Release notes for version 20.09.04.1329

Another day, another build. Here’s what you have to look forward to in version 20.09.04.1329:

The big new feature in this build is an experiment I’m calling focus modes. A focus mode strategically amplifies certain asteroid sounds as follows:

• Snipe mode amplifies the furthest asteroid. Shots in snipe mode are more difficult, but you won’t dodge as many fragments from nearby kills.
• Brawl mode amplifies the closest asteroid. If you’re up for a more aggressive game where you’ll slug it out and dodge a lot more fragments, this is the mode for you.

Focus modes are off by default. Switch between them with F, or L2 on a controller.

Note that focus modes only apply to asteroids. Saucers are always loud. Also, if an asteroid is about to collide with you, it will always be amplified. Hopefully this makes things a bit less overwhelming. Asteroids is a chaotic game, but in my own experiments, I feel like my games are a bit longer and require more skill when playing in snipe mode. Brawl mode games are shorter, but require quicker reflexes. And, of course, you can switch modes as many times as you’d like while playing.

This is not a final draft of this mechanic, so please let me know if you have suggestions on how to improve it, or if it should go away entirely.

Also, in addition to the music volume, there is now a master volume that controls the level of the overall sound. The ability to set a speech volume is coming soon.

As if these release notes aren’t substantial enough, the notes for the previous build didn’t save. Here are some of the changes from yesterday’s release:

• The screen reader speech corruptions have been fixed. An unfortunate consequence of this fix is that there will be odd breaks in longer messages, but that can’t be helped right now.
• Collision alert sounds should now correspond more accurately with the colliding object.
• Speeds are more accurately clamped, and you should no longer encounter massively fast-moving targets.
• Speeds rise more predictably between waves. This may make things too easy, so I may change this further.
• The default music volume was increased to 90%, and the volume of the cockpit rumble was reduced.

Thanks and enjoy.