Dec 1, 2015

[December 1, 2015] Pre-Alpha 4.1: PvP, PvE, Factions and Ownership

Empyrion - Galactic Survival - EmpyrionGame

Hey Galactic Survivalists,

We are very excited to present you our newest and feature-packed update: Pre-Alpha 4.1!

Without further ado: we added the first iteration of a faction/ownership module AND playfield settings for PvE and PvP to the game! The latter can be set individually for each playfield (e.g. each planet can be PvE or PvP). Read on below for more details.

We also added early customization toys to play around with: want to change the color of the sky or have a lower or higher sea level for your lakes and oceans? These are only two examples of the customization options, so go ahead, give it a try and show us your favorites!

With an easy tweak in the config file, you can change the sky color so that Omicron will look like that:

You can also easily change the water level. This screenshot shows Akua with a lower water level:

Finally, we added a slew of changes, improvements and bugfixes. Read on below for the full changelog.

One of the new alien plants on Akua:

Among others, you won't run out of resources on a multiplayer server anymore: watch out for meteorites bringing in new sources of ore!

One of the resource meteorites that drop if your resource deposits get depleted:

Next steps:
- Offline/Log-out protection of structures on PvP playfields
- Adding possibility for a "fresh start" on a server if you are stuck
- Better admin tools for dedicated servers: kick, ban, etc
- Force field for hangars
- Solar system

….and last but not least: we can't give an exact ETA (yet), but we can already say with all certainty, that the Solar System will move planets further away and your capital vessel will finally have its purpose :)

How does PvP, PvE, Factions and Ownership work?

Please have a look at the detailed update notes on the forum:
http://empyriononline.com/threads/pre-alpha-4-1-pvp-pve-factions-and-ownership.3571
(due to the character limitation, we cannot post everything here)

Here is the full Changelog of Pre-Alpha 4.1:

Main Features:
- Added PvP, PvE, Factions and Ownership
(Per default, Akua and Orbit are PvE playfields, the other playfields are PvP - however, you can change this setting, see below)

Other Features:
- Added faction internal chat: press "," to open it
- Added playfield config files for basic customization: now you can configure e.g. sky color, water color, gravity, playmode (PvP, PvE), and also biome type of a playfield (to switch biomes you MUST change also the name of the save game - otherwise the map will not be correctly displayed)
- Added resource count for deposits. Resource deposits that are nearly empty (<10%) are no longer shown on the map, i.e., map marker is removed (you have to start a New Game to correctly enable resource counter)
- Added resource re-generation: if resource A is depleted on a planet then resource meteorites of type A will fall on planet
- Dedicated server now auto saves every 60 seconds
- Added dedicated server command line parameter "-dedicated <file>" to allow custom config files (.yaml extension must not be changed)
Example: Make a batch file with the following content: "start EmpyrionDedicated.exe -batchmode -nographics -logFile Logs\DedicatedServer.log -dedicated MyCustomDediConfig.yaml"

Changes / Improvements:
- Added server password caching (now you only have to enter the password once)
- Improved ship controller: rolling Q / E is now more accurate
- Added simple clean up algorithm: Bases/HV/SV/CV will be removed if one of the following conditions is fulfilled:
(i) a player did not visit structure for 24 game hours AND structure has no core
(ii) a player did not visit structure for 24 game hours AND the structure is smaller than 25 blocks.
This clean up algorithm will guarantee that there are not too many unused structures in a playfield which reduces performance (especially on dedicated servers this is a problem)
- Added 30 Unlock Points for players that have reached max level to unlock new blocks
- Added food category to Survival Constructor
- Added planet overview list to map window
- Added sentry gun for Bases and Capital Vessels in survival mode
- Added new constructor 3d models for Large and Advanced Constructor (to replace old constructors)
- Tweaked texture for thrusters to prepare for color masks
- Tweaked texture for Core Block, Fuel Tank and Passenger Seat (less scratches)
- Added new spotlight for SV / HV
- Added several new explosions
- Added "Back to inventory" button to Tech Tree window and improved visuals of Tech Tree window (larger icons)
- All doors in POIs are now closed per default
- Set culling of windows to a much higher distance
- Removed color overlay for sniper scopes
- Player list (Scoreboard) now scrollable
- Added 2 new plants on Akua (Moved plant to Omicron that grows Alien Plasma ZR1 - replaced with Alien Tentacle plant)
- Driller / filler can now also remove grass
- Increased overall range of CV weapons
- Removing Alien turrets now also give resources
- Reduced number of turrets and sentry guns on some POIs (for performance improvements)
- Added Sathium ore deposits on Ningues

Bug Fixes:
- Fixed problem with floating POIs (you have to start a New Game to benefit from this fix)
- Fixed problem that player could peek through door by standing close to door frame
- Fixed problem that some turrets did not shoot accurately
- Fixed problem that food did not decay in multiplayer
- Fixed problem that clients of a multiplayer game could not set names of BA, SV, CV, HV
- Fixed problem that O2 / water generator did not produce at the bottom of very deep lakes
- Fixed problem when SV with 2 or more cockpits (player inside) left playfield
- Fixed problem that game crashed in some cases when troop transport was destroyed
- Fixed problem that warning message "troop transport is approaching" was played several times
- Fixed problem that entering cockpit on crashed CV caused problems
- Fixed problem that drones appeared sometimes near the player starting position on all planets on a dedicated server
- Fixed "plant sprout exploit" (before player obtained template inputs by removing sprout and could thus duplicate plant in food processor)
- Fixed collider on turret radar
- Fixed wrong quality setting text, possible fix for full screen resolution switch bug

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for the next update

Empyrion Dev Crew

Dec 1, 2015

[December 1, 2015] Pre-Alpha 4.1: PvP, PvE, Factions and Ownership

Empyrion - Galactic Survival - EmpyrionGame

You can also easily change the water level. This screenshot shows Akua with a lower water level:

Finally, we added a slew of changes, improvements and bugfixes. Read on below for the full changelog.

One of the new alien plants on Akua:

Nov 18, 2015

[November 19, 2015] Pre-Alpha 4.0: Dedicated Servers (2/2)

Empyrion - Galactic Survival - EmpyrionGame

FULL CHANGELOG Pre-Alpha 4.0

Main Feature:
- Dedicated Server

Other Features:
- Added Steam authentication
- Added emergency flip for HV: if HV is lying upside down, an emergency flip can be activated via "Left Shift" to get back to its upright position
- Added fog in asteroid field in Orbit
- Added new POI on Omicron ("Walker Base" by J0BA2)
- Added new passenger seat
- Added map marker for Escape Pod
- HV does not collide anymore with plants

Changes / Improvements:
- Improved ship controller
- Updated shader of player character to physically-based rendering
- Balanced tech tree: now HV is available already at Level 2. Reduced levels for selected HV equipments (turrets, etc)
- Moved "Time til Sunrise/Sunset" back to Main HUD
- Reduced range for which explosions are audible
- No drones anymore near start position
- Changed sound of alien bug on Akua
- Increased time after which Escape Pod disappears when it is empty
- Increases time after which dropped ores disappear
- Increased starting Cobalt ingots
- Re-balanced SV / GV / CV weapons
- Level, Died, Killed, Ping is now shown correctly in MP games via info board (default key: B)
- Further improved chat window
- Balanced drone amount on planets
- Troop transport improvements (increase speed and flying altitude, better landing)
- Message: drone base attack, troop transport and de-activate core on drone base is now shown also on Client in MP games
- Added "Decoration Blocks" category to constructors and creative menu
- Increased hardness of survival constructor
- Added random +/-150m to player entry in multiplayer
- Lowered sound of fridges and fuel tanks
- Added new sound for Insect on Akua
- Added more visible flare on Survival Constructor
- Added "Available Unlock Points" to Inventory Window
- Overall increased size of ore deposits
- Ore deposits are now less deep buried on planets
- Changed sound effect of destroyed (white) drone
- Added sound effect to other destroyed drones
- Added water impact sound
- Added sound effects to generators

Bug Fixes:
- Fixed problem that filler & flatten tool or drill also removed other blocks like survival constructor, oxygen generator etc.
- Fixed problem that POIs were sometimes buried under ground
- Fixed drone explosion not showing on Client
- Fixed animals not showing death animation
- Fixed escape pod sound being heard by every player on multiplayer games
- Fixed problem that destroyed Troop Transport caused a crash
- Fixed problem that some turrets shoot into own collider (reduced vertical rotation limits)
- Fixed bug that exiting the escape pod before landing kept the camera shaking
- Fixed problem that (wild) Kavae Plant disappeared after a while when harvested
- Fixed wrong Preview Image of Shotgun (Tier 1)

Known Issues:
- Some lagging on dedicated servers
- Changing a playfield with a small vessel that has multiple cockpits (and multiple players in the cockpits) causes problems. Please use passenger seats instea

Nov 18, 2015

[November 19, 2015] Pre-Alpha 4.0: Dedicated Servers (2/2)

Empyrion - Galactic Survival - EmpyrionGame

Nov 18, 2015

[November 19, 2015] Pre-Alpha 4.0: Dedicated Servers (1/2)

Empyrion - Galactic Survival - EmpyrionGame

Dear fellow survivors,

Pre-Alpha Version 4.0 is going live and the first prototype* of Dedicated Servers is available!

What has changed in Multiplayer?

First and foremost: the so called ‘playfield limitation’ is gone! On each dedicated server, you are now free to individually land on a planet, fly into space, without the need of having everyone on the server boarding your vessel only for changing the playfield! Just use the new Server Browser in the multiplayer menu, search for a server and join with a simple mouse click. You can still join a server via IP if you need to, of course.

For anyone planning to offer a playground: Just use the Dedicated Server File to instantly setup and host your own game, everyone can easily connect to. Of course you can set up a password-protected server for you and your friends!

Follow this link to learn more about the available server configuration settings: http://empyrion.gamepedia.com/Dedicated_Server_Config
We recommend starting with the "light" setting and a low number of max players.

*Disclaimer: As with all “first versions” and prototypes this is not the final version of the dedicated servers or the multiplayer! Please keep that in mind, when playing and commenting. As always, we are looking forward to your detailed feedback, ideas and suggestions!

New PBR shader for the character:

Dedicated Server Prototype – Public Testing has commenced

We are aware, that you might experience some inconvenient issues (e.g. lags),which may temporarily influence your multiplayer gaming experience while playing on a dedicated server.
That being said, we have decided to release the dedicated servers already today, because we’ve now reached a point, where we need YOUR help to further improve them via Public Testing!

That’s with a good reason: in earlier updates, we added features that primarily affected single player mode. Now, with the introduction of a semi-persistent game environment, we need to look at a LOT more dynamic processes that also need a LOT more simultaneously active players to create the data needed.

We hope you appreciate this approach of an open development and help us to create a great gameplay experience in single player AND multiplayer! As always, we are attentively listening to your feedback. Please step by our bug forum and share your experiences with the new dedicated servers in the DEDICATED SERVERS – FEEDBACK thread!

To further coordinate this process, and to get the most out of the public testing, we plan to schedule periodic TESTING EVENINGS on our very own ELEON Server. The team will be around to directly grab your feedback! Have a look at twitter, facebook, our forum, steam or this blog for announcements! Empyrion counts on you!

The new Server Browser (still no players because 4.0 was not yet released when screenshot was captured):

Upcoming multiplayer features: PvE, PvP, Ownership, Factions

While you are reading this devblog, we are not only working on additional features and improving your multiplayer experience,but especially on how multiplayer gameplay can be enriched and balanced for different playstyles on a single server.

In this first version of the multiplayer environment, or if you are playing on a server right now, please be aware that ANYBODY can use, access or destroy your ship, base, containers and so on. Technically, all servers are full PvP at the moment. This will change! To some extent.

Besides some features that will allow for more server-side settings (Resources, POI,..) we are into developing a flexible PvE/PvP system, a basic ownership protocol and factions, letting you decide whom to trust or not.

These features are not yet finished and were not ready to be included in version 4.0 as some details are still subject to change. So, we will issue a more detailed devblog on this topic, as soon as everything is set in stone.

New fog for large asteroid field:

What else has changed with 4.0? How to Resume Old Save Games

IMPORTANT: Please read

Although the multiplayer has been our main focus for the 4.0 update, we have also made some important changes to the game itself. Have a read of the full changelog at the end of this devblog.

Most important: your SteamID is now bound to your Empyrion player account!
This has been an inevitable change, we needed to make for the servers and the things to come.

This of course affects your Pre-4.0 SAVEGAMES. Nothing is lost – so don’t panic! Just read on and we’ll bring them back in less than a minute!

Next time you fire up your game, your RESUME GAMES menu will be empty, because from now on, your savegames player file is your SteamID playerfile.

To bring back your old savegames, a quick file-rename action is needed. Please carefully read and follow the 5-steps-howto as described here, ahead of taking any action:

1. Start New Game -> e.g. Creative*: set "TestGame" as its name (*Survival will work, too)
2. Go to: Steam\SteamApps\common\Empyrion - Galactic Survival\Saves\Games
3. Open the folder of your new Save Game ("TestGame") -> open the Players folder and find a file like 23412882263.ply -> The number is your SteamID
4. Copy or write down the numbers of your SteamID (without .ply)
5. Go to the Save Game folder with the saveegame you want to reactivate ->RENAME the old .ply found there with your SteamID. Example:Topplayer.ply into 23412882263.ply[/indent]

Please note: Do NOT OVERWRITE your old .ply file by any means! Only CHANGE the filename (Right-Mouse-Click -> Properties)! If you do otherwise, your savegame will drop you in an empty world and all progress inevitably be lost!

New POI on Omicron (thanks to J0BA2):

Next Steps:
- Improved performance on dedicated server: less lag and less memory consumption for a smoother experience, processes will be dynamically triggered only if playfield is visited
- PvP, PvE, ownership and factions

Finally, we’d like to thank everyone, hosting servers and helping to create a great gameplay experience!

Now, go play version 4.0 and have a lot of fun!

Have any feedback on the new servers, the game or this dev blog? We. Are. Listening!

Yours,

Empyrion Dev Crew

Nov 18, 2015

[November 19, 2015] Pre-Alpha 4.0: Dedicated Servers (1/2)

Empyrion - Galactic Survival - EmpyrionGame