Tag: release

Beta 2.1, donations and itch.io store

EsKa

Hi,

This is a content packed post 🙂

First, UG is now popular enough that I get sufficient information to fix the most glaring issues right away, and given that the download size is only 100mb or so, posting more frequent updates isn’t really an issue here. So, I fixed a few bugs found in the initial Beta 2, including various menu related bugs, an issue with cargo missions, a few possible crashes, and more importantly it should fix performance and graphical bugs a small percentage of users were experiencing. Incidentally this version should be the first to fully support bloom shaders and other hardware accelerated effects (at least on most computers that are able to run those). An option in the video settings has been added to switch between the full hardware acceleration and the old display mode just in case, it require the game to be restarted if you’re not changing this option from the launcher. As usual it’s available on the download page.

People who donated (for any version) will receive a download link shortly by email.

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Unending Galaxy [Beta 2] Released !

EsKa

Snap1373Unending Galaxy [Beta 2] is available for download. This is a combat focused release with an improved pirate faction, multiple new combat missions, ranks to climb, a new flight model and new ships and weaponry. The starting scenarios and maps have been reworked too.

The full changelog is available on our forums, but here are the main points:

  • New pirate guild and missions
  • Bounty hunting board at shipyards
  • Improved and stronger police patrols
  • Better pilot-to-pilot communications (traits, pay fine to cops)
  • Movement system using acceleration, deceleration and rotation
  • Nicer graphics, new nebulae and clouds
  • New ships, weapons, wares, stations and a new faction
  • Active pause, improved menus.

(to the people on forum who tried the test build on the forum, this one has been slightly updated, with a few UI bug fixes and a much faster loading speed)

It is important to note that due to the nature of the simulation, pirate base don’t start with “preloaded” missions for the player to take. It can takes a few minutes for the first missions to appear. This is true for most “mission generators”. There’s also a lot of cargo ships (even loads in the default ‘trader’ scenario), going everywhere, it balances itself out relatively quickly.

Also, the (thankfully, only) loading screen is “a bit” long. It will likely be shorter in the final release. And, yes, you still need Windows’ themes service enabled for the game to use DirectX.

Download the Game – Documentation  – Full Changelog
The wiki doc will, as usual, be updated soon.

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Unending Galaxy [Beta 1] Released !

EsKa

Snap1227Finally, the official Beta 1 release of Unending Galaxy is available for download. This is by far our biggest release to date, massively improving the game. The full changelog is available on our forums, but here are the main points:

  • Sound effects and music themes added
  • Massively improved user interface
  • New ships, weapons, docks and secrets
  • New activities like hunting and scavenging
  • Ability to transition from pilot to ruler
  • Improved graphics, AI and gameplay
  • Much better performances even on the largest map

This article, instead of focusing on what has changed, will explain what will happen now that this first beta is out. Also, note that the documentation center has yet to be updated to reflect the changes in 0.8.0. The general idea stay the same and the game has optional help bubbles for the main UI, so If you’ve played the game before, it’s unlikely you’ll get lost.

Download the Game – Documentation  – Full Changelog

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Unending Galaxy 0.7.4 Released !

EsKa

Snap1117This release mainly focuses on the Ease of Use. While not as massive as the previous release, it still has quite a few improvements worth checking. It is also a more “professional” release with most of the small bugs and annoyances fixed. The only reported issue I wasn’t able to fix in time is that the game will be extremely sluggish if you have, for a reason or another, disabled Windows’ “Themes” service. As usual, the article will explain the improvements into more details but here are the main points:

  • Save menu with several slots + quick save/load keyboard shortcuts
  • Customize your own faction with tech groups, traits and laws
  • A whole new large and symmetrical map
  • Many improvements regarding the user interface
  • Rebalanced all existing weapons and shields, added new ones too.
  • Improved graphical effects (new bullets, better rotations, denser nebulas …)
  • Proper game installer and uninstaller.

Download the Alpha – Updated Documentation  – Full Changelog

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Unending Galaxy 0.7.0 Released !

EsKa

Snap747If you follow the website, you already know it is a very large update that mainly focus on the diplomatic and warfare parts of things. However there’s a large chunk of improvements that have been made in other areas as well. As usual, the full article will go into the details, but here are the most important bits:

  • Diplomacy between factions with alliances, cease fires, and more
  • Heavily improved how factions handle their military fleets
  • Military production depending on the economy
  • Proper solar systems with planetary colonies bringing bonuses
  • Rebalanced the ships and weapons and added new ones
  • A new faction (Neo-SPQR) and a new huge map (Galaxia).
  • Faster navigation thanks to the new short range jumpdrives
  • Much better performances and stability

Download the Alpha – Updated Documentation  – Full Changelog

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Unending Galaxy 0.6.3 Released !

EsKa

Snap724Sorry for those multiple updates in such a short time, but a major bug that was running wild for quite a while needed to be fixed asap. If you had no issues with the previous versions, you may as well wait for the September release as there’s no major gameplay changes here. However if you experienced extremely poor performances, flickering, or the game flat out refusing to go past the loading screen until now, this new version should fix these issues completely. Thanks goes to Frederikam for helping out in finding what was causing that.

While at it, I fixed a few additional bugs and memory leaks. I also improved the rendering of text, added some needed information in some menus, this kind of stuff. That said and due to the fact that I am using a newer version of the library that was causing the crashes on some systems, there may be side effects I am not aware of yet. If you find anything weird, please tell me through the forum.

And, there won’t be a devlog this week, as most of my time has been spent clearing this particular issue.

Download the Alpha – Updated Documentation – Full Changelog

Unending Galaxy 0.6.2 Released !

EsKa

Snap722Due to a critical bug reported in the last version, I just published the version 0.6.2. Of course, it isn’t a huge step forward in term of gameplay. It however includes a bug report module. If the game crashes, you’ll be asked if you want to save the report. Please do so, and use our forums to post about it.

That said here are the new features (some are incomplete)

  • New profile selection: You can start the game as a pirate, a trader, a young empire…
  • Ability to buy and sell weapons and shields at military bases and shipyards
  • Made bullet speed and range proportional to ship’s movement
  • Added proper starting and game loading screens
  • Attack fleets should reinforce as needed
  • Colors of factions are hardcoded (potential work around reported crash)

WARNING :If you have downloaded this release before this message was added, please re-download, it was incomplete (bug report module was not included). My apologies for the inconvenience. 

Download the Alpha – Updated Documentation