- 1.6.3 Patch - 7 May 2024
This just a small patch to fix some issues with the reentry capsule and starship launch checklists: - Fixed an issue where the launch checklist supplies were not being tracked properly - Fixed an issue with the launch checklists not working properly after loading a save game
- 1.6.2 Small Update - 1 May 2024
Just a small update for a few things: - Added a "Difficulty Breathing" informational condition when air quality is poor or worse. (I hope this will help to better communicate the connection between air quality and fatigue for new players.) - Fixed an issue where breathing and vocals could be audible after dying. - Created an on-screen tip specifically for the jetpack to make it more likely that new players will discover it on surface scenarios. - Fixed an issue where the selected inventory item info would not always update correctly when closing a container. - Put some glow sticks in starting modules of the Mars, Lunar and Deep Space scenarios to make it less likely that new players will get lost in the dark when starting out. - Increased the ambient light slightly at night on all scenarios. - Fixed an issue with the developer feedback form not always transmitting data in recent builds.…
- 1.6.1 Patch - 26 March 2024
This just a small patch to fix an inventory bug: - Fixed an issue where dropping a partial quantity of an inventory item could potentially cause a crash.
- 1.6.0 Hotfix - 16 March 2024
This is just a small update to fix a few things: - Fixed a few mesh/modeling errors. - Removed old developer/publisher name from a couple places. - Disabled some on screen tips in the dream state. - Fixed an issue where waking up from the dream state could cause the player to go further back in time and the player could then get stuck in a loop continually entering the dream state. This would only occur when ironman mode was disabled and the player was returning from the dream state.
- Developer/Publisher Name Change - 5 March 2024
In order to avoid any potential legal issues in the future, I am publishing my games under my own name now. This is a common practice for solo developers on Steam nowadays. This will have no effect on the future development of Above Earth. It has always just been me working on these games. The intro splash screens for my games have been updated accordingly. Thank you for your support.
- 1.5.9 Small Update - 5 March 2024
Just a small update for a few things: - Changed the intro splash screen for the current developer/publisher name. - Appended the aspect ratio text to each screen resolution in the options menu. - The "Hyperthermia" affliction is now called "Heat Stroke" and has a special color associated with it. This was to avoid a common point of confusion between "Hypothermia" and "Hyperthermia". - Hypothermia also now has a special affliction color associated with it. - Fixed a couple spelling errors.
- 1.5.8 Small Update - 10 February 2024
Just a small update to exclude communications equipment from the 'Repair the Station' achievement. The communications equipment is currently part of an unused text/audio log and dialogue system in the game. It is not repairable as it requires an item that cannot be found anywhere currently.
- 1.5.7 Hotfix - 8 February 2024
This is a hotfix for a bug related to air quality in the Reentry Capsule and Starship. This bug would result in the air quality deteriorating much more quickly than it was supposed to when doing anything that would increase time dilation (such as sleeping, repairing or crafting). This occurred because the Reentry Capsule and Starship do something a little special with time dilation that other modules don't do. Thank you very much for your continued patience with the development of the game.
- 1.5.6 Small Update - 30 January 2024
Just a small update that balances the Chem Heater and Chem Cooler a bit more. Increased the effect of these on temperature and decreased the rate at which they consume fuel.
- 1.5.5 Hotfix - 30 January 2024
This is a hotfix for a bug related to the Makeshift Chem Heater and Makeshift Chem Cooler that were added in the 1.5.0 update. These should not asphyxiate the player. In fact they should have no effect on the internal air quality of the station at all. The idea for these is that they involve chemical reactions that affect temperature but do not produce environmental contaminants. Thank you very much for your continued patience with the development of the game.
- 1.5.4 Small Update - 29 January 2024
Just a small update to add an instructional tip to explain the station view. The station view allows the player to analyze the station and its surroundings from a more strategic point of view.
- 1.5.3 Small Update - 26 January 2024
Just a small update to add an instructional tip to explain EVA Drifting. This is a mechanic that allows the player to advance time when traveling large distances in open space.
- 1.5.2 Small Update - 26 January 2024
Just a small update to add vertical look inversion in the gameplay options: Also increased the size of the "Needs Restart" message in the options menu when reverting key bindings to default values. This is to make sure people can see it OK.
- 1.5.1 Hotfix - 23 January 2024
Just a quick hotfix for a misplaced asset on the deep space scenario that was blocking the hatch entrance of the centrifuge module.
- 1.5.0 Is Now Live - 22 January 2024
This update represents about three years of development. In many ways it is a new game. If you want to ignore the rest of this announcement and watch the new trailer, then you will get a pretty good idea of what's new just by watching it. https://youtu.be/XOWHIl1kqwA Here is a quick summary of what's new: New Space Stations, Moon Bases, Mars Bases:These are completely new to the game. New Environments Are Now Available:Both the surface of the Moon and the surface of Mars now have playable scenarios. There are also some more environments for space stations: Lunar, Martian, Jovian and Saturnian. Unreal Engine 5:The engine the game is based on has been upgraded from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5 and is using many its newest rendering features. Too many other things to mention here:Lots of polishing, playtesting, UI design, sound design, some tutorialization, new gameplay elements, a j…
- 1.5.0 Test Build Is Now Live - 4 November 2023
This test build can be opted into in the Steam properties for the game. (test - Test Public Branch) New Content and Features: -New Options Menu Sliders: Field of View, Brightness, Contrast. These options sliders will allow players to adjust the appearance of the game to suit their own visual needs/preferences. The default Field of View has been increased slightly. -Sprinting and Stamina: There is now a sprinting and stamina system in the game that is fully functional. Sprinting and jumping will deplete stamina. Without sufficient stamina, sprinting and jumping are no longer possible. Sprinting will cause hunger, thirst and fatigue to increase at a much faster rate than while walking. It will also increase the warmth of the player. All audio and cold breath effects are completed for this system. -Launch Checklist Interface: This interface is now inside the starships and the reentry capsu…
- 1.5.0 Experimental Build Patch 02 Is Now Live - 17 August 2023
New Content and Features: -The Martian moon Phobos is now visible in the Mars scenario. It provides a faint source of light at night. -The player will now sleep on the ground when there is gravity and no sleeping bag or sleeping pod. -There will now be a starting survival container full of useful items on all scenarios. -Surface landscapes on the Moon and Mars scenarios are now significantly larger. -Sleeping bags: Sleeping bags will now be available as a starting item on surface maps. Sleeping bags will allow the player to recover condition if deployed and used. Sleeping bags can also be crafted by the player using cloth and thread. Sleeping bags cannot be used during EVA. Sleeping bags can be deployed and used inside stations. Bugfixes: -Dynamic colored meshes were not updating properly in the centrifuge module. -The centrifuge module interior meshes had some modelling errors. -Cargo…
- 1.5.0 Experimental Build Patch 01 Is Now Live - 20 July 2023
-Fixed an issue where save games on the Mars and Moon scenarios would load extremely slowly. This was interpreted by some players as a save file corruption but was actually caused by a particular kind of asset that was interfering with the save loading process. Players would have had to wait 2 or 3 minutes after the loading bar stopped for the map to load and most assumed it would never complete. The Mars and Moon scenarios should now load at similar speeds as the other scenarios. Thank you for your patience while the experimental build is prepared for a general release.
- Update 1.5.0: The Experimental Build Is Now Available - 14 July 2023
The 1.5.0 Experimental Build is now available. If you want to opt into it you will need to right-click on the game in your Steam library and change the beta participation field to "expirimental - expirimental branch". It will likely have some issues but is currently playable and includes all the improvements made to the game over the last 2 1/2 years of development. After a short period of testing, this experimental build will become the main build and players can experience the game normally. This experimental build will include: New Space Stations: A Deep Spacecraft: A Mars Base: A Moon Base: A Jetpack on the Moon and Mars: Thank you for continuing to support the game. The Trello board will remain the same until the main build is released: https://trello.com/b/ewpYkK9i/above-earth-development
- Update 1.5.0: Last Set of Screenshots for the Update - 7 January 2023
Here are some new screenshots showcasing the space station interiors that will be part of the update: Dynamic Colorization There will likely be some kind of dynamic colorization of the module in...
