New version

I have released Spaceships v1.4.2 which includes allowing server creation through the GUI and has added accessibility options in the settings. This continues the trend of less flashy but important usability improvements that v1.4.1 started.

If you’re using Flatpak and update to this version, any previous settings will be ignored. To resolve this, you need to manually move config.ron from ~/.var/app/me.spaceships.spaceships/config/config.ron to ~/.var/app/me.spaceships.spaceships/config/spaceships/config.ron.

Server creation

In previous versions creating a server required using the command line. Now you can create game servers which are available on the local network by using the GUI, which the linked video shows. This allows hosting a single server using a configuration file in the configs/ directory (as well as ~/.var/app/me.spaceships.spaceships/data/spaceships/configs/ for Flatpak).

This GUI provides only a limited subset of features compared to the command line. If you, for example, want your server to be playable on the internet, you need to use the command line.

Accessibility

This version includes two settings which improve the game’s accessibility.

The first setting is the UI scale factor, which can help if the text is too small to read.

The second setting adds labels above each powerup, addressing a problem that colour is the main distinguishing factor between types of powerups.

Screenshot

Here’s what the powerups look like with labels above them. Screenshot showing labels above powerups.

Changelog

Major changes

  • Creation of game servers through the GUI.
  • Accessibility improvements.

Minor changes

  • Now saving game configuration files is done asynchronously, which can improve responsiveness when switching between GUI states.
  • Config path changes for Flatpak build.
  • Failure to search LAN now shown in GUI, not just logged to stderr.
  • Server log messages have changed as a result of a refactor to the networking code.

Bug fixes

  • Any failed attempt to publish servers because the publication server cannot connect back is now explicitly stated in a server response, rather than the connection timing out too soon.
  • Player names (and powerup labels) no longer render above health bars.