This week, I mostly focused on optimization and improving VR controls.
For optimization, it’s nothing huge, but a collection of smaller tweaks that may make a difference, especially on lower-end hardware. I really hope I haven’t broken anything, as I didn’t have time to retest everything thoroughly.
For VR, I completely overhauled the movement controls and some interactions. Movement is now handled with the left thumbstick (you can switch to the right thumbstick in the options). Pressing the thumbstick allows you to rotate—very straightforward.
For VR interactions, you can now play with physical positioning, your hand stays in place instead of zooming to the ground all the time (the old behavior is still available in the options). Grabbing is now performed using the grab button, while powers and flicks still use the trigger button. Many powers now have a fireball-like behavior, where you can throw them around. Unfortunately, I haven’t had time to overhaul all the powers yet.
Everyone:
- Optimized plant growth to limit animations cost in multiple cases like water and rejuvenate.
- Added VFX at the center of the rejuvenate power to help with aiming in VR.
- Added rotation to the scythe when holding the button during the reap power. Very cool in VR.
- Optimized villager AI resource searches.
- Clean up and optimized many low level for-loops in the code.
Only VR:
- Implemented new VR movement method Flying using the headset.
- Implemented new VR movement method Flying using the controller.
- Implemented new VR movement method Teleportation.
- Updated tutorial messages to reflect new controls.
- Updated VR controls to assign grabbing to the grab button and flicking to the trigger button.
- Reworked powers to behave like fireballs, with throwable effects and impacts.
- Reworked the reap power to stay put in your hand while active.
- VR UI no longer displays while hovering over an object with an active power in hand.
Bug Fixes (VR):
- Fixed an issue where objects were being planted into the ground when using the trigger while grabbing.
- Quest dialogues are now visible again.
- Fixed VR camera tearing during rotation.
Thanks for reading, and as always, feel free to contact me with any feedback.
I’ll be away from my computer for the holidays until the beginning of January, but I’ll review any new feedback then.
Wishing you all glorious end-of-year celebrations!
