After a short break, with time to recharge my batteries, I'm back focused on Keep Defending development! This next update (v0.40) features a number of fixes outlined below as well as changes to the controls for Oculus Rift and Touch users.
Following feedback, I implemented a new button layout for Oculus Touch users which should feel much more accessible and inline with other games on the platform.
I recommend enabling "Help Hints" in the options menu which is accessed by pressing the (Y) button (if you've switched the option off previously) as I've implemented a number of updated hint messages to introduce new players to the (revised) controls. It's worth scanning these and the tutorial signs in the Homestead level to learn the new controls, however they should hopefully be second nature to seasoned Oculus players.
A full list of changes for v0.40 is given below:
- Oculus Rift Touch control layout changes.
- Implemented new rotate clockwise and anti-clockwise controls on the controller grip buttons (Oculus Touch users only).
- Help hints and tutorial message changes for Touch users
- New help hint displayed after showing a Level select panel to prompt the user how to activate a pointer.
- Increased the lighting in the Crystal Caves level so it isn't as dark as previous (from player feedback). I don't want to brighten this level too much as the caves are meant to be dark! :) However, enemies and the cave environment are now more visible than before and it does look much better. Please note that there are gamma controls available in the options menu if you do want to tweak the brightness further.
- Fixed the two barbarian bosses appearing on the same side of the river towards the end of the Mutton Valley level. One boss should appear on each side of the river.
- The leaderboards on the main menu scene should now show the top 5 players for each level if the player hasn't recorded a score for the level yet. A blue background to the leaderboard indicates the player has recorded a score, whereas a red background means the level hasn't been played yet (i.e. no score recorded).
- Implemented a short delay before fetching the leaderboard entries to fix a race condition that occasionally resulted in "Unknown" entries being shown.
- Text tweaks to the narrative in the level select screens.
- Raised the height of the level select screens slightly so it's possible to access the buttons from a lower (seated or child's) position.
There are a couple of additional fixes I need to make (e.g. some of the crystals in the caves are actually the wrong colour!) and these will appear in the next update, however my next task is to get on with implementing another new level...
Thanks for reading this latest update on Keep Defending. :)