This patch contains improvements for performance, AI and possession. Read the full news for the full changelog and for some preview video/images.

Posted by Bibendus on Jun 4th, 2014

This patch contains improvements for performance, AI and possession.

Possession now allows the player to directly attack and use abilities while controlling a creature. Use left mouse click to use the basic attack, 1 or 2 for special abilities (when present) and right click to dig with drones.

NOTE: due to re-publishing limitations of the Rock the Cabinet contest, the map released on NA servers has the "attack while using possession" feature disabled. Until the contest is over, a second version of the map has been published with a different name.

To encourage map exploration I added one of the first upcoming changes: boosts.

Boosts are small items, scattered around the map, that can be activated for special bonuses. At these moments there are in game and more will be added in the future:

- Increase level of all your creatures by 1

- Heal all your creatures

- Temporarily increase efficiency for all your creatures

- Temporarily increase happinessfor all your creatures

- Spawn 4 additional drones

- Increase vespene gas

- Increase minerals

- Bonus global research (500 to each research tree)

- Bonus for a single research tree (1000)

Last but not least, voice alerts made by Yushatak were added in game!

Full Changelog:

BALANCE

o First waves starting time slightly increased in normal and easy maps

CHANGES

o Optimized how dig selection works, that should improve performance in multiplayer game

o Drones dig and conquer AI greatly improved

o Drones now run away in fear when encountering enemies

o Creatures won't die anymore from hunger, however happiness of extremely hungry or tired creatures will decrease faster

o Modified creatures drop stun duration depending on creature type, agile creatures will be stunned for less time compared to clumsy ones

o Added boost items in all maps

o Improved alert system with new icons and voice messages

o Possession greatly improved and attacks during possession are now enabled (use left mouse for basic attack, right mouse for digging with drones and 1-2 for special abilities)

BUG FIX

o Fixed a bug that could cause a stop in the tutorial after building a level 2 spore cannon

o Drones won't attack anymore while carrying an unconscious creature

o Fixed defeat screen UI