v1.0.2

This update focuses primarily on user experience. I took a step back and re-evaluated how the three C’s (Character, Controls, Camera) support the core gameplay, improved some interfaces, and added the skeleton of a tutorial.

While there are still many improvements to be made, the game should hopefully be more approachable to less-experienced players, and more enjoyable to everyone.

Unfortunately, the gameplay itself has not changed much, but my next efforts will be toward reworking backend stuff so I can finally add more guns, planes, etc.

Also, huge thanks to everyone who playtested and submitted feedback–I wouldn’t of been able to make these improvements without your help!

Notable changes:

• Complete camera overhaul to fix sluggishness and better suit gameplay needs
• Added a basic movement tutorial, will require more work
• More graphics settings: the bar for PC performance is lowered, along with a higher maximum quality
• Added coyote time: if you walk off an edge, you can still jump within a small window of time
• Held luggables can now be thrown with Left Mouse
• Added the spyglass: Hold right mouse while outside of structures to zoom
• Added Quick Steam Release: Press LShift/LCtrl while inside a Flint to quickly release built-up HEAT, at the cost of PRESSURE

Other tweaks and fixes:

• Show icons for Input instead of text (needs further tweaks, but works as a good start)
• Reworked Loading and Difficulty Select screens, and added a Level Select screen
• UI now scales with screen resolution for consistency
• Added Shadow quality setting
• Added Fog quality setting
• Added Island quality setting and reworked island shaders to try and improve performance
• Switched FPS counter to use engine-reported framerate
• Explosions now induce camera rumble
• Flint turrets induce camera rumble upon taking damage
• Pause menu now exits sub-menus upon pausing
• Fixed dropdown buttons not showing descriptions of selected items
• Minor optimizations on some of Renegade’s materials

Final note, I’m now bundling the StagToolkit binary with Abyss. I made this toolkit to speed up development, but it might also reduce platform compatibility (as I have to compile and bundle it myself). If Abyss fails to launch, let me know what platform you are on (Operating System, CPU type) and I’ll see what I can do.

Thank ya’ll for your support. Happy flying!