Happy Tuesday, everyone! Here’s a list of patch notes for the latest Pre-Release update. Bugs are always expected in these work-in-progress builds so we could really use your help testing! We appreciate any bug reports and feedback you send our way on the Pre-Release forum.

* If you’re not familiar with Pre-Release, it’s the unstable developer branch we use for testing new stuff. More info here.

Patch Notes [Pre-Release v0.6.4]

New Features:

• New Arena Mode - Exhibition Match:
  
  • Now there are two ways to play the Arena. In Exhibition Mode, battle creatures in 1 vs 1 matches. First to score 3 points wins! Play in spectator mode (CPU vs CPU) if you want to watch the action, or Player vs CPU if you want to control a creature directly in battle. Points are awarded by scoring a knockdown or by how well a creature did offensively before the round time ends.
    
  • Added in this “Exhibition” arena mode release:
    
    • Knockdowns trigger a snazzy slow down moment.
      
    • In the “corners” between rounds, apply bandages and feed to prepare for the next round.
      
    • New Arena art and sounds of crowds

• Automated Cameras in Arena modes
  
  • Cameras will now automatically follow the creatures and capture all the action (when you’re not directly controlling a creature). If you want to control the camera yourself, launch a game in Elimination Mode.
  
  
• Dev Console Added - Helpful for bug reports
  
  • This new console replaces the / (slash) commands previously used in the chat window.
    
  • Press ` (accent) to access the dev console.
    
  • Use /help to view all available commands.
    
  • You can now output logs directly from console, which is especially useful when sending us bug reports. Use the /savetxt command and find your file in your CHKN directory. (Usually in C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonCHKN on Windows.)

• Many creature building improvements

• Click to select block/place is back, in addition to the existing drag & drop mode.
  
• Lock mode added that lets you repeatedly reuse a selected block.
  
  • When toggled on, whatever block you currently have selected in the Life Block tray can be used repeatedly, without re-selecting it each time.
    
  • Toggle it off to clear the selection and allow for manipulating blocks already placed on the creature.
  
  
• Traits added. Traits are automatically granted based off how a creature is built.
  
• Undo/Redo functionality improved
  
• Builder UI simplified and cleaned up (better creature filtering selection, clearer Life Block tooltips, consolidated tool buttons, improved block highlighting, cleaner abilities browsing/selecting, etc.)
  
• Code stabilized and many bugs squashed
  
• Block/Block chain rotation fixes
  
• Bug fixes with interacting with root block


• Creature animation system updates
  
  • Fixes to bounds issues, strikes, block separation, leg bends, creature look direction, root identification for certain block configurations
    
  • Animation smoothing improvements
    
  • Creature flinching functional again
  
  
• Creature block changes
  
  • Added icons for updated creature Life Blocks. (There are still a few missing that we’ll add on the next pass.)
    
  • Half-sized crab blocks added (will be adding more in the future)
    
  • Fixes to leg animations, snake texturing, highlight materials
    
  • Fur visual improved
  
  
• Crafting/Character screens overhauled... again!
  
  • UX made consistent, fullscreen UI, and cleaned up look
    
  • Many bugs squashed
    
  • Unneeded features have been removed

• UI overhaul (in progress)
  
  • Changing all screens to work in fullscreen for all aspect ratios.
    
  • Creatures in UI now animate and can be rotated with the mouse
    
  • Compare creature power with a new stats radar graphic.
    
    • Stats themselves are still being adjusted. Once we’ve standardized this, the radar will become more clear.
    
    
  • Arena mode selection and options now broken into its own flow

• Pathfinding fixes. Creatures should no longer walk through walls.
  
• Dog buffs now properly increase stats.
  
• Electric shock ability now uses energy.
  
• Multiplayer world syncing improved (trees/bushes) in Creative Mode. NOTE: Initial connect is still buggy. You may have to try multiple times.

• Instructions for how to get on Pre-Release
  
• Please post your bugs and feedback on our forums
  
• You can also join us on our CHKN discord to post bugs, feedback, or questions (or just hang out!)