Scavenger SV-4 news & patch notes

At this point in time the UPX compressed version of the executable shows a false positive in fewer AV programs than the uncompressed versions I sent out in the v1.09 patch, so I've re-enabled compression in a v1.095 patch. This (as of now, at least) should stop the built in windows 10 bitdefender AV from triggering - though there are false positives at this time from several other popular products. My next steps will be submitting reports to all the AV software providers, since changing the game to match the moving target they seem to require appears not to work well.

An increasing number of users have been getting false positives on this game from their antivirus software. To reduce this problem, I've just pushed a patch that strips UPX compression from the executables. This should make no difference at all to gameplay, but should cause fewer false positives and quarantines, which tend to appear as the game not installing, not starting, or crashing while trying to build gameworlds. I apologize for the inconvenience. Pre-patch BuildID: 2805653 Post-patch BuildID: 2913540

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into orbit...

Patch notes:

• New Feature: Story expansion. Additional expository artifacts. You may find more clues and stories on the planet about what happened.
• Improvement: The radiation clock does not actually start ticking until you leave the first room or start a game of Dungeon Road. Thanks, TheMouseMaster and others.
• Improvement: Further adjustments to the name generation system. Thanks, Maxime.
• Bug fix: Partial maglev units no longer disable controlled landings causing rover destruction if powered on while landing. Now safe to leave on. Thanks, Fulf and Eagell68.
• Bug fix: Beating the #10 high score (but below the #9) would not award you the new #10 high score, due to a logic bug. Thanks, Eagell68.
• Bug fix: The onscreen display of the final data records had a phantom "." showing up in them.

If after patching, the game fails to create worlds, or the config tool stops working, or you can't launch the game at all - it is probably a false positive from your antivirus. I've done all that I can to reduce this, but Cylance in particular still triggers a false positive. Pre-patch BuildID: 2735853 Post-patch BuildID: 2805653

In space, no one can hear you receiving the v1.07 patch... Patch notes:

• Update: The configtool has been slightly rearranged to make more usable space for options, because...
• Quality of Life: Two new bindable controls have been added: Rover - Pick Up, and Rover - Recall. You can bind them to keys or gamepad buttons in the config tool. Thanks for the suggestion, Shadowdark and others.
• Balance Adjustment: Hostile software is now significantly more aggressive, and occurs slightly more often. Thanks, TheMouseMaster.
• Improvement: Name generation has been somewhat improved, with more improvements to come in v1.08 - thanks, Maxime.
• Bug fix: Active research was only working on Phase Two. It now works on all phases as intended. Thanks for spotting this, TheMouseMaster.
• Bug fix: Using invalid FOV settings crashed the game. It now clamps these values to 30-135. Thanks, Treadlight.
• Bug fix: Thermally Efficient devices weren't - they actually made MORE heat due to a code error. Thanks for catching this, Dragodonv2.
• Bug fix: Fixed a Z-sorting bug where the mouse cursor could under certain circumstances slide underneath display screens. Thanks, Mat0Man.
• Concession: There is now a configtool option to disable the jump scare in the game, for those who found it to be cheap or distressing.

If after patching the game fails to create worlds, or the config tool stops working, or you can't launch the game at all, it is probably a false positive from your antivirus. I've done all that I can to reduce this, but Cylance in particular still triggers a false positive. Pre-patch BuildID: 2690100 Post-patch BuildID: 2731400 Addendum: The bug fix on the mouse cursor interacted poorly with the atmospherics terminal overlay, so I've uploaded a hotfix for that as well. Pre-patch BuildID: 2731400 Post-patch BuildID: 2735853

Welcome to version 1.06! Patch notes:

• New option by popular request: Gameplay option for Easy Mode in the config tool. 50% as much radiation, 33% as many points.
• Improvement: IFF displays now show more comms traffic with sentries. Thanks, Steelpoint.
• Improvement: Sorting objects in Storage now uses a more efficient algorithm, with fewer required cargo moves.
• Improvement: Config Tool now has tooltips almost everywhere, to explain more about what options do.
• Bug fix: EVA suit helmet interior was not fully displayed on some video cards. Thanks for the help, Clatronix.
• Bug fix: 21:9 monitors did not neatly autoalign onto terminals; now they do. Thanks, Mat0Man.

Pre-patch BuildID: 2651673 Post-patch BuildID: 2690100

Hi, everyone. I've just deployed the v1.05 update to you all. Patch notes:

• New feature: Active Research. Research runs on the selected slot with +20% bonus speed, if you are actively using the science terminal. Thanks, charlesdegregorio.
• Gameplay adjustment: Radar ranges adjusted downward to avoid low value radars being more useful in the field than high value radars - thanks Wakandan Knuckles.
• Tribute: Added a small decorative memorial easter egg for characters named SpectaKoo.
• Bug fix: Embarassingly, you could launch the rover via the main terminal interface, despite pending cargo operations still requiring it - thanks, Lantantan.
• Bug fix: Efficiency of "particularly efficient" power storage devices had an incorrect formula, making them be the opposite - thanks, Wakandan Knuckles.
• Bug fix: Fixed a bug that I don't even want to talk about, except to say that ghostrebel is a diabolical genius. Thanks, ghostrebel.
• Bug fix: Fixed a bug that would allow you to the if you the . Thanks, Deoxys; you are also a diabolical genius.
• Bug fix: Objects being moved onto the rover, outside the garage, could conceivably be preinstalled in error.
• Bug fix: Mortars fired in space would use the wrong colorspace, and produce bluish-purple smoke.
• Bug fix: Loading a saved game, after saving another game, could result in incorrect cargo system animations persisting into the new game.
• Bug fix: Altered Steam repository such that you will hopefully stop seeing the harmless "2 files repaired" message, if you validate integrity.

Still working on: Why blue smoke can show up in your cockpit. (I'd swear it can't, except that I have screenshots proving the contrary...) Pre-patch BuildID: 2612918 Post-patch BuildID: 2651673

Hi, everyone. I've just deployed the v1.05 update to you all. Patch notes:

• New feature: Active Research. Research runs on the selected slot with +20% bonus speed, if you are actively using the science terminal. Thanks, charlesdegregorio.
• Gameplay adjustment: Radar ranges adjusted downward to avoid low value radars being more useful in the field than high value radars - thanks Wakandan Knuckles.
• Tribute: Added a small decorative memorial easter egg for characters named SpectaKoo.
• Bug fix: Embarassingly, you could launch the rover via the main terminal interface, despite pending cargo operations still requiring it - thanks, Lantantan.
• Bug fix: Efficiency of "particularly efficient" power storage devices had an incorrect formula, making them be the opposite - thanks, Wakandan Knuckles.
• Bug fix: Fixed a bug that I don't even want to talk about, except to say that ghostrebel is a diabolical genius. Thanks, ghostrebel.
• Bug fix: Fixed a bug that would allow you to the if you the . Thanks, Deoxys; you are also a diabolical genius.
• Bug fix: Objects being moved onto the rover, outside the garage, could conceivably be preinstalled in error.
• Bug fix: Mortars fired in space would use the wrong colorspace, and produce bluish-purple smoke.
• Bug fix: Loading a saved game, after saving another game, could result in incorrect cargo system animations persisting into the new game.
• Bug fix: Altered Steam repository such that you will hopefully stop seeing the harmless "2 files repaired" message, if you validate integrity.

Still working on: Why blue smoke can show up in your cockpit. (I'd swear it can't, except that I have screenshots proving the contrary...) Pre-patch BuildID: 2612918 Post-patch BuildID: 2651673

I've just sent the v1.04 update out. Patch notes:

• New content: Added four new ruins for you to discover on the surface.
• Game balance adjustment: Player arc weapons are now all significantly more accurate (Thanks, Misery)
• Game balance adjustment: All unguided rockets are now somewhat more accurate at close range
• General improvement: Fixed over a dozen spelling errors. (Thanks, ZwartLiska)
• Bug fix: Found and fixed a situation that would result in a strange blue smoke cloud appearing in the helm of your ship. (Thanks, retalaznstyle)
• Bug fix: Fixed a bug wherein friendly aircraft could die frozen in midair rather than crashing to the ground correctly. (Thanks, ZwartLiska)

Pre-patch BuildID: 2559292 Post-patch BuildID: 2612918

I've just sent the v1.04 update out. Patch notes:

• New content: Added four new ruins for you to discover on the surface.
• Game balance adjustment: Player arc weapons are now all significantly more accurate (Thanks, Misery)
• Game balance adjustment: All unguided rockets are now somewhat more accurate at close range
• General improvement: Fixed over a dozen spelling errors. (Thanks, ZwartLiska)
• Bug fix: Found and fixed a situation that would result in a strange blue smoke cloud appearing in the helm of your ship. (Thanks, retalaznstyle)
• Bug fix: Fixed a bug wherein friendly aircraft could die frozen in midair rather than crashing to the ground correctly. (Thanks, ZwartLiska)

Pre-patch BuildID: 2559292 Post-patch BuildID: 2612918

I've pushed v1.03 out to you all. Patch notes:

• New button in Storage: "Sort by Value" - This will sort everything in the storage bay by value ascending, with empty spaces and unidentified items at the top. This makes the room more useful, and makes it a lot easier to decide what to throw overboard as the ship gets full on long runs.
• New Option (on by default): Rover Power Hotkeys. Turn these off in the config tool under Keybindings if you don't like them. 1234567890-= will toggle power on rover slots if you are somewhere with access to the switches.
• New decal: Your ship name and number is now written on the rover as well - this might help some future archaeologists associate the rover to the ship, and it's a nice touch. (Thanks, Krogoth5)
• Fixed: Some planet maps would result in the rover being under fire from the moment it landed the first time. This should no longer happen, or will at least be a lot less frequent. (Thanks, Retalaznstyle)
• Fixed: Derelict type 45 could float over the edge of chasm with no visible means of support. This won't happen anymore. (Thanks, QueenieChrysalis)
• Fixed?: Sentries could still spawn within derelicts, though not vaults. There's now additional code to attempt to prevent this occuring on new games. (Thanks, Retalaznstyle)

Pre-patch BuildID: 2515674 Post-patch BuildID: 2555741

I've pushed v1.03 out to you all. Patch notes:

• New button in Storage: "Sort by Value" - This will sort everything in the storage bay by value ascending, with empty spaces and unidentified items at the top. This makes the room more useful, and makes it a lot easier to decide what to throw overboard as the ship gets full on long runs.
• New Option (on by default): Rover Power Hotkeys. Turn these off in the config tool under Keybindings if you don't like them. 1234567890-= will toggle power on rover slots if you are somewhere with access to the switches.
• New decal: Your ship name and number is now written on the rover as well - this might help some future archaeologists associate the rover to the ship, and it's a nice touch. (Thanks, Krogoth5)
• Fixed: Some planet maps would result in the rover being under fire from the moment it landed the first time. This should no longer happen, or will at least be a lot less frequent. (Thanks, Retalaznstyle)
• Fixed: Derelict type 45 could float over the edge of chasm with no visible means of support. This won't happen anymore. (Thanks, QueenieChrysalis)
• Fixed?: Sentries could still spawn within derelicts, though not vaults. There's now additional code to attempt to prevent this occuring on new games. (Thanks, Retalaznstyle)

Pre-patch BuildID: 2515674 Post-patch BuildID: 2555741

I've pushed another patch live. Patch notes:

• New button in Helm: "Reset landing zone" - use this while the rover is on board the ship to revert your next landing to be back where you started the game, rather than your last recall site. This can be helpful to avoid hostile sentries or to continue a run after recall from a place where the rover was stuck. Your current LZ will show on the survey data map as an X. (Thanks Misery.)
• Fixed: Land tiles could under rare conditions remain visible as ghosts when loading new maps, due to a math error. (Thanks Pat.)
• Fixed: Sentries should no longer spawn within vaults, and vaults should no longer spawn encasing sentries. (Thanks Dalas3.14159.)
• Fixed: You could click on the "Continue game" button, even when it wasn't there. (Thanks Pat.)
• Fixed: Leaving the Engineering terminal could latch the "Force reboot" button on even after you had left, which was confusing.
• Fixed: Minor spelling errors here and there.
• Fixed: Clicking "Recall" while holding rover drive controls could latch the rover drive power and heat demands on, until your next landing
• Improved: Reduced the chances of top epilogue text overlapping bottom epilogue text. (Thanks Davis.)

Pre-patch BuildID: 2496681 Post-patch BuildID: 2515674

I've pushed another patch live. Patch notes:

• New button in Helm: "Reset landing zone" - use this while the rover is on board the ship to revert your next landing to be back where you started the game, rather than your last recall site. This can be helpful to avoid hostile sentries or to continue a run after recall from a place where the rover was stuck. Your current LZ will show on the survey data map as an X. (Thanks Misery.)
• Fixed: Land tiles could under rare conditions remain visible as ghosts when loading new maps, due to a math error. (Thanks Pat.)
• Fixed: Sentries should no longer spawn within vaults, and vaults should no longer spawn encasing sentries. (Thanks Dalas3.14159.)
• Fixed: You could click on the "Continue game" button, even when it wasn't there. (Thanks Pat.)
• Fixed: Leaving the Engineering terminal could latch the "Force reboot" button on even after you had left, which was confusing.
• Fixed: Minor spelling errors here and there.
• Fixed: Clicking "Recall" while holding rover drive controls could latch the rover drive power and heat demands on, until your next landing
• Improved: Reduced the chances of top epilogue text overlapping bottom epilogue text. (Thanks Davis.)

Pre-patch BuildID: 2496681 Post-patch BuildID: 2515674

I've pushed the v1.01 patch live. Patch notes:

• Mouse Invert is now supported - you can turn it on in the config tool
• A crash bug during rover reentry reported by Jawnycat and Kepz is fixed.
• AF type modules now properly impact Type 2 sentries
• If you can't move the rover around your ship due to pending cargo fork operations, a message is now displayed where the move buttons would be.

Pre-patch BuildID: 2411101 Post-patch BuildID: 2496681

I've pushed the v1.01 patch live. Patch notes:

• Mouse Invert is now supported - you can turn it on in the config tool
• A crash bug during rover reentry reported by Jawnycat and Kepz is fixed.
• AF type modules now properly impact Type 2 sentries
• If you can't move the rover around your ship due to pending cargo fork operations, a message is now displayed where the move buttons would be.

Pre-patch BuildID: 2411101 Post-patch BuildID: 2496681