Mar 28, 2016

Road to Alpha: Feature List Announcement

Empyrion - Galactic Survival - EmpyrionGame

Hi Galactic Survivalists!

As promised, today we will reveal the list of features that will make it into the upcoming Alpha Release.

Main Features
- Added structural integrity SI (only for bases at the moment): buildings will collapse if not supported correctly
- Added basic tutorial system (PDA)
- Added dense grass and large decorations (trees, large rocks, underwater deco, etc) viewable from far away (trees can be harvested for wood logs)
- Added possibility to completely configure a planet by yourself (terrain, textures, deco, NPCs, etc)
- New block rotation system that shows rotation axis
- New block shape management system:
- craft basic block and choose from block shapes via selection menu (RMB when block group is selected in toolbar)
- Shift + RMB now removes block in Creative mode
- Added more materials: wood, concrete (wood logs, wood planks, cement) and hardened steel (replacing the armored blocks)
- Added player drone to facilitate building

Individualization for Building
- New block customization: any side of a block can be colored / textured individually
- New color and paint system:
- 31 colors available from new color tool menu
- all 3d models are colorable (cockpit, turrets, thrusters, generators, deco blocks and other devices)
- New system to apply textures / symbols / letters to each side of a block individually
- Added a first set of textures, letters, numbers and symbols

Gameplay
- Added "Spawn at home base": For example, you can tag your CV in Orbit, any Base or Space Station and respawn on this CV/Base when you die on a planet. (only one Home base can be tagged at any time)
- Clone Chamber has been added to set a definite Home-Base spawn point (Without a Clone Chamber you will spawn in a random location close to your home-base tagged base or vessel)
- Added auto-grouping feature in Control Panel
- Improvements to space map: other faction's icons are no longer displayed except they are near the player (before everything was seen on space map)
- Improvements to all maps: own objects (private or faction) are now colored greenish
- ALT now toggles a free-move camera
- Added filter (text area) and entity type filter-toggles (SV,HV,CV,BA, ALL) to constructor windows
- Turrets can now be activated/deactivated in control panel
- Founder/Admin of a faction can now set a structure of this faction back to Public/Private
- New rotation tool: allows to rotate blocks after placement

Blueprints
- Blueprint menu now also shows blueprints with forbidden blocks (with red color and a hint), not allowed to put in factory or publish (Alien Core and any Monster-Spawner)
- BP placement: Added possibility to move BPs vertically with Page up/down
- Changed: blueprints now spawn without damage
- Workshop: Published (or updated) items are now automatically tagged according to their structure type (e.g. "Hover Vessel")
- Blueprint now saves the control panel grouping info

Console Commands & Server
- Activated console to enter many commands for singleplayer (godmode, teleport, item menu etc)
- Added many new server commands (similar to singleplayer) and a new permission group (Gamemaster)
- Added customizable, periodic auto-shutdown of playfield servers + server message (configured in dedicated.yaml)
- Server messages are now colored to easily see them
- Added saw attachment for HV and chainsaw for player

Blocks & Crafting
- Re-enabled Alien Container and Alien Core for use in Creative Menu
- Added Spawner blocks to Creative menu
- Added new block shape: Inverted Corner Thin
- Added new railing blocks
- Changed Starter Block Base to “Core only”
- Added water jug (produced by Water Generator)
- Water generator can now be crafted in Survival Constructor

World
- Added new temperate planet Oscutune
- Added many new POIs (thanks to Dead8Eye)
- Added Talon Guardian NPC (no loot yet)
- Added ambient sounds according to the biome a player is in (e.g. on Akua: forest, water, open plains, mountains)
- Spawning of NPCs now depend on biomes (e.g. on Akua: Woodwalker in forest, Slime at water, etc)
- Tweaked loot of many NPCs

Major Visual Improvements:
- Atmospheric scattering
- New water shader (edge blending for water shores, refractions, waves, etc)
- New underwater view
- New water droplet effect when leaving water
- More details are shown when close to objects (also terrain)

Tweaks - Gameplay:
- Backpack is now visible 500m on map (before 50m)
- Control Panel now shows damage for all units (not only for essentials as before)
- Increased speed of Ion Cannon shots by 30%
- SV/HV/CV does not allow to fire any more if not powered
- Better planet map preview

Tweaks - Visual & Audio:
- Updated many models (all handheld weapons, many devices, deco objects etc) to PBR shader
- Replaced truss and walkway blocks with new models
- Updated basic hull texture (less dark panel lines)
- Tweaked muzzle fire of laser pistol/rifle to blue/red
- Added new volumetric laser shot effect to Laser Rifle and Pistol
- Improved effect when drilling
- Tweaked terrain textures on Alien planet and moon
- Added new lava shader + lava fog and improved under-lava shader
- Added ground fog and fireflies on Masperon
- Tweaked many terrains (especially Omicron and Masperon
- Added bullet impact effects on water
- Sound tweaks:
- lower sound volume when drilling
- Slightly reduced distance at which sound from devices is heard (02/water generator, gravity generator, generator)
- Updated sound for drill
- Exchanged model of survival constructor
- Improved texture on non-illuminated stairs
- Better smoke on destroyed enemy drone
- Tweaked terrain textures to make resource veins better visible

And what about bug fixes? We are still in the midst of working on them. We'll add a condensed list when we have finished this phase of the Alpha preparations!

Please remember that the current Alpha version will not only add big new features like structural integrity, new biome decorations, new painting & texturing possibilities, new block management and more, but also changes a lot of the invisible back end stuff needed to enable those features and – moreover – pave the way for the more demanding features like galaxy, shields, pole barrier removal, oxygenized rooms, custom textures, which will not make it in the Alpha but are planned for the upcoming and future development stages.

Finally, we would like to introduce the first iteration of “Structural Integrity for planetary bases”. A more detailed blog will follow soon.

So let’s crush some block, shall we? :D

https://youtu.be/HSD7ivXrLsM

Happy Easter!

Eleon Dev Team

P.S: Last but not least, the following video shows how easy it will be to color and texture blocks in the upcoming Alpha:
https://youtu.be/FmhZlfhQ-aw[/url[[/url]

Mar 28, 2016

Road to Alpha: Feature List Announcement

Empyrion - Galactic Survival - EmpyrionGame

Mar 22, 2016

Road to Alpha: Development Update #4

Empyrion - Galactic Survival - EmpyrionGame

Dear Survivalists,

Today we would like to shed some light on the new Admin and Gamemaster tools, followed by a short video tour of some of the new ambient sounds and a description of our new creature spawning system.

Disclaimer: If you are an admin or want to play a survival game in a more “creative” matter with more tools at your hand even in survival mode, then read on! If you are not interested in those little helpers at all, scroll down and enjoy the new ambient sounds, as the new console commands are not active by default! (More gameplay updates will follow soon!)

New Console Commands

This is not only an update for server owners and those who manage them – this is a partial rework of the games approach towards “creative mode with survival aspects”! Said that, all of the features mentioned in this blog are available for dedicated server admins (and their crew) as well as for any solo survivor, wanting to play a Singleplayer game the creative way!

A special note for Singleplayer: Please keep in mind that some of the features might dramatically influence your gameplay experience, as they will allow you to use shortcuts and workarounds and may be considered as “allowed cheats”. They are not active by default and need to be activated manually! So if you want to have the pure and immersive gameplay experience…it is your choice to just not use them ;-)

First Things first: Unlike in Singleplayer mode (Creative and Survival), the console commands mentioned below are not available for EVERYONE on a server, but only for Admins (all of the features), Moderators (some of the features) and Gamemasters (a subset of the features).
As the permission roles are not yet set in stone, we are open to your feedback which of the following permission we should add to what role!

That’s what you will be able to do, when playing as an Admin with all console commands activated:
- Standard stuff like kick and ban (and unban of course)
- Speed up or slow down time
- Teleport on the planetary map
- Teleport from planet to space and vice versa
- Teleport between the sectors without having to use a warpdrive
- Instant-Spawn NPCs and other enemies (very early approach)
- Add Vessels, bases and players to any faction (even if you are not the owner)
- Destroy any vessel or base
- Activate an ID Overlay to identify the ID of a vessel or base (needed for the destroy command)
- Activate the Creative-Item Menu (All blocks are available and do not cost any resources)
- Godmode (Permanent-Fly, No Health/Food/O2 drain, Clip through solid ground and structures)
- Raise your personal player level
- Make a player admin, Gamemaster or moderator via console

Please remember: the list of console commands is the current internal state of possibilities for an admin, NOT for players on a server!
About teleporting: If you are sitting in a vessel, the whole vessel will be teleported with you! If you are in a base, the base will of course not be teleported!

Important Info about Factions

For the Alpha, we have now added the possibility for any faction owner to change vessels or bases back to private or make them public without using a console command. You do not need to have admin permissions on a server to manage your faction that way! The console command for factions is just a helper for Admins and Gamemasters, helping other faction players.

More Info about Structures for Server Owners

If you are a Server Owner or you have access to the folders of your server savegame, you might be interested in the following: we are planning to add an “info file” to each and every folder of vessels and bases, showing who owns it, which faction it belongs and other details that might be useful.
This way you will be able to identify lost, broken or accidentally removed structures with ease and – if needed – you will be able to resurrect them via another console command!
Enough of the tech stuff!

New Ambient Sounds and Creature Spawning

We are now able to divide a planet into different biomes which allows us to play different ambient sounds according to the biome you are currently in (e.g. lake shore, forest, open plains, mountains etc).

Check out the first set of new ambient sounds:

https://youtu.be/j9EByOaZmDI

But this is not all. We are now also able to control the appearance of creatures according to the biome. For example, these new creatures will only appear in dense forests:

While the dinosaurs will only be found in open areas:

On desert planets, these arachnids will appear mostly around large rocks:

And on alien planets, different creatures will populate forests

and open plains:

Last but not least, we want to present you our old friends who played a role in the Announcement Trailer from Sept 2014. They will be back in the Alpha:

These are only the first steps in creating planets with diverse biomes.

We are looking forward to your feedback

Yours
Empyrion Dev Team

Mar 22, 2016

Road to Alpha: Development Update #4

Empyrion - Galactic Survival - EmpyrionGame

While the dinosaurs will only be found in open areas:

On desert planets, these arachnids will appear mostly around large rocks:

And on alien planets, different creatures will populate forests

and open plains:

Last but not least, we want to present you our old friends who played a role in the Announcement Trailer from Sept 2014. They will be back in the Alpha:

These are only the first steps in creating planets with diverse biomes.

We are looking forward to your feedback

Yours
Empyrion Dev Team

Mar 16, 2016

Road to Alpha: Development Update #3

Empyrion - Galactic Survival - EmpyrionGame

Dear Survivalists,

in the last progress reports we revealed, among others, new colors, a new block management system and new materials. A few of you may have wondered, if it might be possible to also improve the painting itself and make the whole process a little bit more flexible.

So, would you like to have the possibility to paint each side of a block individually? Would you like to have the possibility to add additional textures on walls, floors and ceilings – and be able to paint them? Would you like to add symbols, letters, numbers and logos on top of it? If this is three times YES, then we would like to add three times: YOU CAN!

That’s what will be possible with the new Coloring- and Texturing Tool:
- Paint and/or texture all building blocks individually on each side!
- Add symbols, letters and text on all building blocks…
- … as well as on top of textures!
- Paint all devices!

Sounds great? Let’s have a look at some work-in progress examples.

Texturing showcase (each side of a block can be textured and colored individually)

We will add many new textures:

As well as letters, numbers and symbols:

Finally, it will be very easy to apply colors to blocks. Just choose the appropriate color from the menu and apply it to your blocks and devices:

Every block / device will be colorable:

Disclaimer: all screenshots are taken from the work in progress version of the current alpha development to show you the new features ahead of release. Details like optics, layout and effects might change for the release version! For the future development, we have even planned to allow you to use your own textures – or those created by others!

Will the old color tool be retired? Not at all! Besides changing the opacity of glass windows, we added another helpful feature for anyone who ever wanted to re-adjust the orientation of an already placed block: the “block adjustment tool” will do that for you! Just aim at a block and rotate it in any direction you want!

Finally, as the release week is coming closer, we would like to give you the chance to have your questions answered: Please add your question as a comment, be as specific as possible and we’ll try to answer them in our next Alpha progress report!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more news

Empyrion Dev Crew

Mar 16, 2016

Road to Alpha: Development Update #3

Empyrion - Galactic Survival - EmpyrionGame

We will add many new textures:

As well as letters, numbers and symbols:

Finally, it will be very easy to apply colors to blocks. Just choose the appropriate color from the menu and apply it to your blocks and devices:

Every block / device will be colorable:

Mar 11, 2016

Road to Alpha: Development Update #2

Empyrion - Galactic Survival - EmpyrionGame

Dear Survivalists,

in the last weeks, we have shown you new trees, grass and colors. Great stuff, as we think, but of course the Alpha will not be limited to floral upgrades and 31 colors. By far not.

So, what's in the package when we deliver it in about three weeks?

As promised in the last Progress Report, we'll today have a closer look at a main topic: blocks and how they are handled.

1. New Block Shape Management
With 5.4.0 we added a slew of new hull blocks and window shapes, now sitting side by side in the constructor Building Blocks tabs, fighting for your attention. Do we want to stop here with adding more shapes? No. Will this improve your constructor tab view, when we add even more items to your already cluttered overview? Not really.

Something needed to be done - and we decided to make a fundamental change on how building block shapes are handled, created and organized: welcome the new block families, where you do not need to craft each and every shape one by one anymore, but only the amount of blocks of any given material you want to place!

In detail: Create several building blocks (for example steel blocks) in your constructor and drop them to your toolbar as usual. Highlight the block in your toolbar as you would have done with the current public patch. Then, hit the right mouse button and voila, the new block family overview will unfold!

From here, you'll have all the available shapes right at your hand at any time!
You do not need to remember how many shapes you need to craft for your design. You just need to create the amount of building blocks of the material you want to place..and start thinking about the shapes you need no earlier than when you want to place them.

In addition, this will not only allow you to handle an increasing amount of shapes with ease, but also open up more space for future additions of block shapes, reduce the displayed items count in constructor Building Block tabs and free up a lot of space in your inventory

2. New Materials: Wood, Concrete, Reinforced Steel

Now, as we have cleaned the house, what shall we do with the empty room?
How about about adding not only one, but three new materials! Here we go!

The screenshot is showing four blocks, but that's just due to the fact that we wanted to show all the materials that will be in game when playing the Alpha..
From the left to the right: Wood, Concrete, Steel (formerly known as "Hull Blocks") and Reinforced Steel.

Some details:
- We will not make any changes to Steel Blocks, except renaming them. Same recipe. Same stats.
- Reinforces Steel will ask for twice the resources and production time per block, but also adds twice the hitpoints and armor per block!
- Wood can be harvested from most trees. Wood Blocks are very cheap to produce. A single tree will allow you to craft several hundred blocks in no time (compared to the amount of time needed for the same amount of steel blocks!). Although this is an ideal material for quickly building small bases and camps, wood blocks do not offer any armor and only very few hitpoints.
- Concrete will be crafted from rock dust (basic resource, that will be converted into cement in an intermediate step) and purified water. Producing concrete blocks takes quite a while, but each template will create several dozens of blocks at once. Balancing is not yet finished, but you'll be able to create noticeably more concrete blocks in the same amount of time you'd need for steel blocks. And, concrete has another advantage over steel: concrete blocks have less armor than the standard steel, but more hitpoints!

This will make it a nice and relatively cheap case by case material for planetary bases. As a side note, and due to common sense: you cannot use wood or concrete for building any of the currently available vessel types, but for planetary bases only. Of course each of the four materials will offer all 32 shapes!

3. New Block Rotation Method
If you ever felt lost, because you were repeatedly mashing your keypad without your block rotating in the position you want it to rotate, we think you might find the following change very useful: you'll now have the rotation axis displayed directly on the block!

We also reduced the amount of buttons you need to rotate any block down to 3: Change the Axis (X-Y-Z), rotate clockwise, rotate counter-clockwise. The 4th button will just show or hide the rotation axis (Default = visible)

4. New Starter Block and Blueprint Placement Method

Speaking of building bases. Are you fed up with having to level the ground, only to place a base starter or a blueprint? We've heard your feedback and made the following change: When placing a blueprint or a base starter when playing the Alpha, you do not need to create flat spaces anymore. Just place your blueprint or base wherever you want. The new method will not mind steep terrain or any dent in the ground anymore.

Using this new technique leads to the consequence, that water is not an "only differently colored solid terrain" anymore. Although this will open up the possibility to start an underwater base, the underlying technical change will not allow you to just place a Base Starter or Blueprint floating on the water anymore (At least that's not as easy as before. We will explain how this can be achieved in a future blog ;-)

We hope you enjoyed this more detailed progress report – more blogs about the upcoming new features and changes will follow soon!

Empyrion Dev Team

P.S. Last but not least, here are some teasers of other new features that will be integrated in the Alpha.

Saw attachment for HVs to cut down trees:

One of the many new POIs that are waiting to get explored by you:

Mar 11, 2016

Road to Alpha: Development Update #2

Empyrion - Galactic Survival - EmpyrionGame

One of the many new POIs that are waiting to get explored by you: