Mars Explorer 1.9.4 is LIVE!
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Translucent lava, detailed seafloors, resculpted worlds, and much, much more!
Submitted By admin on 09/02/20
Mars Explorer, Documents, Official News
This Document originally posted in the "Mars Explorer" Group
Enjoy!
-Aubrey
-Aubrey
- Worlds, Graphics:
- Freestyle world has been doubled in terrain dimensions, completely resculpted, and a seafloor (with a really cool new crystallized mud texture) is being added all the way around the island. Volcano has been redesigned, and all paths and other terrain features are being adjusted to take full advantage of the new space
- Freestyle world includes a preview of the new Sea Monster - an incredible transport vehicle in development by Spiffy and Olim. The Sea Monster will eventually be fully textured, scripted, and possibly even player controllable, but it's still amazing just parked next to the beach!
- Lava Racer's terrain's "zero point" has been reset to far below the level of the ground, and a detailed seafloor is in progress
- Lava is now semitransparent - you can see through it from above and below the surface. Vehicles emit bubbles when submerged in lava
- Terrain grass has been redone - not because it wasn't great before, but because the old foilage was lost when the terrains were rezeroed. The new flora is even more Mars-like
- Gameplay:
- Lasers can now be fired from outside your vehicle! Really fun for aerobatic dogfights!
- Vehicles:
- Buggy has a completley new physics mode that allows it to sink below lava and drive along seafloors once it reaches a certan depth. Collision physics adjusted a bit
- Tank no longer gets stuck on it's side
- Interface:
- New autorotating minimap with adjustable slider to control zoom, and arrows for players!
- More stunning in-game logo, based upon the new one from the site redesign
- Custom designed ambient background music for list interface by Micah - more in-game tracks coming soon!
- "Play Safe" message while joining games
- New "Reset Position" button in the game settings window. Great for when you get stuck or lost somewhere - especially when you are the server host!
- Camera:
The Follow, Chase, RC, Bird, and Observe cameras have all been superceeded by a completely new camera system based off the camera in Mars Explorer for iPhone.
The new camera:
- Features a slider to efficiently specify any follow distance you desire
- Does it's best to always provide you with a maximum view of your vehicle, players closing in on you from behind, and the terrain ahead of you - even when you are racing up a steep hill or sinking vertically in lava - while moving as smoothly as possible in all circumstances
- Automatically offsets it's distance based on the size of your active vehicle
- Avoids terrain far more smoothly and intelligently than any previous camera
- Automatically switches to a rotation following mode during flight
- Visually emphasizes your vehicle's speed by dynamically adjusting it's follow distance
- Can remain stationary, while smoothly tracking your vehicle. Makes for some great fun doing rc buggy flying!
- Updates since initial release:
- "Learn to Play" level should be functional again
- New options in settings panel to deactivate the smart camera, or just the vehicle rotation locking component of it
- Bug fixed that caused lasers not to work correctly when fired from a stationary vehicle.
- Experimental new hovercraft physics model: Super smooth, super fast, can "shark" and enter the sea monster without fear of getting ejected or stuck, and doesn't hug the ground quite as much as it should...
» Reply to CommentBlanked.
Dray (Deathray)
3 days - 10,133v
Posted 2009/02/20 - 2:33 GMT
Blanked.
» Reply to CommentBlanked.
This post has been cleared
» Reply to CommentOK I HATE HOW U CANT TYPE MESSAGES THATS NOT
OK I HATE HOW U CANT TYPE MESSAGES THATS NOT COOL BRAH
» Reply to CommentMr. Falconer
Regarding the camera changes you made, they are not good, I loved our RC, chase, laser, bird, and up close views, we had a variety to chose from, now, we only get two, and the slider wheel makes little to no difference at all. I like the new version, a step in the right direction, but the camera angles were a step in the wrong direction. Al;so, the messagin system is not working either. ok, now I really flat out hate the camera angles, wrong direction, wrong direction.
» Reply to Commenthow do you steer they sea monster?
how do you steer they sea monster?
» Reply to Commentreply to Aubrey "1.94"
HEEEEELP!
I'm a n00b all over again!!!
AHAHAHA!
» Reply to CommentThis is so much fun Aubrey! I love driv
This is so much fun Aubrey! I love driving under the lava!
I haven't explored everything yet, but I will as soon as I get a chance...=)
Thank you Olim and Spiffy for taking the time to design the Sea Monster. It looks fantastic!
~Edith~
» Reply to CommentI dont like the camera system, can you change
I dont like the camera system, can you change it? How do you control the sea monster?
p.s. otherwise, great job!
» Reply to CommentYAY!!!
GREAT JOB FOR EVERYTHING!
» Reply to Commentwow.... (dumbstruck (has not even played it y
wow.... (dumbstruck (has not even played it yet))
» Reply to Commentthe camera modes are.....
Well when flying at low speed I prefer the smooth follow script, could you perhaps re-integrate it? I am stuck in lava at the moment (rather hard to get out)
» Reply to Commentgetting out is fairly similar, just point nos
getting out is fairly similar, just point nose up and drive out, if you dont get enough lift that way then you have to try the old fashioned way. also as IBCF said, the reset is a problem with quarry.
» Reply to CommentNo the camera mode kept messing me up, when y
No the camera mode kept messing me up, when you open your wings while in lava you can't see anything...
» Reply to CommentCongratulations!
Congratulations Aubrey, there is still a lot to do, but many things have been completed. Keep it up!
» Reply to Commentawesome, if you click on the sreen, you get l
awesome, if you click on the sreen, you get lasers even if you are not in the buggy! this will make dogfights soooo much cooloer!
» Reply to Commenti really like it! thanks for you hard work au
i really like it! thanks for you hard work aubrey,spiffy and olim! its not the best but i really like it the things i don;t like r
~the glitch where you can only type one letter at a time!
~the view i love the way it goes in and out but i still don't like how its behind the buggy!
the things i like are
~i love under lava!!!
~I really like the sea monster...but i am still tying to figure it out!!!
~I am really glad you put that note on the Joining Game sign about not giving out info! i hope kids will pay attention to that!
i have not been able to play but that is what i have seen so far i am sure i have missed some pretty good stuff i hope to try it out more!!!
~Lizzle
» Reply to Commenttext has been fixed and the login is fixed. a
text has been fixed and the login is fixed. as far as i know...
» Reply to CommentNow it will not load again. Whenever I
Now it will not load again. Whenever I try it gets stuck on this.
» Reply to CommentAubrey, I have one request, can you PLEASE re
Aubrey, I have one request, can you PLEASE reintegrate the old cameras, and have your smart camera be mode 7? Allot of us would like that, I like my camera the way it was in follow mode....
» Reply to CommentI agree
I too agree that the old camera should come back, with the "smart cam" as #7. Otherwise, great job!
» Reply to Commenti prefer the old RC camera for about two reas
i prefer the old RC camera for about two reasons. one, it was a good distance from buggy and could see everything i needed to, and two, because i could see better when turning. as all cameras are now, they do not have that balance that is to me essential for proper playing. i do think that current angles are more "realistic" but i still prefer RC.
» Reply to CommentCameras
The problem isn't the slider Aubrey it's that the numbers aren't the same. You need to match the ones on the slider to the old ones. Also I can see that if it were to be a slider then going between 3-4-5 wouldn't make any sense since 4 is more like 2; and 3 and 5 are alike so the camera order of the slider should be 2, 4, 3, 5 with 2 buttons for 1 and 6 but on the slider you would obviously rename these 2, 3, 4, 5 it will also make scripting easier.
» Reply to Commenti really liked the RC camera mode cause it ga
i really liked the RC camera mode cause it gave you a really clear overview of the terrain. and was really good for flying. the new one is more like a chase mode and sometimes when you get going fast, it makes it hard to properly see when turning./
id be sooooo happy if you could just add back that camera mode Aubrey!
thanks. jet
Ok - so it looks like everyone misses the RC camera.
Would it be satisfactory if I were to bring it back as a preference?
If it's just the extra camera height that everyone is pining for, I could add that to the new camera.
Would it be satisfactory if I were to bring it back as a preference?
If it's just the extra camera height that everyone is pining for, I could add that to the new camera.
» Reply to Commentdeleted by fly club
deleted
» Reply to CommentOk here is my final idea, you would have two
Ok here is my final idea, you would have two buttons, and two sliders for follow mode:
one button would make the camera follow the target like it does in the new camera mode and chase mode, while the other would make it follow the target like it does in follow, bird, and rc.
then you would have two sliders:
One slider would adjust height, and the other would adjust distance,
This would allow for us to replicate ANY old camera mode, and give your cameras MAXIMUM customizability.
» Reply to CommentUltimate Camera Setup
I believe that the ultimate camera setup would be to.....
1. Bring back ALL the old cameras (popular demand and some of us use all of them including Bird and Observe)
2. Add the current distance adjuster without numbers on it.
3. Add a height-above-buggy adjuster
4. Make old RC the default with a reset button so beginners can function and progress even after they randomly click different camera modes and get flustered. (Chase is nifty but very challenging)
The current cam is most like the old Chase mode. It's fun but I believe keeping that as the only cam will severely limit play time due to eye and brain fatigue. Many people are complaining of dizziness. Hold on for a sec... (huug...huuwugh.......BLUUWWAAAAAH!!)
Aubrey...Thanks for all your hard work on these new version
Spiffy and Olim...Fantastic job on the Sea Monster!
» Reply to Commentyes plz! thank you so much!
deleted
» Reply to Commenti would like...
i would like follow and rc back, please
» Reply to CommentI AGREE WITH FLYCLUB
...read above...
» Reply to CommentThanks
We all realy apprishiate it Aubrey!
» Reply to CommentI must say
(Thumbs up) U did a great job Mr. Admin
» Reply to Commentreply to Aubrey - 1.94 Camera WHY
You asked why we want the old cameras.
The new one is very smooth but in a hard turn, it is impossible for me to see where I'm headed.
I (and many others) also get dizzy playing in chase mode.
In old RC, I have a view of where I'm going and the buggy itself is not blocking my view because I'm above it.
» Reply to Comment1.9.4 updated
New version is up!
- "Learn to Play" level should be functional again
- New options in settings panel to disable the (loved and hated :) smart camera, or just the vehicle rotation locking component of it
- Bug fixed that caused lasers not to work correctly when fired from a stationary vehicle.
- Experimental new hovercraft physics model: Super smooth, super fast, can "shark" and enter the sea monster without fear of getting ejected or stuck, and doesn't hug the ground quite as much as it should... (The latest hovercraft physics are not final - they are just a start on a new model that addresses some of the shortcomings of the old one)
» Reply to Commentkeep the hovercraft like this!
&n
keep the hovercraft like this!
I LIKES!
i like the new camera for sure, others would agree but its much better than the previous one. thanks for updating the learn to play :) maybe you can also add a link on the site, as opposed to just the game, under the "Play!" link. i have to say i hate the new hover :( speed isnt what i was interested in, plus it's too "floppy" and just...well i dont like it. i am a bit curious to see Spiffy's reaction though :)
» Reply to Commenti guess ill get used to it if i have too...my
i guess ill get used to it if i have too...my biggest problem is unreliability. its just kind of clumsy and TOO fast.
» Reply to Commenttrue. when i said 'i likes', i was fooling ar
true. when i said 'i likes', i was fooling around, because of the speed
I know the physics are still being worked on, but here is my CURRENT opinion:
The hovercrafts rises if not in motion, which makes sense(downforce, etc). I like this effect and I recommend keeping it.
On hard cornering over lava(or any surface for that matter)the hovercraft sinks very low, but when one is over the lava you go under. This is a neat effect, but I do believe an opposite reaction would occur in real life. It would be very neat if it would "pop" upwards when quickly turned around, as if it slipped out of it's aerodynamic pose. This could be a semi-controllable instance that lasts only a few seconds, it may prove to be inconvenient, though.
The hovercraft is much faster and certainly "owns" under the lava, it is very fast and has almost no chance of getting stuck in the many holes and rollers in the Martian sea terrain, which is, as it seems, a very great advantage over other vehicles, almost too great.
The speed is gladly accepted, but it does need some form of limit.
» Reply to Commentreply to Aubrey - Cameras
Thanks for listening to us and adding more camera options! Everyone that I talk with is pleased.
The new lava is beautiful. With high settings, there are gold highlights on the sea floor.
The buggy is agile but has very good turning stability for firing lasers and will take off with very little ground speed.
The Sea Monster is a terrific obstacle course to fly around and through.
I especially enjoy the jagged terrain at Racer World. It's a blast to fly around and through!
What a fun game! Thanks!
I hope that the reset button is temporary until vehicles can unstick themselves as it is being used for taking quarry too far away from group play and is hindering game flow.
» Reply to Commentalso, the actually buggy physics i find are i
also, the actually buggy physics i find are improved as well and better than ever! they almost dodge lasers on their own! best yet.
» Reply to Commentyou are worthy Mr. Aubrey
WOOOHOOOO new version is awesome EXCEPT FOR THE CAMERAS OF COURSE!!!! srry but they seriously need work
