Hey, Void Pilots!

The first major update is finally here, bringing significant under-the-hood improvements, balancing tweaks, and quality-of-life changes to Void Protocol. This update focuses on refactoring core systems, improving data collection, and fine-tuning gameplay balance. 

Let’s break it down!

New Features 

Difficulty Now Spawns Previous Tier Mobs!

• Chaos intensifies! Higher difficulties now include mobs from earlier tiers:
  • Medium Difficulty: Easy-tier mobs can join the party.
  • Hard Difficulty: Easy and Medium-tier mobs raid together.
• Why? 
  • To ramp up chaos, variety, and challenge—no mercy for the unprepared!

Core System Refactoring

Spawning & Pooling System Overhaul

• Mob spawning has been split into separate scripts for better organization:
  • Standard Mobs
  • Special Mobs
  • Bosses
• The object pooling system has been remade to accommodate these changes, ensuring smoother performance and scalability.

Data & File Management Refactor (Final Iteration)

• More in-game data is now collected, including:
  • Session & Run Details (Start/End Time, Duration, Difficulty, Score)
  • Enemy Kills (Minions & Bosses per difficulty tier)
  • Upgrades Collected (Common to Legendary)
  • Combat Stats (Accuracy, Shots Fired/Hit, Pause Count)
  • Player Stats (Max Health, Speed, Attack, Boost, etc.)
  • Level Progression (Current Level, EXP Gains)

⚠️ Important Note:

• All data stays on the player’s PC (inside Players - Gameplay Data folder).
• This is the final version of data collection—it will not be present in the next major update.

Bug Fixes

• Difficulty-Select-UI Planets now properly enlarge on hover.
• Max Health Rare Upgrade was incorrectly stronger than Epic—fixed!
• Player VFX (Shooting & Boost) no longer play after death.
• Window sizing improved for smaller resolutions (full resizing options coming later).
• Special thanks to @TalkingBox and @hirouz for reporting in the comments!

Balancing Changes

Combat & Progression

• Item Spawns now appear around the player instead of the entire world.
• EXP Runes adjusted with two new tiers:
  • Tiny (1) | Small (3) | Medium (5) | Large (10)
  • Gigantic (20) | Ginormous (50)
• Spawn Scheduling rebalanced across all difficulties.

Leveling System Rework

• Level Cap: 50
  • Previously had no Level Cap
• EXP Scaling:
  • Lv1 → 5 EXP
  • Lv2-10 → +10-30% per level
  • Lv11-25 → +3-10% per level
  • Lv26-40 → +1-3% per level
  • Lv41-50 → +10-15% per level
• Current level now displayed in the Pause UI → Stats Menu.

Quality-of-Life Improvements

• Max Health Upgrades now heal the player for the same amount.
  • (Considering buffing this to heal base amount + 20-50% in the future!)
• Tutorial Option added—choose whether to see tutorials after selecting difficulty.
• Tutorial Text Speed increased, with faster skipping when clicked.

What’s Next?

• Resolution options (coming in a future patch/hotfix).
• More balancing tweaks based on your feedback!
• Planning on adding more Game Feel, so keep tunned for this!

As always, let me know what you think—your input helps shape Void Protocol’s future!

See you in the Void!

- Pedro Vilas Bôas, Game Creator