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[WhiteSponge]

We Are On Steam Greenlight & Indiegogo!
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If you missed the live launch party that we had on TwitchTV, it was crazy madness! Over 100 viewers joined our live countdown to launch the 2 campaigns live on TwitchTV!

But if you are still interested to see what went down, check out the youtube video below!





And now onto the main highlight of today's post - the Steam Greenlight and Indiegogo campaigns!





Get Stellar Stars from Steam by voting for it!





And we also have some interesting rewards for you at our Indiegogo campaign! So do support our Indiegogo campaign too! Each and every dollar counts! Share the word about it too!

Join us on this awesome journey and let's do it together!

[WhiteSponge]

Featured, Trending & New Patch!
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Hello! David here returning with a new update! So it has been a crazy week since the Steam Greenlight and Indiegogo campaign launched for Stellar Stars! Here's what has happened so far!.

Stellar Stars got featured on Haogamers, A Gaming Nation and GameAxis!











In addition to getting featured, the Indiegogo campaign for Stellar Stars is now the top trending project in Singapore!




Without a doubt, this is definitely a great week for Stellar Stars. On behalf of the WhiteSponge team, I would like to thank you for supporting and spending your time reading our blog posts!

Now before ending today's update, there is just 1 more thing... a new patch!




If that was any indication, you can now use all the existing spells (in addition to Fireball) in the multiplayer matches!

This means that the minions that spawn in multiplayer matches now also drop stars for both the Heavy Wave and Impulse spells!




And this can only mean 1 thing - more spell mayhem in the multiplayer matches! You can grab the latest version here!

Lastly, don't forget to vote for Stellar Stars on Steam Greenlight and support it on Indiegogo! Cheers!

[WhiteSponge]

Christmas is coming! It has been a little more than 2 weeks since Stellar Stars' Indiegogo campaign went live! So here's a quick summary of what has happened and what's coming in the next game patch for Stellar Stars!

In the first Indiegogo update, the art for the Stellar Stars art book was revealed. This included both the Underground Caverns and the Frozen Wasteland!







There was also a live Q & A session held on TwitchTV! So if you missed it, you can now watch it on YouTube!





On top of that, the Indiegogo campaign has almost reached the 50% mark!




And since Christmas, the season of giving and sharing is coming soon, we are doing a simple giveaway! We are giving out 10 sets of the following Stellar Stars metal pin badges!




To get 1 of these sets, all you need to do is to:

1) Login to Indiegogo and use the social media buttons/tools on the left to share the campaign's link




Your name will appear on the referral list once you shared using the social media buttons/tools!

2) Post a comment in the comments section of the Indiegogo campaign with why you want a set.

And that's it!

And before ending today's blog post, there is just 1 more thing... details about the upcoming Stellar Stars game patch!

As you might have realized, there was no new game patch this week. And that is because we are working hard on the following good stuff:

1) Improved Stage Gameplay Experience



If you have tried the Stellar Stars free demo, you might sometimes get stages that have platforms generated close to each other. That results in really small spaces which you can't really move about.

So to improve on that, we are using a new method to generate the stages' layout for more moving space!

2) New Possible Arena?

What is this? A new arena besides the Underground Caverns, Frozen Wastelands and Robotics Labs? Well we won't reveal much at this point but look forward to it! It will be an awesome new multiplayer experience!

So what do you think? Remember that if you want to get Stellar Stars from Steam, you need to give it an upvote here!

Lastly, have a great day and look forward to the upcoming new patch! Cheers!

[WhiteSponge]

Hey there! David here again with an update before Christmas - we have a new game patch for Stellar Stars! And today's patch is rather important!

If you have already tried your hand at the Stellar Stars demo, you might remember stages that look like this:




While it is still possible for you to move around the stage, it isn't exactly that easy if you really try doing it. The tight spaces means that sometimes it might be difficult for you to get to a certain area of the stage.

Therefore, to prevent those situations from occurring, today's new game patch addresses that by increasing the space between platforms!




If you compare it to the previous screenshot, it should be evident that you can move about easier in this new procedurally generated layout. While it's totally possible for me to get into the technical details, let me put it in a way that you can easily understand.

Imagine a square. Now imagine that there are 17 lines drawn horizontally and vertically across this square. So that should give us 324 (18 * 18) smaller squares within this big square (I like to call it a table).




In the previous alpha versions of Stellar Stars, the game randomly finds a smaller square and checks if it is occupied by a platform. If it isn't, it continues with the platform creation and jumps randomly to another new spot to continue the cycle.




This results in situations where platforms can get created in spots that are rather close to each other. And sometimes they literally block out a section of the stage. To resolve that, today's patch uses a different method to create the platforms.

Instead, the game now starts creating the platforms from the bottom, and moves its way up. This creates a flow in the creation of the platforms and ensures that you can definitely get to the top of the procedurally generated stage.




So what do you think of the new stages? Before ending today's update, there's just 1 more thing...




The new defeated animation! Although I don't recommend this, you will get to see it when you lose a match against other players. So always aim for this instead:




And that's all I have to share for today! Remember that you need to vote for Stellar Stars to get it from Steam! Cheers!

[WhiteSponge]

Hey there! How was your Christmas? We have a small post-Christmas gift for you - a new patch for Stellar Stars! And today's new patch includes some new controls and new bug fixes!

In the previous versions of the game, if you were playing the game using your keyboard, you were able to play the game using the following controls:




In today's patch, we have added new keyboard controls for you! You can now use WAD to move!

Additional/New Game Controls:
W - Jump
A - Move Left
D - Move Right
J - Attack
K - Cast Spell
L - Activate Special Skill

If you are worried that you won't get used to the new keyboard controls, don't worry as they are just added as additional controls. The existing set of keyboard controls (as shown below) is still usable.

Existing Controls:
Z - Jump
Left - Move Left
Right - Move Right
X - Attack
C - Cast Spell
S - Activate Special Skill

And we have also added a little visual feedback to improve your gameplay experience. Remember when you get damaged by enemies?




In today's patch, you will now flash red for a split second when that happens!




While it is only for a split second, that will help you be aware of when you're getting hit!

In addition to the changes above, this new patch also fixes some nasty bugs such as:

- Where In the story mode, getting stunned by the 1st Boss will sometimes cause you to stay rotated forever.
- When using the XBox One controller would sometimes cause you to jump continously
- Where the XBox One controller's joystick at the character selection screen was being too sensitive
- When exiting from the multiplayer mode to return to the main title screen would cause 2 black bars to appear on the top and bottom
- Where platforms on the bottom floor would appear too close to one another

So what do you think of today's new patch? Do try it out and let us know!

Remember to vote for Stellar Stars to get it from Steam!

Look forward to 2016! Cheers!

[WhiteSponge]

I'm back after the New Year celebrations! And on behalf of the WhiteSponge team, I would like to wish you a very happy 2016! To kick things off, I would like to introduce you to something new today - the Gladiator's Arena!

Before I spoil anything for you, check out the following video!





Apart from being available only when you're playing in multiplayer matches, the Gladiator's Arena also spots a new enemy - the Warrior's Minion!




The Warrior Minions come from different backgrounds. Some of them are prisoners of war who were captured and forced to fight for entertainment. Many others are slaves while the minority were born with the thirst for battle.

Even with their different backgrounds, they have earned their body armor through surviving the odds and defeating others in battle. So while they seem defensive with their body armor, they can get aggressive if they sense your presence.




So what do you think of the new Gladiator's Arena? Try it out and share your thoughts in the comments section!

And lastly, don't forget to vote for Stellar Stars on Steam Greenlight (we are close to getting green-lit)! Cheers!

[WhiteSponge]

Hey there! David here again to share a piece of awesome news - Stellar Stars has been green-lit in just 17 days!



On behalf of the WhiteSponge team, I would just like to thank you for helping Stellar Stars get green-lit! We would not be here without you and we would not have done it without you. We are definitely looking forward to going on this exciting new journey with you!

So look forward to more updates from us! And if you haven't done so, follow our Twitter channel and subscribe to our mailing list so you won't miss any updates!

Cheers!

[WhiteSponge]

As of today's new patch (v0.128 Alpha), you can now use your character's special skill in the multiplayer arenas! So if you have just gotten used to using your basic attack and throwing spells at other players, it's going to get more interesting in the multiplayer matches!.




So how does adding the character skills to multiplayer change the game? Before today's patch, you have the option of either using your basic attack, or casting spells such as fireball at your opponents.




However, with today's patch, you can now do things like these.





Ro's special skill, Stunning Nose, is not to be underestimated. If timed right, you can potentially use it to stun opponents and follow up with spells or your basic attack to defeat them instantly.




On the other hand, Beat's special skill, the 5-hit combo, is a classic damage dealing skill. Use it to directly deal up to a maximum of 5 hits on your opponents!

However, do remember that using special skills require a lot of mana (MP). So be sure to always check how much mana you have remaining before triggering your special skill!

So if you haven't tried it yet, jump right over here! Cheers and have a great day!

[WhiteSponge]

Hello! Are you having a great day? If you have been following our Twitter or TwitchTV channel, you might have seen preview screenshots of the new score board. However, with today's new patch (v0.129a), you can experience it for yourself!




The new score board helps you access the current match with just a simple glance. For example, if any of the other players is currently dead, this is what you will see.




The same goes for when any of the players are disconnected from the match.




In addition to that, you can easily check out the character levels of the other players, the number of players you have killed, the number of times you have been killed and the number of minions you have slaughtered.

You might have also noticed that there are icons in the middle of the new score board. Remember those character growths which you have chosen before starting the match? These icons represent the character growths that your character has just learnt from leveling up. 

To activate the new score board, simply press and hold onto your [TAB] key if you are using your keyboard. With an XBox One controller, you can use the map/select button (left of start) to activate it.

On top of the new score board, we have also added a few new animations to spice things up for you. For example, when you start up Stellar Stars, this is what you will see now.




And let's not forget about the bug fixes. Because without bugs, the gameplay experience would be awesome.

Bugs Fixed in v0.129a:
1) Fixed a bug where Big Teeth (the first boss in story mode), goes right through the stage
2) Fixed a bug where minions do no damage you on the multiplayer arenas
3) Fixed a bug where if you are defeated at lvl 6, your respawn counter will not show/count down
4) Fixed a bug where Ro's Stunning Nose would sometimes pass through opponents without doing anything
5) Fixed a bug where a player's health would sometimes not be the same (i.e not synchronized) across all players in the match after respawning
6) Fixed a bug where the XBox One Controller's control mappings would go haywire on Mac/OSX

So what do you think of today's new update? Let us know in the comments below!

And if you haven't done so, be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to not miss any updates! Cheers!

[WhiteSponge]

What We Are Cooking - Spoilers Ahead!
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If you haven't heard, we are making a lot of changes to Stellar Stars, and it's all in the name of creating a better gameplay experience for you.

As there will be spoilers, if you prefer to be surprised when you download the next and upcoming patch (which will be v0.130 Alpha), stop reading right away. Still here? Alright let's start!



This is the 1st big change that you will notice when the game loads - a new login screen! What does this mean for you? You will essentially need to register an account to play the game.



While we are fully aware that this comes as an additional barrier to the game, let's think about it from another perspective. Registering an account creates a higher level of commitment and game progress that you can bring with you anywhere you go. You just need a desktop computer with Stellar Stars in it.

And after you have logged in, this is what you will most likely see.



If you look at the above screenshot, you might notice that it is rather easy to scan through your account stats on the top edge of the screen. Starting from the left, you have your icon that presents your current league, your user name, number of trophies, star level (of your account), number of stars collected and lastly number of matches you have both won and lost.

However, the animating arrow should capture your attention with ease.



This is where you will be able to choose from the 3 game modes - namely story, local versus and online multiplayer matches.

We are also in the middle of adding full controller support for Stellar Stars. This means that you will be able to play the game without even touching your keyboard or mouse. Big Picture on Steam anyone?



And we have also created a virtual keyboard to empower your Xbox One controller and you in Stellar Stars!



So what do you think of the upcoming new additions and changes to Stellar Stars? Let us know in the comments below! And if you haven't already, subscribe to the WhiteSponge mailing list to not miss any updates! Cheers!

[WhiteSponge]

New Patch Out! Shooting Up & Down Finally!
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You asked for it and we listened - therefore you can now shoot up and down in Stellar Stars!.

Before today's patch, you were only limited to attacking left and right.




While that alone is sufficient for most situations, you might sometimes have enemies moving around in a smaller area. And with today's new patch for Stellar Stars (v0.130a), you can now do this!




The awesome part about that is that you can also do that with spells!




To make things interesting, we have made sure that you will spin when you are shooting up or down!




And do you remember the big changes that we have announced in the previous blog post?




You will now need to register a new account in order to play Stellar Stars. This allows you to play the game from anywhere (with a desktop computer with Stellar Stars on it).

We are also in the process of shifting everything to be saved on a server. For example, if you were to collect a new star, the total number of stars that you have would be increased by 1 on the server.




So what do you think of today's new patch/update? Try it yourself now!

And lastly, remember to subscribe to the WhiteSponge mailing list to not miss any updates! Cheers!

[WhiteSponge]

You Don't Wanna Miss These Bug Fixes!
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Yes you heard it right - today's new patch fixes quite a few number of nasty bugs in Stellar Stars! So you really don't want to miss it!




For starters, there was a bug discovered by Phroxen (watcher of our TwitchTV channel) where jumping in the game wasn't responsive at times, especially after attacking.




There was also a bug where it was possible for you to spam your basic attack downwards and shoot through a platform.




This makes it possible for you to attack enemies from above a platform. And in my honest opinion, that takes the challenge away from the game.

Before today's patch, it was also possible to spam both of your basic attack and spells at the same time.




While that in itself seems fun, it also created a glitch where you can continuously spam spells without using any mana.

In addition to bug fixes, you will now be able to see this after logging in.




You can now finally catch the latest or upcoming news via the banner on the left! This is also where we will show information about any special game events.

So what do you think about today's new patch for Stellar Stars? To find out about all the new changes and bug fixes, experience it yourself here! Cheers!

[WhiteSponge]

If you are wondering what we are cooking, it's something called the local versus mode!.



As the name implies, the local versus mode allows you to fight against anyone who is right beside you! While we are currently still working on it, the next update will include the upcoming local versus mode!



When you first arrive at the local versus mode, you will be able to choose who you want to play as. Do you want a balanced character? Beat is your guy. Want someone more speedy? Go for Asuka!



After choosing your character, you will arrive at the character build screen. This is where you can set up how you want your character to level up. For example, if you choose Thick Skin for lvl 2, your character will automatically learn that on the spot when he or she reaches lvl 2!



As the combat in Stellar Stars is extremely fast-paced, there simply isn't time for you to choose from 1 of the many options after your character has leveled up. If you were to do that, your opponent would just make use of the opportunity and instant-kill you.



Your playing style, when combined with your selected character and selected build will affect how the match will turn out for both players. Additionally, the randomly selected stage will also play a part in that too. Well not to mention your reflexes too!



So what do you think of the upcoming local versus mode? Are you excited for it? Remember to subscribe to our mailing list so you can know when it is out in the next update! Cheers!

[WhiteSponge]

Sorry guys/gals it has been since I last updated this dev blog! But I am now back with more good news!

First of all, there will be a new update coming soon for Stellar Stars which includes the following new additions:

- Quick Matches
- Newly revamped multiplayer game room
- Creating/editing and saving of character builds
- Added a new post match statistics board
- Added a new re-spawn animation in multiplayer matches
- Improved the jumping animation by making it more juicy
- Opened up the local versus mode which is still experimental. Only works with 2 XBox One controllers

For example, this is what the new jumping animation looks like in the upcoming update (v0.140a):



More details about the new update coming soon!

[WhiteSponge]

Quick Matches, Character Builds and v0.140a OUT!!!

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Hello! How are you? I have been adding a ton of stuff to Stellar Stars in the last month and I am happy to say that you can now download the latest update of Stellar Stars that was just uploaded today!



In this new update (v0.140a), you can find many new additions to the game such as a new and improved jumping animation!



You can also now easily create and save character builds to prepare for your multiplayer match!



And did I mention that all of the game's soundtracks has been recomposed by the talented Bibiki?





In addition to the new jumping animation, did you notice the newly added sound effects?

Besides everything that I have just mentioned, getting into multiplayer matches has become easier with the new Quick Matches!



Think of Quick Matches as a way of finding 3 other players quickly so that you can play against them in an online multiplayer match!

Once they have been found, the game automatically loads the multiplayer game room. This is where you can choose your preferred character and the character build that you want for this match.





After you have chosen both your preferred character and character build, click on the green "Ready Up" button! Once everyone has done that, the game will automatically start the match.

Moving on, another new addition to the game is the post match scoreboard!



This scoreboard provides you with information such as the number of player kills you have, the number of times you have died and the number of stars you have collected. And if you came out of the match victorious, you get a trophy next to your name!

So what do you think of the new additions to Stellar Stars? For a list of all the new stuff, changes and bug fixes, grab the demo now!

And lastly, sign up for the newsletter to be the 1st to know when Stellar Stars is released! Cheers!

[WhiteSponge]

If you missed us at the recent conventions that were held this past week, fret not! We have taken lots of photos for you to feast your eyes on! Enjoy!

Unite Singapore 2016
Unite Singapore 2016 is a conference where game developers using Unity (a game engine) can showcase their games and/or network and share their knowledge of the game engine. It is the 1st time ever it was held in Singapore!








 






GameStart Asia 2016
If you haven't been to GameStart Asia, you are missing out! It is where you can experience the wonder and fun of an international standard gaming convention in Singapore and South-East Asia.




 








So what do you think? We will be announcing something pretty important soon so if you have not done so, subscribe! Cheers!

[WhiteSponge]

Alright we have a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT to make!

After many months of development, Stellar Stars is finally ready to land on Steam!



So what can you expect from Stellar Stars on 11.11.2016? This announcement trailer should help with that.





Remember to subscribe to the mailing list if you haven't done so! And lastly, mark your calendar so you won't forget about 11.11.2016!

[WhiteSponge]

It has been a while since the last update but we are back!

So it has been a month since Stellar Stars has launched on Steam and now we have something exciting to share...




Announcing Stellar Stars 1.1: The Arrival Of Tink! This new update will feature the long awaited 5th character and it will arrive on this coming 22.12.2016!

Check out the teaser trailer down below! Enjoy and be sure to jump over to the Steam Store!

[WhiteSponge]

I am really excited about this festive season as a new character has finally joined the Stellar Stars line-up!

Say hi to Tink - the utility extraordinaire in The Arrival Of Tink update that just went live!





And to celebrate the upcoming Christmas, you can now save 35% when you grab Stellar Stars from Steam now!

Have fun and Merry Christmas!

[WhiteSponge]

After months of hard work creating, collecting and hunting stars, we are really happy to announce that Stellar Stars 1.2: Rise Of Magic will be arriving this 3rd March in open beta!




This means that you will be able to get your hands dirty hunting stars in this new adventure with new spells, gameplay improvements and a new character! Although there hasn't been any reveals for the new character yet, look forward to playing as her in the upcoming open beta on Steam!

And since it will be an open beta, your feedback and voice will directly affect your star-hunting adventure!

Here's what you can also do to get updated on the latest star happenings:

- Subscribe to the WhiteSponge mailing list

- Join the Stellar Stars Discord Community

If you want to get a sneak peek at the new spells, you definitely should join the new Discord community!

So mark the date (3.3.2017) on your calendar right now!