Xonotic Is Approaching Version 0.8 With New Features And Maps

Yesterday a video was published on http://www.xonotic.org which showcased a preview version of the new 0.8 update and all its new features and a couple of new CTF maps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anhGh9sUbqI

Notable new features are the improved server browser, three new CTF maps, a new weapon and things called buffs.

The new server browser now categorizes servers to modded and vanilla servers instead of showing you a long mixed list of both types of servers. So if you are in for some modded awesomeness or after a more vanilla experience you can easily find the servers that serve you the gameplay that suits you best.

The update will bring three new maps, called Catharsis, implosion and Vorix. All of the maps are CTF maps, so the fans of capture the flag will definitely be pleased to see more variety when it comes to maps. Catharsis is a closed map with tight corners and corridors and multiple passages to the enemy base and back while implosion is an open map with jump pads and plenty of space to fly around which encourages laser / rocket jumps and high speeds. Vorix is another in-doors map but with a little more space and a bigger and more open central area.

Everyone likes guns so the new weapon is probably going to be one of the biggest things about 0.8. The new weapon is called Arc and what it does is it shoots a beam of electricity that will damage everything it hits, so a fairly generic gun that you have probably run into in the past if you've played other arena shooters. To balance it out, it overheats after firing for longer periods of time, so you can't just run around holding the fire button down. Personally this gun was a bit of a letdown and I was hoping for a more interesting/gimmicky gun like Electro but I'm not going to complain too much about it. It's a new type of a weapon and there are bound to be situations where it's going to be useful.

Another big thing is the buffs, which work like power-ups except they offer different sorts of bonuses. For example there are buffs which make you translucent, give you increased speed and so on. The idea here is to make increase the variety in the gameplay by having more abilities available to the players.

So all in all, 0.8 is looking to be an interesting update to Xonotic on their way towards 1.0. It's been a while since the 0.7 update came along but I'm happy that the devs are still working on the game and that progress is still being made. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.