Major News
Today’s build features a number of fixes and balance changes. We have had a number of beta testers express their concerns about the balance of parts that are uncommonly utilized in loadouts. In this build we have tweaked values on parts such as:

• Corkscrew
  
• Mortar
  
• Burst-Fire Triggers

You will also find that we’ve included the new Double Flip (Off) taunt in the Outfitter. This taunt is similar to the one performed by the bots in the WeaponCrafting test area. You’ll also notice that Axl’s Rod is also available in the Outfitter – equip with caution. Lastly, we have introduced more complete Localization text with this build. If you happen to find any translations that do not quite make sense, please head over to our Localization thread on the forums with your suggestions.

Call to Action
This week we would like to see continued feedback on the state of weapon balance and general gameplay. Please test out some of the changes made in regards to weapon and equipment balance. All input should be directed to our Feedback, Ideas and Suggestions section of the forums.

Now that we’ve included more finalized Localization text, please submit any discrepancies or unclear translations to our Localization thread on the forums. Each of our testers’ help during the beta has been phenomenal at helping us improve the game - continue onward!

New Features
The scoreboard shows an alpha version of player ping time next to their name.
More localized texts (99% Localized text except for Turkish)

New Character Customization

• Added the Vintage Bowling Shirt (Axl)
  
• Added the Double Flip Taunt (Axl & T-Bone)
  
• Added Axl’s Rod (Axl)

Gameplay

• Color blind support for the scoreboard and several HUD widgets.
  
• Color blind support for the CPR widget.
  
• Additional tutorials.
  
• Made tutorial pop-ups more noticeable.
  
• Re-labeled Practice playlist to improve clarity
  
• Improvements to cheat detection and security.
  
• Necklace on the shuffle taunt now animates
  
• Slight adjustments to Dive Roll for more responsive feel.
  
• Hide tip of the day if tutorial is active.
  
• Turret now only heals you if you have taken damage or not fully overhealed.

Gameplay -- Weapon Balance

• You are now able to place turrets closer to enemy turrets.
  
• Lowered the rate of fire for Pulses.
  
• Reduced accuracy for Turrets that use Rifles and Pulses.
  
• Added a slight damage bonus to Corkscrew and Mortar propulsions.
  
• Slight damage improvement to burst-fire triggers.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed bug where you would see grenade indicators for grenades that would not damage you.
  
• Fixed the HUD for salvo triggers so it properly centers around the reticule.
  
• Added thumbnail for Four Points in Bot playlist.
  
• All damage taken have location modifiers applied.
  
• Practice bot now compute fire damage correctly.
  
• Turrets will now trigger Proximity Mines.
  
• Fixed a bug causing Turret to attack too fast.
  
• Fixed bug where outfits weren’t updated before a match.
  
• Fixed a bug causing the Shield to have a longer recharge rate when holding a healing weapon.

Known Issues

• Human players will have a score of 0 when late joining death snatch matches.
  
• Friendly vials display as green while enemy vials display as red in Color Blind mode
  
• Healing the bots in Practice Mode does not give exp points

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8hnNVLs5vpA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

New features and items now available!

New Features

• The end-game cel­e­bra­tion is now enabled.
  
• The new Score­board is now enabled.
  
• The first round of Founder pack bot names are now live.

New Items

• New Out­fit­ter Cos­metic Items
  
• Chaps — Axl
  
• Ass­less Chaps with Sweet Snaps — Axl
  
• Com­mando Har­ness (Black) — Axl
  
• Base Belt (Brown) — Axl
  
• Pit­bull Pocket Strap — T-Bone

Gameplay

• Happy Hour is set to 4pm across all regions.
  
• Added buff meters to bots and teammates
  
• Tweaked some of the start­ing level require­ments on gametype-specific contracts.
  
• Every­one now faces each other dur­ing the pre-game huddle.
  
• You can now see when a sta­tion­ary enemy is aiming.
  
• Co-op Prac­tice Mode XP has been reduced 25%.
  
• You can no longer change teams in a co-op prac­tice game.
  
• Trailer Park has been slightly changed to improve gameplay.
  
• Sub­stan­tial increase to Score to XP Ratio.
  
• Increased XP bonus for win­ning a match.
  
• Changed logic for team assign­ment for play­ers that join a game mid-match.
  
• Made improve­ments to team bal­anc­ing algorithm.
  
  - Enjoy!

Just FYI to both our new users, and Loadout veterans:

Hit up our official forums at http://www.loadout.com/forums for more information on Loadout, including more unteraction with the dev team.

We will be entering Early Access soon, but we are currently monitoring our offical forums more so than our Steam community hub as we await entry into Early Access.

Thanks!

-M.

Major News

We have been hard at work on today’s new build which includes a variety of new features! For players that are new to the Beta, we have now included a tool-tip tutorial guide system. The tutorials provide information on how to assemble new weapons, assign them to loadouts and upgrade your weapons after completing contracts. If you want to learn the ropes before playing against other players, we have also added a Practice game mode against AI-controlled bots. In addition to learning the ropes of the game, the Practice mode allows players to test out their weapons in a live environment.

Lastly, our experienced veterans over Level 15 now have access to the Elite Playlist. If you’d like to test your skills, we highly encourage entering the playlist and joining the Community Raidcall to interact with some of our veteran players.

New Features

• Added Co-Op Practice mode vs. bots.
  
• Added Jackhammer and Extraction to n00b Playlist.
  
• Added Elite playlist for Levels 15+.
  
• Added tutorials for new players, including Tip of the Day.
  
• New bug reporting UI.
  
• Added tutorial for spending upgrade points.
  
• Added Steam Early Access support.
  
• Vote Kicks have been increased from 2/3 majority to ¾ majority.

New Outfitter Cosmetic Items

• Added Cool Glasses
  
• Added SciFi Welding Goggles
  
• Added Porkchops
  
• Added Party Crashers T-Shirt (only for those that participated in Crash the Servers Event)
  
• Added Loadout Deputy Official Tee (Forum Deputies Only have access to this t-shirt)
  
• Waylon's Lobster Shirt
  
• Pax 2012 Shirt for T-Bone
  
• Heavy Metal Belt
  
• Brown slacks
  
• Heavy Metal Knee Pads

Gameplay

• Changed the purchasing flow in the Weaponcrafting/Outfitter screens to show a purchase summary before buying Spacebux.
  
• Added 3D Weapon and outfitter thumbnails.
  
• You get disconnected from the game after 90 seconds of inactivity. You are warned after 60 seconds.
  
• Added Color Blind Mode to options.
  
• Removed Rental Tokens from Inventory Screen.
  
• Weapon impacts should now be audible over weapon firing in most cases. This means you can hear your own machine gun bullets hitting surfaces while you fire.
  
• Added sound for UI elements – Contracts and Level up.
  
• During the beginning game huddle, enemies can’t turn. Everyone faces inward.
  
• Moved FOV into display setting to make room.
  
• Added options menu to enable/disable tutorials .
  
• Shortened initial contract list to 4 by removing healing contract.
  
• Clicking off of the Friends widget now closes it.

Gameplay - Weapons

• Slightly reduced damage for manual detonator.
  
• Slight increase to blast radius for proximity.
  
• Removed damage penalty to bouncy and rebounding shells.
  
• Reduced the timing for input buffering on semi-auto and burst triggers to 0.1 seconds (was 0.25).
  
• Made some tweaks to how clusters fall when they hit players.
  
• Reduced how much fire overheats beams.
  
• Reduced the effectiveness of flak when paired with healing and buffing.
  
• Juice reload bonus now applies to beams cooling rate.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed localization bugs with long text strings.
  
• Fixed typos with Spacebux.
  
• Fixed bug where 3 round burst Headhunter barrel damage was stronger than 3 round burst with Sniper barrel.
  
• Fixed bug that was causing shotguns damage stat to appear too high in the weaponcrafting UI.
  
• Raised placement of some blitz flags in brewery.
  
• Shipping Yard no longer shows up twice in the lobby’s level voting list.
  
• Fixed an issue where an untimely late join would leave the user on a black screen.
  
• Fix a bug that prevented you from shooting if you swapped weapons in middle of charged shot.
  
• Fixe