Xenovoid 4X Sci-Fi Strategy MMO - Now Accepting Beta Members!

With the recent progress on wrapping up several key features I am happy to announce that release 0.75 is online!

Technology Tree

You no longer have to wonder what it requires to build an industry, technology, defense, or ship. In the new technology tree view you can see every item buildable in Xenovoid and what you need to build it! Go to the view from your Cockpit and scroll around to see what all you can build.

If a green check is next to the item, you can build it now. If there is a red X next to any item, you need to do something before it can be built. The number next to the item tells you how many levels you need to increase the item by. Be on the lookout for our upcoming tutorial video on how to use this great new feature.

Client Updates
•The technology tree view is now in the cockpit.
•Fixed sounds in the Mission, Commander, and Message scenes.
•Added more error message translations.
•Cleaned up several client and server loose-ends in preparation for Release 1.0. Yes, we jumped a lot of release #s but we are ahead of schedule!

Server Updates
•Fixed a technology requirement bug.
•Took out store processing for now.

 

In the upcoming release I am working on there being 25 different planet types to explore. Each one has a different graphic and the planets also scale based on the diameter! Here are a few examples:

Planet Type 1


Planet Type 2


Planet Type 3


A special thanks goes to the Space Scene Construction Set Asset for the great textures!

 

Coming to Xenovoid is a the Away Mission functionality where you will command away teams to complete planetary missions. Each non-colonized planet will have a certain number of missions, open to every player, and must be completed to unlock the planet for colonization. When you accept missions you will then be taken to a tactical ground-combat scene to carry out orders and complete the missions! Expect to see a sneak peak of the system soon.

And I'm guessing you will see some of the asset store assets in here.

 

The new Technology Tree view can be a little overwhelming with the number of items to build in the game so I’ve added a new Search box. All you have to do is type in part of any technology name and the view centers on the matching tech!

 

Release 0.76 is here and it requires a new client. There are a many features/fixes so get it now!

Features

Planet Variety

There are many different looking planets now for your viewing pleasure. They are persistent as well meaning they do not change once the universe is setup and online. Get out there and see what you can find!

Refer-A-Friend

Earn in-game rewards by referring people to play Xenovoid. We will keep track of everyone you have invited and will reward you on release as well as during testing! Expect some extra-special rewards for those that get on this early. Check it out here.

Technology Tree Search

There is a new search box in the technology tree (requirements) scene! Enter the partial name of a tech, ship, defense, or industry and the view centers on the match. It’s super easy to find what you are looking for now.

Bug Fixes/Changes
◾The correct time should show now when you click to Upgrade an Industry. Previously the time it showed could be different from reality.
◾Some of the cockpit buttons are different colors now to indicate they are indeed not disabled.
◾Removed the Deploy Mark function from the Cockpit since it is no longer needed.
◾The Navigation view should remember the scene you were last on once you have started playing a new game. It resets when you leave the game but maintains state while playing. This way you don’t have to search for where you left off every time!
◾Fixed a bug where your home planet could not be found in the Navigation view (the little house graphic.) Now when you click it, you will be taken back to your home planet.
◾The requirements view properly indicates if you can build defenses and ships. Previously they were always x-ed out even if you meet the sub-requirements.
◾The construct ships scene takes away the resources from view when you build ships. It was always taking them away before but now it shows up in the interface.
◾The amount of defenses/ships falsely limited based on an invalid formula. It now reflects the proper amount.
◾A new drag/swipe control system had to be put in place due to the latest update of Unity causing problems with the previous implementation. Some swipes may not be working yet (pinching.)
◾Unity was updated to 4.3.1.
◾Sometimes when you chose to speed up something, it would say you could not afford it since it only checked Unobtainium and not Xenopoints. It now checks both.

 

The current trade system where you buy/sell goods to space stations and load/unload goods from planets you own is difficult to use at best. I am reworking the system to be much easier to use and the following screen-shot shows an early version.



Every trade good you own is listed with a quantity bar next to it and every trade good available on the planet or space station is also listed with a quantity bar. When you move the bar for items you own, the value you will be paid for the goods at a station shows (if you are at a planet, no value is shown.) When you move the bar for items on a planet or station, the amount of usable space in your personal craft adjusts accordingly and if at a station, the price to purchase the items also shows.

The new interface will make buying, selling, loading, and unloading much easier and will be available in the next release!

 

Coming to Xenovoid is a the Away Mission functionality where you will command away teams to complete planetary missions. Each non-colonized planet will have a certain number of missions, open to every player, and must be completed to unlock the planet for colonization. When you accept missions you will then be taken to a tactical ground-combat scene to carry out orders and complete the missions.

In the video you can see the actual ground combat system which should look familiar to many gamers. You take control of a squad of marines (one in the video) that you issue commands to such as Move, Attack, Switch Weapons, and more.

The system will work ala X-Com in that you advance your squad, acquire new weapons and armor, and so forth. The squad improves over time (or perishes,) so treat them well.

 

In the upcoming Ground Combat system you will be able to manage your squad from mission to mission. This prototype screen shows the interface you will see when you select one of your marines during combat.

On the left side you see your marine's current armor type (flak) and rating (50) along with the shield rating (50) and the # of moves left (4).

On the right side you see the weapons available to the marine (the red one is the current weapon) along with statistics for the selected weapon: versus flak rating, versus reflective rating, versus composite rating, shield penetration rating, armor penetration rating, damage, range, and shots per round.

At the bottom right you can see the inventory items available to the marine which will carry out a variety of "special" actions such as air-strike, regenerate health, etc.

Your marines gain experience over time and you will be able to capture alien technology to develop new weapons and inventory items. Be careful though because if a marine dies, they are gone forever and you must recruit new ones (available at space stations.)

 

It has been a long time in the making but in the next release you will be able to toggle hint boxes that appear on the interface to tell you what each button and icon does! The toggle will be in the upcoming Options scene which is activated from the Cockpit view.

 

A perfect example of the God Game Designer. An unrelenting, pounding barrage of progress, screenshots and updates. Puts all other game devs on this forum who complain about not having enough time/money/motivation to shame.Truly inspirational, and with a demanding day job as well. Kudos to you sir.

Also, I'm loving the game so far. Intent to download the beta as soon as I get home from work.