1.001 *beta* out now.

[x4000]

Release notes: http://arcengames.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=Bionic_Dues_Post_Release_Notes#Beta_1.001

Steam will not automatically update you to this version unless you specifically add yourself to the beta branch for this game.  To do so, right-click the game in steam and choose properties.  Under the Betas tab, choose "beta" from the dropdown.  You may have to restart steam after that in order to get it to trigger the download of the 1.001 version.  Once this feature set is considered stable, it will be merged into the normal steam update path for everyone.

This new version has some fixes, and in particular the big balance tweak is for sentry turrets.  Even bigger than that, though, is a customization-screen improvement that works if you have 1280x768-or-better screen resolution.  There is a toggle in the Extras tab that lets you turn that on.  Here's a screenshot of it:

[BobTheJanitor]

Getting no comparison when I click to select a part and then mouse over things on the left side... I do get comparison numbers if I mouse over parts that are already installed in other slots. But they are wrapping around to the next line and writing underneath other text. Abort! Abort!

Running on 1680x1050, if that's pertinent.

Edit: Example shot here. Note stealth actions, trap skill, and power level.

[keith.lamothe]

Getting no comparison when I click to select a part and then mouse over things on the left side...

Ah, right.  When you select a slot it's not actually so you can just left click an inventory item to put it there.  It's just to filter the inventory by what can go there (you still have to drag&drop to do the installation), but I do see the source of confusion.

I do get comparison numbers if I mouse over parts that are already installed in other slots. But they are wrapping around to the next line and writing underneath other text. Abort! Abort!

Well serves you right for having larger numbers than I saw in my tests!   Yea, will need to send those labels to Text Wrapping Re-education Camp.

[Pepisolo]

Haven't test much yet, but how about mouse scroll wheel to cycle through exos?

[BobTheJanitor]

Ah, right.  When you select a slot it's not actually so you can just left click an inventory item to put it there.  It's just to filter the inventory by what can go there (you still have to drag&drop to do the installation), but I do see the source of confusion.

I am still confused. I would think the intended behavior would be click item, then mouse over eligible items on the left and look below to see how stats are changing. (as compared to the non-beta version where you click item, get a new screen listing eligible items, and mouse over them to see how the stats are changing) If that's not how you do it, what is? I don't actually see any way to compare items otherwise.

[Pepisolo]

I am still confused. I would think the intended behavior would be click item, then mouse over eligible items on the left and look below to see how stats are changing. (as compared to the non-beta version where you click item, get a new screen listing eligible items, and mouse over them to see how the stats are changing) If that's not how you do it, what is? I don't actually see any way to compare items otherwise.

Yeah, regarding how to then implement the slot filter thing, I think you're going to need to change the slot names into toggle-able buttons. Reactor, that's a button. Propulsion, that's a button. Computer...you better believe that's a button.

Click Reactor button: button becomes highlighted and filters applied. Click again, filter deactivated.

The general concept and layout seems extremely promising, but it does need a lot more refinement. Hey, that's what we're here for, right? 

[keith.lamothe]

If that's not how you do it, what is? I don't actually see any way to compare items otherwise.

Left click an item on the left, drag it over to a slot, and (before dropping) look at the comparison

[Pepisolo]

If that's not how you do it, what is? I don't actually see any way to compare items otherwise.

Left click an item on the left, drag it over to a slot, and (before dropping) look at the comparison

Ah, I see. Actually, what's stopping you from making this work both ways. Let's say you click a slot (which is now highlighted) then mousing over anything in your inventory could also show the changes.

[Taikei no Yuurei]

I have to agree the way everyone is saying sounds the most intuitive.  The dragging and hovering to compare thing sounds a little clunky, and if you're trying to compare a half dozen or more items, fairly time consuming even.  Haven't tested it out yet, don't want to update till I'm done with my current game.

[keith.lamothe]

If that's not how you do it, what is? I don't actually see any way to compare items otherwise.

Left click an item on the left, drag it over to a slot, and (before dropping) look at the comparison

Ah, I see. Actually, what's stopping you from making this work both ways. Let's say you click a slot (which is now highlighted) then mousing over anything in your inventory could also show the changes.

That could be done, sure.  The question is what people want.

For instance, do people want fire that can be fitted nasally?

Or a belt sander that can be fitted facially?

[Pepisolo]

That could be done, sure.  The question is, ** is that** what people want.

Edit: ** how I read this sentence in my brain... I'm currently unwell and it's late...gimme a break. 

My first impression is yes -- with a capital Y. I didn't actually capitalize the Y because I wanted the added emphasis of the em dash without repeating myself... 

I actually think this would work well in conjunction with the drag and hover. The drag for just quick comparisons, the highlight for more thoughtful analysis. Such a simple addition would surely add a lot of usability.

[Winge]

If that's not how you do it, what is? I don't actually see any way to compare items otherwise.

Left click an item on the left, drag it over to a slot, and (before dropping) look at the comparison

Ah, I see. Actually, what's stopping you from making this work both ways. Let's say you click a slot (which is now highlighted) then mousing over anything in your inventory could also show the changes.

I was thinking the same thing myself.  I often want to take a part I consider 'sub-par' and compare it to my inventory; sometimes, this happens more often then checking new parts against my current loadout.

Do note that I am CDO, and have my own way of handling customization that, to most people, is very belt-sanderesque.

[Teal_Blue]

just real quick on trying to get beta access, the key i have, or code is listed as not valid when i put it in. 
Am i missing something?

please send email if you can, thank you!

-Teal

[BobTheJanitor]

Edit: ^^^^ You shouldn't have to put in a key, just click the opt in button. I'm assuming that key is for super special extra hidden beta access, as opposed to 'anyone can opt in' beta access.

As far as mouseover comparisons go. Yes. Definitely. I would see that as the obvious evolution of the current system where you click a part and then get everything that would fit in that slot and can mouse over each item to see what it would change if you swapped it. The new screen is fine, and everything fits on it, and I can actually see all my stats and see what goes up and down. That's good! But... drag and compare is definitely going backwards on the usability scale. And apparently it's not idiot proof, since I couldn't figure it out until someone mentioned it. Ideally everything on the screen should be trying as hard as possible to ease the process of comparing tons of items to tons of slots and coming up with something approaching optimal.

Now as far as this nasal fire, I think if my exos could shoot fire out of their chromed nostrils, that would definitely be worth looking into. Get the marketing boys on that right away. (And I got the reference without the link, I still have the original radio drama on tape around here somewhere... I get extra nerd points for that right? Can those be traded in for cash?)

[ScrObot]

Ah, I see. Actually, what's stopping you from making this work both ways. Let's say you click a slot (which is now highlighted) then mousing over anything in your inventory could also show the changes.

This; it should work both ways, with mouseovers. The 1.001 update is definitely a great step in the right direction, but the drag to compare doesn't feel "right" to me. This is how I envision it:

When you select a part (which highlights it and dims all the invalid slots in the current exo), mousing over any of those slots shows the comparisons. Clicking on a slot would install the part there. Alternately, clicking on the part again would deselect it.

Going the other direction, when you click a slot (which highlights the the slot and filters the parts list appropriately), mousing over any of the parts shows the comparisons. Clicking on a part would install it into the selected slot. Alternately, clicking on the slot again would deselect it.

Going a step further in usability, it'd be nice if when you selected a part or slot, the popup showing its details persisted, and when you mouse over the slot or part, the "normal" popup showing that item's details showed as well. I miss seeing the full details on both parts in the new screen. Obviously there'd have to be a little massaging to make the "persisted" details popup to be positioned correctly to not obscure anything (e.g. computer parts would display the popup above the computer components, propulsion and right side weapons would pop it to the left of those boxes, top row weapons would pop below those boxes).

And also +1 to using the mousewheel to switch exos, since there's no scrolling box o' stats anymore.