Islanded Beta 0.10

Merry Christmas I guess? The Islanded Beta is finally here. Don’t expect a lot of new stuff or improved gameplay, this Beta will be a little different from any other similar Betas out there. Just keep reading to understand how the new updates will work, the new time between updates and more!

How to download Islanded Beta versions

If you didn’t read it, in the last post I explain the problems with Desura and why Islanded will no longer be regularly updated on the site. Check it out to understand why.

Now that Desura is no longer an available repository for updates and distribution, until further notice, all future updates (including this one) will be available directly from Humble Bundle (for Backers & Supporters) and the Islanded website, under the “Play Now” section.

If you Backed or Supported Islanded using Humble Bundle or Paypal, you should have a private page on Humble Bundle, where you can download Islanded DRM-FREE. All the updates will be posted there from now on.

Unity 5

Islanded was originally created using Unity 3. Then was developed with Unity 4. And now is running on Unity 5. But why?

Unity is the platform where Islanded is being developed. As any other software, Unity gets updates to fix issues and improve the content available. A few days ago Unity 4.7 was released to finally close the 4th generation of Unity, which means that all games made in Unity 4 will no longer receive support or fixes on the main engine.

If a game using Unity 4 is already finished this will not affect at all, but games like Islanded (in active development) need to be developed in a up-to-date platform, or they will never progress in performance like newer games.

This is why Islanded was ported from Unity 4 to Unity 5, and this is why it took so long to release the Beta version. From now on, time between updates should be much lower, and updating the game should be much easier.

What’s new

Well, everything.

If this was a normal update, in this post it would appear the most important changes and additions to the game, but this time it will be a little different, because all you know about Islanded changed at least a little.

Don’t get me wrong, Islanded is still the same game, but the UI, Icons, Inventory system, Build system, Water, Sky, Terrain, etc. are in some way different. And, more importantly, now are easier to change and improve for next updates.

All the following content it’s an small part of the Beta update that will develop to the full potential in following updates.

Beta updates

You may have noticed that regular updates (not this one) take between 1 to 3 months to be completed during the Alpha stage. Beta should change that to an average of 1 month between updates.

Instead of big changelogs and intensive remodelations during Alpha, Beta will update more often with minor changes, but with more added content, as the core game is already fully working and configured.

Menu & Interface

The splash screen, main menu, options, credits, etc. are all totally new. Instead of using a small portion of the screen, the interface now uses the whole screen to display more information that is relevant to the player, with easier to use buttons and scroll lists.

Also, now in the menu there is a news section that will update automatically, displaying last changelogs of new updates and relevant news. This way you can be informed of new stuff without leaving the game or checking the website each time.

To go along with the new update policy, in the top-right corner of the main menu there is an update checker that will search if there are new versions available to download and play, displaying the information directly inside the game.

Resources & Inventory

The inventory changed again (yeah, I know), and will probably change more during Beta. Resources now don’t stack and fill one slot, each one. But as I said this will probably change, so don’t get very used to it.

Build menu

Like the inventory, the build system changed, and will change again during Beta. Two temporal tools have been added to build and upgrade current constructions. Just follow the tutorials that will appear in-game.

Performance

Going form Unity 4 to Unity 5 has some good outcomes. One of them is the huge improvement on performance. Not only the whole world renders faster, but the drawcalls by builds and objects are enormously reduced, and will give a huge boost on FPS in worlds filled with buildings.

Tutorials

Thanks to a lot of requests, a tutorial will now appear each time you use a new feature. Just press F1 when the book icon appears on the top-left corner of the screen. It will display some info on how to use that feature you just selected. Tutorials can be deactivated on the options menu.

In-game console

During testing, a new in-game console has been added to the game to improve the experience to the creative players out there. Just press ~ during a game session, and a console will appear. Right now, the only command available is unlimited on that will activate unlimited resources to build whatever you want.

Saved games

As you would expect, any saved content from Alpha versions will not work on Beta. An alert will appear on the main menu if the game detects any Alpha saved content, blocking the option to continue until that files are removed.

Just hit New Game to create a new save file.

Beta 0.10 Fixes

Fixed AMD and Radeon low fps issue (Maybe?)
Fixed Flying trees and stones
Fixed Limited FPS to 144 (now unlimited)
Fixed Mono UI audio
Fixed UI sounds cutting off
Fixed Fullscreen exclusive mode
Fixed Inventory pause bug
Fixed Resources colliding with player
Fixed Wood log angular drag
Fixed Stick layer
Fixed Spawn lag if a big log is destroyed
Fixed Spawn lag if a big stone is destroyed
Fixed Displaying build menu at start
Fixed buildings half stuck inside terrain when building
Fixed Place builds in pause menu
Fixed Big amounts of Draw Calls from buildings
Fixed Resolution issues
Fixed Audio missing when loading
Fixed Build Sound missing
Fixed Buildings stuttering when placed
Fixed Player max health
Fixed Size of tier 0 buildings
Fixed Torch light distance
Fixed Torch light Intensity
Fixed NormalMap terrain issues
Fixed Resources collision
Fixed Minor issues

Beta 0.10 Full Changelog

Upgraded Islanded to Unity 5
Added Ingame debug console
Added Main menu introduction
Added Main menu loading bar
Added Version & Updates notifier
Added Welcome message
Added Hotbar UI
Added UI Placeholders
Added UI Gamepad art selector
Added Collider controller
Added Support to 21:9 resolutions
Added More 16:9 resolutions
Added Tutorial option
Added Unity Analytics SDK
Added SSAO post effect
Added Bloom post effect
Added Player damage screen effect
Added Inventory drag & drop
Added Inventory animation
Added Inventory optional key (Tab)
Added "Inventory is full" alert message
Added "No resources available" alert message
Added Soundtrack
Added New bark model
Added New bark icon
Added WIP build saw
Added Swipe sound effects
Build Added wood stairs
Build Added wood stairs under railing
Build Added half wall
Build Added fence small
Build Added wood door
Build Added wall door sticks
Build Added wall window sticks
Build Added automatic modular pilars to walls
Build Added automatic modular endof­wall to walls
Build Now walls can be atached to other walls without using floors
Build Now strucutres can be placed under other structures
Build Now floor can be placed directly to the terrain
Build Now walls can be placed directly to the terrain
Build Parts now appear in green before getting placed on th ground.
Build Parts rotate with the player vision
Improved Tremendously overall frame rate
Improved Tremendously frame rate with multiple buildings
Improved Sky & Ambient light
Improved Walk & run speed
Improved Stamina icon
Improved General UI
Improved Main Menu UI
Improved Pause Menu UI
Improved Inventory UI
Improved Create UI
Improved Build UI
Improved Save manager and save system.
Improved Sea water
Improved Load time ingame
Improved Save & Load system
Improved Save inventory position
Improved Build system
Improved Tier 0 & tier 1 buildings performance
Improved Save data to use only 1 file
Improved Sun shafts color
Improved Moon shafts intensity
Improved Night darkness
Improved Stick model
Improved Building icons
Improved Sea horizon
Improved Splash screen
Modified Tree models
Modified Inventory system to work by position and not by size
Modified Maximum stack of resources now infinite
Modified Key to upgrade buils form E to LMB
Modified Key to remove buils form R to RMB
Modified Key to rotate builds from Mouse Wheel to Z & X
Fixed AMD and Radeon low fps issue (Maybe?)
Fixed Flying trees and stones
Fixed Limited FPS to 144 (now unlimited)
Fixed Mono UI audio
Fixed UI sounds cutting off
Fixed Fullscreen exclusive mode
Fixed Inventory pause bug
Fixed Resources colliding with player
Fixed Wood log angular drag
Fixed Stick layer
Fixed Spawn lag if a big log is destroyed
Fixed Spawn lag if a big stone is destroyed
Fixed Displaying build menu at start
Fixed buildings half stuck inside terrain when building
Fixed Place builds in pause menu
Fixed Big amounts of Draw Calls from buildings
Fixed Resolution issues
Fixed Audio missing when loading
Fixed Build Sound missing
Fixed Buildings stuttering when placed
Fixed Player max health
Fixed Size of tier 0 buildings
Fixed Torch light distance
Fixed Torch light Intensity
Fixed NormalMap terrain issues
Fixed Resources collision
Fixed Minor issues
Terrain Retextured entire terrain
Terrain Improved terrain height
Terrain Improved beach height
Terrain Improved second island border
Terrain Improved overall design
Terrain Improved texture distance
Terrain Improved shader
Terrain Added stone cliff MultiUV
Terrain Decreased number of tree colliders in runtime at the same time
Tutorial Added Inventory information
Tutorial Added Select build information
Tutorial Added Build information
Tutorial Added upgrade information
Console New command "unlimited on" to enable unlimited resources