Hello there, my simian goons. Some of you might have noticed multiple "stealth" build uploads marked as PREVIEW this last month. Here's what's been cooking and some info about the upcoming Steam Release.

Update 0.0.8 comes with the first Training Module: Basic Training, where new players will get a bunch of info on how to play the game in a very compact package. More Training Modules will be added in the future, with an Advanced Training for more complex stuff, and also single-player and multi-player modules to pass time.

This update also includes a massive revamp of the monkey side of the game, with improved controls, tweaked UI, wider camera angles and more quality of life features to make playing as a Mandrillian more engaging.

On top of that, there are tweaks, improvements and rebalancing of some VR features, and some behind-the-scenes preparation for upcoming features like the camera system, monkey powerups, and some surprises...

STEAM RELEASE

I have finally set up a Steam page you can wishlist. The release date for the game will hopefully be around summer, if nothing goes horribly wrong.

If you bought the game on itch, you don't have to pay for the game again (well, if you really really want to I will not stop you): you can go to your purchases page and request a Steam key for Escape from Mandrillia.

These keys should add the game to your Steam library but won't activate it until release. The only difference between the Itch and Steam versions will be that the Steam version has the very convenient Steam Remote Play feature built-in (allowing players to play online with friends just with a click instead of having to use Parsec) and Steam achievements (that I might end up adding in some form to the itch builds in the future anyway).

With that said, here's what's new in 0.0.8: 

TRAINING MODULES

-Added "basic training" module. This module teaches the basics of interaction, keycards, inventory use, healing and health monitoring, multitool uses, weapon operation, and gate unlocking. It also includes some information on how to handle Mandrillians, with a handy cyber-mandrillian dummy.

-Added subtle background noise to all training modules. MANDRILLIANS -Revamped Mandrillian controls: they should feel more responsive overall, and you can aim your attacks instead of having them always go forwards. This also lets monkeys jump very easily over small obstacles.

-Almost doubled Mandrillian camera FOV.

-Added camera zoom toggle for Mandrillians (mouse wheel click/X button on controller)

-Improved Mandrillian UI with the tracking, context action and powerup (upcoming) buttons mirroring their positions on a controller.

-Added IK to Mandrillian legs so they better adapt to irregularities in the map (no more monkeys perfectly floating with just one leg barely on a table for example)

WEAPONS

-Added small delay on Flamethrower: when you fire it, it will just spit un-ignited fuel for a split second. This means if you keep tapping it you will end up wasting fuel. After this split second delay, a bigger fireball with longer reach will start the usual flamethrower attack.

-Minigun rebalance: longer spin up time, harsher recoil, faster rate of fire, slightly increased damage per shot.

-Exploded fire barrels will apply fire damage for a few seconds after blowing up (matching with the FX)

BUGFIXES AND VISUAL TWEAKS

-Probably fixed (?) a deadzone issue with WMR headsets

-Fixed visual bug causing battery charges to look "inverted" for monkeys.

-Fixed visual bug that caused monkeys to keep bleeding if they teleported to the victory room while dead and having had a crossbow bolt stuck on them after dying.

-Improved fire FX on flamethrower, fire bombs and red barrels.