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Above Earth

 
1.6.3 PatchMay 7, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsThis just a small patch to fix some issues with the reentry capsule and starship launch checklists: - Fixed an issue where the launch checklist supplies were not being tracked properly - Fixed an issue with the launch checklists not working properly after loading a save game1.6.2 Small UpdateApr 30, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsJust a small update for a few things: - Added a "Difficulty Breathing" informational condition when air quality is poor or worse. (I hope this will help to better communicate the connection between air quality and fatigue for new players.) - Fixed an issue where breathing and vocals could be audible after dying. - Created an on-screen tip specifically for the jetpack to make it more likely that new players will discover it on surface scenarios. - Fixed an issue where the selected inventory item info would not always update correctly when closing a container. - Put some glow sticks in starting modules of the Mars, Lunar and Deep Space scenarios to make it less likely that new players will get lost in the dark when starting out. - Increased the ambient light slightly at night on all scenarios. - Fixed an issue with the developer feedback form not always transmitting data in recent builds. - Added smiley/frowny faces to the developer feedback form. This will allow players to communicate a general mood along with their comments. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/4f69151b84985cf62eed8468da581154db0881f4.png1.6.1 PatchMar 26, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsThis just a small patch to fix an inventory bug: - Fixed an issue where dropping a partial quantity of an inventory item could potentially cause a crash.1.6.0 HotfixMar 16, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsThis is just a small update to fix a few things: - Fixed a few mesh/modeling errors. - Removed old developer/publisher name from a couple places. - Disabled some on screen tips in the dream state. - Fixed an issue where waking up from the dream state could cause the player to go further back in time and the player could then get stuck in a loop continually entering the dream state. This would only occur when ironman mode was disabled and the player was returning from the dream state.Developer/Publisher Name ChangeMar 5, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsIn order to avoid any potential legal issues in the future, I am publishing my games under my own name now. This is a common practice for solo developers on Steam nowadays. This will have no effect on the future development of Above Earth. It has always just been me working on these games. The intro splash screens for my games have been updated accordingly. Thank you for your support.1.5.9 Small UpdateMar 5, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsJust a small update for a few things: - Changed the intro splash screen for the current developer/publisher name. - Appended the aspect ratio text to each screen resolution in the options menu. - The "Hyperthermia" affliction is now called "Heat Stroke" and has a special color associated with it. This was to avoid a common point of confusion between "Hypothermia" and "Hyperthermia". - Hypothermia also now has a special affliction color associated with it. - Fixed a couple spelling errors.1.5.8 Small UpdateFeb 10, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsJust a small update to exclude communications equipment from the 'Repair the Station' achievement. The communications equipment is currently part of an unused text/audio log and dialogue system in the game. It is not repairable as it requires an item that cannot be found anywhere currently.1.5.7 HotfixFeb 8, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsThis is a hotfix for a bug related to air quality in the Reentry Capsule and Starship. This bug would result in the air quality deteriorating much more quickly than it was supposed to when doing anything that would increase time dilation (such as sleeping, repairing or crafting). This occurred because the Reentry Capsule and Starship do something a little special with time dilation that other modules don't do. Thank you very much for your continued patience with the development of the game.1.5.6 Small UpdateJan 30, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsJust a small update that balances the Chem Heater and Chem Cooler a bit more. Increased the effect of these on temperature and decreased the rate at which they consume fuel.1.5.5 HotfixJan 30, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsThis is a hotfix for a bug related to the Makeshift Chem Heater and Makeshift Chem Cooler that were added in the 1.5.0 update. These should not asphyxiate the player. In fact they should have no effect on the internal air quality of the station at all. The idea for these is that they involve chemical reactions that affect temperature but do not produce environmental contaminants. Thank you very much for your continued patience with the development of the game.1.5.4 Small UpdateJan 29, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsJust a small update to add an instructional tip to explain the station view. The station view allows the player to analyze the station and its surroundings from a more strategic point of view.1.5.3 Small UpdateJan 26, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsJust a small update to add an instructional tip to explain EVA Drifting. This is a mechanic that allows the player to advance time when traveling large distances in open space.1.5.2 Small UpdateJan 25, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsJust a small update to add vertical look inversion in the gameplay options: {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/a5a6dad20e1234c4bb4e6d23a069876eff81d420.png Also increased the size of the "Needs Restart" message in the options menu when reverting key bindings to default values. This is to make sure people can see it OK.1.5.1 HotfixJan 23, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsJust a quick hotfix for a misplaced asset on the deep space scenario that was blocking the hatch entrance of the centrifuge module.1.5.0 Is Now LiveJan 22, 2024 - Community AnnouncementsThis update represents about three years of development. In many ways it is a new game. If you want to ignore the rest of this announcement and watch the new trailer, then you will get a pretty good idea of what's new just by watching it. https://youtu.be/XOWHIl1kqwA Here is a quick summary of what's new: New Space Stations, Moon Bases, Mars Bases:These are completely new to the game. New Environments Are Now Available:Both the surface of the Moon and the surface of Mars now have playable scenarios. There are also some more environments for space stations: Lunar, Martian, Jovian and Saturnian. Unreal Engine 5:The engine the game is based on has been upgraded from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5 and is using many its newest rendering features. Too many other things to mention here:Lots of polishing, playtesting, UI design, sound design, some tutorialization, new gameplay elements, a jetpack, etc. etc. etc. If you'd rather get some more specifics about this update, the previous Steam announcements related to the experimental and test builds of the game provide detailed descriptions of new content, features and improvements. Some Other News:Above Earth development continues. The next priority is going to be full gamepad support. The Trello board is updated: https://trello.com/b/ewpYkK9i/above-earth-development The list of things on the Trello board is getting pretty small. There may be some new things added eventually or the list may just maintain the current goals. It is not clear at this point but should become clear in the next few months. If you changed your Steam properties to the "Experimental" or "Test" builds of the game make sure you switch it back to the public build. Otherwise you'll be playing an outdated version of the game. Thank you for your support.1.5.0 Test Build Is Now LiveNov 3, 2023 - Community AnnouncementsThis test build can be opted into in the Steam properties for the game. (test - Test Public Branch) New Content and Features: -New Options Menu Sliders: {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/b5bf5754517fa8ba7a2617ab6fe66a35498eda3e.gif Field of View, Brightness, Contrast. These options sliders will allow players to adjust the appearance of the game to suit their own visual needs/preferences. The default Field of View has been increased slightly. -Sprinting and Stamina: {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/1f6116d3dfd056d51a63639ff8911ef3321ab838.gif There is now a sprinting and stamina system in the game that is fully functional. Sprinting and jumping will deplete stamina. Without sufficient stamina, sprinting and jumping are no longer possible. Sprinting will cause hunger, thirst and fatigue to increase at a much faster rate than while walking. It will also increase the warmth of the player. All audio and cold breath effects are completed for this system. -Launch Checklist Interface: {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/636be70c372a00ab83e68a0673e85ba52afc32df.gif This interface is now inside the starships and the reentry capsules. It serves as an end goal for completing a scenario. It provides functionality for choosing a destination scenario and traveling to it. More distant destinations have a more difficult checklist to complete with larger resource requirements. These checklists will require equipment on board these spacecraft to be repaired in order to initiate a launch sequence. This interface replaces the old starship launch interface which was not adaptable enough for having different locations and destinations. -Surface Functionality for Spacecraft: {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/67c22002dd265fa0ebe02347b6636f41cfe1465e.gif {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/07985f5b392c3a54f37cde3115858e7d863bfe11.gif Starships and reentry capsules are now fully functional on the surface scenarios. They can now be entered on the ground via their own EVA port. The starship has a ramp with a bay door and the reentry capsule has a hatch. Moving between sections of the starship on surfaces is handled through various door interaction menus. If their launch checklist is completed they can be launched off their landing pad. -Station Menu Wreckage and Debris Selection: {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/82e9e0923983b171ff156df5c07e9196fba50dcf.gif Items on the exterior of the stations can now be selected on the station menu and set as the current target. Other information about the wreckage can be viewed in this menu once the item has been visited. The contents of containers and wreckage can be viewed for objects that have already been visited. A question mark symbol will appear over objects that have not yet been visited. Bugfixes: -Fixed an issue with inner EVA doors not opening/closing properly when initiating airlocks. -Fixed an issue where the intro cinematic would not end until the station was entered. -Fixed an issue where station exterior items could spawn on top of the player camera. -Fixed som...1.5.0 Experimental Build Patch 02 Is Now LiveAug 16, 2023 - Community AnnouncementsNew Content and Features: -The Martian moon Phobos is now visible in the Mars scenario. It provides a faint source of light at night. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/af8522544a5b50d9236f72e95b76f02da9b0b007.gif -The player will now sleep on the ground when there is gravity and no sleeping bag or sleeping pod. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/f94dc16a29b4ea907f3ce245c05ce75feb70c41a.gif -There will now be a starting survival container full of useful items on all scenarios. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/3013521d7a91c732e72b46807d8322ba01748123.gif -Surface landscapes on the Moon and Mars scenarios are now significantly larger. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/b75c0ec7b17c3debd4f6ed258492d4c8a6cedf39.gif -Sleeping bags: Sleeping bags will now be available as a starting item on surface maps. Sleeping bags will allow the player to recover condition if deployed and used. Sleeping bags can also be crafted by the player using cloth and thread. Sleeping bags cannot be used during EVA. Sleeping bags can be deployed and used inside stations. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/37ecb6fc7acabae4c017004717879a4998e4673e.gif Bugfixes: -Dynamic colored meshes were not updating properly in the centrifuge module. -The centrifuge module interior meshes had some modelling errors. -Cargo containers on the deep space craft were not showing up on the EVA HUD overlay. -The procedural generation area of the Mars landscape was not sufficiently flat and was sometimes clipping through the landing pads. -Sleeping in a sleeping harness or sleeping bag could cause collision problems. -Some rocks on the moon and mars scenario were floating off the ground. -Placing items in the world at some locations were considered as invalid even though they should have been valid. -The player's cold breath had some lighting and display errors. -Stars' brightness were not updating correctly at night and/or when it was dark. -Hovering over a module when using the station menu was not always working properly. -Solved various problems by disabling player collision with moveable physics objects when there is gravity. Tweaks: -Slightly increased ambient lighting on Mars so it is easier to navigate when there is pitch black darkness. -The airlock port beacon antenna is now lit better. -Increased the brightness of the glow stick slightly. -Reduced power cell salvage time slightly. -Reduced the size of inventory item icon boxes. -The effect of inventory fullness on movement in all gravity modes will now be minimal unless the encumbrance threshold is reached. -Certain items that should not be used with gravity will not be constructable when there is gravity. (such as the sleeping harness which is replaced in functionality with the sleeping bag when there is gravity) -The sleeping harness cannot be crafted during EVA. -Slightly reduced jetpack fuel consumption. -Sleeping harnesses or sleeping bags will now be available in all scenarios to allow the player an early way to recover condition while sleeping. Other Improvements: -...1.5.0 Experimental Build Patch 01 Is Now LiveJul 19, 2023 - Community Announcements-Fixed an issue where save games on the Mars and Moon scenarios would load extremely slowly. This was interpreted by some players as a save file corruption but was actually caused by a particular kind of asset that was interfering with the save loading process. Players would have had to wait 2 or 3 minutes after the loading bar stopped for the map to load and most assumed it would never complete. The Mars and Moon scenarios should now load at similar speeds as the other scenarios. Thank you for your patience while the experimental build is prepared for a general release.Update 1.5.0: The Experimental Build Is Now AvailableJul 13, 2023 - Community AnnouncementsThe 1.5.0 Experimental Build is now available. If you want to opt into it you will need to right-click on the game in your Steam library and change the beta participation field to "expirimental - expirimental branch". {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/b9eda12435d70c8549703dee807e44fcd569d756.png It will likely have some issues but is currently playable and includes all the improvements made to the game over the last 2 1/2 years of development. After a short period of testing, this experimental build will become the main build and players can experience the game normally. This experimental build will include: New Space Stations: {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/7197cbcd9a9bf45da1dfa1c8b94edb6c96da775b.gif {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/0a8e91cbf0608fb4aa0b89adb8005f64877a9f5c.gif A Deep Spacecraft: {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/93123efde7c7b88ac6bf025981ce0fc63a26ee19.gif A Mars Base: {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/ed4760c50c3d02c665c534e1891527a3912af808.gif A Moon Base: {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/f44132afa48b63bb6a8531eaafc40a7e8f486d4e.gif A Jetpack on the Moon and Mars: {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/7cbeac04c636152ec1ab2df5b6a1936255cf633a.gif {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/97c97b92eb13aa9c4a1770ebfdb21af832a7c324.gif Thank you for continuing to support the game. The Trello board will remain the same until the main build is released: https://trello.com/b/ewpYkK9i/above-earth-developmentUpdate 1.5.0: Last Set of Screenshots for the UpdateJan 6, 2023 - Community AnnouncementsHere are some new screenshots showcasing the space station interiors that will be part of the update: {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/a25f5b075f7f6f50a1f09ccb0390f8a56e728981.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/65f5d7fd66959b8de776238f127e24e23799700a.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/43ec0321c450bec50d1c399e79646daf884868a7.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/6798b1fa3851d887a4d31f5e3213f90403930a58.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/61db7c38be890b0e10d7166067bc008aba10ce5f.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/21d491d897939c7011e15d2c63c8db2b1cba83b7.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/2b64ccbd88624381224ff940e859d54efc5b3939.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/f72977ea90ffd02cfcb8db1cf8f094be473a966a.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/f531fcca6fffbb1dcfe2526dcccceea697aed002.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/2816a022291fd748bedae50d174013772b9c91ad.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/b0a9f67072d54c4032fcfc599808e783d51337b3.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/dc652c6c57c9e0e1542acb385fdfee4d96b22352.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/a91ba2adb05d96b9220d04883e7feaf9b81700cd.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/1d7ff90e580b45ea4fbd90f5e03e45172fbdb484.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/2a0ad849b6deecaef21b831a8e44eae1bb7b79b7.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/1f32e163759a9e9e66ff9e80b58fb6fd7e0cf3eb.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/113890f4305bde675cd632426d9d5ae08b02348c.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/3a2d03445127dcd9798b274f361aae21d344ff9b.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/2441e395f62097166bceca9034e855a9ad449507.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/998f96f3e4a58bad5ec41e45b90609c4a9931a06.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/ee5a3ece2397e27ae174f17ec01b89d2b412d414.png {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/6aebdfa978623c82e1e5252c8e4c39bdad80ac99.png Dynamic Colorization There will likely be some kind of dynamic colorization of the module interiors: {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/35541579/5b957349055c915392c8bfbf665e9728b827776a.png This would help players to remember and navigate the stations better. How much longer until the 1.5.0 update? These screenshots showcase the last batch of assets that needed to be completed for the 1.5.0 update. The next step will be to integrate all the assets created over the last two years into the existing game systems. This will probably take two or three months. Finally, everything will need to be playtested. The 1.5.0 update will most likely be released as an experimental build initially. Players will be able to opt into it in the steam launcher. Many things will need to be tested and playtesters can help a lot to reduce the amount of time this will take. This process could take a month or, more likely, it could take several. It will depend on how many problems there are and how quickly they are discovered/reported/fixed. The next post here on Steam will hopefully be to announce the availability of the 1.5.0 experimental build. Thanks for continuing to support the game. Happy New Year. The Trello board remains the same: https://trello.com/b/ewpYkK9i/above-earth-development

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