Greetings gangsters!
First things first, we now have a discord at: https://discord.gg/7QtP7QJArd

The biggest one is I put on my software developer hat and made a frontend wrapper for the dedicated server software:
Previously the servers had to be manually restarted every week or so which became a problem if I was away on holiday or just forgot, this extra program runs on top of the dedicated server and automatically restarts it every 24 hours or if the server has crashed.
If you were previously having problems with seeing the official servers and being unable to join them this was the cause

That's right, I finally got voice chat working! talking over voice will make you heard to everybody on your team as well as anybody within 10m of you (so you can talk mad smack while dunking on someone's base)
The voice chat key has been bound to V by default, replacing the Recall to Base control which has been moved to B instead

Dedicated servers now allow you to make yourself admin by adding your 64 bit SteamID into the server config file
You can press P to open the admin menu and use your powers to remove troublemakers, cheat in resources, fly, teleport or frustrate your friends by triggering constant NPC raids on their base

The mainframe raiders have noticed how inadequate their standard units can be and have stepped up their game another notch!
At higher hostility levels you will now start to encounter Bombers and Grenadiers
Bombers just rush and explode themselves into your walls to open a hole for the rest of the squad
Grenadiers will set up a mortar launcher and lob bombs at your base from long range

AI bases now have a red sky beam to help you find them more easily
Added control bindings for voice chat, admin menu and team text chat (whoops!)
Base core info window now shows when you have a repair gun or harvesters out, not only when in your territory
Fixed NPCs having targeting issues when told to attack certain player buildings
Fixed NPCs developing permanent brain damage when told to attack an enemy they can't find a path to
Breaching charge now detonates after 20 seconds instead of 30

Sup gangsters!
I finally cracked the shits with the SQLite data saving plugin I was using before and all the constant problems it was having with data not saving/loading properly
It wasn't particularly important when the only persistent data was the player's level but now with a progression system any malfunctions in the data backend will be seriously frustrating for players

As a result I've swapped the dedicated server over to use file I/O data saving instead of SQLite which so far works a lot better.
I'm also working on a proper MySQL save mode so that community owners can have multiple servers that all share player progress between them

Oh also, as a small bonus I fixed a long standing bug where players would sometimes be tilted on their side when exiting a dropship :D

Also because it didn't post before here is the patch notes from the previous hotfix Alpha 1.091:

• lowered default resource delivery timer to 20mins from 30
  
• fixed player data not saving properly
  
• factories no longer stop building when out of resources
  
• fixed some menus bugging out after the player leaves their base then teleports back
  
• made base core collision shorter so you can build them indoors again
  
• fixed weirdness in how NPC hostility scaling worked
  
• fixed visual bugs with the construction drones
  
• fixed being unable to collect resources from dropped faction vaults
  
• fixed point defense turrets trying to shoot down bullets (again lol)
  
• possibly fixed NPCs developing brain damage when told to attack base cores located in certain places
  
• fixed NPC death messages not triggering when players are killed by them
  
• fixed more weirdness in the player XP/levelling system
  
• using the jetpack while swimming no longer bugs out and kills you
  
• fixed 1 spot in the map where it was possible to get stuck
  
• disabled steamVR launching with the game

This is the one you've all been waiting for! A full progression system has been added to the game.
Build advanced factory structures and deliver the resources they make to upgrade your guns and equipment. There's now finally a good reason to come online and keep the fight going!

• Alloy Smelter
  
• Molycircuit Printer
  
• Exotics Factory
  
• Launch Pad
  
• Shop Terminal

• HUD now shows NPC hostility level towards your faction
  
• added a HUD element that shows when your player data is being saved
  
• The base core display on your HUD now only pops in when you are inside your own territory
  
• Updated the HUD tutorial to explain new game mechanics

• Added a new nightclub interior across the road from red venus
  
• Added a small shopping centre with roof access across the road from the large construction site
  
• Minor tweaks and additions to various areas

• added Krag CX11 SMG
  
• added 3 sniper rifle mods
  
• added a sniper rifle skin
  
• added a krag 10mm skin
  
• AK ergonomics mod now has a visual model
  
• combat shotgun new mod: slugs
  
• krag 10mm new mod: laser sight
  
• reworked how the 40mm grenade launcher works, grenades now bounce and explode shortly after impact
  
• - 40mm grenade launcher now has a mod that allows it to fire smoke grenades

• Your base core now spawns builder drones that build your structures (they popped out of thin air previously)
  
• redid how player levelling works, level scaling is now much flatter meaning later levels don't take forever to acquire
  
• solar panels & launch pads will now block you from building them if they have no sky access
  
• the gun factory now tells you what mods actually do
  
• radar grenades will now ping turrets
  
• magnum rate of fire slightly reduced
  
• AK74 & LMG both have increased bullet velocity by 25%
  
• AK74 & LMG both have more recoil when aiming down sights
  
• combat shotgun damage increase from 88 -> 92
  
• total overhaul of how water works in game, players have been forced to take swimming lessons and will now swim on the surface instead of drowning
  
• turrets can now see you through smoke if you get close enough (within 1.5m)
  
• pusher turrets now push with more force
  
• resource harvesters trickle rate halved (when resource nodes have <1% value they will trickle income really slowly)
  
• grenades now have colored trails to show what type they are
  
• radar grenades now have a different effect that makes it much more obvious when they've been thrown
  
• radar grenades last 1s longer

• added a second layer of failsafe to the faction system so players leaving the game should always register properly and promote a new faction leader
  
• player equipped weapon is now always networked, should fix inconsistent/buggy muzzle flash and tracers from other players
  
• fixed inconsistent structure collision detection on the build gun
  
• gunner NPCs now stagger correctly when damaged
  
• disconnecting from the server now actually waits for the logout to complete instead of instantly dumping you back to the menu
  
• fixed NPC turrets having slightly buggy behaviour from being classed as a map object
  
• fixed a lamp post prop having weird collisions
  
• fixed krag 10mm pistol having too much recoil when in ironsights
  
• fixed an AI bug where enemies would sometimes get brain damage and stop moving when trying to attack a structure
  
• fixed XP and levels bugging out and becoming disconnected if the server host changes the XP gain rate

Sup gangsters!
I've decided to start doing developer diaries!
these will mostly just be random thoughts, things I've been working on and updates to where the game is going overall
Check out the first one here:

Greetings gangsters!, it's been a long time since there was an update!
I've still been working away at the game, I wanted to do the next release with 3 new major features but they are taking much longer than I thought (one is finished, one is about 80% and the last is barely started yet)

I figured I'd throw you guys a bone and do a feature merge of a bunch of the smaller fixes and changes that were going to be included with alpha 1.09

• spawning in the street now makes you be dropped off in a dropship
  
• base cores now drop all of their stored materials when destroyed
  
• added feedback messages for when your base core is taking damage and when its running out of CPU
  
• recall pads now show how to use them on their screen
  
• added 2 new skins to the combat shotgun
  
• added 1 new skin and 1 new mod to the LMG
  
• added 1 new skin to sniper rifle
  
• all previously locked promotional gun skins are now available for use

• NPC raids now eventually scale up to tier 2 raiders which are significantly stronger
  
• gunner NPCs now do more damage to player built structures
  
• gunner NPCs now have a unique helmet to differentiate them
  
• NPC guard posts now spawn t2 melee guards by default
  
• NPC turrets are a bit easier to destroy
  
• NPC raid heat now scales up 25% slower, meaning they take longer to start sending their strongest raids

• the blowtorch now does 50% more damage to flesh targets
  
• missile launcher missiles fly more slowly
  
• rebalanced some structure costs a bit
  
• harvesters now sync their ammo count to the bottom right hud
  
• point defense turret doesn't attempt to lock onto bullets anymore, resulting in horrible sound spam
  
• point defense turret now fully vaporizes projectiles instead of exploding them
  
• you now generate a splash effect when falling into water

Stay in tune, alpha 1.09 is still on the way and it's gonna be big!

Fixed music system hitching after first battle music and never playing again
Fixed messed up pathfinding under the blue skyscraper
Most NPCs now give XP when killed, raid captains give XP to your whole faction
Raiding NPC bases now gives a bit more XP
Killing other players gives you 100XP up from 75 previously
Fixed one particular NPC base spawning raid captains stuck inside its own core so they could never escape

Greetings gangsters!

Its been a very productive few weeks for me so without further ado here's a big fat game update.
This version adds the ability to teleport back to your base by building a recall pad then pressing V, a much needed feature since alpha 1.07 made you have to search and scavenge around for resource nodes.
Along with that we also now have a dynamic music system! no more being bored out of your mind while listening to the wind blowing through empty streets.
Those are the two major things but there has also been a ton of rebalancing, fixing and quality of life improvements to sand off a bunch more of the rough edges that have been plaguing the game for a while.

• The phoenix class now has impact detonated concussion grenades instead of frags
  
• Added a dynamic music system that reacts to what's happening around you
  
• Added the recall pad structure and the ability to teleport back to your base at any time by pressing V
  
• Added a separate notification system above chat so your chat doesn't get spammed with red errors
  
• Added options menu control bindings for 4, 5 and recall keys
  
• The build menu now shows whether or not you can actually build each structure
  
• The build gun now has options to copy angles from a structure and to reset all angles and settings to default

• The gun crusher is now much more user friendly, no more wrestling with that awful laggy menu it had before
  
• Teleporting now has nicer sounds and particle effects
  
• NPC raid captains now have a unique model instead of just being a regular dude with a backpack added
  
• NPC gunners won't try shoot you through a raid captains shield
  
• Fixed oppressor turret aim not pitching up and down properly
  
• Teleporters now automatically find themselves a teleport exit if they don't have one selected

• Most turrets now cost more
  
• Diesel generators last about ~25% longer on a full tank of fuel
  
• Solar panels now cost more voltics
  
• Slowed down rocket launcher rockets by ~30% so they aren't just an explosive sniper rifle
  
• Rocket launcher now requires a small amount of fissiles to build
  
• Tweaked most weapon costs a bit
  
• The Kalash had too little recoil by default , added some back in and also added an "Improved Ergonomics" mod that resets it back to its old state

• Polished up the area under the freeway intersection
  
• Made garbage bag props destructible
  
• Fixed the red warehouse building in chinatown having messed up collisions in its windows