Hi to all,

Today is THE DAY!
We have finally updated the engine after 2 years.
We apologize for this situation, during these years we have been very busy with HELLSEED.
Starting from March 2023 we have returned back on the engine and updated it (together with EasyGamePack).

• Fixed AMD Radeon drivers incompatibility
  
• Texture streaming has been finally implemented
  
• Many new gameMachine actions added
  
• Fixed time Stepping system + rigidbody interpolation added into physics engine for improving player synchronization (explecially for 3rd person cameras)
  
  
  
• A lot of optimizations for reducing loading times, terrain vegetation, object instancing and rendering.
  
  
• Ribbon particle systems.
  
  
• Some Artmospheric scattering artifacts have been fixed.
  
• Decal reflections have been fixed.
  
• Alpha test shader has been improved using dithering.
  
• New manual is now public and integrated into the launcher.

EasyGamePack also has been improved:

• A completely new demo,
  
• improved enemy characters animations and behaviours,
  
• improved death animations and ragdolls,
  
• improved blood and smoke particle systems,
  
• improved explosions,
  
• improved HUD and inventory,
  
• Game templates 1st implementation

• Since the engine has received a lot of changes we suggest to make a clean installation.
• If you note some stuttering during gameplay, try to save again every STX texture (sturreting is mainly due to old STX versions that do not support streaming).
  
• Lens distortion shader has been changed, so it requires new tuning.
  
• "Shadow bias" parameters of the lights must be set to "0.005" value to avoid artifacts because the shadowmap shader has been changed a bit.
  
• Manual is still work in progress, we'll integrate new info during next days.
  
• Currently EasyGame Pack Tutorials aren't updated.
  
• Due to texture streaming, publishing with archive (compress flag enabled) could not work well.

We have changed our update plans and starting from now updates will be much more frequent than during the last years :)

Do not forget to join our Discord community:
https://discord.gg/WB28gBW

You can also contribute becoming a Patron:
https://www.patreon.com/s2engine


Enjoy and stay tuned!

FIXED:
Continue bug
Stamina bug
Title options available during load
Enemies lootable multiple times
Removed low stat popups that caused bug on searching dumpster
SFX on searching dumpster / car
Ceiling placement bug
Storage placement issues
Other placement issues (action spot being covered)
Enemies are very easy right now
THE CUBE is gone

ADDED:
health bar during combat

Trick or treat? 🎃

Halloween in the Spiral is here! To celebrate the spooky occasion, we’re bringing back your frightening favorites, decorating Wizard City in haunting fashion, and returning the 3 Halloween fish back to the Spiral’s waters.

Join the Thrills! >>

Greetings Coiners,

For those who have dared to enter beyond the warning sign of the Arcade mode button, might have seen various states of what is to come for the first Arcade machine in its broken alpha- and pre alpha stages.
But in this update we present the machine in a playable state as beta and we would love to hear your feedback. The Arcade mode, for a stronger part then Classic and Zen, depends on your Lucky Charm Perk level. So be sure to visit the Perk Shop for better Lucky Charms.

With Arcade Mode we aim to make unique gameplay in every machine. In the first machine you will find a fortune wheel, jackpot and score multiplier. Some of the Arcade mode specials can be used, like Earth Quake and Dice. But it does not support a Score-doubler.
Next machine (spoiler hint [bar,bar,bar]) might use an other set of specials.
Arcade mode is to be fun with lots of crazy events, blinking lights and satisfying sounds. But still should be a challenge to get it giving out its prizes. It does help however to use the powerful specials you collected in Zen and Classic mode to give you a boost and loot the machine empty.
We hope you'll enjoy and again your feedback is appreciated.

In other news:
New coin: Pink. Pink is nice so we made it very nice.
Next, a new song was added as background music. It's called Elemental Tones. check it out in the Zen Player playlist.

And as always: Bugs splatted. Code bugs, no real ones.

Finally, Thank you Coiners, for the great feedback and enthusiastic reactions as well as very positive reviews we received. We will be focusing on new machines and updating existing machines, gameplay, collectibles and more levels.

Have a blast and see you soon.

TreeNutsGames

Heya adventurers! How are y'all faring with the tons of exciting event we just threw at you? That's why this week is going to be pretty chill because we want you to complete 'em and fill your inventories with wonderful rewards! If you haven't started yet, make sure to check out the fun Harmony Festival mini game! Plus, don't forget to log in daily because Prof. Pho’s Attendance Event is taking place and he's giving out rewards! And as always, don't forget to check out the cool things we have at the Item Mall!





Cooking like a chef, he's a five-star panda! Baddies who can't take the heat better stay out of your newest companion's kitchen! Get your very own PongDang and turn your enemies into a drooling mess!




No hate to simple garbs but Noah's stepping out of comfort clothes and choosing to don an ethereal and powerful look! Get your hands on the Shadow Incubus Ice Burner Set and be as ornate as you are mighty!




That's all for now, folks~

See y'all in-game!

This week's build created by Emilgod focuses on the unique helmet Curtain Call. Lose yourself in a world of detonation in this unique twist on the popular Explosive Arrow skill. Check out the video below!


For more information about Emilgod’s build, check out their youtube guide here.

If you’re keen to get your build featured in Build of the Week, make sure you post your build in our Classes/Builds sub-forum, which you can find on our forum homepage, or post a video build guide on YouTube!

As moonlight cast haunting shadows upon the frayed edges of the journal, I could almost envision the young author, their sanity slowly unraveling, as they chronicled the sinister events that unfolded, blurring the lines between reality and nightmare in a dance of malevolent intrigue. The very act of transcribing their experiences onto paper appeared to invoke an ancient evil, one that lingered between the lines, eager to claw its way into our realm once more…

A ninth entry awaits…



Undated, 2002

I have to get this all down on paper; nothing else seems to work. The malevolence that haunted my previous apartment has somehow followed me here, and I can’t endure it any longer. Regardless of my past, I’m only human, and I can’t allow this torment to persist.

Once upon a time, I was devoted to the tenets of the Society. I knew nothing beyond its beliefs and considered anyone outside it either misguided or simply wrong. I even pitied those not “on the right side.”

My entire education centered around the Society’s doctrines, closely monitored by the Inner Circle. Let me explain: Aspen Falls and the Society of Unified Silence operated more like a religious military than a conventional church. Every facet of life, both within the faith and the town, was controlled by the Inner Circle, who served as the City Council and ministers of the faith.

Daily existence followed a hierarchy that was subtly woven into every aspect but remained inconspicuous to outsiders. There were Primaries who answered to Leaders, who, in turn, reported to specific Inner Circle members. Duties were assigned based on family lineage, and one’s responsibilities remained within their family’s domain.

In my case, I belonged to the Mason bloodline, tasked with upholding the town’s physical infrastructure. Mason family members worked jobs like construction and plumbing, real blue-collar work according to the outside world.

Within each family, a structured system prevailed where older siblings supervised younger ones, helping with their duties and education. The chain extended upwards until a Primary, typically the eldest 17-year-old in the family, took charge.

I held the position of a Primary. I’d grown up knowing this role and its responsibilities would eventually become mine, and I prepared for it every day of my life. I executed my daily tasks ruthlessly and adhered to the “law” with unwavering precision. This meant I became quite adept at getting other kids in trouble and even better at silencing those who dared question our faith.

All of this changed when a new kid was transferred to my group. He’d been causing disruptions, and someone high up decided that he deserved punishment, which translated to being sent to my group. By the end of his first day, I couldn’t help but wonder if the punishment was intended for him or for me.

To clarify, he hailed from the Davidson group, sitting atop the Aspen Falls hierarchy with more privileged lives than the rest of us. My family line, on the other hand, occupied the lowest rung, living lives reflecting our position – grueling, sun-up to sundown work.

But the significance of his addition to our group became clear as I began to see past his rebellious facade. He was a gentle soul, hiding his true feelings behind a veneer of defiance. He despised the Society and, more intensely, the Inner Circle. He pointed out inconsistencies in their message, which even made me begin to doubt my faith.

Then came “the day.” A short while before each Primary’s birthday, we gathered for our ascension. It marked our transition into the “adult” tiers of the town hierarchy. The ceremony’s details were shrouded in secrecy, and on “that day,” I discovered why.

Individually, all the Primaries were led into an office at the Town Hall building. I was extraordinarily nervous, watching others disappear through a door, unable to warn us waiting in line.

Finally, my turn came. I entered the room, seeing two more doors. One led to a staircase going down. A Leader, familiar from the Gillespie group, stood by the staircase, motioning for me to proceed. So, I descended the stairs.

At the bottom, another door led to a massive chamber. The Inner Circle members gathered around a stone altar. When they saw me, they spread out.

It took me a moment to grasp what was happening. Someone was bound to the altar, and it was none other than the kid – the one who’d been transferred to my group a few months prior.

Realization hit me like a tidal wave, and I knew what was coming even before the chanting started.

“A life without faith is no life at all…”

“We offer this sacrifice to affirm our faith…”

As the chants grew louder, I felt my stomach churn, but I couldn’t let it show. Then, an eerie sensation took over. It was as if I had been gently pushed aside from the driver’s seat of my own body.

I watched myself approach the altar, powerless to stop. The chants faded into the distance as I reached the altar and looked down at the terrified boy. He recognized me, and his eyes widened, but I was no longer in control, and I couldn’t offer him any comfort.

A knife lay beside his head, and I saw my hand reach for it. The kid started struggling against his restraints as I raised the knife in front of him.

Then, a profound silence fell over me, and within that silence, I heard a voice.

“Do it now…”

The knife descended. Blood flowed. I blacked out.

When I regained consciousness, I was in my own bed at home. My parents’ hushed voices drifted up from downstairs. I couldn’t catch everything, but some phrases reached me.

“…this hasn’t happened before!”

“…we’ll have to take him to Judith…”

Quietly, I slipped out of bed, avoiding the creaky spots on my bedroom floor. I grabbed as many clothes as I could stuff into my backpack, along with a few personal items and my secret savings stash. I crawled out of my window and descended through the storm drain.

I knew I’d have to traverse Waukeega Forest on foot to reach the nearest town with a bus station, but I didn’t care. I just needed to run as far away as possible. The thought of “seeing Judith” terrified me.

I tried to make sense of what had occurred. I assumed that all the other Primaries had made their sacrifices, and I was the odd one who fainted during the “ceremony.”

I reached the bus station, purchasing a ticket southward. I hopped off the bus occasionally to change destinations, always heading south. Gradually, my desperation subsided, so I disembarked from the last bus, and…

Well, the rest of my journey, I’ve already recorded.

I hope this explanation helps. It’s somewhat of a confession to a terrible crime, but I swear I had no control over my actions. Knowing what I’ve done breaks my heart.

Seeing that kid there… it only confirmed the legitimacy of all the questions he had. It was a grim validation of his suspicions and the end of his rebellious acts.

There.

Wishlist Now!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1807210/Stray_Souls/

GearBlocks will be participating in the Steam Next Fest from October 9th to 16th!

An all new demo will be available during this week, with the tutorial scenario. You'll be able to learn more about building in the game, and also try out some new parts.

The B-99 APOCALYPSE is ready to tear through your foes! Check out this new R-craft along with other DLC sets and specials by visiting the R-Type franchise page on Steam.









Also, if you missed out on the previous patch update, you can learn more about new stages, ships, and items by checking out our Patch 2.0.1 update post.



Finally, take advantage of amazing discounts on all R-Type Final 2 bundles and DLC, including the new R-Type Final 2 Ultimate Edition, during our Publisher Sale! These deals end on October 16, so don’t miss out.



Thanks for reading!

Double-check those binoculars, and plan your escape route. In 48 hours, the world of Thief Simulator 2 opens up. Ready to dive in? 🌍🔍



Eyes on the prize! Make it official. Add to your wishlist and jump into the thrill.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1332720/Thief_Simulator_2/


Ps. Don't forget about our Community Challenge!

https://steamcommunity.com/games/1332720/announcements/detail/5561438382477621617?snr=2_9_100003_