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ICBM: Escalation : Gobal warfare and nuclear mass destruction
Asid:
Dev Diary 10 - Playing your way
11 Nov 2024 13:50
Hi everyone.
The release date for ICBM: Escalation is right around the corner. We?ve got one last dev diary to tide you over before the big day. This time, we?re going to be talking about all the ways you can tailor the game to your preferences. We?ve already talked about the different game modes on offer and touched on the different units and weapons that will be at your disposal, but there?s even more you can do to make the game fit whatever kind of destructive mood you find yourself in.
Let?s start with something that gets asked a lot. One of the most common questions we get about the new ICBM is ?Can I play as (insert country here)?. Well, regardless of where ?Insert Country Here? is in your mind, the answer is almost definitely yes. The new default map features 10 factions made up of different countries that have cultural or political ties to each other. But, that doesn?t mean that?s how you have to play. You?re free to adjust any of the 150 regions on offer and mix and match them to different regions. Want to have the US face off against Brazil? You can do that. China vs Australia? Sure. Alaska vs literally the entire world? Terrible idea, but you do you.
Yeah, that?s right, bring it, wimp. WHO WANTS A PIECE OF ALASKA? HUH?!
Of course, there?s some innate limitations to the default Atomic Earth map. Some of the regions themselves are combinations of different countries, like the Baltic States, which are made of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Belarus. Obviously, not ideal if you want Belarus to team up with Russia, for example. But, we?ve got a solution. Introducing the Iron Curtain Map.
Sometimes the game gets viewed as a Cold War sim. So how about a Soviet Reunion? Just like old times.
We made the Iron Curtain map as a sort of ?roleplay? map, so even though it?s not as balanced as the default Atomic Earth map, you can get more nuance in terms of who?s allied with who. If you want to pit NATO against the entire Warsaw Pact, now?s your chance. In addition to the subdivisions in the large countries, every country that was big enough to be split off into its own territory has gotten exactly that. To the one guy in Burundi playing this game, you?re welcome. Just like Atomic Earth, you can mix and match territories however you want. If you want a game that?s just North and South Korea, it?s on the books now.
There?s also new lobby options to match the new features. Before you start a game, you can change the contamination speed, as usual, if you want to make the game longer or shorter. You can also adjust the length of ceasefires and peace treaties, how long it takes for captured territories to start paying out to you, settings related to your alliances, whether or not they exist at the beginning of the game, and more. One of the more interesting additions is the new adjustable ?Forced Surrender? mechanic, which allows you to forcibly push an entire faction out of a game by destroying or capturing a certain amount of their population.
Now you can end a game by capturing all your enemy?s territory or nuking them into oblivion. That?ll teach ?em.
Also, now that territory capturing is alive and well, we?ve also introduced a brand new scoring mode. If you?re looking to capture territory instead of glassing it, we?ve added the brand new Domination Mode. In Domination Mode, the only way to score points is by conquering enemy territory. You?ll have to raise an army and control the world if you want to win.
Now, that?s not to say that you can?t use nukes though. If you want to cripple your enemy?s economy and make it harder for them to fight you off, you?re more than welcome to nuke them back to the stone age. Blow up their cities, obliterate their units, do whatever you need to to keep them at bay so you can gain the upper hand and invade. You can also lower their score by irradiating their territory. If you want to send a message, you can always just salt the Earth. And, as expected, if you can?t help but giggle every time you slaughter thousands of innocents, the original 3 scoring modes are also making a return. Survival mode for the optimists, Extermination mode for the pessimists, and of course, Default for everyone who?s just bloodthirsty in general.
Take note that the attack on Washington hasn?t improved the Soviet?s score. It has, however, hurt the USA?s score, their GDP, and also approximately 1.8 million people...
Now, if you combine the options you have at your disposal for customizing the game itself, and combine that with the different strategies and tactics you can execute in the game itself, there?s no shortage of scenarios you can put yourself in. Want to bring the Cold War back to life with a friend? Sure thing. Do you like the sounds of a hypothetical future standoff between India and Iran? Give it a shot! Want to reenact the Mongol invasions with WWII technology? Go for it! Wanna show the world what happens when you mess with Alaska? Do your thing. ICBM has evolved far beyond just 8 players nuking each other. Obviously, that?s still an option, but the horizons of how you can play are much, much wider now.
That?s all for our last dev diary. Let us know what you think. This one is a little bit shorter, since we?re hard at work getting ready for the launch, but more to the point, soon enough you?ll be able to experience it all yourself first hand. Thanks for checking in and following the progress of the game, we?ll see you on launch day.
Asid:
Update v.1.0.2
Tue, November 26, 2024
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your incredible support and enthusiasm for ICBM: Escalation. We're thrilled to see so many of you diving into the game, exploring its new mechanics, and reshaping the fate of nations.
Your passion and feedback have been instrumental in helping us improve and refine the experience, and we couldn?t be more grateful for this amazing community.
Today, we released update 1.0.2, focusing on addressing the issues you reported. The changelog below includes the patch notes for both updates 1.0.1 and 1.0.2
Changelog:
Workshop is now available.[*]Workshop is now available to everyone. We look forward to seeing the mods.[/list]
Multiplayer[*]A new feature for ICBM: Escalation, that we implemented during the beta.... you can now save multiplayer games, including autosaves, allowing you to continue your sessions another day, especially useful for Conquest mode.[/list]
Fixes[*]Fixed an issue with audio devices. Now the game does not quit when no sound device is found, instead it continues running without sound
[*]Fixed a desync issue after loading in some scenarios
[*]Fixed total score transitioning on retry and continue
[*]Fixed a potential crash when starting/loading a game right after finishing the previous one
[*]Fixed a crash when reconnecting with war planner active
[*]Fixed a crash in war planner in MP on client
[*]Legacy DirectX support is now installed with the game, this will help with some installation issues reported.
[*]Fixed issue with mod_tool running without radar_stub.png
[*]Fixed issue with the AI invading and not declaring war
[*]Fixed an issue with Mission 9 and 10 when triggering a nuclear war
[*]Fixed an issue with Mission 10 causing the coastal batteries technology to disappear
[*]Fixed localization for city and region names in French, Spanish, Italian and German
[*]Fixed localization for Mission 9 and 10 in Chinese
[*]Fixed issue in Mission #10 with player units moved by the friendly AI
[*]Fixed a crash when explodes a slow nuke launched by the already destroyed unit
[*]Fixed the bug with game modes not switching in single player
[*]Fixed a common random crash in campaign
[*]Fixed alliance color drawing in ScoreBoard
[*]Fixed Mission #5 wrong winning conditions
[*]Fixed the problem with specific MP room name causing crash for everyone searching for MP game
[*]Fixed incorrect sound for some explosions
[*]Fixed a bug where trying to use the 'Tune Regions' feature would cause a crash for French users
[*]Fixed the localization for map descriptions
[*]Fixed the problem with searching for MP lobbies if there are more than 50 lobbies
[*]Fixed the significant FPS drop issue on some systems
[*]Fixed warhead production efficiency in Blitz mode
[*]Fixed occupation-based score reset on disconnect
[*]Fixed the Equalize Population option[/list]
Additions, Tweaks, Performance and Balancing[*]Added the graphics settings file to help fine-tuning the performance on particular systems
[*]Added the possibility to lower the game speed below 1
[*]The player orders for aircraft are not overruled by AI anymore
[*]AI is now more hesitant to accept peace while it is invading
[*]Holding CRTL will now queue attack orders
[*]Boosted ABM performance, low-level ABMs should be responsive now
[*]Increased the bonus offered by GDP-boosting techs
[*]Clarified AGM + GBU requirements in the tech tree
[*]Added additional visual aids to tutorial 7
[*]Reenabled Terminal ABM Laser vehicles being air-deployable
[*]Increased AAM salvo size for 6th gen fighters
[*]Added additional nuclear weapons to the starting loadouts for campaign missions where appropriate
[*]Reduced the spawn rate of Soviet convoys in Mission 4
[*]Updated some art assets
[/list]
We?re committed to continuing to improve ICBM: Escalation with your feedback and support. Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping us make the game even better with every update.
We?re actively working on improvements to the French and Chinese localizations, with Russian expected to be added soon.
Stay tuned for more updates, and don?t hesitate to share your thoughts, ideas, or any issues you encounter, join our Discord to connect with the community and to report any bugs you find.
If you need technical assistance, our support team is also available at support@slitherine.com
Asid:
Update v1.0.3
Wed, December 11, 2024
The update 1.0.3 is now available. Here below you can find the full changelog:
We are actively working on improving the AI, with some changes already included in this patch and more coming in the next one.
[*] Fixed Tutorial 11
[*] Fixed ABMs losing the track of ICBMs
[*] Changed handling of the AutoEngage option
[*] Changed handling of the Air Patrol option
[*] Naval Monitoring station cannot follow units anymore
[*] Fixed the problem with the game not starting on the main monitor in 2+ monitor configuration
[*] Fixed Multiplayer sync / MP Save crash when some player had more than 255 units in production queue
[*] Fixed technologies and units localization for Blitz
[*] Fixed the points distribution when loading the "Default" distribution in the game with lowered points
[*] Fixed the problem that allowed to place more armies into army base than possible when shift+clicking
[*] Fixed the problem with the units placed at the same position when auto-deploying (and probably for the AI units as well)
[*] Added the setting to show the faction name for the unit under cursor
[*] Added the setting to show the ranges for all selected units
[*] Added the advanced settings menu in the config screen
[*] The initially disabled technologies cannot be unbanned anymore
[*] In the spectator mode it is now possible to enter the diplomacy menu and see the detailed faction info
[*] Shift + click on togglable weapon now disables/enables it not only for all existing units of this type, but also sets default for the new units
[*] In Mission #5 chemical weapon is now switched off by default for all US Army divisions
[*] AWACS, Bombers and Spy Planes during Peace Time or Ceasefire automatically cancel orders and return to the airbase after entering other faction's airspace
[*] Changed Mission #10 to ensure only the original US territories counted when calculating losses
[*] Changed the invasion handling by the AI
[*] Adjusted some tutorials slightly to reduce confusion
[*] Fixed a bug with 2nd Generation Fighters not having access to AGMs
[*] Updated nuclear war behavior for enemy factions in the campaign
[*] Reduced the auto-engage radius for spec-ops helis, to prevent dangerous attacks
[*] Updated artwork for several technologies and weapons
[*] Added new player portraits
[*] Added localization for locations in Chinese
[*] Added missing localization for bio/chemical weapon status effects
[*] Extended the default peace treaty and ceasefire times
[*] Increased Chinese naval spawns in Mission 9
[*] Added checks in Mission 10 to see if there are enough survivors left to complete the objectives
[*] Fixed some weapons showing up as bannable
[/list]
We?re committed to continuing to improve ICBM: Escalation with your feedback and support. Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping us make the game even better with every update.
Stay tuned for more updates, and don?t hesitate to share your thoughts, ideas, or any issues you encounter, join our Discord to connect with the community and to report any bugs you find.
If you need technical assistance, our support team is also available at support@slitherine.com
Asid:
Update v1.0.4
Wed, December 18, 2024
The update 1.0.4 is now available. Here below you can find the full changelog:
- Fixed a crash on hosting machine in multiplayer when a game lasts more than 20 minutes without pausing
- Added conditional research strategy mechanics for AI
- Changed research targets in different AI strategies
- Changed the aggressiveness of the AI in the conventional war
- Changed the AI tactics on invasion and defence
- Allowed the AI to build more units when required by invasion/defence goals
- Allowed the AI to research past the defined strategy
- Missile disable/enable with shift+click now works for hosted units as well
- Fixed Terminal ABM on Destroyers and Carriers not firing
- Updated several tech and missile art assets
- Fixed an issue with Naval Monitoring Stations having limited ammo
- Allied ship kills now count towards the secondary objective in Mission 9
We?re committed to continuing to improve ICBM: Escalation with your feedback and support. Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping us make the game even better with every update.
Stay tuned for more updates, and don?t hesitate to share your thoughts, ideas, or any issues you encounter, join our Discord to connect with the community and to report any bugs you find.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, we'll see you in 2025.
Asid:
Update v1.0.5
Wed, January 15, 2025
Today, we released update 1.0.5, focusing on addressing the issues you reported.
We?re committed to continuing to improve ICBM: Escalation with your feedback and support. Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping us make the game even better with every update.
Stay tuned for more updates, and don?t hesitate to share your thoughts, ideas, or any issues you encounter, join our Discord to connect with the community and to report any bugs you find.
Here is the changelog:
1.0.5
- Fixed unit tables not drawing when deploying a unit from production menu
- Fixed the problem with ships not keeping the "follow" position and remaining in the tail of the escorted ship
- Fixed the problem with returned or non-active units not always deleted from the list of launched hosted units
- Fixed the crash when a saved game contains references to the "dummy" units
- AI does not try to invade during Peace Time anymore
- Fixed a crash related to incorrect counting of the launched hosted units
- Fixed the problem with helicopters not obeying the MaxAutoEngage range
- Fixed the problem with the AI remembering the original ownership of the regions re-allocated with "Tune Regions"
- Fixed the "teleporting" of the deployed unit when placing to follow a unit that already follows a far-away unit
- Fixed the crash when AI has nothing more to research (opened the whole tech tree)
- Fixed the AI keeping armies in the long occupied regions
- Fixed units having duplicated UIDs in Mission #5
- Fixed the gradual slowing down of the unit processing when the game is run without pausing
- Lowered the amount of used memory
- Fixed the problem with Mission #7 when occupation of Iraq + Afghanistan leads to immediate completion of the hidden mission
- Fixed the problem of occupation sometimes not staring a war
- Decreased the amount of units "dancing" when fighting
- Added HideOwnership property for units
- SpecOps teams do not show their faction until destroyed
- Added the possibility to ban Instant Research Sharing in the game settings
- If all players pause in consensus, pause time pool does not go down
- Added new difficulty levels
- Tuned up the AI aggressiveness
- Changed the font size
- Added Loading Screen images
- Changed artwork for several techs/weapons
- Fixed an issue with destroyers not initially following in Mission 10
- Fixed Covert Action tutorial text being absent in Spanish
- Fixed a bug with fusion torpedo loadouts showing up before they are unlocked
- Fixed heavy bomb trucks being immune to small arms fire
- Removed Tibet and Hong Kong from China in Mission 1 for historical accuracy
- Clarified the bonus time objective in Mission 4, added a secondary timer
- Increased size/frequency of Soviet attacks in Mission 5
- Fixed a bug with Mission 7 not completing properly
- Changed nuclear war behavior in Mission 9
- Added several techs to China in Mission 9
- Several other localization fixes
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