Metal Drift Re-Release!
by Weston Tracy · 02/16/2011 (1:58 pm) · 13 comments
Hey All,
So Brian has been hard at work on a stand-alone install version of Metal Drift. This version can run independently of Steam and will be additionally releasing on Direct 2 Drive and Gamers Gate on the 17th! All three communities will be able to play together with the new version. We're looking forward to seeing the new surge of activity on the servers.
With the new build he added some back end goodies...uh...here they are:
1. New account system - allows players to play each other on any PC platform.
2. New Master Server - faster, more reliable with more accurate player counts.
3. New Tribal War dedicated servers in London, New York, and Atlanta. (These are up now!)
4. New Tank Skins! Now you'll get a brand new skin when you hit level 20 and another at level 40! There is also a new skin for our devoted community members (the VIP skin). So if you see a black tank driving around, it's either one of us, or our awesome community leaders...they are to be feared! Lastly we made a one-off skin for our all time champion player, and extremely dedicated community member 'Drakon'. We re-enabled the Steam achievement involving killing him a number of times in one match. This is how we treat the people we love. Now you have no doubt who you're supposed to kill relentlessly.
New skins:
And here's a video showing the new skins in different stages.
Brian took care of some pesky bugs as well:
1. The player counts on the servers are accurate now. There was an issue with the Steam servers, but now that we're running independently, the number of people you see on the server list is actually correct.
2. Weapon bonus damage was corrected.
3. The Drakon achievement on Steam is fixed and re-activated.
4. The ball doesn't collide with the boost tunnels, goals and repair pads any more. So passing and throwing the ball ahead of you on a boost run should be much smoother.
5. The boost colors on the team fake pack are correct. So it should be easier to fool the other team into believing you're one of them.
Some miscellaneous additions:
1. Added some subtle cockpit glass. You've got a windshield now!
2. We reduced the number of human players you need in a game for stats to be recorded from 6 to 4.
The update will go live on Direct 2 Drive and Gamer's Gate on the 17th.
I hope you'll all join us for some super 'splody action packed carnage!! Brian and I are jumping in at 6pm PST nightly.
If you want to pick up the game, you can buy it on Steam right now. We really appreciate the support!
-Weston
So Brian has been hard at work on a stand-alone install version of Metal Drift. This version can run independently of Steam and will be additionally releasing on Direct 2 Drive and Gamers Gate on the 17th! All three communities will be able to play together with the new version. We're looking forward to seeing the new surge of activity on the servers.
With the new build he added some back end goodies...uh...here they are:
1. New account system - allows players to play each other on any PC platform.
2. New Master Server - faster, more reliable with more accurate player counts.
3. New Tribal War dedicated servers in London, New York, and Atlanta. (These are up now!)
4. New Tank Skins! Now you'll get a brand new skin when you hit level 20 and another at level 40! There is also a new skin for our devoted community members (the VIP skin). So if you see a black tank driving around, it's either one of us, or our awesome community leaders...they are to be feared! Lastly we made a one-off skin for our all time champion player, and extremely dedicated community member 'Drakon'. We re-enabled the Steam achievement involving killing him a number of times in one match. This is how we treat the people we love. Now you have no doubt who you're supposed to kill relentlessly.
New skins:
And here's a video showing the new skins in different stages.
Brian took care of some pesky bugs as well:
1. The player counts on the servers are accurate now. There was an issue with the Steam servers, but now that we're running independently, the number of people you see on the server list is actually correct.
2. Weapon bonus damage was corrected.
3. The Drakon achievement on Steam is fixed and re-activated.
4. The ball doesn't collide with the boost tunnels, goals and repair pads any more. So passing and throwing the ball ahead of you on a boost run should be much smoother.
5. The boost colors on the team fake pack are correct. So it should be easier to fool the other team into believing you're one of them.
Some miscellaneous additions:
1. Added some subtle cockpit glass. You've got a windshield now!
2. We reduced the number of human players you need in a game for stats to be recorded from 6 to 4.
The update will go live on Direct 2 Drive and Gamer's Gate on the 17th.
I hope you'll all join us for some super 'splody action packed carnage!! Brian and I are jumping in at 6pm PST nightly.
If you want to pick up the game, you can buy it on Steam right now. We really appreciate the support!
-Weston
About the author
Game artist. Lover of pixels. Co-Owner and Artist for www.blackjacketgames.com
#2
02/16/2011 (3:16 pm)
This looks great, I will go check it out. 
#4
02/16/2011 (6:37 pm)
What tech did you use to build Metal Drift? It's not TAP driven, is it? 
#5
How was the reflective shine done? Shader or envMap?
02/16/2011 (7:16 pm)
Fantabulous animation on that tank. :)How was the reflective shine done? Shader or envMap?
#6
@Chris - It's built on Torque Advanced with a Collada loader added for the levels.
@Steve - Thanks! The Tank skins have a masked cube map, modulated with a normal map.
02/16/2011 (9:21 pm)
@Jordan, John, Zoid - Thanks guys! @Chris - It's built on Torque Advanced with a Collada loader added for the levels.
@Steve - Thanks! The Tank skins have a masked cube map, modulated with a normal map.
#7
I love this game ... don't get to play it as much as I would like ... but none-the-less ... still a brilliant game.
02/16/2011 (9:48 pm)
@Weston: Is this a free update for existing owners of the game on Steam?I love this game ... don't get to play it as much as I would like ... but none-the-less ... still a brilliant game.
#9
Yeah, the update is free to anyone who already has the game on Steam.
Thanks for the feedback!
@Novack
Thank you sir. That took forever to get right with the Torque exporter, but I love the sense of functional tech it adds.
02/17/2011 (12:11 pm)
@QuintonDYeah, the update is free to anyone who already has the game on Steam.
Thanks for the feedback!
@Novack
Thank you sir. That took forever to get right with the Torque exporter, but I love the sense of functional tech it adds.
#10
I hope it's available for Mac. I want to grab this one.
02/17/2011 (8:04 pm)
That is quite possibly the coolest vehicle animation setup I've ever seen. It's a complete trip, so smooth and convincing:) I hope it's available for Mac. I want to grab this one.
#11
02/19/2011 (5:52 pm)
Awesome skins! I love how the body of the tank sways with the turning and movement.
#12
Thanks man! We were pretty happy when we finally got it working.
@Adam
Thanks! The swaying is all Brian Ramage's work, he put a lot of love into the physics on the tank.
02/24/2011 (7:25 pm)
@Steve Thanks man! We were pretty happy when we finally got it working.
@Adam
Thanks! The swaying is all Brian Ramage's work, he put a lot of love into the physics on the tank.
#13
02/25/2011 (8:38 am)
Very cool, I have my own Tank Combat Game in the works currently, and I definitely have to say, you've done an amazing job with this one. 
Torque Owner Jordan Thompson