New Update adds MULTIPLAYER! - Main Branch

[dram 14]

Hello everyone!

I know it has been some time since we updated the main branch, and there is a good reason for it: Multiplayer.

Yes, that's right, in case you have not been following things on the forums or the development build, Take On Mars now features multiplayer. At the moment this includes a cooperative mode where players can build bases and vehicles together.

As I am sure many questions will come up surrounding this, I'll try to answer a few straight away:

Q) What is currently possible in multiplayer?

A: Everything that is possible in single player with the Mars Astronaut. That includes the following:

* Building habitats from individual pieces

* Printing building pieces and vehicles via the 3D Printer

* Mining materials from the location, however the materials themselves are not used yet

* Driving vehicles, including with friends

* Full physics simulation over the net

* Having fun!

Q) Who can start a server?

A: Anyone can start a server, simply select Multiplayer in the main menu and select Create Game. There, choose a scenario and begin! In case you are wondering who will be able to see your server, the answer is anyone!

Q) I built an awesome base with a friend, but don't want to lose it, can we save the game somehow?

A: Yes, the multiplayer implementation features a unique saving system. Connected players may vote for a save or the server may initiate a save directly. The server saves the game to his hard drive and sends the save file to all connected players. This means that any one of those players may then re-host that save in their own server.

Q) Are our characters and their last known positions stored in the save?

A: Yes, each player that joins has his character stored exactly where he left it. This can be on a hill, in a base, or falling off a cliff. In all situations, the character is stored with his health and everything intact. We will be adding an inventory soon, so the storage of your items will also be guaranteed.

Q) When can we load a saved game?

A: When you start to host a server you can select to start the server from stored save games on your hard disk. Information about the save is displayed when you select it. Once you start the server anew or from a save, you can load the game at any time via player vote or directly by the server. The interruption in play is very short.

Q) Will future builds render my save incompatible?

A: No, the save files have been written to save in a format which ensures compatibility between builds. They are in fact stored almost identically to a scenario file.

Q) Take On Mars has very detailed physics simulation... Is that present in multiplayer?

A: Yes, everything in multiplayer and single player is fully physically simulated, which includes vehicles, characters and so on. Yes, this does mean vehicles can be smashed in multiplayer :)

Q) Did you say save similar to a scenario? Does that mean we could adjust a save into a scenario?

A: Yes, a save is similar to a scenario, so with some minor editing a scenario may be derived from the save. We intend to add an option to Export Save To Scenario soon.

Q) It crashed... What do I do with the crash info?

A: If you started in Developer mode (the yellow Play Game button in the loader), then it could help us track down the bug. When you see the crash window appear, press Ctrl + C and then paste it into a new thread or post on the forums, along with as detailed as possible set of steps as to how the crash occurred. We do not expect you to test the game for us of course, but will appreciate feedback and bug reports :)

Q) What can I expect in the next update?

A: Survival elements, including oxygen simulation, using mined resources to fill habitats with air, a flatbed-truck-like vehicle for transporting larger cargoes, and an inventory for objects such as soil samples, food and water, etc.

Q) When can we expect another update?

A: I am heading on a 3 week vacation as of the 30th of August and will return on the 18th of September, so expect full-speed development to continue then, with an update following within two weeks.

Q) Just tried the multiplayer, love it! How can I help?

A: Thank you! We always appreciate when our games are enjoyed :) You can help us by giving us feedback, posting screenshots, sharing videos and spreading the word if you like it!

Q) I recall the expected release date being at the end of August... Is this still true?

A: In short, no. We have pushed the final release date back to allow for proper and full implementation of the multiplayer features as well as the entire Expedition One addition, both in terms of single player (Space Program) and multiplayer (survival elements, base management, additional game modes, etc). This is good news as you get highly refined content, and more of it!

Q) What has changed in the game? Any chance of a change log?

A: There is a change log directly accessible through the main menu, top right corner as Change Log. Alternatively, check here: mars.takeonthegame.com/changelog/mainbranch

Q) I'm enjoying the game, but want to finish my in-progress Space Program. Can I go back to a previous build?

A: Yes, we have added a build titled 'Legacy', which is the previous Main Branch build. Switch to this if you want to continue using the older build for now. To switch to the build, select Take On Mars in your steam library, right-click, select Properties. Switch to the BETAS tab, and select 'Legacy' in the list, ignoring password input.

Q) Sounds great... Screenshots or it didn't happen!!!

A: Of course, screenshots are mandatory :) There have been plenty released over the past few weeks as we have been testing the builds. Here are some highlights:

Collaborative building with the 3D Printer:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=306547495

Base interior, under construction:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=305677900

Physics... Forklift lifting Scout Buggy:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=304590734

After over 5 hours of printing and building, and composed of over 800 individual pieces, a bridge coming together on Mars, across Victoria Crater:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=304790952

A player standing on the edge of the bridge:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=304790913

We really hope you enjoy the newest update! Please keep in mind this is an Early Access game, and bugs are to be expected. We are sorting them as fast as we can, and apologize for frustration some bugs may cause!

Kind and sincere regards,

Martin Melicharek

(Project Lead)

[AstronauticalFerret 10]

So far the MP is amazing, especially when you have a group of people who work together to the beat. The community is also very helpful both on here and on Steam, and in game. I can't wait to see what will be implemented next once the Devs are back from vacation :D

[ussmarines 18]

Dev are Back :)

[dram 14]

Hey guys! In between destinations hehe, so had time to fix that rover issue here at home, and a build. Most importantly the single player Space Program issue is fixed. Then there are other potential issues/crashes Ander fixed while I was away, so thanks go to him for those.

The newest fixes are in all versions, dev and main. Also, now dev branch will not be able to play with main branch. An unfortunate side effect but a necessary one that ensures players can join servers that they can truly play on. So right now I'd suggest moving to main.

I'll be back on the 18th.

Here is a log of changes for the newest build.

10th September 2014:
- Fixed issue where vehicles sent via the Mission Control room could not be controlled properly


5th September 2014:
- Fixed occasional crash caused by incorrect usage of string array
- Fixed crash that occasinally occured when building vehicles from the 3D Printer
- Fixed memory leak associated with 'owned' string usage


1st September 2014:
- Added server browser filtering by game version and custom game attributes
- Added password protected servers

[Fixxerdot 10]

To ask a question asked before, is the manned missions available in the main game now?

[felthat 1]

they are in the main for a long time lol

[Fixxerdot 10]

they are in the main for a long time lol

Huh? How long lol... So can i build a base after ive driven around on mars with rovers? Not scenario-vice.

[felthat 1]

oh, i thought u meant main/exp

ill check out your problem :o

[Fixxerdot 10]

oh, i thought u meant main/exp

ill check out your problem :o

Cheers! :)

[felthat 1]

news said there would be two chapter and second one would be manned and first one skippable, so looks like its not in game yet, cant also see any skip option

[dram 14]

Hey guys, yeah it is not in the Space Program yet, there it will be added once all the features have been complete (to avoid making you guys have to restart :) ) Of course, there is multiplayer to try it in or scenarios.

[Maio 293]

I am currently on the dev. branch and the only server I can see is the BI server, however I can not access it.

Edited October 3, 2014 by Maio

[dram 14]

Hi Maio, yeah I noticed there is a problem connecting since before yesterday. It is an issue we're looking into right now, but it seems not to be on our end - changing to a previous build still does not work. Rest assured the issue will be sorted pronto.

[Maio 293]

Hi Maio, yeah I noticed there is a problem connecting since before yesterday. It is an issue we're looking into right now, but it seems not to be on our end - changing to a previous build still does not work. Rest assured the issue will be sorted pronto.

Much appreciated for the answer :)

[felthat 1]

Dram, whats up? :cool:

[dram 14]

Hey guys :) I should have written sooner, thanks for the reminder.

MP is working again but only in the test build for now. There will be a main branch update within a week or so. There will also be a ton of new content and features, so a lot to look forward to :)

[felthat 1]

did i miss that update or its delayed? :P is there version 1.0 on horizon? i mean, u want to add any new features or now its up to finish, polish and fix stuff?

[dram 14]

Hey FeltHat,

Yeah MP is working well, just finishing off a few things and the main branch will receive a major new update, which will reenable the MP there too, among many other things :)

ETA is within one week.

[stray-shadow 10]

Having a huge amount of fun with this update! It did feel a bit lonely milling around on my own. Wall Jenga needs to go Stand Alone =D (not really, it was a disaster...)