The time has finally come for the first major update of the game!

It takes quite a while but I'm now able to publish this update, majorly containing the long await UI rework, along some new minor content, bug fixes and tweak!

So I'll get to the update right away.

UI Rework

First let talk about what new about the UI? If any player that has played the first 0.0.1 version, then they can notice right away that almost all of the menu, interface, player HUD is all new and different. So lets check out one by one.
There isn't much change in the main menu, but our first change is at the Loadout Menu.

Loadout Menu

Loadout menu will now allow player to inspect their starting fleet by right clicking on each starship banner at the right. Not only that, each loadout will now also have their unique starting augment!

• Kosmoz (Once Upon The Stars): Restore 50% hull points to Arkship before destroy. Create nova flare that deals damage to nearby enemy.
• Kyronos: Dark Discharge: Charge up energy overtime, and release a blast of dark energy when switching formation.
• Global Federation: Unity Core: Grant buff to all stat on all ally unit if there is no more then three unique active drive.

Player HUD

There is a lot changed here. Various general information are now removed alongside with fleet health tracker. This is to simplify and free up space that is necessary in combat. Only containing player health bar, active unit count, timer, and formation. But there is also something new  added. Drive Burst Panel is the new revamp mechanic that is added in this update which I'll explain later.

Stage Result Screen

Some old player might notice that there is no long gem to collect when destroying enemy like the old Vampire Survivor style. Instead, player will automatically get resource at the end of each stage like Team Fight Tactic or SNKRX.

Arsenal Menu (Outpost)

This is the main highlight of the show, many of the menus and functionality are jam packed into this single menu! This menu is like the life and blood of many auto battler genre. The aims is to make buying, upgrading and team building process as smooth, seamless and enjoyable as possible. This menu are separate into 3 tab, Market, Hanger, and Arkship.

• Market Tab: This is basically the main shop that present in many auto battler game. Everything that you can spend your money is available here. UI layout and color scheme are changed to a more fitting on Sci-Fi theme. All of the general info such as your money, market level and rarity chance are kept to the left, the center is big for fleet banner show off more easily.
• Hanger Tab: Since this game have more in-depth in team building/composition, I needed to have dedicated tab instead of combining it like other auto battler game. But that trade off come with more space to add more feature, such as player can now edited fleet composition for each formation preset.
• Arkship Tab: This is still WIP, but the idea is this will be menu that let player permanent upgrade for each run.

New/Revamp Feature

• Drive Burst: This new feature allow player to command and coordinate their army more efficiently. Player can now assign active drive into different burst. Unlike previously where there is only one button and all ships will active their special ability at the same time. Now player can plan there action and selectively use drive burst in different order depending on the situation.
• Formation Preset: Now player can set fleet composition for each formation. Currently there are 3 formation, Wall, Sphere and Arrow. Instead of have one composition but arrange differently. Player can now for example, have tank unit at the front and back in wall formation. While having melee-range unit at the front in arrow formation. 
• Starship Classes: Player might notice that there is now class in additional to drive when acquiring a starship fleet. This is a specification that aim to indicate the role of each unit to the player. Not only that, in the future this feature will be future expand to provide something similar to the current Drive Boost mechanic but with a twist.

Remove/Temporary Disabled Feature

• Augment: This system is currently disable because I'm still trying to find the best progression on how player should be able to obtain an augment. Because augment is such a stronger item that can alter the rule of each run. But second reason is that I feel like the synergy in this game still need more design to make it truly unique and fun. Hopefully augment will return in future update alongside more refined synergy and strategy mechanic and system.

What's Next?

• First, I'm very thankful for all the support from everyone. My next goal is always to make this game better and release it one day.
• With this update, I'm getting the base feeling of the game and if everything goes smoothly. We can make something unique out of this game by the end of the year. And if the quality is good enough, I'll be able to free like a good point to start putting this game on steam.
• A lot of change and rework. There is still many base mechanic and gameplay that I need to get it right. 
  • First will be mostly about team building army style mechanic and more fun way to control your army. 
  • Next up after I hammered down the core mechanic is gonna be synergy and strategy, every good roguelike need a solid synergy sandbox to make every run fun, unique and different. 
  • Finally is the charm, there will be a lot of art and asset that need to be replace down the line. A lot of art and sound effect right now can be improved or still just a placeholder.
• More content overall. New starship and loadout, new unique drive, augment, more level, more enemy type, new bosses, more system, meta progression and skilltree, more game mode and end game content, and everything in between!

PS. I'll be doing a big game jam over the next week, but I'll comeback and work on the game regularly right after. Let me know the feedback and make a better game together!