Rift Miner - Version 0.01.000: The Visual Identity & 'Game Juice' Update!

Hello Miners!

This is a big one! This update focuses on three crucial things: taking the first steps towards a unique art style, making the gameplay feel amazing, and making it run smoother than ever. I've rebuilt some core systems from the ground up to bring the game closer to its final vision.

Let's dig in!

A New Visual Identity (Work-in-Progress!)

The first thing you'll notice is that all blocks have new, custom-made textures! This is the first step in moving away from placeholder assets and building a unique, cohesive art style for the game. Please consider these new visuals a very early first pass - they are intentionally simple for now and will be detailed and polished in future updates.

Smoother Gameplay & Performance Boost

• Buttery-Smooth Portal Travel: The jarring "hitch" or lag spike when generating a new Rift is gone! The loading process is now much smarter, resulting in a seamless transition.
• Faster & More Stable: These changes also significantly reduce the game's memory usage, leading to faster load times and a more stable experience, particularly on WebGL.

More 'Juice' - A Better Feel

• Shattering Blocks! Blocks no longer just vanish. They now explode into a burst of fragments that tumble and fall, making every swing more impactful.
• Powerful Impact! Mining valuable ores now triggers a satisfying screen shake, giving your pickaxe a real sense of weight.
• Dynamic Sounds! Mining sounds are now more varied, so every strike sounds unique.
• No More Clipping! Your pickaxe will no longer awkwardly poke through walls or the portal.
• New Controls Options! A "Controls" section has been added to the Options Menu, featuring:
  • Mouse Sensitivity Slider: Customize your look sensitivity to find the perfect feel!

Better Pacing: Less Clicking, More Mining!

• Auto-Mine is now available much earlier! You can now unlock the "Relentless Miner" upgrade (hold to mine) much sooner by getting the "Efficient Swings" upgrade to Level 3.
• Balancing: To account for the power of auto-mining, the base speed upgrades have been slightly re-tuned for a smoother progression.

This was a massive effort, and it creates a much stronger foundation for all the new features to come. Thank you for your continued support and invaluable feedback. Please jump in, check out the new look, feel the difference in performance, and let me know what you think!

Happy Mining!

Larsi