Version 1.48 released

Maintenance update. Libraries upgraded to the newest version. Not that there were any problems with the older libraries but just in case. It’s also more convenient if all games use the same low level routines. Oh yes, also one measly low priority non critical bug was fixed. So, basically, nothing to see, move along.

– [misc] Updated third party libraries to the newest version.

– [fix] ESC key now always closes any open confirmation window (a small cosmetic UI thing).

Version 1.47.2 released

Several small fixes to very rare bugs and glitches you probably never encountered anyway. Also one funny bug I encountered when coding Stellar Monarch 2, the last defined civilzed race was never put into the random generator and therefore it never had a chance to appear in the game. So, as a side effect of fixing the bug, you got 2 new civilized races (one minor and one major) you never seen before.

– [spelling] In one place there was “External Affairs department” instead of “Foreign Affairs Department”.

– [fix] Banners on main menu obstructing other buttons on very low resolutions.
– [fix] Potential tiny, very rare and never reported bug with diplomacy not cleared properly on new game (not even sure if it’s a bug, just spotted this vulnerability in the Stellar Monarch 2 code so I patched it for the prequel as well just to be sure). Unlikely you even encountered it.
– [fix] Due to a bug in new game races selection routine the last minor and last major race were never included in the randomizer. Therefore with this fix, you kind of got 2 more civilized races that could appear (this fix was brought to you by Stellar Monarch 2 code revision since it was never reported).

Version 1.47.1 released

Quick technical update for olders OSes. The previous version broke the compatibility with Win 7 this version restores it. Now, the game makes additional OS checks to adjust to legacy systems and might auto force safemode when needed (so older OSes versions also get the engine fix from v1.47 but handle it via using safemode). Windows 10 users (and Linux users playing via emulation) will see no difference. Oh yes, also one tiny, little, cosmetic bug was fixed.

– [misc] Engine updated to the newest version (includes some fixes related to legacy OS).

– [fix] Planet list showing the population as thousands instead of millions.

Version 1.47 released

Technical update, apart from the Stormtroopers bug fix (which also slightly increases the pace of the ground combat as a side effect) the rest of the changes do not affect gameplay. It basically address some rare issues affecting a very minor portion of players. Also, as of this version, you should never need to run the game in safe_mode (but of course I’m keeping this option, just in case).

– [misc] Engine updated to the newest version (includes some fixes for some rare OS related issues).

– [fix] Memory related fixes (not critical, never reported to cause problems) and some paranoia checks & safeguards added.
– [fix] Stormtroopers being recalled too early. Also, as a side effect of removing the bug, now the ground invasion is a bit faster on average.

EDIT: Encountered some problems when running this version on older machines (like XP or Win 7). So, I temporarily reverted back to v1.46. The fix is on the way. The v1.47 is on “Beta” Steam branch if you use Win 10 and like to play it now.

Version 1.46 released

This update is about small finetuning or some mechanics, nothing game changing but more like making things go more smoothly, intuitive and logical. Also traditional bug fixes.

– [balance] Cities penalty made more granular (depending on how many cities are missing compared to population, before it was iterated by -10% now by -5% each step).

– [misc] When Parasites go into hibernation they will start to disband ground troops on the planets they abandon. Also they will no longer disband flotillas while those are in combat.
– [misc] Any race invading Parasites world while it’s being abandoned by the Parasites due to hibernation will get instant 100% ground invasion progress.

– [interface] Create Emperor screen now shows a clarification that the traits affects both starting officials as well as officials recruited later.
– [interface][expansion#1] Listed AE pts cost for Satellites and Terraforming in a tooltip. Also listed the number of Satellites launched and number of Terraformed planets in the galaxy.

– [fix] Governors were not prioritizing cities enough in same cases. Now they look directly at the penalty and will try to fix & prevent it.
– [fix] Some rare audience effects applied incorrectly.
– [fix] A very rare bug where stormtroopers were stuck for several turns while invading a planet at the same turn when Parasites went into hibernation and decided to abandon this particular planet (yup, pretty rare).

Version 1.45 released

This update contains several small fixes and improvements. It also introduces two small rules regarding how aliens operate, nothing ground breaking, more like stuff that you would intuitively expect (like can’t launch an offensive from a planet with lost orbit control and additional penalties for civilized races which lost their capital world).

– [feature] If a civilized race loses the homeworld they have a much lower chance for initiating a new military plan (fewer offensives).
– [feature] Primitive races (The Hive, Parasites, etc) will not launch an offensive from a planet where they lost orbit control to (under invasion).

– [interface] Added breakdown of stability penalties sources to the Court screen stability tooltip (it might have been confusing in some cases since there are other sources to stability penalties than court factions unbalance).

– [fix] 1.44 Very Big UI running on 4K – the empire customization page is too large and overflows below the screen, with no way to reach the button to start the game.
– [fix] Disallowed dashes in save filenames input box (since that’s not a valid filename).
– [fix] Embargo and truce was not cleared upon New Game start.
– [fix] A few typos/grammar mistakes on Help page.

Version 1.44 released

Technical update, the game was moved to a new version of the engine which for example allows a special 4K Ultra HD UI rescaling. If you experience some problems, please report it. Also you can use a Steam “legacy” branch which contains the old v1.43. There is also one long awaited feature. Steam achievements! Just a few and it’s more of an experimental feature but they are here.

– [feature] New 4K “Very Big UI” Video option (fonts are even bigger now, useful for people with 4K monitors).
– [feature] BIG UI/Very BIG UI reacts to screen size (will autodisable if resolution is too small).

– [misc] Steam Achievements (just a few).
– [misc] Engine upgrade.

– [fix] Rare bug where transdimensional invasion was not starting if you have previously beat invasion in another game before quitting the game (so it triggered only if you beat transdimensional aliens and then encountered them the second time without quitting the game which explains why no one encountered & reported this bug for so long).