Project Venus [v0.2.4] [Team Venus]

v0.2.4

Hi everyone, a new Project Venus v0.2.4 build is now out!
This update brings new content, Android version, big stability improvements, map fixes, save/load behavior, and several gameplay usability improvements.
New content
– Story progression
– A new story location to beat
– New weapon with ammo-switching mechanic and a special effect for it’s secondary ammunition.
– A new main outfit for Act 2 which replaces previous two.
– A new boss.
– New zombie type with 11 variations.
– Continuation of David in barn scene.
– Continuation of gloryhole scene – you need to find it during the day, and then you can visit it during the nights. The scene has random chance of triggering two different variations:
a) peek on David with someone
b) meet someone peeking on David
– An optional scene with Fred the trader during the story.
– A start of romance route for one of the characters. It’s just a start. The main action for his route will come in next update as it requires a specific system for it. Well, who knows – knows.
– An optional random scene on second floor for Liam (middle bottom door) which has a chance to trigger after unlocking the Monastery.
– New scene for Greg with 6 animations (the man in forest house of ACT 1). We strongly recommend to see it
– Most old scenes received an animated version. We will cover what’s left in future too.
– An introduction of the Monastery. Nothing to do here yet, but this location will come in use in next update with corresponding mechanics. Yes, it’s about having an heir.
– Now stamina will grow up the more you run around.
– Melee damage will grow over time if use keep using it.
– Now vegetables can be sold to Fred the trader.
– Now you can extract seeds from vegetables to use them again (the recipe is given during the intro of ACT 2).
Technical and Visual Improvements
We made a huge number of technical, visual, and gameplay improvements to the project. Many parts of the game engine were modified, improved, or partially rewritten to support better lighting, smoother gameplay, improved saving/loading, better collision handling, more stable video playback, and better overall performance.
A lot of these changes are not easy to describe in a simple changelog because they affect the way the game works internally rather than adding one specific visible feature. However, the result should be noticeable while playing: the game should feel more polished, more stable, and visually stronger than before.
Besides, most visual additions are optional, so everyone can tune our game to their likings.
This update is a major technical step forward for Project Venus.
Main improvements include:
– Ambient occlusion and improved lighting for new map.
– Dynamic loot system. Zombies materials drop is based on player’s inventory. For example, if you already have a certain amount of black powder, it’s dropping chance will be halved. It’s the same for most materials which drop from zombies.
The only exclusion is a virus sample. It’s chances remain the same no matter how many you have.
– Zombie sound system. Zombies now have different idle and chasing sounds.
– Difficulty system. You can now choose between different difficulties in Options menu. The difficulty also affect drop chances for loot.
– Additional visual effects, including blood splatters. Hitting zombies now cause the blood to splash around. Can be turned off in Options.
– Custom zombie speed settings. A default rpg maker has very limited speed presets for events. We developed our own system to set any movement speed for zombies we need.
– Smooth Slowdown system. This mechanism works dynamically. The more frame rate drops – the slower game runs, but it return it keeps high framerate. Can be turned off in Options. It is also possible to change slowdown strength. We recommend to set it on Medium for good PC’s, and on High for lowkey machines.
– Real sight. A thing what we wanted a long time ago for immersion. Now there is a field of view in the game. What it does? Well, you don’t have eyes on your back anymore. Can be turned off in options.
– Dynamic camera. When turned on, the camera will follow your cursor a bit, allowing you see farer.
– Dialogue font. You can change dialogue font in options menu now.
– Reworked game menu, both visually and technically.
– New title screen.
– Updated game options.
– Added fullscreen mode support.
– Added Smart Sharpness for fullscreen mode, with adjustable settings.
– Many small technical improvements and fixes.
– Significantly improved engine performance.
Android version release.
While it is still experimental, it should be fully playable on you Android device! No Joiplay needed!

v0.2.2

Content

• New loading screen – yes, we are fans of Alien.
• In the first town, a certain fat guy might pay you a visit in the attic if you decide to sleep there.
• Almost immediately after arriving at the church and receiving the first quest, Jillian can visit Sarah (the doctor) and see something.
• While sleeping in her room, David might visit Jillian to check on her.
• For the Survival mode, we’ve added an option to get a discount if you’re willing to show your body to Crow.
• Added a story scene in the police station where Jillian meets the game’s new boss – the Sheriff.
• Added a conceptually new boss. Before this, we only had Mr. X, but he was too primitive. Now that our technical capabilities have expanded, we decided to add a boss fight with the Sheriff in the police station. Be careful, he’s quite resilient, has an ally, and uses various attacks.

Technical Stuff

• implemented a plugin and added unique equip sounds for every item and weapon.
• Added a lighter. Well, it was already in the game—you get it by completing the events in the sewer—but now you can equip it to light up the area around your character.
• Grenades create a flash of light upon explosion.
• The fire from a Molotov cocktail now works like real fire—it illuminates the surrounding area! Have you ever seen an RPG Maker game that has this? I haven’t.

Bug fixes

• fixed a wall’s layer at Malene’s house, which was covering player

Upcoming features:

• Gallery: Although it’s technically complete, we will release it in the next update because we’re not sure if it displays all the scenes correctly. There are quite a lot of them, and triggering each one to check the display is a very time-consuming task.
• Physics: The game will get the ability to move objects pixel by pixel, and you will no longer get stuck in zombies. We decided to implement physics a bit later because it’s needed for an enemy that can perform a running attack.

Brutal patch

• Since now all harsh content will be available only in Brutal patch. To access new ending for loosing a bossfight at police station, install Brutal patch.

v0.2.0

• Fixed an issue where elevators triggered a transition during the fight with Mr. X.
• Save problems have been resolved.
• Resolution error has been fixed.
• Bug with medkit prices at sewer traders has been fixed.
• Bullet trajectory logic has been reworked.
• Shooting accuracy has been significantly improved.
• Weapon reload logic has been reworked (reloading is interrupted if the player starts shooting).
• RMB (right mouse button) logic has been revamped: now holding RMB causes continuous firing until the ammo runs out.
• M249 weapon has been enhanced (visual and sound effects).
• Movement while firing automatic weapons is now blocked.
• Added a 3D sound system.
• Added a new “ABSonDamage” feature that plays a sound when damage is dealt.
• Zombies on the map now have voice lines.
• Pathfinding system has been improved and optimized (the number of simultaneous enemies on the map has greatly increased. FPS on older PCs should improve during high-load moments).
• Added a new item search mechanic.
• AI for allies has been significantly improved.
• Fixed minor visual bugs.
• Camera core added (the camera now moves smoothly with a slight delay, zooming and other features are now available).
• Spawner logic has been reworked.
• Loot generation logic on the map has been reworked.
• Loot system improved (sprite sizes reduced by 50%, dynamic ID pooling system added to prevent ID loss in loot objects).
• Save system core created (autosaves every 5 minutes to the first slot; all saves, except autosaves, now display the map name and a screenshot).
• Added a load button in the ESC menu.
• Cheat menu for ammo has been created and added.
• Adrenaline duration doubled.
• Lockpicking mini-game created.
• 10 new maps added (Act 2).
• New zombies added
  The renders are still in production.

v0.1.9

• Act 1 is finished (19 map pieces). You can now play through the shopping mall and escape the city.
• New throwable weapon – molotov.
• Slightly improved AI for friendly NPCs. They are still stupid, but we are working on it.
• Shooting mechanic was changed a bit. Weapons has much lesser projectiles now. It was done on purpose, because bullets were hitting various objects too often.
• Shotgun has less spreading.
• Zombie spawner was completely rewritten. Now it shouldn’t cause performance drops. Heroes wear no capes.
• Zombie book was added. You will receive it during the plot at cinema’s WC.
• Quest journal was added! Now every (if my memory serves) task in game has a quest log. I can’t tell how huge this task was, but it is here.
• Bug at status window was fixed, now ass picture shouldn’t disappear. Also vagina and ass statuses are working separately now.
• Fat zombie received increased health and a chance to blow up.
• Red zombie’s regeneration is working properly now.
• Global fog effect. You’ll first notice it on new maps. New global effects will appear more in future updates.

This update brings story only. We are sorry if you’ll find it small, but we had to finish this part of the game to move on to freeplay part.
IMPORTANT: new maps can cause crashes during saving. You can resolve it by reopening the game. We are working on fix.

v0.1.4.1

• Continuation of the story. Now you will be able to visit the police station (22 map pieces)
• Added second outfit which you will obtain at police station
• Introduced new NPC with two conversation scenes. You can talk to her and learn what her story is. She will appear later in story
• Added new type of zombie: hunter
• Added human enemies (12 variations)
• 3 new variations for generic zombies
• New main theme in the menu
• Added first melee weapon
• Added explosives: grenades and land mine. Molotov is in progress.
• Technical: added animated status effects. Now every single npc and PC are able to bleed, burn and get poisoned with visual effects
• Created spawner, which will be used later
• Added regeneration passive in skill tree
• Added stamina increase in skill tree
• Added max carrying weight in skill tree
• Increased shooting rate for all weapons
• Implemented AI teams. It allows us to use NPCs as friends. You will notice that when you arrive at police station for the first time. Later in the game there will be neutral NPC which will attack both PC and zombies
• All existing scenes are reworked for second outfit. They will change depending on which outfit do you use at the moment
• Cassie got additional scene with animation from 3 angles
• Forest man received a different scene if you wear the second outfit. He also received a new scene, which you can trigger if you corruption is high enough
• Added scene with the boy at the confession booth right after you get mission to infiltrate the police station
• Added hints for some lewd actions. Now you’ll see how much corruption do you need

Bug fixes:

• Fixed broken shops at the sewers
• Fixed limitless running option
• Fixed oldman’s animations in the gun shop