In addition to the various giveaways going on -- see previous community updates for details -- there was a whole slew of updates and fixes to Spiral Knights this week!

<u>Punch and Vise</u>

Punch and Vise, two gremlin outcasts from Emberlight, have set up shop in the Haven Bazaar. Using very dangerous looking equipment, they provide the services unbinding items and adding unique variants to items.

- Punch can add one, two or three random unique variants to items in exchange for crowns.
- Punch's UV service erases any of the previous UVs on the item.
- Vise can unbind an item in exchange for energy.
- 0 star and starless items (costumes) cannot be unbound.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/segaamerica/5961405277/" title="Spiral Knights by SEGA of America, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/5961405277_773609a6b7_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="Spiral Knights"></a>


<u>Alchemy</u>

- Crafted items may now randomly obtain up to three unique variants. However, obtaining three UVs via crafting is exceptionally rare.
- During crafting, if the option to retain existing UVs is selected, the item will have no chance of gaining 'extra' UVs. For example, an item that has a single UV that is preserved during crafting has no chance of retaining the existing UV plus gaining more.

<u>Item Previews</u>

- Vendor catalogs now have a Preview button which allows you to select vendor items and recipes and see what they look like on your knight.

<u>Steam Conversion</u>

- New knights created on Preview Event accounts converted to Steam will receive their Preview Event items.

<u>Graphics</u>

- Improved performance for low graphic settings.
- Alpha maps on all armor materials have been smoothed out.
- Fix to laser visuals for users in Compatibility Mode.
- Sharpened the knights' eye texture.
- Knights will now blink on high detail. Dry, irritated eyes no more!

<u>Levels</u>

- Rebalanced the following levels to only have monsters of specific themes appropriate for their level set:

Concrete Jungle | Blight Boulevard
Concrete Jungle | Blight Boulevard 2
Concrete Jungle | Totem Trouble
Concrete Jungle | Totem Trouble 2
Concrete Jungle | Briar Bone Barrage
Dark City | Sinful Steps 2
Dark City | Plazamonium
Jigsaw Valley | Emerald Axis
Jigsaw Valley | Emerald Axis 2
Jigsaw Valley | Perimeter Promenade
Jigsaw Valley | Perimeter Promenade 2
Jigsaw Valley | Jade Tangle
Jigsaw Valley | Jade Tangle 2

- Cleaned up bramble in several levels to make it easier to spot and avoid.

<u>Bugfixes</u>

- Fixed an issue with the Kilowatt Pulsar series not consistently causing proper damage type.
- Player paperdoll model no longer clips through lighting effects.
- Fixed an issue where party platforms could be triggered prematurely when a player disconnects.
- Fixed a bug where battle music wouldn't stop playing in a devilish drudgery room.
- The floor icon for Royal Jelly Palace | Battle Royale is now the correct icon.
- Fixed a bug in Firestorm Citadel | Ashen Armory where a party was able to open both sides of the path split.
- Fixed a bug in Ironclaw Munitions Factory | Abandoned Assembly where the door after the shock bridge wouldn't open.
- Fixed a bug where players were getting stuck in the final encounter in Ironclaw Munitions Factory | Warfare Workshop.
- Fixed a bug where unique variant defense type and status bonuses were being doubled in some cases.

<u>Bugfix - 6/21</u>

A small bugfix release went out today that addressed a few issues related to the new Unbinding Forge.

In addition to the various giveaways going on -- see previous community updates for details -- there was a whole slew of updates and fixes to Spiral Knights this week!

Punch and Vise

Punch and Vise, two gremlin outcasts from Emberlight, have set up shop in the Haven Bazaar. Using very dangerous looking equipment, they provide the services unbinding items and adding unique variants to items.

- Punch can add one, two or three random unique variants to items in exchange for crowns.
- Punch's UV service erases any of the previous UVs on the item.
- Vise can unbind an item in exchange for energy.
- 0 star and starless items (costumes) cannot be unbound.




Alchemy

- Crafted items may now randomly obtain up to three unique variants. However, obtaining three UVs via crafting is exceptionally rare.
- During crafting, if the option to retain existing UVs is selected, the item will have no chance of gaining 'extra' UVs. For example, an item that has a single UV that is preserved during crafting has no chance of retaining the existing UV plus gaining more.

Item Previews

- Vendor catalogs now have a Preview button which allows you to select vendor items and recipes and see what they look like on your knight.

Steam Conversion

- New knights created on Preview Event accounts converted to Steam will receive their Preview Event items.

Graphics

- Improved performance for low graphic settings.
- Alpha maps on all armor materials have been smoothed out.
- Fix to laser visuals for users in Compatibility Mode.
- Sharpened the knights' eye texture.
- Knights will now blink on high detail. Dry, irritated eyes no more!

Levels

- Rebalanced the following levels to only have monsters of specific themes appropriate for their level set:

Concrete Jungle | Blight Boulevard
Concrete Jungle | Blight Boulevard 2
Concrete Jungle | Totem Trouble
Concrete Jungle | Totem Trouble 2
Concrete Jungle | Briar Bone Barrage
Dark City | Sinful Steps 2
Dark City | Plazamonium
Jigsaw Valley | Emerald Axis
Jigsaw Valley | Emerald Axis 2
Jigsaw Valley | Perimeter Promenade
Jigsaw Valley | Perimeter Promenade 2
Jigsaw Valley | Jade Tangle
Jigsaw Valley | Jade Tangle 2

- Cleaned up bramble in several levels to make it easier to spot and avoid.

Bugfixes

- Fixed an issue with the Kilowatt Pulsar series not consistently causing proper damage type.
- Player paperdoll model no longer clips through lighting effects.
- Fixed an issue where party platforms could be triggered prematurely when a player disconnects.
- Fixed a bug where battle music wouldn't stop playing in a devilish drudgery room.
- The floor icon for Royal Jelly Palace | Battle Royale is now the correct icon.
- Fixed a bug in Firestorm Citadel | Ashen Armory where a party was able to open both sides of the path split.
- Fixed a bug in Ironclaw Munitions Factory | Abandoned Assembly where the door after the shock bridge wouldn't open.
- Fixed a bug where players were getting stuck in the final encounter in Ironclaw Munitions Factory | Warfare Workshop.
- Fixed a bug where unique variant defense type and status bonuses were being doubled in some cases.

Bugfix - 6/21

A small bugfix release went out today that addressed a few issues related to the new Unbinding Forge.

Play Spiral Knights with SEGA at San Diego Comic Con, Win Crystal Energy!

It is day two of SEGA’s visit to Comic Con, and our representative Knights – SirDaeb and SirCallarnon – are busy storming the clockworks with their amazing and awesome gear.

If you’re in the area at Comic Con, drop by the SEGA Arcade at 345 6th Ave from 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM (PDT) today!

If you aren’t nearby, you still have a chance to win free Crystal Energy – just find & adventure with SirDaeb or SirCallarnon in the Clockwords and send us a screenshot of your group in a dungeon! Here’s how it works:

1. You must be adventuring in a dungeon with either <b>SirDaeb</b> or <b>SirCallarnon</b>. If you’re having trouble finding either Knight, you can always try sending a friend request (although depending on who’s there at the moment you may not get a reply right away).
2. For July 21st, we will be in the Clockworks adventuring until 9:00 PM (PDT)!
3. Take a screenshot of yourself with either knight (F12 key if you’re running the game through Steam!) Their name and your name must be visible in the upper-left of the screenshot, in the party list.
4. E-mail us the screenshot (or a link to it) at: <b>communityteam@sega.com</b>
5. Please include "Spiral Knights SDCC" as the email subject, your character name, and of course the screenshot itself.

We’ll be doing this throughout Comic Con – hope to see you there!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/segaamerica/5959160103/" title="Spiral Knights @ SDCC by SEGA of America, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/5959160103_71f4c6ce57_m.jpg" width="240" height="134" alt="Spiral Knights @ SDCC"></a>

Play Spiral Knights with SEGA at San Diego Comic Con, Win Crystal Energy!

It is day two of SEGA’s visit to Comic Con, and our representative Knights – SirDaeb and SirCallarnon – are busy storming the clockworks with their amazing and awesome gear.

If you’re in the area at Comic Con, drop by the SEGA Arcade at 345 6th Ave from 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM (PDT) today!

If you aren’t nearby, you still have a chance to win free Crystal Energy – just find & adventure with SirDaeb or SirCallarnon in the Clockwords and send us a screenshot of your group in a dungeon! Here’s how it works:

1. You must be adventuring in a dungeon with either SirDaeb or SirCallarnon. If you’re having trouble finding either Knight, you can always try sending a friend request (although depending on who’s there at the moment you may not get a reply right away).
2. For July 21st, we will be in the Clockworks adventuring until 9:00 PM (PDT)!
3. Take a screenshot of yourself with either knight (F12 key if you’re running the game through Steam!) Their name and your name must be visible in the upper-left of the screenshot, in the party list.
4. E-mail us the screenshot (or a link to it) at: communityteam@sega.com
5. Please include "Spiral Knights SDCC" as the email subject, your character name, and of course the screenshot itself.

We’ll be doing this throughout Comic Con – hope to see you there!

This just in from Spiral HQ –

The Strangers – those mysterious-by-nature residents of <a href="http://wiki.spiralknights.com/Cradle">The Cradle</a> -- have decided to give away some of their supplies to the Spiral Knights who have worked to defend Haven during the assault by the Ironclaw Munitions Factory: to that end, the Birdsong Trading Co. will be hosting a giveaway to all players this weekend!

Beginning Friday, July 22nd at 2PM server time (PDT) and ending Sunday, July 24 at 9pm server time (PDT) all players logged in to the game will be eligible for hourly prize giveaways!

• Giveaways will occur each hour and only players logged in and playing will be considered in the running to receive a prize.
• No purchase is necessary – just be logged in during the giveaway period!
• Giveaways are hourly, on the hour. Prizes include Crystal Energy, items, and upgrades – with a special prize given away each day at 2PM server time (PDT)!

The Strangers (and Three Rings and SEGA) would like to remind you that all you have to do is be logged in during the giveaways – you don’t have to be spending money, energy, or running a dungeon!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/segaamerica/5961405277/" title="Spiral Knights by SEGA of America, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/5961405277_773609a6b7_m.jpg" width="240" height="135" alt="Spiral Knights"></a>

This just in from Spiral HQ –

The Strangers – those mysterious-by-nature residents of The Cradle -- have decided to give away some of their supplies to the Spiral Knights who have worked to defend Haven during the assault by the Ironclaw Munitions Factory: to that end, the Birdsong Trading Co. will be hosting a giveaway to all players this weekend!

Beginning Friday, July 22nd at 2PM server time (PDT) and ending Sunday, July 24 at 9pm server time (PDT) all players logged in to the game will be eligible for hourly prize giveaways!

• Giveaways will occur each hour and only players logged in and playing will be considered in the running to receive a prize.
• No purchase is necessary – just be logged in during the giveaway period!
• Giveaways are hourly, on the hour. Prizes include Crystal Energy, items, and upgrades – with a special prize given away each day at 2PM server time (PDT)!

The Strangers (and Three Rings and SEGA) would like to remind you that all you have to do is be logged in during the giveaways – you don’t have to be spending money, energy, or running a dungeon!

Here are a couple of things that people have been waiting for... firstly some box art, for the Western and Russian versions - up on the front page:
<a href="http://www.heroesofstalingrad.com/">http://www.heroesofstalingrad.com/</a>

And now the system specs that people have been asking for:

Minimum:
OS: Windows XP/Vista/7
Processor: Dual Core 2.3 GHz or better
RAM: 2 GB
Graphics card: 256 MB SM 3.0 DX9 Compliant NVIDIA® GeForce 7800 GTX or better ATI® Radeon® HD 2900 GT or better
Sound: Windows Supported Sound Card
DirectX: DirectX 9.0c
Hard Drive: 8 GB free hard drive space

Recommended:
OS: Windows XP/Vista/7
Processor: Quad Core 2.6 GHz or better
RAM: 3 GB
Graphics card: 512 MB SM 3.0 DX9 Compliant NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 260 or better ATI® Radeon® HD 5750 or better
Sound: Sound Blaster Audigy or better
DirectX: DirectX 9.0c
Hard Drive: 8 GB free hard drive space

Here are a couple of things that people have been waiting for... firstly some box art, for the Western and Russian versions - up on the front page:
http://www.heroesofstalingrad.com/

And now the system specs that people have been asking for:

Minimum:
OS: Windows XP/Vista/7
Processor: Dual Core 2.3 GHz or better
RAM: 2 GB
Graphics card: 256 MB SM 3.0 DX9 Compliant NVIDIA® GeForce 7800 GTX or better ATI® Radeon® HD 2900 GT or better
Sound: Windows Supported Sound Card
DirectX: DirectX 9.0c
Hard Drive: 8 GB free hard drive space

Recommended:
OS: Windows XP/Vista/7
Processor: Quad Core 2.6 GHz or better
RAM: 3 GB
Graphics card: 512 MB SM 3.0 DX9 Compliant NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 260 or better ATI® Radeon® HD 5750 or better
Sound: Sound Blaster Audigy or better
DirectX: DirectX 9.0c
Hard Drive: 8 GB free hard drive space

<b>Play Spiral Knights with SEGA at Comic Con, Win Crystal Energy!</b>

Attention, Knights of the Clockwork!

SEGA is at San Diego Comic Con right now, and along with many other things will be showing off Spiral Knights. If you’re in town, <b>drop by the ‘SEGA Arcade’ at 345 6th Ave. between 7:00 and 11:00 PM Pacific on Wednesday – that’s *TONIGHT*!</b> We’ll be there the next several days as well, times TBD so stay tuned.

Knights <b>SirDaeb</b> and <b>SirCallarnon</b> are two <i>very</i> well-equipped representatives of SEGA and Three Rings, and will be in-game throughout Comic Con, exploring the Clockworks. Stop by the SEGA Arcade to personally help guide them through danger!

If you can’t make it by or won’t be in the area, you can still find us online – and have a chance to win some Crystal Energy to boot! Just send us a screenshot of yourself adventuring with either knight to our SEGA Twitter Feed, and win 100 Crystal Energy.

Here’s how it works:

1. You must be adventuring in a dungeon with either SirDaeb or SirCallarnon
2. Take a screenshot of yourself with either knight (F12 key if you’re running the game through Steam!) Their name and your name must be visible in the upper-left of the screenshot, in the party list.
3. E-mail us the screenshot (or a link to it) at: communityteam@sega.com
4. Please include "Spiral Knights SDCC" as the email subject, your character name, and of course the screenshot itself.

Hope to see you there!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/segaamerica/5959160103/" title="Spiral Knights @ SDCC by SEGA of America, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/5959160103_71f4c6ce57_m.jpg" width="240" height="134" alt="Spiral Knights @ SDCC"></a>

Play Spiral Knights with SEGA at Comic Con, Win Crystal Energy!

Attention, Knights of the Clockwork!

SEGA is at San Diego Comic Con right now, and along with many other things will be showing off Spiral Knights. If you’re in town, drop by the ‘SEGA Arcade’ at 345 6th Ave. between 7:00 and 11:00 PM Pacific on Wednesday – that’s *TONIGHT*! We’ll be there the next several days as well, times TBD so stay tuned.

Knights SirDaeb and SirCallarnon are two very well-equipped representatives of SEGA and Three Rings, and will be in-game throughout Comic Con, exploring the Clockworks. Stop by the SEGA Arcade to personally help guide them through danger!

If you can’t make it by or won’t be in the area, you can still find us online – and have a chance to win some Crystal Energy to boot! Just send us a screenshot of yourself adventuring with either knight to our SEGA Twitter Feed, and win 100 Crystal Energy.

Here’s how it works:

1. You must be adventuring in a dungeon with either SirDaeb or SirCallarnon
2. Take a screenshot of yourself with either knight (F12 key if you’re running the game through Steam!) Their name and your name must be visible in the upper-left of the screenshot, in the party list.
3. E-mail us the screenshot (or a link to it) at: communityteam@sega.com
4. Please include "Spiral Knights SDCC" as the email subject, your character name, and of course the screenshot itself.

Hope to see you there!