Hi,
This is the last update before the holidays, and I've focused on fixing some outstanding bugs as well as further tweaking the balance of the game.
The biggest improvement in this update is a more stable online multiplayer lobby. If the host leaves during the countdown, it should now correctly transfer control to another player to continue setting up the game. I've fixed some minor issues with the Join button not showing or hiding correctly, and the option to select how many holes per course no longer lets you accidentally select numbers that are out of bounds.
A small but important quality of life improvement is that the Free Shot Zone now appears offset from the socket obstacle. Previously this overlapped exactly and was difficult to read, but now it's both clear and also makes for more interesting options for shots!
Finally, I'm continuing to make changes to the balance of the game. This update sees two thirds of the course unlocks become easier to achieve, and half the items in the shop cheaper to unlock. I'll be keeping an eye on how this affects progression (let me know in the comments what you think!) and it's likely I'll continue making changes in the future. I'll also be introducing a new meta-game feature next year which is aiming to improve the feeling of restarting courses and reaching high score goals.
Other minor issues that have been fixed are:
- The bounce achievement now only shows once per time you improve, and only after 5 bounces.
- The progress screen shows seasonal balls separately from other categories.
- Added background UI for the progress screens so it's more readable in low contrast courses.
- Added some missing localisation, including the name for Latin American Spanish in the settings.
- Started work on supporting the D-Pad for menu navigation. This should work for Xbox Controllers, but not PS Controllers yet.
- Added a missing 3D icon for the woods course.
- The mouse now shows the correct icon when you're using simultaneous aiming.
- I've added a note when you try to switch on movement cancelling and simultaneous aiming in the settings at the same time, because they're not compatible.
I'll be taking a break over the holiday period, and will be back to continue fortnightly updates in February. Here's the roadmap of bugs and features that I'll be addressing next year, and I'm always open to new ideas. Let me know what you'd like to see!
Happy Golfing,
Philip