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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)