Steam Alpha Test Launch - alpha 0.45

Big News! Drift Shell is now on Steam ready for the official alpha test. The game's page is not public yet however. I will be providing keys to all current patreon backers who haven't received one yet.

From here on, keys to the alpha test will be locked to tiers $7 and up. They will also be getting keys to the steam early access launch when development hits that phase. The access keys for the alpha test will be deactivated when the early access launches.

All new backers for development will need to wait for me to request more keys to gain access to the alpha test.

The Planned Full Game Price has been lowered to $10.

My current goal is to prepare for early access by the Steam summer Next Fest submission deadline at the end of April.

~Change Log~

• fixed lag spikes and freezing during matches with optimizations to the particle system

• added custom player bot matches in local and online multiplayer

• added bot match option to let players watch custom matches with all bots

• added the new switch player option in the assembly menu to allow the host to customize bit player builds

• In training mode the dummy Drift Shell mech will be AI controlled with a randomized build and fight back

• added randomize option to the assembly menu to quickly make a randomized build

• added PVE encounters to the faction conquest queue. they trigger after waiting in the the 'deploy into conflict zone' queue after a set time if no other players are in the queue to run a match. if your faction is trying to capture the territory, winning a PVE encounter will count to towards damaging the territory

• added a 'remove player' option to lobbies to allow hosts to kick players if need be

• rocket launcher reload shortened. projectile velocity slightly increased

• machine gun bullet spread narrowed slightly

• machine gun arm's bullet spread narrowed slightly. clip ammo increased slightly

• Split missile's cone of tracking decreased significantly

• fixed full screen but to so it will now be adjusted to take into account the screen's aspect ratio

• match replays will now be limited to keeping up to 10 replays saved to memory. after which it overwrites replay saves