Sands v0.1.33 Release Notes

🎓 Major New Features

✨ Tutorial System

NEW! Complete interactive tutorial for new players!

• Guided Learning: Step-by-step introduction to game mechanics
• Progressive Training: Movement → Interaction → Inventory → Combat
• Safe Environment: Practice with weakened enemies in a controlled setting
• No More Confusion: New players can now learn the game without getting lost!

Access the tutorial from the main menu to learn the ropes!

🏜️ Enhanced Desert Experience

🌄 Dynamic Desert Landscapes

Visual Overhaul: The desert now feels truly alive!

• Varied Dune Formations: 3 unique dune textures with realistic depth and color variation
• Atmospheric Dust Layers: 4 different dust patterns create depth and immersion
• Intelligent Placement: Dunes and dust are strategically positioned for visual appeal
• Performance Optimized: New visual effects manager ensures smooth gameplay

🌅 Day/Night Cycle

Immersive Atmosphere: All outdoor levels now feature dynamic lighting!

• Natural Progression: Experience the passage of time in the harsh desert
• Enhanced Immersion: Different times of day affect the mood and atmosphere
• Consistent Experience: Works across all outdoor environments

🎨 User Interface Revolution

📖 Improved Readability

Font Upgrade: Switched from EBGaramond to Play font

• Better Clarity: Much easier to read, especially during longer play sessions
• Modern Look: Clean, professional appearance that fits the sci-fi theme
• Accessibility: Improved for players with visual difficulties

🎨 Enhanced Color Scheme

Visual Polish: Complete UI color rebalancing

• Better Contrast: Improved readability across all UI elements
• Cohesive Design: More consistent visual language throughout the game
• Eye Comfort: Reduced strain during extended gameplay

📐 Unified Scaling System

Technical Improvement: Better display compatibility

• Consistent Sizing: All game elements scale properly across different screen sizes
• Performance Boost: More efficient rendering system
• Future-Proof: Better foundation for additional display options

🤖 AI & Interaction Improvements

🧠 Enhanced NPC AI

Smarter Enemies: Completely rewritten AI system!

• Better Pathfinding: NPCs navigate obstacles more intelligently
• Improved Combat: More strategic enemy positioning and movement
• Patrol Behavior: NPCs follow realistic patrol routes
• Performance: More efficient AI processing for smoother gameplay

🎯 Proximity Detection Overhaul

Better Interactions: Improved system for detecting nearby objects and NPCs

• More Responsive: Interactions feel more natural and immediate
• Accurate Detection: Better detection of what you can interact with
• Smoother Experience: Reduced frustration when trying to interact with objects

🔄 Smart NPC Positioning

Quality of Life: NPCs now intelligently manage their positions

• Return Behavior: NPCs return to their original positions after interactions
• Adaptive Movement: Better spacing and positioning during conversations
• Less Crowding: NPCs avoid blocking important paths or areas

🔧 Technical Improvements

💾 Dedicated Save System

Reliability: Extracted save/load logic into a dedicated manager

• Better Stability: More reliable save/load operations
• Cleaner Code: Easier to maintain and extend save functionality
• Future Features: Foundation for more advanced save options

⚡ Performance Optimizations

Under the Hood: Major code refactoring for better performance

• Visual Effects: Consolidated effect management reduces overhead
• Movement System: More efficient pathfinding and movement calculations
• Memory Usage: Better resource management throughout the game
• Reduced Duplication: Eliminated redundant code for faster execution

🎮 Enhanced Movement System

Smoother Gameplay: New movement calculation and pathfinding systems

• Better Collision: More accurate collision detection and response
• Smoother Animation: Improved movement feels more natural
• Obstacle Avoidance: Better navigation around objects and NPCs

🐛 Bug Fixes & Polish

• Transition Zones: Made level transitions more subtle and natural
• NPC Collisions: Enabled proper collision detection for NPCs
• Random Generation: Improved “randomness” for more varied experiences
• Worm Spawning: Added more worms to desert levels for increased challenge
• Visual Artifacts: Removed black visual artifacts in certain areas
• Cache System: Improved caching for better performance

🔮 What’s Next?

This release represents a major step forward in making Sands more accessible to new players while significantly improving the experience for veterans. The tutorial system alone will help countless new players discover the deep gameplay systems, while the visual and AI improvements make every moment in the desert more engaging.

The technical improvements in this release also set the foundation for exciting future features - better save systems, more complex AI behaviors, and enhanced visual effects are all now possible thanks to the cleaner codebase.

May your path be steady and your water never run dry. 🏜️