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Author Topic: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014  (Read 38896 times)

Chris

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Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« on: March 21, 2014, 09:54:01 AM »
This build is only available to the closed group of alpha testers.
If you're an alpha tester, run Steam to update to the latest version.

What's new?
Alpha 6 features some major improvements to comet tails and several new simulations to show them off.
We’ve also added a new free-movement gizmo, and made many improvements and bug fixes.
A valid Steam key is now required to run Universe Sandbox Alpha.

Complete List of Updates

New simulations:
   
  • Sun Wolf Jupiter Earth
  • Watch the Earth and Jupiter develop large comet tails in this binary star simulation
  • Jupiters Fly Around Sun
  • Best enjoyed while listening to Flight of the Valkyries
  • Sphere of 1000 Planets
  • Earths Next To Sun
  • Comet Stress Tests

Fixes:
   
  • Fixed a bug that caused clouds to scroll too fast at low timesteps
  • Fixed a bug causing stars to age at double speed
  • Fixed a bug that caused star temperature to display a wrong unit type on Macs
  • Fixed mousewheel scrolling too far on first scroll
  • Fixed bug with particle color when ring inner and outer size were the same
  • Collision mode "combine" works again

Improvements:
   
  • Major improvements to the UX for changing stellar properties
  • user can only change certain properties, depending on which property is locked
  • if ‘evolve’ is turned off, then any value can be modified, and only mass/radius/density are intertwined (as they are for any body)
  • A valid Steam key is now required to run Universe Sandbox Alpha
  • Improved comet dust tail distribution
  • Added new comet ion tail visual effect
  • Ion tail length varies with the stellar wind acceleration
  • More units now show alias dropdowns
  • Added unit handling to Tether creation page (Add > Tethers)
  • Added buttons to halt and reverse velocities (Sim panel)
  • Added "Ring of Galaxies" preset to Galaxy panel
  • Removed 'y' key to reverse velocities and halt simulation
  • Added checkboxes to show comets and stellar flares (View panel)
  • Added a slider for stellar wind acceleration (View panel)
  • Hovering a property label now shows buttons to quickly graph or chart the property
  • Tutorials now show a "Finish" button on the last step
  • Added an option to lock the rotation of a body
  • Added free gizmo movement
  • Click the center circle to move the selected object sideways
  • Hold shift to move up and down
  • Hold ctrl to show the advanced axis gizmo

Please let us know if you run into any problems.  Our preferred method for reporting a bug is the in-game feedback system. Click on the star icon in the top-right corner of the screen.  And remember, the ideal bug report is a step-by-step procedure for reproducing the error.

Thanks!
« Last Edit: March 21, 2014, 10:06:02 AM by Chris »

blotz

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2014, 11:45:42 AM »
wow! that was really fast! nice

WitheHole18

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2014, 12:11:19 PM »
It's fantastic!

FiahOwl

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2014, 04:29:41 PM »

This message is only viewable with Universe Sandbox Galaxy Edition. Access it and much more with promo-code '118849'.

« Last Edit: March 22, 2021, 01:00:41 AM by FiahOwl »

smjjames

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #4 on: March 21, 2014, 04:35:24 PM »
Cool, sounds like collissions are fixed now.

Edit: Diameter still doesn't change on collision in awesome mode. :(  I thought you guys were fixing that.
« Last Edit: March 21, 2014, 06:30:35 PM by smjjames »

JAW1002

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2014, 08:11:50 AM »
fixed collisions are great! im gonna have fin with this.

JAW1002

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2014, 08:17:28 AM »
Does this also mean that the awesome collisions will be fixed soon?

WitheHole18

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2014, 12:03:20 PM »
There are the sounds?

smjjames

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2014, 03:39:43 PM »
There are the sounds?

There is no sound in space......

Chris

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #9 on: March 22, 2014, 04:35:04 PM »
Cool, sounds like collissions are fixed now.

Edit: Diameter still doesn't change on collision in awesome mode. :(  I thought you guys were fixing that.

We wouldn't have mentioned a huge thing like the new collision system as a little side fix.

The collision mode "combine", which was completely broken, works again.
Radius/Mass not changing correctly is known and will be fixed in the next build.

When the collision system, which is a seperate issue, enters testing,
we will let you know - and you will know that we're letting you know ;)


smjjames

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #10 on: March 22, 2014, 04:49:00 PM »
Cool, sounds like collissions are fixed now.

Edit: Diameter still doesn't change on collision in awesome mode. :(  I thought you guys were fixing that.

We wouldn't have mentioned a huge thing like the new collision system as a little side fix.

The collision mode "combine", which was completely broken, works again.
Radius/Mass not changing correctly is known and will be fixed in the next build.

When the collision system, which is a seperate issue, enters testing,
we will let you know - and you will know that we're letting you know ;)

Yeah, I misunderstood a bit and thought you had maybe fixed the radius not changing with the mass, and possibly not being able to gain mass by accretion.

Cool that it'll be fixed in the next build though.

blotz

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2014, 06:05:20 PM »
more premade simulations! those are awesome!
also, any way to view fps while in game?
« Last Edit: March 22, 2014, 06:14:06 PM by bong »

Xriqxa

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #12 on: March 23, 2014, 06:27:14 AM »
 :o :o :o :o :o :o :o This is crazy!!!

WitheHole18

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #13 on: March 23, 2014, 09:50:45 AM »
how do you take screenshots?

WitheHole18

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #14 on: March 23, 2014, 09:52:31 AM »
to me this is

blotz

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #15 on: March 23, 2014, 09:57:57 AM »
f12
btw that image is broken

Nutt007

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #16 on: March 23, 2014, 03:29:21 PM »
Feels much more stable now. My game runs smoother than before. :D Also I can't thank you guys enough for fixing collisions.

smjjames

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #17 on: March 23, 2014, 06:36:06 PM »
Feels much more stable now. My game runs smoother than before. :D Also I can't thank you guys enough for fixing collisions.

Personally, I don't consider collisions completely fixed (or at least in a state that it can be worked with properly) untll the size changes with the mass in both combine and awesome modes, whether it's gaining mass or losing mass. But hey, progress :)

blotz

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #18 on: March 24, 2014, 03:52:26 AM »
also sometimes when i'm colliding mars just goes inside earth which is unrealistic

smjjames

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #19 on: March 24, 2014, 06:23:29 AM »
I've also seen objects just go right through each other.

Xriqxa

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #20 on: March 24, 2014, 06:49:38 AM »
I think that's an issue with equal masses, but mars through earth? Weird.

smjjames

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #21 on: March 24, 2014, 08:50:46 AM »
I think that's an issue with equal masses, but mars through earth? Weird.

If you use the collision simulation thing and smash objects at high speeds, they can pass through each other.

I've noticed that occasionally, if the collision is slow enough and the orbital trajectory is right, the collider will sort of skim right on the surface of the larger object and not really merge. The diameter not changing with the mass will have to be fixed first to see what's happening there.

Also, sometimes, if the object is big/massive enough and the trajectory is angled enough, the impactor will sort of glance off rather than shatter into a million fragments. The mars colliding with earth sim is a great example of this and could actually be used as a testing ground for more realistic collisions between two large masses.

Oh yeah, supernova remnants and planetary nebulae (sunlike mass star death) somehow broke this release.
« Last Edit: March 24, 2014, 09:04:53 AM by smjjames »

Chris

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #22 on: March 24, 2014, 09:13:15 AM »
"Oh yeah, supernova remnants and planetary nebulae (sunlike mass star death) somehow broke this release."

Could you elaborate what you mean? Thanks.

smjjames

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #23 on: March 24, 2014, 09:25:04 AM »
"Oh yeah, supernova remnants and planetary nebulae (sunlike mass star death) somehow broke this release."

Could you elaborate what you mean? Thanks.

The stars evolve and explode (or rather blink out of existence on the timescale you're going at) just fine, but I checked both stellar evolution sims and last time I remember, when the 10 solar mass star goes supernova, it left a supernova remnant, now it doesn't for some reason.

I noticed while running the flare grid sim to let the stars evolve (the largest one goes boom pretty quick) that they weren't leaving that placeholder image that sometimes gets left behind, so I checked the large mass stellar evolution and there wasn't a supernova remnant there either.

Maybe you guys took them out to be worked on or something, no idea.

Xriqxa

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #24 on: March 25, 2014, 04:47:56 AM »
I think that's an issue with equal masses, but mars through earth? Weird.

If you use the collision simulation thing and smash objects at high speeds, they can pass through each other.

I've noticed that occasionally, if the collision is slow enough and the orbital trajectory is right, the collider will sort of skim right on the surface of the larger object and not really merge. The diameter not changing with the mass will have to be fixed first to see what's happening there.

Also, sometimes, if the object is big/massive enough and the trajectory is angled enough, the impactor will sort of glance off rather than shatter into a million fragments. The mars colliding with earth sim is a great example of this and could actually be used as a testing ground for more realistic collisions between two large masses.

Oh yeah, supernova remnants and planetary nebulae (sunlike mass star death) somehow broke this release.
umm... I don't have the game...

blotz

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #25 on: March 25, 2014, 01:22:30 PM »
i read supernove. i let the sun explode, no colorful explosions, i didn't slow down in time. maybe change background at supernova

smjjames

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #26 on: March 25, 2014, 10:15:42 PM »
i read supernove. i let the sun explode, no colorful explosions, i didn't slow down in time. maybe change background at supernova

Try the evolution test with the 10 solar mass star. The supernova remnant should last hundreds of millions of years anyway.

valentin123

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #27 on: March 26, 2014, 08:20:04 AM »
Im back!  ;D

Xriqxa

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #28 on: March 27, 2014, 07:27:51 AM »
And so.... Life goes on.

Lord DC

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Re: Alpha 6 now available - March 22, 2014
« Reply #29 on: March 27, 2014, 12:41:14 PM »
I can't wait until this comes out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  ;D