Todays update is mostly quality of life with a few bug-fixes thrown in too. Included is the ability to pause the game when playing solo, see-through some close camera blocking obstructions like trees, and use free camera while spectating.

Pause

While playing solo in any mode and proceeding to open the game menu it will now pause the game, and visibly show in menu subtitle paused like in the screenshot above. Only the element of the game 'pausing' is new, the interface was already present. If you are in game with other people, this cannot be paused and it instead say, not paused. Should a player join the game via either being public or you are inviting them, while the game is paused, the game will un-pause.

Free Camera while spectating

When spectating other players, typically it will follow the current active player but instead you have the option to activate free camera and fly around the level without restriction. When its a local players turn in hotseat mode the camera will be returned as normal. When not playing hotseat the text will just say 'Spectating' as you are not focusing on a specific player, however in hotseat as only one player may be active it will always display the active player.

Proximity Dithering

What you are looking at in the picture above is a specifically set object type such as the tree appearing translucent as your camera is close it it and its obstructing your view. Currently the only other mesh type supporting it is those red fences but I may look into other objects should any prove problematic. If you don't like the effect you can disable it under graphics settings, given theres typically no more than four or five trees per island the performance benefit of disabling would be very small even on low end systems. There are a few other changes in the full patch notes below so please check those out. If you are enjoying playing the demo then please add the game to your wishlist :) https://store.steampowered.com/app/1914980/Golfing_In_Aether/

Patch Notes

General

• Added proximity dithering effect if your camera is in proximity to the base of a tree or one of the fences. This effectively lets you see through these meshes when really close to them.
• Added graphics setting option to disable proximity dithering. Given the number objects that use this is small (trees and fences) I would say the performance gain from disabling would be minor at best, however the option is present regardless.
• Added ability to pause the game. Way this works is if you are playing in any mode solo, when you open the game menu it will pause the game, and visibly show in menu subtitle paused. If you are in game with other people, this cannot be paused and it instead say, not paused. Should a player join the game via either being public or you are inviting them, while the game is paused, the game will un-pause.
• Added various blocks to prevent the game menu opening during holeout. You can open the game menu however while spectating.
• Fixed an instance where the new rotation replication of previous update wasnt correctly handling instances where balls where spawning at exactly zero rotation. This occurred only in hotseat and only on a handful of levels, notably Time To Reflect.
• Added ability to activate free camera while in spectating.

Environment

• Fixed a collision problem on One Hill Over due tree proximity to the track.
• Fixed fences obstructing camera on Gentle Swing and See You On The Other Side.
• Added change to collisions on movers so they dont obstruct free camera, or regular camera.

Interface

• Fixed a visual error for the scoreboard break down when looking at it from an early round. This did not effect any of the actual handling of placement, your simple score, or the final reported result.

Discord Server

Be sure to check out the official discord server with channels for Golfing In Aether and my other various projects.