The Towers Mode will be added on October 31st bringing the game up to version 8.0!
This update will come with 7 tower runs. Six of the towers will consist of battles against monsters of a single family. The more monsters you have unlocked, the higher you will be able to climb. For the most part, you will be able to choose the order you fight them, but just be sure not to lock yourself out of the lower level monsters by outleveling them!
The main twist to The Towers is the new Burden Gifts that will remain mostly exclusive to this mode. Most of them are purely negative effects, but they only last a set amount of battles just like Quick Gifts do. Monsters here will offer gifts paired with a burden of similar rank. So getting a 3 star Power Gift will most likely come with a rank 3 Burden! What's more is Power Gifts will also be temporary in this mode! You will also be able to set up a loadout of Quick Gifts for each character to start with. You can fill each character's quick slots with any Quick Gifts you have radiated. This adds another reason to find all those upgrade gifts!
The 7th tower will follow most of these rules except that it will be random monsters of all families. This will be about the length of an Altered Story run and is designed to be a story-like run with the new burdens involved. This is also the only tower where you can encounter any of the current final bosses. The Veyeral tower will not feature them right now, but this may change later.
The update will add over 100 burdens and some other small surprises that I'll let you discover! However the towers and version 8 will still not be quite done yet. There are a lot of new people here that might not be familiar with my normal release schedule, so I will explain it. You might notice the current version is 7.27 or in other words, the 27th main update to version 7! I normally update this game very frequently. Every two or three weeks, I will be dropping another small update to the game until everything I have planned for v8 is done! I pray that I won't have to go all the way up to 27 again this time, but who knows at this point. I'll do an updated roadmap when v8 actually drops.
In previous years I was able to do a personal challenge that I like to call Devtober where I updated the game every single day in October with at least 1 new gift, dreamscape, or even a new monster. I was able to do this challenge 3 times in 2018, 2019, and 2021! Unfortunately, I'm not able to do it anymore at this point in development. Everything I have left to do is kinda too big for that. I'm glad I'll still be able to drop something big on Halloween though!
Oh, one more thing. New Music! The v8.0 update will add 12 new tracks, or maybe more who knows?! Each normal monster family will get 2 new alternate tracks that play under certain conditions. I already revealed a few of them on youtube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24mRzATpxbU
As always, thank you for loving those monsters! ːradiantheartː ːradiantheartː ːradiantheartː
Here is the result announcement of the Abnormal Player Enforcement.
Response summary
- Game bans based on security program detection cases such as changing game data or using unauthorized Programs
- Game bans based on Match log analysis & abnormal log detection cases
- Game bans based on the match monitoring & report history investigation of Abnormal play behaviors
VX is continuing to respond with various analytics and logic enhancements. VX will continue to do the best to provide a pleasant and fair gaming environment.
Please see below for the detailed enforcement results. Thank you.
・Another Style Polyhymniā... Parisa's Another Style is available
・Fateful Encounter Another Style Polyhymniā (Paid, 3 times max) is available
・Fateful Encounter Swelling Harmony Edition (Paid, 3 times max) is available *In the 10th Encounter, you will receive a 5★ character. Each of the 6 featured characters has an appearance rate of 10%.
Featured Characters
Parisa Another Style (Polyhymniā)
Dream Weaver Dunarith
Felmina Extra Style (Erinys)
Elseal
Crimson Reaper Ilulu
Pizzica Another Style (Erato)
・The "Ally Encounters" under Regular Encounters were updated.
Manifestations
Added new weapons for the character classes below in Manifestation: Weapon Discovery. ・Lovely (Lovely Chef)
Added character quests to the Replay Story feature
Felmina Extra Style (Erinys)
Melody Another Style (Medea)
Dream Weaver Dunarith
*Uncleared character quests will not be displayed. *We are planning to add more stories to the Replay Story feature in the future.
New Catch-up Campaigns
▼Duration October 6, 2023 3:00 (UTC) - Start of simultaneous release with the Japan Version *The end date and time for the campaign will be announced together with the start date for the update that begins simultaneous release.
・Catch-up Campaign Supply Drop 3 *After logging in during the campaign period, please collect items within 90 days. ・Enemy Encounter+ Badge x3(*Increases enemy encounter rate) ・Obtained EXP+ Badge x3(*Individual EXP +30%) ・Grasta Piece ・Special Frag. x600 ・Special Crystal x100
・EXP Boost Campaign Battles in the Another Dungeon: Sealed Realm's Transitory Time Space give 10 times as much experience! *This applies to Hard and Very Hard difficulties. ・The app must be updated to version 3.2.400. ・Part 26 of the Main Story must be cleared.
The following will be updated
The Select Character filter will now save filter options when returning to the screen from Character Details. Added an icon to visually identify enemies with Aura effects in battle.
Identified Issues
・There are cases where the time duration for the 2,200 and 4,500 Chronos Stones' sales are displayed incorrectly. Correct: –10/16(UTC) x1 *The issue can be fixed by updating to version 3.2.400. ・When using certain skills with an additional effect while Lunatic is active, if Lunatic is dispelled during the turn, the additional effects may still activate.
As people age, they tend to hold onto more secrets since they have more at stake. Alonso, the eccentric old man, was certainly no different.
He tried to hide his real feelings with ridiculous outfits and hilarious jokes, but there was something he couldn't hide. As much as he tried, Alonso couldn't stop feeling guilty for his turbulent past and the sins he committed back then.
He even changed his name and found a new, honest job but even this couldn't stop his karma from coming back to haunt him.
So he made the decision to vanish in order to protect the one and only source of happiness in his life.
Cepheus Protocol Playtest - CERC Emergency Broadcast System
How to opt into Experimental
To opt into experimental install "Cepheus Protocol Experimental" in your steam library. It is no longer a beta opt in but an entirely new game granted when you purchase the base game.
Patch Notes
(Click Show details for a full breakdown of the changes) [expand type=details]
Hooked up the new 'ability' icons for the Recruit popup for Scientists and Radio Operators
Cleared out some old images from legacy UI's
Updated spacing for 'ability icons' on recruit popup if only one ability is going to be shown
Set up Infinite Ammo and Infinite Fuel custom game settings. With hovertip support for save slots, proper setup for difficulty adjuster, etc.
Set up the Evac Helicopter Capacity custom game setting. Allows up to double capacity, 256 (not very helpful, though, since the timer countdown still is too short for that many people to board unless you've been 'storing folks up')
Deleted foliage on Storage Depot map
Updated the Horde Widget to be usable in Horde Mode again
Early Minimap Zoom+Panning update Zoom in/out buttons re-added, with a 'reset' button underneath them Panning added, via holding middle mouse while on the minimap
Early version of Music Scrubbing added to the Music Manager widget. Doesn't work while music is paused, and doesn't have the 'time played/time remaining', displays yet, but otherwise functional
Updated player minimap POI to just use the 'view cone' instead of the green arrow *and* view cone
Set up Minimap's zoom in/out buttons to work if held
Additionally, updated Zoom In/Out math to update panning to match 'relative' panning, so the zoom won't be relative to center of map, but relative towards current panning (makes things feel a lot smoother when zooming in and out, reduces need to manually adjust panning after zoom changes)
Updated 'minimap POI update rate' relative to map zoom (up to double the update rate)
Zone Widget will appear when highlighting a zone on the minimap
If you're viewing the minimap in Large Mode, the zone widget will follow your mouse
If you're viewing in regular mode, the widget will just appear to the right of the minimap
Added time indicators to the Music Player's playback scrubber
Fixed the Music Player's playback scrubber not allowing you to scrub correctly if you do so while the music's paused
Blocked panning on the Minimap when not zoomed in
Added hovertips to the zoom buttons, too
Added minor render translation to the 'tooltip' Zone Widget on the Minimap Large Mode 'zone hover' info: this, for some reason, resolves the 'flickering'
Added Minimap POI categories via element 'MinimapPOICategory' in the MetadataComponent
Added hovertips for other minimap buttons
Used Juniardi's new Minimap button images to update the style of manipulation buttons on the Minimap
Updated the Infection Zone Widget's text to more reliably display without being 'cut off' for longer zone names, when displayed via the Minimap at the bottom left
Avenger Turret added
Re-hooked up the ability to construct it from the defenses tab
Fixed part of the Avenger 'BP_Stinger_BoosterMotor' to prevent an 'invalid access' after a short delay in case the rocket explodes early (due to nearby foe)
Updated turret UI to support a 'one clip' turret
Updated Avenger turret to have an 8-size 'magazine', with 250-cost-per-rocket for reloading
Updated turret reload logic to support a one-clip turret (like the Avenger)
Got rid of the old Refill Ammo button on Field Turrets, and replaced with the Aug 2023 Reload button image
Quick update to the TurretAmmoWidget to mitigate a 'text centering issue' for the Avenger Turret's ammo display
Progress commit before trying to fix Deploy Mode hovertip description text to be localizable FText instead of FString
Atlas Guard Tower
Fixed the old portrait for Tower Guards: uses the newer Assault portrait now
Construction updated to better prioritize the order in which the items were placed:Order of construction is highly prioritized, but not set in stone. Units will still have some freedom to decide where to go based on the distance to travel between construction points, and may 'finish up a cluster of buildings in an area' before going to a farther construct. Loading a game may not keep the construction order 100% the same as it was before, as a heads-up
'Direction Arrow' added to Builder
Testing to try to nail down an issue where exiting to Pandemic Mode after playing Horde, while in the same game session, breaks Building shop widgets: not resolved yet
Fixed a Birds Ragdoll issue that was nuking performance for when birds were active
Fix to weapon-camo application for vehicles, if you change a vehicle's weapon at the weapon market
Fixed up the Shops button erroneously displaying a 40% off on the Shredder Rounds purchase (since it was improperly reducing the displayed cost by 40% for DNA purchases, when that doctrine skill doesn't work on DNA purchases)
Fixed an animation issue where undeploying the Atlas Guard Tower makes it get stuck with the tower up
Some cleanup on Atlas Guard Tower - modularization, and trying to reduce processing used on tower guards (they still see things through the HEMTT when they shouldn't, though)
Finalized HEMTT guard tower setup - will now level out on uneven ground.
Swapped HEMTT guard tower material to new camo-based setup.
Snap-to logic fixed up for placing structures
Materials and 'phase through building' logic issue fixed for regular sandbag construction
Fixed up some regular snappoint interaction
Resolved a 'tower width offset' issue for wall pieces
Fixed up a 'build on top of structure/wall' issue for sandbag construction
Fixed wall-construction traces not starting 'soon enough', allowing you to build small wall segments on top of other walls
Fixed up 'able to build on top of other structures' issue
Added a 'blue preview material' fix if you try to start building a building in an invalid location but don't move your mouse
Centralized some material setting, and resolved an issue with faction wall material setup
Speculative fix to resolve 'edge case' where a wall corner might 'move up' on top of another wall or structure piece
Fixed an issue that allowed you to build 'on' construction holograms
Please note the following going forward (Restart your game/steam to get the update if needed [/expand]
We now have a new system for our community to follow along on development. This website will break down all the major systems that are coming each patch. It will not include hotfixes/bug fixes. Sections inside TBD can be included randomly if we are ahead of schedule https://www.notion.so/cepheusprotocol/Cepheus-Protocol-31f1b25ce00148d6844825f4a0c0bc08 [/expand]
Ways to Support Development
[expand type=details] Everything goes towards expanding the team and building a better game!
Experience the outbreak of the Pangu Virus from multiple perspectives across as the brave heroes of the Center for Epidemic Research and Control battle tirelessly to stop the spread of a cataclysmic alien virus that has mutated innocent people into monstrous creatures of unimaginable power https://store.steampowered.com/app/1707120/Cepheus_Protocol_Anthology_Season_1/
First 40 Minutes of Cepheus Protocol Anthology Season 1
We are pleased to announce that the East Asia Region Global Test has begun on Friday, October 6th at 12:00. The testing period will be 72 hours every weekend for two weeks.
Taiwan, South Korea, Macau, Japan, Mongolia, Hong Kong *Other countries can download the game but cannot access the game.
[Content Test Hours]
PVP mode (Kill 'Em All, Team Deathmatch) : 12:00 ~24:00 PVE Mode (Challenge, Training Mode) : No restrictions during the test period. *Please note that PVP time is limited to ensure smooth match play.
For those who have not yet applied for the playtest, please refer to the 'How to Join the Test' below.
[How to Join the Test]
Apply to the BLACK STIGMA store on Steam via the link below, click on the Playtest 'Request Access' button under the 'Subscribe' button, and upon completion of your application you will be You will be granted test access to download the game and proceed with the test.
Updates: 1. Adjusted the volume levels for weapon attachment and footsteps. 2. Fixed an issue where, during 4-player sessions, specific players wouldn't transition to certain stages. 3. Added multiple online regions: JP, EU, US, and USW. With this update, you will be automatically connected to the region with the lowest ping. Online battles are possible between players within the same region.
Thank you for participating in the test in the ASIA (East Asia) region, the first kickoff of the Global Testing Tour.
This test is to verify the game stability and fun of the game in each global region in order to create a high-quality Black Stigma.
If you are enjoying the game and the survey is printed, please take a moment to respond. Those who respond to the survey will be entered into a drawing to receive a $10 Steam gift card.
[Survey Rewards]
- Those who participate in both surveys will be drawn and given a $10 Steam gift card. - There are 10 winners in each region.
[How to participate]
- The survey will be conducted twice in total. - Play MATCH (Team Death Match, Kill Them All) mode 5 times, and a survey will be printed after playing 10 times. - If you leave your email address to be notified if you win the survey, your application for the final event will be completed.
[ caution ]
- You must complete both surveys to be eligible to apply. - Please enter your email address accurately in the second survey. - Winners will be notified by email. Therefore, you must provide your Steam ID information to receive a Steam gift card. If there is no response within 30 days, you will be excluded from winning.
[color=yellow]* Winners will be announced on Wednesday, October 18th.[/color]
An event to make the Global Testing Tour even more fun!
During the Global Testing Tour, play 'Kill Them All' and 'Challenge', Aim for ranking Top 20!
Depending on the ranking you achieve, we'll give you a Steam Wallet gift card worth up to $50!
[ ‘Black Stigma – Aim for the TOP’ event information ]
[Event date]
Please check the schedule below for EA region.
[How to participate in the event]
1. Please participate in the Global Testing Tour.
2. Access the BLACK STIGMA game and enjoy the following two modes. A. ‘Kill ‘Em All’ B. ‘Challenge’
3. Achieve a ranking of at least 20th place in any of each mode.
4. You can check the intermediate ranking in the following way. A. Access the game B. Select RECORD menu
> Left tab: Kill 'Em All Rankings
> Right tab: Challenge Rankings
[Event Goods]
For users ranked top 1 to 20 in Kill Them All or Challenge in each region. We provide Steam Wallet gift cards. (The ranking criteria is calculated at the end of service in each region.)
Regardless of region, rewards for the top 20 ‘Kill 'Em All’ ranking and ‘Challenge’ ranking are One Steam account can only receive reward of ‘Kill 'Em All’ and 'Challenge' up to 1 time each.
[ Precautions ]
1. We will notify you of the confirmation of eligibility within 2 days after the end of the region. If your Steam profile name changes later, it may be incorrectly sent to other users. Please do not change your Steam profile name until you receive the product.
2. Rewards for the Top 20 rankings can only be received up to once each for ‘Kill Them All’ and ‘Challenge’. If an account enters the top 20 rankings for the same topic in another region even though it has already received ranking rewards, the account will be recalculated with the excluded ranking.
3. If you achieved the ranking through illegal methods such as illegal programs or bug abuse, You may be disqualified from ranking.
Enjoy the game during the testing period, We hope you achieve a high ranking and win prizes.