In last week's community update, we announced the first ever GRAV Base Building Contest. We received some really great submissions and have chosen the 3 winners. The winning submissions are below:

In third place comes this awesome diamond shaped base by player, Ratbite.


Second place goes to Bloodthirsty Banana's ocean-side base.




First place goes to this really cool walker base by player, Exitz.





Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone that participated. We really enjoy seeing all the creative things you can all come up with. If you're one of the winners above, make sure you check your inbox for your Steam keys. I've sent them out prior to posting this community update.

Until next time, EXPLORE BUILD DANCE SURVIVE.

In last week's community update, we announced the first ever GRAV Base Building Contest. We received some really great submissions and have chosen the 3 winners. The winning submissions are below:

In third place comes this awesome diamond shaped base by player, Ratbite.


Second place goes to Bloodthirsty Banana's ocean-side base.




First place goes to this really cool walker base by player, Exitz.





Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone that participated. We really enjoy seeing all the creative things you can all come up with. If you're one of the winners above, make sure you check your inbox for your Steam keys. I've sent them out prior to posting this community update.

Until next time, EXPLORE BUILD DANCE SURVIVE.

If you have received a consumer-ready retail version of the Oculus Rift on Monday March 28th onwards, and already own the game from Steam Early Access, please read below:

As a thank you for supporting us through Steam Early Access, you are entitled to an Oculus Store key code in order to download VR Karts for free.
Please note that this offer only extends until 30th June 2016.

Please send an email to ‘support @ viewpointgames dot co dot uk’ with your Steam receipt, Steam alias (the one to the right of Community if you open the Steam application) as well as any other evidence that you have to prove your purchase of the Steam Early Access version. Once we’ve validated your purchase, we will email you your key directly.

The VR Karts Early Access version will still be available if you own it and will still be playable on a DK2 with the 0.8 Oculus SDK.

If you have received a consumer-ready retail version of the Oculus Rift on Monday March 28th onwards, and already own the game from Steam Early Access, please read below:

As a thank you for supporting us through Steam Early Access, you are entitled to an Oculus Store key code in order to download VR Karts for free.
Please note that this offer only extends until 30th June 2016.

Please send an email to ‘support @ viewpointgames dot co dot uk’ with your Steam receipt, Steam alias (the one to the right of Community if you open the Steam application) as well as any other evidence that you have to prove your purchase of the Steam Early Access version. Once we’ve validated your purchase, we will email you your key directly.

The VR Karts Early Access version will still be available if you own it and will still be playable on a DK2 with the 0.8 Oculus SDK.

Live THE GAME OF LIFE in the all-new and improved Official 2016 Edition

Today, THE GAME OF LIFE is receiving a brand new update. Enjoy the very best playing experience on your path to success, becoming graduates, parents and millionaires along the way.

With its new modern aesthetic, simpler menu navigation and two brand new mini-games, THE GAME OF LIFE has never looked or played better. Download the latest version from Steam now to enjoy these, and the following, new features.

Update 1 also includes:

• ‘Grab the Cash’ and ‘Statues’ mini-games
  
• New Player Selection Menu
  
• Enhanced user interface
  
• New keyboard controls - Press Space to spin the wheel!
  
• Improved tutorials and feedback text

Progressing through THE GAME OF LIFE, one tile, one milestone at a time, has never been more fun!

Download the latest version of THE GAME OF LIFE from Steam here.

Let us know what you think of the improvements, but for now, spin the wheel and win big at THE GAME OF LIFE!

Dean Samways
Community Manager
Marmalade Technologies

Live THE GAME OF LIFE in the all-new and improved Official 2016 Edition

Today, THE GAME OF LIFE is receiving a brand new update. Enjoy the very best playing experience on your path to success, becoming graduates, parents and millionaires along the way.

With its new modern aesthetic, simpler menu navigation and two brand new mini-games, THE GAME OF LIFE has never looked or played better. Download the latest version from Steam now to enjoy these, and the following, new features.

Update 1 also includes:

• ‘Grab the Cash’ and ‘Statues’ mini-games
  
• New Player Selection Menu
  
• Enhanced user interface
  
• New keyboard controls - Press Space to spin the wheel!
  
• Improved tutorials and feedback text

Progressing through THE GAME OF LIFE, one tile, one milestone at a time, has never been more fun!

Download the latest version of THE GAME OF LIFE from Steam here.

Let us know what you think of the improvements, but for now, spin the wheel and win big at THE GAME OF LIFE!

Dean Samways
Community Manager
Marmalade Technologies

The patch is now live.

Bug fixes:

• Fixed matchmaking ping requirements more or less regionalizing players. The code responsible for picking a smaller match if it has a better ping was not ignoring empty matches.
  
• Matchmaking reservation player count no longer shows up in the in-game server browser player count.
  
• Matchmaking searches for non-empty matches several times before creating one of your own, to mitigate Steam not reliably sending players the entire server list every time.
  
• Fixed SoCal Win/Losing sounds doubling over each other.
  
• Potential fix for the crash that happens when you hit ESC while the score streak area selection map is up.
  
• Disable score event processing when the match is not in progress. This stops players from scoring any points during match warmup.
  
• Seed the RNG when the lobby game state initializes, for (hopefully) better random map/mode picks.
  
• Fixes mantle/vault interaction deriving it's location based on the character's forward vector, allowing user input to influence the interaction and exploit it. The old method also allowed subtle rotation changes while moving towards the edge to cause odd camera jerking.
  
• Tightened the mantle/vault angle requirements to make it harder to exploit.
  
• Optimized JumpZVelocity being replicated to the server before every jump, when the server could just simulate it.
  
• Steam avatars now function in the UI! 
  
• Steam now prompts users to make a Windows Firewall exception for the game on first run.

After much analysis, and having discussed the best road forward for the title, lead developer Bob Smith and Publisher Iceberg Interactive have chosen to opt for a controlled closed beta program for Oriental Empires, instead of the initially planned Steam Early Access process.

The closed beta program will enable a fixed-sized and fully controllable environment, where feedback is more manageable and easier to digest for the relatively small indie team. The beta program will consist of several different phases/waves, introducing a fixed number of new players to the beta program at different development points. Once the closed beta program for Oriental Empires is complete, the title will be launched as a solid and finished product, created together with the ever-growing 4x community.

More information about the closed Beta program and application process will be revealed later this month.

UPDATE: we are now accepting applications! Application form

After much analysis, and having discussed the best road forward for the title, lead developer Bob Smith and Publisher Iceberg Interactive have chosen to opt for a controlled closed beta program for Oriental Empires, instead of the initially planned Steam Early Access process.

The closed beta program will enable a fixed-sized and fully controllable environment, where feedback is more manageable and easier to digest for the relatively small indie team. The beta program will consist of several different phases/waves, introducing a fixed number of new players to the beta program at different development points. Once the closed beta program for Oriental Empires is complete, the title will be launched as a solid and finished product, created together with the ever-growing 4x community.

More information about the closed Beta program and application process will be revealed later this month.

UPDATE: we are now accepting applications! Application form

Release Notes for 4/4/2016

- Visual glitches in matchmaking fixed
- Bug fixes