DW Shadows Public Beta 1.9.0.12

[Darkspire]

New Distant Worlds Shadows Public Beta  :)

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3492264

Darkspire

Version 1.9.0.12 – December 9th. 2013
Change History:


    CRASH FIXES

        Reduced chance of thread abort exceptions occurring
        Fixed rare crash with freighters
        Fixed crash when lock computer (Ctrl-Alt-Del) while playing DW (graphics device lost)

    BUG FIXES

        Fixed bug where some failed intercepted intelligence missions were not counting towards victory conditions
        Fixed bug where characters were not being properly transferred to troop transports from Troops tab of Colonies screen
        Fixed bug where pirate facilities would sometimes not be removed from colonies when pirate faction wiped out
        Fixed bug where hyperdeny components not being used on bases defending against attack
        Fixed bug where captured and gifted ships would sometimes be attacked when not an enemy
        Fixed bug where invading troops disappear when planet bombarded to extinction
        Fixed bug where defending troops dropped at rebelling colonies would sometimes join invaders if they were victorious (i.e. rebels or invaders conquered colony)
        Fixed bug where troop generals participating in successful clearance attacks against pirate facilities at your colonies would get event history message indicating that the battle was lost, when it was actually won
        Fixed bug where displayed cashflow was not including facility maintenance
        Fixed bug where freighters would sometimes attempt to dock at mining stations that did not yet have docking bays

    RESOURCES AND FREIGHTERS

        Improved freighter resource transport network, especially for construction resource shortages
        Added option to disable construction resource shortage messages
        The random allotment of startup luxury resources at your colonies now exclude super-luxury resources (Loros Fruit, Zentabia Fluid, Korabbian Spice) (alleviates cashflow swings when these run out)

    TROOPS AND INVASIONS

        Fixed problems where troops were sometimes being recruited incorrectly (e.g. clone troops)
        Improved garrison levels of troops at colonies, especially when empire is in low- or negative-cashflow situations
        Colony populations now defend better against invasions - their defend strength has been doubled

    FLEETS AND SHIPS

        Improved fleet response to enemy threats in other systems (i.e. non-automated fleets follow their posture settings to engage enemies in other systems)
        Fleets in battle now tolerate lower fuel levels (i.e will wait longer before refuelling)
        Ensure that automated fleets load troops when space available
        Changed ship behavior so that if already hyperjumping away (for whatever reason) then they will not reassign an Escape mission (i.e. they are already 'escaping')
        Further improved boarding and capture so that ships and fighters no longer fire at a target once you already have overwhelming boarding parties onboard the target
        Exploration ships now check for uninvestigated ruins or galaxy locations once they have explored the entire galaxy

    DIFFICULTY LEVELS

        Game difficulty has been increased on higher levels in the following ways:
        More defending troops at colonies, especially larger colonies
        Buying tech from other empires is more expensive for the player
        Selling tech to other empires is less lucrative for the player
        Relationship thresholds for buying tech from other empires is higher for player (i.e. other empire has to like you more)
        Non-player empires build more exploration and construction ships when they are able
        Overall difficulty factors have been increased (i.e. each difficulty setting above normal is now harder)

    RESEARCH AND SHIP DESIGN

        Ship Design editor now warns when Resort Base designs are missing passenger components or are too big to build
        AI-designed spaceports and defensive bases now properly use area weapons when specified in design templates
        Lessened chance of critical research success or failure for larger/longer research projects

    GAME PERFORMANCE AND DISPLAY

        Improved game performance, especially in late-game with large galaxies
        Improved rendering performance, especially when zoomed out to sector- or galaxy-level
        Improved appearance of stars in mainview

    OTHER

        Pirates now more careful about honoring protection arrangements
        Improved willingness of passenger ships to perform tourism missions
        Retrofit button in Ships and Bases screen now enabled for bases not at colonies

[Kushan]

Thanks for the link Darkspire! Downloading now.

[Yskonyn]

Great stuff !
Going to give this a whirl this afternoon.

[Martok]

Sweet!  Thanks for the heads-up Darkspire.  :) 

[Jarhead0331]

I hate these "members only" downloads. I always have the biggest damn problem finding them. What is the point of having beta patches as "members only"? It is not like it means anything.

[PanzersEast]

Time to jump back in.....


PE

[Martok]

I hate these "members only" downloads. I always have the biggest damn problem finding them. What is the point of having beta patches as "members only"? It is not like it means anything.

It does seem a bit silly and/or pointless, yeah.  The only way I can think of that that would make any sense (and not much, at that) is it's an "incentive" to register with the forums, which improves their...bottom line...somehow...(increased visibility, perhaps)?  I dunno. 

(Incidentally, I was able to download the public beta here.  I don't know if that link will work for you, but give it a try and see.) 

[Darkspire]

I hate these "members only" downloads. I always have the biggest damn problem finding them. What is the point of having beta patches as "members only"? It is not like it means anything.

In a recent post on the main forums the p****e subject was brought up, OP brought up how he got DW etc. I had a look from what he mentioned and the whole DW experience is available from one of those sites as far as I could tell from arms length, having members only downloads means you have to have DW and the expansions registered, which kind of stops the one eyed, wooden leg folk, well slows them down a bit, Elliot, Erik and Matrix have worked really hard to get DW to where it is today and IMHO any sort of safeguard (except DRM) is in order, its just the usual in regards blocking them makes things a little awkward for the legit users unfortunately, I would rather have a few minutes of head scratching and know that the revenue is going in the right direction though.

Darkspire

[Jarhead0331]

I hate these "members only" downloads. I always have the biggest damn problem finding them. What is the point of having beta patches as "members only"? It is not like it means anything.

In a recent post on the main forums the p****e subject was brought up, OP brought up how he got DW etc. I had a look from what he mentioned and the whole DW experience is available from one of those sites as far as I could tell from arms length, having members only downloads means you have to have DW and the expansions registered, which kind of stops the one eyed, wooden leg folk, well slows them down a bit, Elliot, Erik and Matrix have worked really hard to get DW to where it is today and IMHO any sort of safeguard (except DRM) is in order, its just the usual in regards blocking them makes things a little awkward for the legit users unfortunately, I would rather have a few minutes of head scratching and know that the revenue is going in the right direction though.

Darkspire

That is certainly a good reason. However, shouldn't all patches then be registered users only? Why just betas?

[Darkspire]

That is certainly a good reason. However, shouldn't all patches then be registered users only? Why just betas?

On there you need to have your game registered for the patches. You click on my games and it will bring up a list of your registered games and what is available for them. Personally I think it should be the same, through the members club only, I have only seen patches on The Patches Scrolls but I am sure if you look hard enough there are others floating about, just release the base game and then upgrades for registered users only IMO.

Darkspire

[Bison]

Matrix's members area is a convoluted mess of organization. 

[Jarhead0331]

Matrix's members area is a convoluted mess of organization.

Thank you!  I guess that is my point when you cut down to it. I don't mind the concept of member only downloads, but don't make the downloads such a pain in the butt to find for the members.