Open Beta

[massgamesdev]

Hello Survivors and Engineers!

The Heat Death: Survival Train Open Beta is Now Live!

Experience the newest features before they go live to the public. Here's how you can join the Open Beta:

How to Join the Open Beta:

1. Navigate to your Steam library.
   
2. Right-click on "Heat Death: Survival Train Demo".
   
3. Select "Properties", then head over to "Betas".
   
4. Choose "open_beta" from the drop-down menu.
   
5. Let Steam to update your game.

Changelog Highlights:

Version 0.1.12.e:

• Prologue Redesign: We've updated quests and adjusted resource balance for a redesigned Prologue.
  
• New Build Menu: Press the "Q" button to access a wheel/grid menu for building, scrapping, and more.
  
• Moving Module: Use the "Move" option in the build menu to relocate modules without scrapping them. Please note that scrapping modules will now only return some of the resources used to build them.
  
• Module Color Change: Customize your train further by changing the color of the structural elements!
  
• Stickers: Personalize your train with stickers! You’ll need a new resource called “Cartridge” to do this.
  
• Scout Drones: We've added two scout drones to the game! You'll need to either travel during the storm to avoid them or destroy them using the Icicle.
  
• Module Repair: Scout drones can damage your train. Any critically damaged modules won't function until you repair them.
  
• New Structural Modules: Enhance your train's customization with the addition of fences, half-walls, half-floors, and half-ceiling tiles!
  
• New Weapons System: Direct control of weapons is no longer possible. Instead, you’ll need to build a new “Weapon Controller” module to operate them remotely. Don’t forget to load them with ammo before attempting to fire!
  
• Motion Sickness: A new setting has been added under the "Other" tab to disable camera shake, which may help reduce motion sickness for some players.
  
• Performance Optimization: We've reworked part of the building system for improved performance when building a train with numerous modules.
  
• Various bug fixes, optimizations, and tweaks.

Version 0.1.12.j:

• VC++ Runtime Error Resolved: Now, if the game does not detect the VC++ Runtime on your system, it will automatically install it before launching. For Steam Deck users (or those on Linux), you can utilize Proton 7.0-6 to avoid the repeated installation of prerequisites every time you start the game, or you can stay on Proton experimental and either install or uninstall the recommended prerequisites every time the message pops out to bypass it. In either the install or uninstall case, the game will start immediately.
  
• Other smaller bug fixes and tweaks.

Thank you for being part of this journey and helping us improve the game!

[Jake4159]

The weather screens in the stations are a bit far, I cant read them with my screen. Good fun so far.

[Darth_Prada]

Great game so far , I think the only complaint I can give is the Inventory limit is either too small or the weights of individual items are a tad on the high side because I felt like I was running back and for 100 times just to build 6 tiles ceiling. Also I heard the enemy drones but never actually ran into them not sure if that was how it as supposed to be or not but hearing the gun shots echoing off the cliffs was erie enough for me. I would also suggest fire linking the turrets when your in manual mode or at least the option to please and thank you definately buying :)

[indiora5665]

cant wait for the game to release

[Mr_Orang396]

When is the release for this game? i can't wait

[jesse121027]

The Game is fun. I do suggest giving the character some upgrade and enhancements like inventory increase maybe some snow shoes or something to increase movement speed in the snow or maybe some sort of dock-able snow vehicle. Something for exploring the map that maybe has an inventory on it and can dock right in or on the train. Maybe like a hand held environment scanner for helping to map terrain and find hidden areas/loot. Something so exploring the map doesn't feel so slow and dull. The few hrs I played I did have some fun it just needs more excitement when exploring. Good work so far. Everything seems to work smooth.

[Tokra]

I've selected the beta but not getting an update to my game. Is there currently a live open beta or did it end? I'm really enjoying the concept of the game btw!

[BeamMeUpScotty]

Just finished the demo and I love what I saw, can't wait for release!

[ChilledGamerUK]

Can't seem to download the Beta, is it still open? I can see it in the drop down list.

[Jonypotato]

i dunno if it happens just with me but- the drones i was supposed to fight between the 3rd station & the derrailed train spawned under the ground. i can hear them shooting at me, but they don't do damage (at least :P) and i can't see them either. It kinda messed my experience, but i still have hopes this game will make it big. it looks amazing so far and i will for sure buy it if the price is good enough in my country (1 dollar costs 5 R$ so... i gotta pay 5 times the price over here), i can't wait for it's release.

[Preier]

Hi, very intersting demo. I'd suggest adding the lights in it to allow for use of outdoor/indoor lighing. The drone attack is a bit underwhelming at the moment, may I suggest giving it a more noticeable sound effect? The cave is a good idea but the puzzle feels less obvious than desirable for an introduction to the concept. perhaps add some rewards in places only accessible by the same mechanic in the first habitats?

[ZedClampet]

I'm assuming the open beta is closed now since it isn't downloading. Might try the demo one more time. Looking forward to launch.

[DeadMechGaming]

Originally posted by ZedClampet:

I'm assuming the open beta is closed now since it isn't downloading. Might try the demo one more time. Looking forward to launch.

I was able to get it to download last night; try verifying your files and make sure you have it set for beta as explained in the update notes.

[potato]

needs more tech scrap, kinda stupid to ask us to build a gun to defend ourselves when we didn't even get enough scrap to build the reactor yet. yeah you can go in the cold and almost die instead but why not even give us the bare minimum

[Zethren527]

My Open Beta Experience:

Every material collector drone blew up for an unknown reason the instant I drove my "train" into the station near them. This created an extreme material shortage and literally no way for me to advance because I had to choose between ALMOST completing a train car so that I would not freeze to death or mounting a gun for the enemy scout drones which did not exist yet because I had not progressed far enough in the game for the tutorial about them to pop up. This issue snowballed creating a lack of stamina regen items and parts to repair the engine (which deteriorates laughably fast).
All of this led to me sitting in a train station during a storm with depleted stamina slowly watching my health drain, resigned to my fate of perpetual death, respawn, and death again.

My suggestions:

-Material drones are invincible (but perhaps they move more slowly) OR allow us to collect materials ourselves without the need for something that randomly explodes for no reason and cannot be repaired
-Remove deterioration from things like the engine. Constant deterioration is simply a needless resource sink in a game where we are already fairly short on materials. It is pointless, unfun busywork that just equates to another ball to juggle when we already have plenty. QoL asks politely that you remove it. The demo is better than the beta because it lacks this feature. (This would be the first mechanic I would mod out of the game if it stuck around for 1.0)
-Stamina drains very fast even when not caught in a storm. I'd recommend slowing the drain down a bit especially when it comes to the cost of sprinting. We're always going to be sprinting. The Stamina drain feels like me IRL. AKA: like an unfit schmuck that spends too much time on their computer.

That's all I got right now, but I hope the feedback helps.

[Blud]

^^^^^^ this. Stuck with no resources, able to make food, etc. Will have to see if the update to the beta downloading right now will address these restrictions. Up date--- nope latest beta update doesn't help. Once your resource drones are destroyed you are basically fried. Stamina drain is one thing, but lack of resources to compensate is another. Power drain --needs to fixed as well. As you said too many needless mechanics that are amplified by lack of resources to compensate. At his point likely won't open my wallet when it is offered for sale in Dec. Not worth more that $9.99 CDN to try as it is to me