- Pre-Demo Update 01/23/2025 - 23 January 2025
Very minor update that allow the full version of the Bloc-Age to load games saved in the upcoming demo version of the Bloc-Age.
- Update Notes: 12/28/2024 - 29 December 2024
I've been tracking down an error affecting some systems and believe that I have found a solution. The current working theory is that I was using text data files to store information, but on non-English systems there could be a conversion error from the text data to decimals. This new update now uses fully binary data files which should work the same no matter what language you have Windows set to. If you are still seeing any problems, please feel free to contact me through support.
- Update Notes: 12/19/2024 - 19 December 2024
I have been tracking an issue that on some systems the timing codes fails, and the game runs at uncontrollable speed. Throughout the last few builds I have tested different techniques and have not had any success solving the problem. With this update I have modified the timed codes again and it now includes frame rate clamping (among other changes). In the Menu Setup\Display you will be able to select the maximum framerate the game will run at. This will let your system (CPU and GPU) run at less load and should avoid any math errors that might occur on new system due to very high frame rates. Also, I have included a time test function that will output debug information to a file. While in game, hold 'Shift' and press 'Backspace' to start the time test. While the test if being performed, extra information will display on the screen (should take about 10 seconds with framerates clamped at…
- 12/16/2024 Update Notes: - 16 December 2024
Bloc-Age: Path of the Oracle – Major Update December 16, 2024 Over 1 year ago the Bloc-Age was released on Steam. Sadly, due to loss of team member due to lack of interest in the project, lack of funding and being trapped by the original concept of the project, I can truly say the original release was rough. But I had faith in the potential the Bloc-Age had, so I took what was there, cleaned it up the best I could with what time I had, and release it. I then returned to the factory full time and in my spare time I continued to update the Bloc-Age as needed. After many updates I found that the only way to salvage the project was to do a major overhaul of the Bloc-Age, ranging from general under the hood improvements, graphical updates breaking from the original retro-styled concepts that were holding the project back, and better controls. Following is a checklist of the major changes to…
- Update: March 1 2024 - 1 March 2024
- Added Crosshair Size Selection: in the setup screen you now have the ability to change the size of the in-game crosshairs. - Added Map Brightness Selection: in the setup screen you can select how bright the un-mapped areas in the local map are. Originally un-mapped areas were black and may have made it more difficult to read the map. Now you can change this color from black to bright tan depending on your preferences. - Fuel Fix: the game is coded with a jetpack that I primarily use during debugging, and it will become a game feature in the future, but at some point in the game the player is given fuel for the jetpack. This should not happen and has been fixed and any fuel you have is removed. - General Optimization: on some of the largest level of the game there may have been some slowdown which have been fixed.
- Update 12/16/2023 Notes - 16 December 2023
- Level Updated: to stop players from wandering off into the wilderness areas of the levels trying to find secrets that are not there, I've added glass walls to many of the levels to keep the player on track. If you saved on one of these level before this update and reload you will see this message: New Level Build. If problems arise press and for a clean restart. Clicking continue should allow you to finish the level without problems. - Map Updates: the map no longer displays small items (points, health, armor, shields, ammo). Also, occlusion has been added to scouting, making it harder to find secrets on the map. Both of these updates are to keep players from abusing the map. The map is there in case you get lost, you should not be playing the game from the map. - Hints and Tips: - This is a story driven action shooter. If you are NOT talking to someone or killing enemies, you are NOT…
- Update 12/09/2023 Notes - 10 December 2023
Local Map: - Special character (Quest Givers / Bosses) now show up on the local map as a Yellow Diamonds. - Exits now show up on the local map as a Red X. Main Menus: - Added buttons in Setup and Input screens to allow for easier navigation. - Cleaned up confusing button text to make the menu more understandable. - Removed the need to complete the training level before starting the main game. If you are having trouble without playing the training level, please go back and try it out. Game Menus: - When starting a new game, the 'Difficulty' screen will display instead of the 'Upgrade' screen. - On the 'You Died' menu (while using unlimited saves) you will be able to load the 'Last' save game without going to the main menu. - Updated the 'Final Rundown' screen while exiting a level: each type of treasure is now colored depending on how many of each you have found (red - none / yellow - so…
- Nov 21 2023 Notes - 22 November 2023
Added FOV selection: on the last page in setup (under language) use can now select your own FOV. Character Shadows: characters now display blob shadows under them. More Gore: dead characters now display blood on the ground, and if you deal enough damage on the killing blow, the character leaves a bloody mess. Selecting gore level 1 or 2 will remove this extra amount of gore. Any level over 3 is just excessive silly fun (for those who like gore). Level 3 is default.
- Oct 26 2023: Notes - 26 October 2023
Save / Load Game (Unlimited Saves Only) Fixes: When saving your game using the save game menu the date and time of the save game was not displaying correctly, even though the game was being saved. This has been fixed and now will display the correct date and time. Also, there was some issues with loading games from the load game menu. This has also been fixed and now you will be able to load games correctly from the load game menu. Difficulty Balancing: The difficulty of the game (on easy and medium) has been toned down slightly to allow casual players to hopefully enjoy the game more (Warning: It's still not a cakewalk).
- Sept 22 2023 Notes - 22 September 2023
Attack Click Smoothing: For some weapons a misfire may have been noticed while clicking the attack key repeatedly instead of holding the attack key. This is no longer the case. Non-Surround Sound Fix: A glitch in the code for positioning sounds while not using surround speakers has been fixed.
- Aug 25 2023 Notes - 25 August 2023
Overall Optimization: the program now has better memory usage, allowing for less chance of graphical errors to occur on older systems, or when quickly switching between multiple large levels. And, as a result, also has faster startup times. Updated Audio System: better system for loading audio files allowing for a smaller memory footprint while giving the ability to utilize more sound and music files in-game. Updated Dynamic Music Engine: the music track selection system has been changed to give the player a wider range of music while playing the game. Graphical Changes: very slight change to some textures in the dwarven tileset.
- Aug 17 2023: Notes - 17 August 2023
Added Multi-Language Support: the first time running the game after this update you will be prompted, on start, to select a language. Languages are sorted by their first letter, click and letter to see the languages that are available for that letter. Click the language you want to use and click the '>>>' to continue. If you would like to change the language at a later date, you can do so in 'Setup'. Disclaimer: we have done our best to translate all text of the game but do so by using translation software. The translation may not be perfect, but if you know little to no English, this should be more than enough to allow you to follow the story and interact with the menus. Still in the works: we are still working on translations for Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.
- Aug 08 2023: Notes - 8 August 2023
Updated Training Level: slight update to training level to allow you to change key bindings if you don't like the default bindings. If you have not played the training level, it might be worth a look. Also, for new players, you will have to play the training level before starting the main game. Added HUD overlays: these overlays will show you which control do what in game and labels health and other status bars. If you prefer a cleaner look to the HUD, you can turn it off in Setup. Added Music Information: the currently playing music track will be displayed at the bottom of the screen once it starts to play. If you do not want this information, you can turn it off in Setup. Added 'Hand Toggle' control: click the 'Mouse Button 3' (by default) to toggle between your left and right hands for weapon selection. Added 'Weapon Wheel' control: hold the 'Cap Lock' key (by default) will now bring…
- Update Aug 4 2023: Notes - 4 August 2023
- Added mouse wheel support: the mouse wheel will now cycle through weapons for the hand which you have selected. - Added weapon wheel selector: press and hold one of the hand selection keys to bring up the weapon wheel for that hand. Then move the mouse to select which weapon you want to equip and release to the hand selection key to equip that weapon. - Added world map location highlights: the next location you will need to travel to on the world map will show a yellow pulsing shape at that location. This should allow you to quickly see where you will need to go to complete the main quest. - Added animal sound effects: there were humans sound effect for the animals in the first release and we were unsure how it would be accepted (it was kind of funny). It did not go over well, and we are always willing to admit when we were wrong. So now all the animal types have unique sounds on acti…
