Dec 14, 2023

Paradise Inc - spellsmithtsw

Good morning demonic denizens!

Now that our coder Luciana is back from vacation, we've fixed a few things that came up since launch.

By request, we've added a Font Size setting. Now you can scale text up and down to make all that reading a little easier.
Minor refinements to the 'light' theme.
A few bug-fixes to the end game that would occasionally cause problems in rare cases.
Fixed an issue where Jolie's hucow / cowgirl transformation would trigger the in-game achievement, but not the related Steam achievement.

If you find anything else, please let us know on our Discord or via our BlueSky account!

We've posted a small update as well over on our Patreon regarding our holiday and post-holiday plans. For those who want the very short version: our Patreon is paused, we won't be thinking about future projects until after the New Year, and Cambion is working on a walkthrough that several of you have requested!

Happy holidays, and see you next year!

- Luciana and Cambion

Dec 14, 2023

While the Iron's Hot - Steam Hotfix #1

While the Iron's Hot - Plarnaud

Hello, fellow blacksmith!

First, I'd like to thank everyone who has played our blacksmith adventure. It's been a dream come true to see so many of you enjoy our game, and it's invigorated us to continue to polish the experience. You've all been amazing as a community, thank you for that!

Speaking of polishing the experience, the first hotfix patch has just been deployed live on steam for PC and SteamDeck. You'll find below a list of all the changes included in it. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has shared bug reports with us since launch. The vast majority of these fixes are for issues you've brought to our attention, and we hope you'll continue to share your experiences, reports, and thoughts on the game with us in the new year. We'll continue to keep an eye on your feedback and polish the experience based on them!

Patch Notes - Hotfix #1

Crafting & Items

Corrected the stacking mechanic of the Assembly station to better handle large stacks going over the max quantity.
Corrected the anvil minigame behavior to properly remove blocks of metal that are not connected to the outlined target shape
Added the possibility to craft the mechanical heart and reduced its price
Improved the visuals of the Figurehead items

Exploration & Environment
Added wood logs and iron ores to a chest of the Sorrow Valley to help people stuck in the maze without an axe
Added the ability to switch directions while climbing a ladder
Corrected an issue where leaping into a cutscene would sometimes cause the player to slide in the direction of the jump throughout the cutscene
Corrected the walls of the Lighthouse to avoid the player and the tiny box clipping through them
Corrected an issue where the lighthouse's steam effect would be reactivated but remain invisible when removing the valve wheel to complete the second puzzle
Corrected an issue where giving the Sneaky Note to Sneaky Jeff would later cause the big bat not to attack the player.
Corrected the boxes clipping through certain raised ground and not being reset when exiting and re-entering the scene
Corrected an issue where the player could clip through the hole in the bottom floor of the creepy mansion.
Added a way for the cactuses of the Sorrow Valley's Maze to regrow.
Corrected an issue where waking up in the player village would cause the camp to not be reset
Corrected an issue where camping after the swamp and passing out would return you to the home village without resetting your camp
Corrected an issue where the camp would disappear when setting it up right in front of the elevator to the snowy area (marked by an arrow)
Corrected an issue where the Broken Cryptex under the rock pile would not re-appear if left on the ground after destroying the rocks covering it and re-entering the area.

Upgrades & Quests
Modified the condition to unlock the third level of the mage tower to not create potential blockers with the potions.
Corrected an issue that prevented Krush (the shipwright missing an arm) from offering his quest.
Corrected an issue where leaving the wrong item in the Ruined Tower altar would cause the altar to not open when re-entering a scene
Corrected an issue where repairing the Alembic too early would block the player from progressing the quest

UI, Settings & Localization
Corrected an issue where button prompts wouldn't be properly updated when remapping controls with certain controllers
Corrected the characters' names displayed in English in the codex and dialogues when playing in Japanese.

Dec 14, 2023

Dev Log 5: Genetic Planting, Vehicle Development, Anti-Cheat System, and More

The Front - Friendlymedic

In this dev log, we will provide updates on the latest developments in our ongoing content development, including progress on vehicle development, genetic planting gameplay, integration of a new anti-cheat system, Christmas events, new skins, and issues to be addressed in the next version.

Please note that the information and concept art mentioned in the dev log about genetic planting gameplay, vehicle customization, etc., are preliminary previews and may subject to change during the development process.

Genetic Planting Expansion Gameplay

We are expanding the planting gameplay by introducing five characteristics to seeds (ultra-low, low, normal, high, ultra-high), in addition to the existing six genetic influencing factors (moisture, light, temperature, fertilization, growth, and yield). After experimentation, players can cultivate seeds with better adaptability and higher yields.

Seeds collected in the wild initially have no characteristics, but they will randomly receive six genetic points after planting. These points are determined by characteristics and genetic combinations, such as low moisture, ultra-low light, high light, high fertilization, low growth speed, and normal yield. The differences in these genetic points often determine the quality of the seeds, with lower-quality seeds possibly having higher requirements for moisture or light but resulting in low yields upon maturity. Not every seed will have all six genetic points simultaneously.

To cultivate seeds, players must meet the basic conditions, which involve planting four mature seeds of the same type in its four adjacent directions. The genetic points will undergo characteristic changes during the "breeding period," indicating the completion of the cultivation process.

The genetic planting gameplay will be introduced soon, and we welcome your feedback and suggestions for gradual improvement based on your experiences.

Vehicle Development and Customization

In the previous dev log, we have outlined our plans for expanding vehicles. The first step, "Vehicle Development," is nearing completion, and the team will internally test the system functionality and validate numerical values in the coming weeks.

The second step will truly implement "Vehicle Customization," which will be a major focus of our work in the coming months. Rest assured, this will not disrupt the current update schedule, and we will continuously address feedback from various communities to improve the gaming experience.

Regarding vehicle customization, we'd like to mention the concept of a "multi-functional assembled vehicle." By connecting two or more vehicle bodies and equipping them with powerful engines and various components, players can create a versatile armed vehicle capable of resource collection, close combat, high defense, and heavy firepower output. The practical design may earn its popularity, but experimenting with unconventional ideas based on settings can also bring unique enjoyment.

New Anti-Cheat System

The integration of the new anti-cheat system is in progress. After integration, we will need some time for testing to ensure a smooth application without issues. If all goes well, the update with the new anti-cheat system is expected to be released by the end of December.

Christmas Activities

Next week, we will kick off the Christmas-themed events. Players can receive surprises from Santa Claus, decorate Christmas trees with various ornaments and more!

New Skins

Similarly, after the version update next week, 15 sets of new weapon skins will be added to the decoration supply box. Players can craft and use these skins at the weapon crafting station, and they are also available for sale on the Steam market.

The following issues will also be addressed in the next patch:

Woodpecker anti-aircraft missile launchers unable to lock onto Imperial armed helicopters NPCs and "Infiltrator" Missile Launcher unable to lock onto Imperial tank NPCs. Their perception and attack range will also be reduced.
Placing or destroying other players' bulletin boards grants experience points.
The host's character disappears when entering the game for the second time in Solo/host games.
Tungsten core armor-piercing rounds having too low damage against buildings.
Some scene models display abnormalities in DX12 mode.
Abnormal interface at 5120*1440 resolution in full-screen mode.
Adjustment of the monster siege NPC spawn mechanism to reduce instances of monsters being stuck underground. Also, fixing the issue where configured pathfinding navigation does not take effect, reducing instances of monsters getting stuck on terrain or buildings.
For more issue fixes and optimization improvements, please stay tuned for the patch notes of version 1.0.19.

Dec 14, 2023

DreamHack Atlanta with Demo 2.7

Stellar Watch - White Leaf

We are thrilled to be back in Atlanta since MomoCon 2023. Stellar Watch has undergone many changes, and we're eager to hear your thoughts!

What's Changed?

[h4]Balance[/h4]

Enemies now drop more dark matter
Reworked Starship rotation speeds and initial stats for better gameplay dynamics

[h4]UI[/h4]

Dark Matter drops are now visibly indicated
Drones slightly recoil when hit by enemies for added realism
World map now displays tech names alongside their icons for better navigation

[h4]Gameplay[/h4]

Enhanced visual cues for enemy parts that are invincible
The first few levels are faster-paced, offering a more engaging start (Note: The new version might have compatibility issues with old saved data)

[h4]Aesthetic[/h4]

Reduced brightness of non-essential objects, sharpening your focus on the important elements of gameplay

[h4]Performance[/h4]

Enjoy faster loading times transitioning from the world map to star selection

DreamHack Atlanta Special

The newest patch will be showcased at DreamHack Indie Select (Booth #33) and will also be available online on 12/15. As a special treat, don't miss the chance to collect exclusive drone pins at our booth. Your feedback is invaluable to us!

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