Persistence successfully implemented, tested, and deployed in Hunternet
Dear pilot,
Since the major networking update, I've been hard at work on the second technical update needed to support a single shared persistent universe. I'm happy to share that persistence is now live and you can try it out for yourself in the new test universe. But be careful, as promised, there are no safe zones and your ship's safety is your responsibility even while you are offline. The next technical update will be multi-location support. Once that is finished I'll be switching my focus back to gameplay and building the first open-world gameplay loops that these technical updates enable.
While my focus was on making sure persistence was fast, reliable, flexible, and extensible, it has been quite fun to test even at this stage. Not knowing what to expect when I reconnect to a universe that lives on without me and hunting down weak sensor signatures as I attempt to dispatch the shutdown ships of my enemies before they return to the hunt has renewed my excitement for how game-changing a single shared persistent universe will be.
Persistence Update - Demo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqcz0kM8uDI
Hunternet has continued to improve in other areas. I worked with Antonio on a complete overhaul of cockpit ambiance and thruster sounds. The new implementation brings your ship to life with additional audio feedback for things like g-forces, damage, and thruster mechanics. I highly recommend jumping in and hearing this update for yourself. Next up in the audio redesign will be weapon and damage sound effects.
I also integrated a significant set of graphical updates from Box for all existing starfighters and a new set of gun crosses for the HUD. Our ships' interiors and exteriors have never looked better and the new graphical damage effects provide great visual feedback. The HUD mechanics have also been further refined along with the graphical update.
Ivan's explosion effects are now even more satisfying and eye-catching with new explosion details and physics-aware effects. Box captured this beautifully in his New Year's Fireworks video.
Hunternet - New Year's Fireworks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC-VfVUzlgU
The community also helped refine new race ring mechanics and some related updates to the flight model. This led to skramz being the first pilot to complete a sub-two-minute lap while also hitting speeds of over 1,300m/s.
Top Speed Demon - 01:59.368
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj-h1ASNaxo&t=31s
I also wanted to share with you two of my favorite clips from the weekly playtest since the big network update.
3 vs. 4 - Chickuns vs Ants
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r791I1X7pQ
Combat Racing - Ring Boost Testing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5Boezo1TAA
Until the next time pilot, I'll be hard at work on multi-location support. I want to encourage you once more to continue to spread the word, getting the word out is not easy and every little bit helps. I'm more excited than ever for the future of Hunternet and look forward to searching for and dispatching your ship in the universe.
Cheers,
Fernando Z