Beta Update 0.7 [Beta over, full update went out 6/23/16]

[Signs of Life]

Edit: The beta test is over, the full update has gone out to everyone. If you are still on the beta branch of the game, Steam should have already downloaded the full version on that branch as well.

Hey folks, we've got a beta update for you to tinker around with if you want. It is a bit more beta than usual, so if/when you run into issues, please let us know. We've redacted some of the notes because we don't want to spoil all the new content in the patch notes. This is a good chunk of the content that will be in the full update, but there are some more bits that we're still working on that aren't in the beta update.

How to start using the beta

To switch to the beta build of Signs of Life, right click on the game in Steam, go to "properties" then go to the "BETAS" tab and select the beta from the dropdown box. You may need to verify your files in order to get Steam to download the correct version.

Things to keep in mind

• This is a beta update of a game that isn't finished, so there will be problems, but with your help we'll squash them all before the full update goes out to everyone
  
• You might want to back up your save folder in case something goes wrong. It shouldn't go wrong, but ya never know. The save folder is located at my documents/my games/signs of life
  
• May be some serious networking issues. We've tested things a bit and fixed the issues we know about, but the networking may not be completely stable yet. If you run into any multiplayer issues, definitely let us know.
  
• We added a decent amount of content that is placed underground, but there is not yet any way to actually find that stuff legitimately without just sorta digging around randomly, which is not something we are happy with. That will change before the full update hits for everyone, but for now it will probably be annoying to find that stuff. You can find one important part of the update near the bottom of the mining base.

Patch Notes

New Content (Some parts redacted to avoid spoilers =D)

• Added a gross eyeball creature to the areas near the spiky bosses.
  
• Added a craftable spike dart launcher
  
• Added [REDACTED] that allows you to [REDACTED] Tablets
  
  • Ice [REDACTED] - [REDACTED] for a few moments and [REDACTED]
    
  • [REDACTED] - Explodes, [REDACTED]
    
  • Calm [REDACTED] - [REDACTED]
    
  • [REDACTED] - [REDACTED]
    
  • [REDACTED] Bolts - [REDACTED] hard to control explosive [REDACTED]
    
  • [REDACTED] - Send the [REDACTED]
    
  • Energy [REDACTED] - [REDACTED] damages a target
    
  • [REDACTED] - Lights up [REDACTED]
• Added [REDACTED] Tablet - Used with the [REDACTED], and can be bound with [REDACTED]
  
• Added [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] - [REDACTED] used in various [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] is now added to the world generator
  
• Added [REDACTED] - Converts [REDACTED]
  
• Added [REDACTED] Device - [REDACTED] a location and then [REDACTED] that [REDACTED].
  
• Added [REDACTED] for [REDACTED]
  
• Added [REDACTED] Altar for acquiring [REDACTED]
  
• Added [REDACTED] to the HUD under the enery bar - Does not charge over time and must be replenished by [REDACTED]. Enabled once you find [REDACTED]
  
• Added [REDACTED] - A pedestal that is activated by [REDACTED], and [REDACTED] your [REDACTED] when right clicked once activated. [REDACTED] when you die.
  
• Added [REDACTED] Expansion - When broken, [REDACTED]
  
• Added Crystal Nug creature that drops a Crystal Nug egg that replenishes 2 [REDACTED] when eaten
  
• Added [REDACTED] creature
  
• Added [REDACTED] deposits
  
• Added many different [REDACTED] statues and decorations
  
• Added several [REDACTED] containers

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue with particle effects that was causing them to look more muted than intended. The majority of particle effects should now look better.
  
• Fixed many cases where items would get desynchronized between clients and servers (should result in less items that can't be picked up when on a multiplayer game)
  
• Fixed some issues that could have caused graphical corruption on a narrow range of computers
  
• Prevented the player from deleting key items
  
• Fixed rendering issue on the text input popups on larger font sizes
  
• Scrolling in the crafting menu no longer causes the scroll slots to scroll as well
  
• Many other small issues

General Gameplay Improvements

• Improved medium and large fonts
  
• Re-worked the Crafting menu significantly
  
  • Added larger buttons for categories
    
  • Reduced max crafting items to 4 (Some recipes that required 5 items have been changed slightly)
    
  • Combined with functions of the Projects menu
    
  • Increased the overall size to make the menu less cramped
    
  • Added ability to change materials in crafting, for example you can now choose between using a normal or rubber stick in many recipes. Some recipes also let you change the primary (first) material, which can change the crafted result, for example now there is just a "torch" recipe, and you can change the result from a normal sap torch to a biofuel torch by changing the primary material from sap to biofuel. We only adjusted a few recipes, so let us know if you have more ideas for places we could use this feature.
• Removed Projects menu since its functionality was included in the Crafting menu
  
• Added mineable Biofuel to world generator
  
• Added optional settings for the Dodge mechanic as well as a bindable dodge action - Can be found in the settings menu
  
  • Double Tap - How it worked previously, double tap forward to dodge roll forward, double tap back to backjump.
    
  • Shift + Double Tap - Double tap only works when holding shift
    
  • Binds Only - Only activates when you press the key bound to dodge, dodge rolls forward if you're moving forward, backjump if you're moving backwards or standing still. Bound to Z by default... but honestly that is a terrible bind and we're trying to find a better one, but its tricky to find something that we're not already using that can be easily pressed while doing other actions. Still working on this.
• Increased friction on the player when stopping to be less slippy

Balance Changes

• Tweaked combat balance a bit - We only made some small changes for now, but we're planning on doing a bit of an overhaul soon
  
  • Melee weapons do a bit more damage, and have a wider spread between tiers
    
  • Enemies have a bit more health
• Added additional health set bonuses to Bronze and Tin armor sets

Miscellaneous

• Added ability to tweak various balance settings for creatures and melee weapons through a text file located in your game install directory (The directory should be something like Steam/SteamApps/Common/Signs Of Life/Content/CSV) Note: I don't think the projectiles file works yet, so don't be surprised if tweaking that doesn't do anything.

[Dohi64]

love the new content, sounds [redacted] :)

[Signs of Life]

Originally posted by Dohi64:

love the new content, sounds [redacted] :)

=D

[ernestdev]

Game crash when trying to load saved game or when creating new character :)
Trying now uninstalling et reinstalling....love beta ;-)

[Signs of Life]

Originally posted by ernestdev:

Game crash when trying to load saved game or when creating new character :)
Trying now uninstalling et reinstalling....love beta ;-)

Huh, could you send your old saved game to [e-mail]? (it should be in my documents/my games/signs of life/saves/planets) I tried generating a new world myself and it was fine, hmm. Did it bring up a crash reporter?

[Elikar]

when i try to start the game the screen goes black for 3-5 sec and then the game turn itself off

[Signs of Life]

Originally posted by Elikar01:

when i try to start the game the screen goes black for 3-5 sec and then the game turn itself off

Hmm alright, what version of Windows are you using? Does it pop up a crash reporter when you get the crash? Could you go to my documents/my games/signs of life/logs and email the Main.log file (if it is there) to [e-mail]

[Signs of Life]

I have a guess about the crash issue, and I put out a hotfix for a possible fix, version 0.7.0.1 (you may need to verify files to get steam to download it).

[Elikar]

i use windows 7 it did not give me any crash report but the game starts fine when im not starting it from steam

[Signs of Life]

Originally posted by Elikar01:

i use windows 7 it did not give me any crash report but the game starts fine when im not starting it from steam

Ok thanks. Do you still get crashes when launched from Steam with the new version (0.7.0.1)? I've noticed that sometimes when I launch the game through Steam it is fine, but then other times it crashes, so I think I'm seeing the issue on Windows 10, just not as consistently as others.

[Signs of Life]

I put out another version, 0.7.0.2 that seems to have stopped the crashes for me on Win10, I'd love to know if anyone who was getting crashes on launch is still getting those crashes. (Again, you may need to verify files to force Steam to update).

[Foxtrot39]

Hm that beta is quite [REDACTED], gonna be [REDACTED] to see what's been [REDACTED]

Oh and I think I found the bag of [REDACTED]

[Signs of Life]

Originally posted by Foxtrot39:

Hm that beta is quite [REDACTED], gonna be [REDACTED] to see what's been [REDACTED]

XD I think what I might do is leave the patch notes redacted for a week or two after the full update goes out so that folks can explore and find stuff on their own without the temptation to read the spoilers in the patch notes.

[Elikar]

Originally posted by Signs of Life:

I put out another version, 0.7.0.2 that seems to have stopped the crashes for me on Win10, I'd love to know if anyone who was getting crashes on launch is still getting those crashes. (Again, you may need to verify files to force Steam to update).

it works for me now thanks :P and i love this game

[Signs of Life]

Originally posted by Elikar01:

it works for me now thanks :P and i love this game

Great, glad you're enjoying the game =)

[Rider of Dark]

Urgh. I wanna help with the testing but I'm not sure if I wanna find out about the surprises "early".