Ruin Online - BETA5 - New Vid and patch notes

Here's a look at what we've been working on in BETA5. Here's a pic, and a video link.

New Video



This patch contained a couple months worth of work from the team. Below are the most memorable of the fixes/adds:

Datablock speedloading optimization
Complete overhaul to how/where/when the game loads the datablocks needed to play. Now, when you reach the main menu all datablocks have been loaded for your play session. Zone travel and disconnect/reconnects should take 3-5 seconds (faster on some PCs).

Fixed particles for clients
Some clean up on the datablock loading fixed particle effects for clients. No more pixel smoke!

Live zone for main menu/character create/join server
The game menus now take place with a live zone running locally, which is also used for character creation.

Ported to latest TGE
The project is caught up with the latest version of Torque Game Engine. This in itself fixed a few bugs.

ArcaneFX activated
The ArcaneFX system by Faust Logic is back in game. Some spells can be triggered during combat, and some by using the number keys. (temporarily)

GUI overhaul
Reworked some of the menus/buttons to be easier to use. In game, the chat GUI was blocking access to the inventory slots, that's also been fixed.

Character LODs, optimizations and enhancements
Added LODs on our human characters/mobs which created a nice performance boost. Optimized the number of textures called by humans, another good boost.

Fixes to character animations
Tweaks to the rigging/weighting and some geometry adjustments to the player and clothing stack.

New wearables and mountables
Added new clothing: Soldier gear, Turban, and some female clothing.

New pistols
Moe's Gunz added over a dozen new pistols with varying projectiles, particle effects, damages, etc.

New firearm grip animations
Rifles now call a 2-handed rifle grip stance, while pistols call the pistol stance.

New Buildings
Moe's Buildingz added about a dozen new buildings (welcome back Moe!)

Punishment for leaving Mission Area
Leave the mission area, or fall thru the terrian - you die.

Weapons mount to your body when unequipped
This was a fun one for us... Now many weapons mount to your body when you unequip them, which gives you a super-saucy new degree of customization to your look.

Daggars and Polearms can be picked up
Part of the ongoing project to make all items in game "pick-up-able".

Pick up item equips to your hand
When you pick up an item in battle, it automatically equips to your right hand - which can be... handy.

Disabled Normal Maps on Interiors
Keeping performance high, holding off on eyecandy for a bit.

Disabled Shaders on Water
Same

Disabled mounting pets and vehicles
They got Broked...

More to Come