SAGE 2024 - Demo Quantum Cortex

Demo Version 1.0.300 : 8/31/24
THE GAME IS NO LONGER FRAMERATE DEPENDENT
Hi everyone! I am a solo developer, and this is my pet project. You can call me QCDev :)

This update addresses feedback and concerns gathered from a number of different sources.
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v. 1.0.300 Patch notes:

- THE GAME IS NO LONGER FRAMERATE DEPENDENT


Other Additions:

- The FPS counter can now be toggled via the options menu
- Added a content warning upon starting a new save file.
- The DOUBLE JUMP and BURST RIFLE items are now available for purchase in the shop, in case the player fails to notice them in the game world.


Other Adjustments:

- Increased framerate cap to 120.
- Greyed out items in the shop that the player already owns
- Reenabled smooth framerate.
- Holding the jump button no longer prevents the player from performing a wall-slide.
- Minor level design tweaks.
- Minor text adjustments.

Player Movement:
- Base Run Speed: 4,800 -> 5,600
- Gravity scaling: 0.4 -> 0.5
- Air control boost minimum: 4,800 -> 5,600
- Jump force: 1000 -> 1050

- Non-Magnetic Surface Minimum Stick Speed: 1,000 -> 1,500
*This value determines how fast the player must be running in order to stay grounded on non-magnetic terrain at precarious angles. This mechanic was barely noticeable in earlier versions due to the low threshold and limited application. This is an incremental change, and won't feel much different. I want to gauge reactions to this mechanic.

- The player will now stick to non-magnetic surfaces on contact, as long as the portion of their velocity parallel to that surface meets the minimum stick threshold.
*For players: approach quickly at a shallow angle.
*For nerds: if 2,000 < (1- | V^^ • N | ) * || V || , where V is the velocity vector and N is the normal vector of the surface.

Slow-mo
- Slow-mo max time: 5 seconds -> 15 seconds
- Slow-mo recharge delay: 10 seconds -> 15 seconds

PHYSGUN
- Cost per second: 20 ->50
*This makes it comparable to the PLASMA TETHER.*

SPIDER DRONE:
- Missile max speed: 6,800 -> 12,000
- Missile speed ramp-up: 5 seconds -> 3 seconds
*The speed boosters added to the arena make the boss more fun, but trivialized the missiles, which could no longer keep up with the player.*


Fixes:
- Fixed an issue where wall-sliding upwards through the bottom of a platform would cause the player to enter the falling state.
- Fixed an issue where the player could get stuck in the ceiling while wallsliding.
- Fixed an issue where screenshake when landing on a surface would not scale with camera zoom.
- Fixed an issue where the player could sometimes remain grabbed by a zombie after passing through a door.
- Fixed an issue where V-Sync was not properly set when changed from the options menu.
- Fixed an issue where the wallslide particle effect did not scale properly.
- Fixed various issues with terrain following and clipping.
- Fixed an issue where the continue button always loaded the first save slot in the list, instead of the one that was previously selected.
- Fixed an issue where weapons in the shop would require one more credit than the listed price
- Probably some other stuff I forgot about


Optimizations:

- Eased the intensity of certain physics simulations.
- Improved wall and ledge detection while airborne.
- Optimized terrain following algorithms for the player, Spider Drone, and Slicer Drone.
- Enemies with more complicated navigation will wait until they have been rendered to start their pathfinding.


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v. 1.0.301 Patch notes (9/6/24):

Additions:

- Certain doors which change the camera angle are marked by a red effect.
- If their respective item is purchased via the shop, the DOUBLE JUMP, SEMI-AUTO SHOTGUN, and BURST RIFLE item chests introduced in the previous update will be replaced with chests containing an equivalent value in currency.



Adjustments:

- Debris created from destroyed walls are now intangible and translucent.
- L. Alt no longer pauses the game.
- Minor level design tweaks.
- Minor text adjustments.
- Minor background adjustments
- Narrative Adjustments

SPIDER DRONE:

- Missile contact damage (easy): 20 -> 5
- Missile contact damage (recommended): 20 -> 10
- Missile contact damage (difficult): 50 -> 30
*Increasing the speed so much has made them very effective and likely to connect with the player! Very effective for countering the 'hold right' strategy as it was meant to, but it made missiles very annoying due to their high damage.*


Fixes:

- Fixed an issue where buzzsaw drones would not damage other enemies with their saws.
- Fixed an issue where buzzsaw drones would not properly deal their contact damage when the player jumped into them.



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v. 1.0.302 Patch notes (9/10/24):

Fixes:

- Fixed an issue where loading a save would fail to remove persistent objects marked for deletion

Optimizations:

- Improved execution order in regards to loading savedata



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v. 1.0.303 Patch notes (9/12/24):

Additions:

- Added Run Assist Mode to the gameplay settings menu
*This is an alternative, contextual directional input system that does its best to guess which direction you probably want to run in. Please offer feedback, and I'll make adjustments in future patches!


Adjustments:

- Tutorial text adjustments


Known issues:

- This update broke some aspects of the save system but I think it's worth it for now to improve the gameplay experience for newcomers.
- Certain graphical issues such as flashing lights or excessive bloom may occur, depending on the player's graphics settings and hardware.
- The UI is ugly.
- Tutorials for ammo and reloading are not effective
- On rare occasions, when the player dies, they are unable to respawn.

*Find a complete list of known issues on the subreddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/QuantumCortex/comments/1emnfsr/known_issues_megathread/

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Want to talk? The fastest way to reach me is through the community discord!
https://discord.gg/qaRcDCEDDj Right now, there are only about 70 members-- the most active one being myself. If you're interested in sharing feedback, suggestions, or getting a sneak-peak at upcoming content, feel free to jump aboard!

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Follow me on my socials!

https://twitter.com/CortexQuantum - My Twitter
https://www.youtube.com/@qcdev - My Youtube
https://www.patreon.com/QCDev - My Patreon