Stars Reach News

[p]We’ve done an extensive network upgrade and we’re asking for your help to stress test it. We’re going to experiment with flora and creature densities during these tests to get your feedback AND to assess impact with the new code….so that we know how far we can push it in the next update![/p][p]Along with this massive infrastructure change, we have a handful of other improvements to go along with it, but the bulk of this particular update is the network changes.[/p][h3]Gameplay:[/h3]

• [p]Limestone, Sandstone, and Chalk have higher adhesion so they work better as caves.[/p]
• [p]Roaches and Kharvix move faster when not in combat (so they can ambush you better)[/p]
• [p]The Paver’s battery cost has been lowered so it’s easier to make roads.[/p]
• [p]The “NoSeeds” versions of bushes & mushrooms have been removed. You can now get seeds from flora that you’ve planted with the Harvester.[/p]
• [p]When you are invulnerable (from PowerUps) you cannot be affected by statuses (like being set on fire or frozen, etc.)[/p]
• [p]You no longer have to hit “G to portal”. Instead, you just walk under the portal arch and you’ll transport to the connected world.[/p]
• [p]A “Combat Tips” screen has been added to the F1 Help menu so it’s easier to understand the color-coding of creature names.[/p]
• [p]You can now see creatures a LOT further away than you could previously. (A good thing.) You can also sweep your mouse cursor around and find them that way, but that isn’t a permanent feature. (Too easy to find creatures in trees that way.) We’ll be fixing that so you can’t see nameplates that far away or when obscured in the future.[/p]

[h3]Audio improvements:[/h3]

• [p]Omniblaster[/p]
• [p]Wild Wormhole[/p]
• [p]Xyloslicer[/p]

[h3]Animation improvements:[/h3]

• [p]Sliding down hills[/p]
• [p]Ice sliding[/p]

[h3]Art improvements:[/h3]

• [p]Sunrises[/p]
• [p]User Interface Fonts on updated screens[/p]

[p]June 28th marks our announcement anniversary, when we first shared with the world what we’ve been doing behind the curtains for years. Join the Anniversary Livestream hosted by Rick (Carneros), Logan (Leric), and Kurt, our audio expert![/p][p][/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[p]Screenshots of the Week:[/p][carousel][/carousel][p][/p]

• [p]Our first long playtests!  In preparation for our game going live 24/7, we hosted 2 playtests this week that ran longer than 12 hours each. We are testing the performance of our worlds over time. What did you think? [/p]

• [p]We celebrated the one year anniversary of the announcement of Stars Reach with a livestream and a giveaway. [/p]
• [p]We added four more moderators: Sukie, Ryan, Marko and Muirghen.0! Please be extra nice to the new folks.  🙂[/p]

• [p]Controlled Chaos interviewed John Brown, Stars Reach animator:[/p]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

• [p]Controlled Chaos also interviewed Avi Khetarpal, Stars Reach senior engineer:[/p]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

• [p]GUNC made a mining guide for Stars Reach including how to collect everything you need to build your Grav Mesh, Reflection Shield, Gravity Gun, and Healix.[/p]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

• [p]GUNC made a fan-made trailer for Stars Reach![/p]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

• [p]Backer Invites + Discord Backer Badge.  Almost all of the backers have submitted their survey, but if you haven’t then search your email box. If you submitted your Backer Surveys before July 3rd:[/p]
  • [p]New testers got an invite from FirstLook with a playtest schedule and instructions. (Check your spam folder if you don’t see it!)[/p]
  • [p]Existing testers will not get a new invite, your Discord role should now show a Backer badge. Not yet? Log into FirstLook.gg and synch.[/p]
  • [p]Can’t find it? Email [/p]

[p][email protected][/p]

• [p]Kickstarter late pledges are still available but this may wind down soon: [/p]

[p]https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/starsreach/stars-reach[/p]

• [p]Check out our Web Store! [/p][p][/p]

[p]https://starsreach.com/store/[/p]

• [p]We also have late pledges available on payment plans at our store[/p]

• [p]Change to Playtests next week!  In preparation for our game going live 24/7, we have a bunch of work to do. And it’s time for an extended test to help us get ready. So next week we are doing 14-hour playtests on Tuesday, July 1, and Thursday, July 3. Both tests start at 8:00am Pacific and end at 10pm Pacific. Our playtests are posted in the Events module of the official Stars Reach Discord for your convenience. [/p]

[p]https://discord.gg/starsreach[/p]

• [p]We interviewed Playable Worlds animator John Brown yesterday on livestream. The recording is available here:[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

• [p]Controlled Chaos interviewed Toster, a Pre-Alpha playtester of Stars Reach:[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

• [p]Our next livestream is Thursday, July 3, at 11:00am Pacific. We have another giveaway planned for a Reacher Tier package on stream: [/p]

[p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

• [p]Backer Invites + Discord Backer Badge.  Almost all of the backers have submitted their survey, but if you haven’t then search your email box. If you submitted your Backer Surveys before June 24th:[/p]
  • [p]New testers got an invite from FirstLook with a playtest schedule and instructions. (Check your spam folder if you don’t see it!)[/p]
  • [p]Existing testers will not get a new invite, your Discord role should now show a Backer badge. Not yet? Log into FirstLook.gg and synch.[/p]
  • [p]Can’t find it? Email [/p]

[p][email protected][/p]

• [p]Kickstarter late pledges are still available but this may wind down soon: [/p]

[p]https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/starsreach/stars-reach[/p]

• [p]Check out our Web Store! [/p]

[p]https://starsreach.com/store[/p][p][/p]

• [p]We also have late pledges available on payment plans at our store[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p]