Eternal-Silence -- Beta2 Release Info

[Iced_Eagle]

This news update is to announce that we have a final release schedule planned for Beta 2.0. We have (finally) hammered out a final feature set and we are working towards a final release candidate for this weekend. We are aiming to release the following weekend (January 27th) barring any unforseen showstopper bugs. We hope to have a nice smooth release to kick-off this beta, and we will be providing weekly updates of the mod leading up to the IGF on March 3rd to 6th. Here is what you can expect to see in this new beta:

- Major network optimizations to both infantry and space
- Major hitbox optimizations to infantry to provide more accuracy
- Major bug fixes since beta 1.1
- All new physics optimizations for better performance in the hangar
- Addition of the SMG Turret to replace the Railgun Turret
- Addition of the Requisition System (see blog for details)
- New sounds and music
- Reworked Balancing for ALL infantry weapons
- The addition of two new ship classes, the Heavy Fighter and the Gunship (note the gunship will not have player controlled turrets in 2.0, HP and maneuverability will be increased to compensate)
- New map: es_asteroid: Space scenario where players battle for space supremacy over 5 asteroid bases
- Updated map: es_aethra: Now featuring larger hangars and a true aethra model to replace the asteroid base. Destroyer layout was restarted from the ground up for better performance and scalability.
- New map: ngm_cruiser: Infantry only scenario in an NGM Cruiser ship.

We hope Beta 2.0 will be as bugfree as possible, however some bugs will inevitably make it into the final build. Given the short time between now and the IGF, we figured a public test would be much more successful at finding the major bugs and balance issues rather than in-house testing. This is still very much a beta, though the new changes will be quite appreciated I am sure.

Since the blog has been getting all the media lately, I figured I would post a few map shots from the interior of one of the asteroid bases on es_asteroid. This map has been in development since beta 1.1 and OmegaSlayer has been doing an excellent job with it.




That's all for now. We will keep you posted on this upcoming release, and provide a confirmed date when the final release candidate enters the last leg of testing.

Dan

 

[venturon]

Sounds like I might give it another shot. I've been waiting for you dudes to tinker with the infantry combat.

Small crit: I like most of the texture work there in the screens but that forcefield looks pretty bad. I think it would look better as a transparent sheet of colour. Something nice and simple. It also needs a glow or something where it touches the steel (so around the edges).

 

[Iced_Eagle]

I'm actually like 75% sure that the forcefield was created by Valve and we're just using it. So if you think the texture is bad, send an email to Valve's artists

 

[kineaesth]

I think he's saying you should have made a new one. Great looking mod, thought. Well done.

 

[Steel.Inferno]

Isn't that a combine forcefield? they only look good in motion, hence the hideous screenshot.

I liked the mod, just sorta stopped playing while waiting for next release.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

I believe it is a Combine Forcefield.

Anyways, we just had the build get feature complete and we are just working on crash testing and other technical things for the next week with tests everyday.

Almost there!