Blackshift Released

 

I didn't want to set a release date in advance and inevitably miss it; much better to just spring the news on you without warning on release day. Well, release day is today.

Early Access customers — your copy of Blackshift should update itself to version 2.3.0, the first public version.

itch.io customers — a Steam key is available on your itch.io purchase page, if you want to switch to Steam. If not, no problem, your copy will still work.

Everyone else — get on over to Steam to buy your copy!

Changes since RC7

This kind of defeats the point of release candidates, but I snuck in a few low-risk changes:

• Some changes to levels, most notably 2/6 and 4/5
  
• Added some dots to the map for players who need some direction
• Improved graphics of time bomb and shop computer
• Fixed a bug where the left and right audio channels were reversed
• Gave time bombs a charging sound before they explode
  

Gamma 2.2.29 RC7 Released

 Release Candidate

If no major bugs are found, this will likely become the final released version.

What's New

• Changed the behaviour of nukes. Now, if you nuke a level:
  
• You don't get any of the silicon crystals you collected in that level.
  
• You don't get the hardball, if you found one.
• You don't unlock any editor items.
• You can now use save crystals on levels you've already won, if you want. It might make sense to do this if you're trying to get a difficult silicon crystal or hardball.
  
• Fixed a bug where, if you used several save crystals on the same level, only one would be removed from your inventory.
• Fixed a bug where if you used a save crystal to win a level, then returned, saved, and used the "Clear Save" option, you'd get your original crystal back.
• Minor sound effect changes
• Made level 6 more interesting
  

Gamma 2.2.28 RC6 Released

 Release Candidate

If no major bugs are found, this will likely become the final released version.

What's New

• The silicon detector now adds a sparkling effect to levels on the overworld which have silicon crystals in them.
• Fixed a bug where particle effects from the overworld could briefly persist on-screen after starting a level.
• Fixed a bug where the L-shaped orange "bullet door" would clip into the player model.
• Added a sound effect when connecty blocks connect together.
• Fixed a bug where the "Contrarian" achievement was awarded if you just touched a conveyor belt while facing the opposite way. You now have to actually move against the conveyor's direction, as originally intended.
• The conveyor belt in the World 6 cave is only there to make sure you don't miss the exit to the dock. Once you've taken that exit, the conveyor belt now disappears.
• Fixed a bug where, if you died while simultaneously completing a level, it would count a a win but the level would auto-restart. It now still counts as a win, as intended, but you go back out to the overworld, just like a normal win.
  
• Some changes to levels, mostly fixing design bugs. 
• Setting "Internet" to "Disabled" in the options now disables automatic updates in the non-Steam version.
• Fixed a bug where, in the non-Steam version, automatic updates would fail on Windows machines for any user with spaces in the path to their home directory.
  

Preparing for Release

Early Access has finished

Thanks to all of you who have been playing Blackshift Early Access. Your suggestions, bug reports, Pit levels, and thorough playtesting have been invaluable!

Blackshift Early Access is now no longer for sale, but if you already have it, your copy will continue to work.

Get your Steam keys!

I've given a Steam key to everyone who's already bought Blackshift Early Access on itch.io, which you can use to get the Steam version at no extra cost. To claim it, press the "Get Steam Key" button on your itch.io purchase page:

These aren't Early Access keys, they're for the final released version, so they won't work until Blackshift is released.

Switching to Steam

If you already have the non-Steam version, you don't have to switch, but I strongly recommend it. The benefits of the Steam version are:

• My auto-updater is extremely buggy and unreliable, and if you use the Steam version you'll be using Steam's auto-updater, which actually works.
• There's no login step for the Level Pit, it just automatically uses your Steam account to log in.
• It has achievements. 

 

Linking your Level Pit account

If you've been enjoying the Level Pit, and you're switching to the Steam version, please e-mail me your Steam User ID or post it in a comment and I'll link your Level Pit account to your Steam account. That means that when you play the Steam version, you'll keep your Level Pit account with all your levels and plays. Otherwise, the Steam version will create a new Level Pit account for you automatically with your Steam username.

Your Steam User ID is a number. It's not your username. If you can't find it you can try Steam ID Finder. Type in your username and look for "SteamID64".

Gamma 2.2.24 RC5 Released

Release Candidate

If no major bugs are found, this will likely become the final released version.

What's New

• Fixed a bug where one enemy had the wrong graphic.
  

Gamma 2.2.23 RC4 Released

Release Candidate

If no major bugs are found, this will likely become the final released version.

What's New

• Fixed a bug where you were supposed to unlock an editor item for beating the secret levels, but it didn't work.
  
• Changed some of the hints the shops give you when they're sold out. There are now new hints that help you find some of the most sneakily hidden silicon crystals.
  
• Messed around with the levels again. Moved some levels and orbs around so that there are orbs on both of the prominent "optional" levels, 2/10 and 6/10.
  

Gamma 2.2.21 RC3 Released

Release Candidate

If no major bugs are found, this will likely become the final released version.

What's New

• Swapped the last two secret levels
• You can now delete your Level Pit levels
• Minor changes to levels
• Fixed bug where mystery items that never got unlocked would appear in your editor palette
• Added ability to use the purple-dot enemy in the editor, unlocked when you beat the secret levels.
• Added "100%" indicator to overworld pause screen when you've done everything in the game.
• Fixed bug where the noise that plays when you get squashed by a box would sometimes play when you died to an enemy
• Fixed bug where you would never get any of the achievements for collecting silicon crystals. After this update, complete any level and you should get your missing achievements.
• Fixed gamepad support