard head constructions fail to consistently trigger head-butts
  
• modified AI to update search references when not spawned on a navmesh (AI should be less erratic, and can move between navmeshes is specific contexts)
  
• modified navmesh for the "buoy” stage to support AI movement
  
• modified navmesh for the "chute” stage to support AI movement
  
• modified navmesh for the “gondola” stage to support AI movement
  
• modified navmesh for the “towers” to support AI movement
  
• modified navmesh for the “trucks” stage to support AI movement
  
• modified stage selection UI to immediately disable the random mode when selected (previous selection is restored)
  
• modified the gondola support axels on the “wheel” stage
  
  
  Information on switching to / from 'stable' and 'unstable' branches
  
  To download 'unstable' alpha build of Gang Beasts right-click on the game name on the Steam library page and select 'Properties' from the dialogue window that opens, from this window select the 'BETAS' tab then the 'unstable' option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled 'Select the beta you would like to opt into:' (to revert back to the last 'stable' branch select 'NONE- Opt out of all beta programs' from the same menu).
  
  For reference switching between 'unstable' and 'stable' branches of the game can force the selected build to download to the Steam client.
  
  Gang Beasts is an Early Access game that is currently in uninterrupted development, the 0.1.x and 0.2.x builds have bugs, partially implemented gameplay content and mechanics (please see the Steam Early Access FAQ at http://store.steampowered.com/earlyaccessfaq for more information).

The 0.2.5a build released with this post is a bug fix patch for the recent 0.2.5 "unstable" alpha build, the list of modifications and fixes made in this build is:

• fixed an issue that allowed characters and objects to fall through the front of the stage on the “break” game mode prototype
  
• fixed an issue that failed to modify the master, interface, vocal, physics, and ambiance volumes when set in the audio menu
  
• fixed an issue that made the “incinerator” stage not selectable from the “versus" menu
  
• fixed an issue with removing characters that fall from the elevators in the “elevators" stage (manifested as a terrifying partially formed aberration materialising in space (skinned meshes and body parts randomly twitching and stretching)
  
• fixed an issue with the extrude meat paster fails to despawn on the "chute" stage
  
• fixed issues with Kigurumi characters with non-standard head constructions fail to consistently trigger head-butts
  
• modified AI to update search references when not spawned on a navmesh (AI should be less erratic, and can move between navmeshes is specific contexts)
  
• modified navmesh for the "buoy” stage to support AI movement
  
• modified navmesh for the "chute” stage to support AI movement
  
• modified navmesh for the “gondola” stage to support AI movement
  
• modified navmesh for the “towers” to support AI movement
  
• modified navmesh for the “trucks” stage to support AI movement
  
• modified stage selection UI to immediately disable the random mode when selected (previous selection is restored)
  
• modified the gondola support axels on the “wheel” stage
  
  
  Information on switching to / from 'stable' and 'unstable' branches
  
  To download 'unstable' alpha build of Gang Beasts right-click on the game name on the Steam library page and select 'Properties' from the dialogue window that opens, from this window select the 'BETAS' tab then the 'unstable' option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled 'Select the beta you would like to opt into:' (to revert back to the last 'stable' branch select 'NONE- Opt out of all beta programs' from the same menu).
  
  For reference switching between 'unstable' and 'stable' branches of the game can force the selected build to download to the Steam client.
  
  Gang Beasts is an Early Access game that is currently in uninterrupted development, the 0.1.x and 0.2.x builds have bugs, partially implemented gameplay content and mechanics (please see the Steam Early Access FAQ at http://store.steampowered.com/earlyaccessfaq for more information).