Hi Everyone!
I have been working hard over the past few months to bring an overhauled version of this excavator simulator to everyone. See release notes below for all that has changed in this beta version.
This beta version is a preview of what has been in development and feedback is greatly encouraged.
Note that this is a beta and everything is subject to change and improvement.
To access beta branch:
- Right click game title in library and select properties
- Select the Betas tab and select beta
Thank you everyone for the support,
Happy Year!
RELEASE NOTES
New Features
- Add sandbox mode
- Add virtual tablet in cab for non-obstructive notifications and instructions
- Overhauled menu system with more options
- Add anti-dig zones
Bug Fixes
- Fixes player flipping around if excavator arm forced into dirt
- Fixes VR controller input bugs
- Fixes flying excavator movement bug
Game Engine
- Migrated from STEAMVR API in favor of OpenXR* API to allow greater marketplace compatibility
- Update Unity version to 2021.2.7
Performance Improvements
- Decrease terrain loading times by up to 500%
- Allow for more complex terrain designs
- More dirt particles on screen
- Increase supported map size to 256x256 meters and 256 meters in height
- Optimize terrain chunk rendering
- Removed grass in favor of performance
- Reduced 3d excavator treads in favor of scroll texture for performance gains
Accuracy Improvements
- Virtual joystick calculations to use rotational instead of positional data
- Realistic physics-based hydraulics simulation (No clipping through ground)
- Excavator movement is more accurate to that of a tracked machine
- Realistic excavator movement where power is decreased on slopes
Terrain Digging
- No more bucket clipping through ground
- Precise bucket control of dig areas
- Use back of bucket teeth for fine dirt manipulation
- 6 terrain materials (grass, dry grass, rock, dirt, gravel, mud)
Dirt Particles
- Replace dirt cubes for rock-like objects with respective materials
- Popcorn like dirt absorb is less likely to occur
- Add support for 6 types of terrain material particles
- Dirt volume preserved more than previously
- Dirt particles move with the bucket more consistently
KNOWN ISSUES
- Multiple tablets can be spawned in to scene
- Piston floats away from excavator after a few minutes
- On some VR devices the forward direction cannot be changed
*Both Oculus App and SteamVR Launcher support OpenXR API. If the game does not detect your headset, make sure your Oculus App or SteamVR is up to date and for SteamVR users, that the OpenXR Runtime is set to SteamVR (SteamVR -> Settings -> Developer -> Set OpenXR Runtime). Oculus App usually defaults as OpenXR Runtime. Please checkout the discord if you run into any issues.