JOE Alpha Version 0.2.29.6a

Alpha Version 0.2.29.6a - Now Live on main branch
New patch 0.2.29.6! Hope you’re all ready for a new major update featuring updates to world performance, new vehicles and creepy new infected visuals.

Be wary of the new NPC mechanics. Headshots on infected will now create a hazardous plume of spores, blurring vision and hampering aim. Remember - professionals aim for the heart. Heart shots are now the safest way to take down infected threats.

Developer Comment:
It would NOT be advisable to use old saves on this build, pre 0.2.29.6a and to delete any files stored in the save directory regarding key bindings and game saves.


Game Engine
	Unreal Engine 4.24.3 to 4.25.3 update.
	Implemented Wwise Sound System.
	Minor improvement for save files to reduce risk of corrupting save data.
Optimisation
	Optimized textures with higher compression and lower resolution.
	World tile size has been increased x3 to reduce load and unload performance spike (spikes will still occur, but much less often).
	Leaf foliage changed to a low poly version.
	Reduced the density of foliage around Hanouten.
	Improved optimisations on Skylight system.
	Significant cleanup of redundant elements in Character/Controller
Player
	Trystan is now a playable character that can be unlocked by relevant Kickstarter backers and early adopters with a product key. Trystan will be available to all players upon official Steam Early Access release (when the game leaves pre-Alpha).
	Characters can now fight with fists to defend themselves in close quarters. Consecutive punches can knock down enemies.
	Characters can now perform stealth takedowns on enemies by approaching from behind (currently knife is automatically used, but will be introduced as an equipable item at a later date).
	Character’s attributes now affect gameplay:
		Speed - affects characters top speed.
		Energy - affects the amount of energy the character has from an average person to an athlete.
		Stealth - affects how hidden a character is in camo or foliage cover
		Constitution - affects the amount of damage the character will take and chance of bleeding.
	New SFX for landing
	Added bleeding system. Taking damage from melee, projectiles and explosions have a chance of causing bleed damage.
	Added new recoil visuals for shooting weapons in first person.
	Water wading animation reintroduced.
	Added player bark system, for characters to respond to actions, interactions and situations.
	Added SFX when siphoning fuel from vehicles.
Quests
	Scavenger quests added to the noticeboard, collect items for NPCs in supplied backpacks and return to collect rewards.
UI & Menus
	New start up menu, with updated character selection and credits screens.
	New bleeding visual on player health display.
	New colour scheme for vitals on the HUD.
	Each protagonist will now have their own saves.
	Stealth tutorial added, when reaching the top of the stone stairs from the starter beach.
	Inventory filter system, click on the icons next to “Auto Manage” to filter items in your inventory by category.
Items
	Bandages now only stop bleeding and replenish 25% well-being.
	Added three tiers of respirators. Can be equipped to prevent coughing and disorientation.
	Added gas mask. Can be equipped to prevent coughing, disorientation and blurred vision.
	PainKillers - stats been updated. Will now give replenish 40% health & 25% wellness.
	Adjusted prices on full and empty Jerry Cans.
AI/NPCs
	New models for infected (stage 2 only).
	New SFX for infected.
	New kill mechanics for headshots on infected (shooting in the head will cause spore clouds that will cause the player to cough and have blurry vision unless face and eye protection is equipped).
	New heart shot instant kill mechanic added.
	NPCs will no longer completely body block the player in combat.
	Introduced sleeper infected who may (or may not) be triggered by your presence and stand up to get you.
	Infected now become empowered by water when in shallow water as well as rain.
	Vehicle recovery system implemented - talk to Liam in the Backwater Safe Zone if you lose any type of engined vehicle. Liam will recover your vehicle and bring it back to the safe zone 23 hours later.
	Jess Arling has now been renamed to Jess Foster.
	Added a new welding mask which Liam will wear while welding.
Environment
	Bird disturbance system added. Creep past flocks of crows to prevent them notifying nearby enemies of your presence.
	Added loot spawns to all new car models.
	Added exile camp added between Hanouten and Bayou, ready for hostile ‘Exile’ characters to be added with high tier loot.
	Skeleton near starting location moved nearby to new shed location.
	New skeleton added to beach area.
	Added environment inspection areas (will display with a UI magnifying glass, to indicate something can be examined)
	Moved west safezone entrance blockade so the west entrance can be used by vehicles.
	Added 4x4 Jeep vehicle.
	Lighting adjustment to make the world look less washed out.
	Moved an ATV spawn to near the starting location.
	Adjusted foliage blocking ladders on building ruins.
	Added climbable radio towers (ready for new mechanics).
Bug Fixes
	Fixed weapon sometimes disappearing after using the ST-RV watch.
	Fixed invisible body parts after hitting spacebar and left/right mouse button to change perspective to third person when in first person.
	Fixed infected vaulting on fire from molotovs and fire arrows.
	Fixed being unable trade with Haymish
	Removed Liam's dodgy sitting animation with arm twist.
	Fixed weapon condition not updating on popup.
	Fixed placeholder barks being audible after interaction/trade.
	Directional keys moving character when using them with the building menu.
	Fixed some cabinets in houses not being lootable despite glowing.
	Fixed floating STRV widget is sometimes visible floating inside the character's waist.
	Fixed Amy respawning with incorrect trousers, if trousers other than the prison scrubs have been equipped.
	Fixed throwables not being removed from the character’s hand in some instances.
	Improved issues affecting character’s ragdoll.
	Fixed issue where changing perspective whilst looking at vitals would show character with no arms and STRV display incorrectly.
	Fixed infected audio not stopping after death.
	Fixed Player Building Tool delete utility not turning off if player exits building bar by pressing [B].
	Fixed loot highlight visuals appearing incorrect after using the Player Building delete utility.
	Fixed Player Building delete utility still being visible after closing the Building Bar.
	Fixed only getting only one bullet when buying ammunition.
	Fixed high sell prices on hide and being able to buy them back for free.
	Fixed being able to buy backpack for free
	Fixed prices on Jerry Cans where Empty Jerry Can was worth more than a Full one.
	Fixed small cube appearing inside the burning barrels.
	Fixed embers from the fire barrel having a 'sun ray' coming from them when looking North.
	Fixed player character holstering their firearm when skipping quests.
	Fixed weapon HUD incorrectly displaying after holstering firearms when initiating dialogue with NPC.
	Fixed issue with crafted improvised health kit not displaying third ingredient for crafting.
	Fixed items not being present in ATV’s inventory after loading a saved game.
	Fixed purchased ATV spawning in with no parts or fuel.
	Fixed various NPC related errors occurring
	Fixed Spark Plugs and Oil Filters stacking instead of swapping out inside vehicles.
	Fixed number of noticeboard quests the player can take after reloading the game having completed quests in the past. The number of quests the player can take from the noticeboard at any one time should be one.
	Fixed un-equippable items appearing in the Character Management Window
	Fixed dead NPCs making a noise when running them over in the vehicle.
	Vehicle skins now included in save data.
	Fixed issue when leaving a trader on the ‘Sell’ tab, interacting with them again opened on the ‘Buy’ tab but UI functionality was locked to ‘Sell’.
	Various text grammar/spelling issues on popup messages, NPC dialog and item descriptions.
	Fixed taking a second notice board quest after completing the first but not getting credit for it.
	Fixed [Q] & [E] only rotating placeable items in one direction.
	Fixed Amy having no feet when wearing shoes.
	Fixed setting Fullscreen Mode causing the game to crash on startup.
	Fixed typo on loading screens.
	Fixed loading a saved game where the player has skipped the initial Sen quest, causing the Sen quest to appear on the UI after reloading the game.
	Sen's basement door has red locked text even if you have the key to open it.
	Fixed not being able to recycle vehicle parts.
	Fixed issues where character would immediately re-enter vehicles after pressing [F] to exit.
	Fixed the ‘Buy Vehicle’ UI remaining on the last skin you inspected when leaving and re-entering the trade UI.
	Fixed missing siphoning tool tip which would appear as a white box.
	Fixed not being able to loot some chests around the world.
Known Issues
	Can sometimes see facemasks when looting and crouching in first person.
	 Some double tiered garages still have no interiors.
	 Some houses are still using random item location spawners.
	 Dumpster near a slice of life not culling at reasonable distance, may need replacing.
	 Inventory does not add extra rows as it gets full causing issues when taking items at full capacity.
	 Torch doesn’t illuminate directly towards the center of the screen making it difficult to examine objects in close spaces.
	 Mouse wheel sometimes stops being responsive in the building menu.
	 Game is missing left-handed support.
	 Safezone music stops when moving towards Kenneth house.
	 Mouse sensitivity while dragging the map around can be difficult.
	 Occasionally safezone guards keep their guns holstered.
	 Various issues with UI text in crafting menus.
	 Discrepancies with save game names.
	 In rare circumstances, the player's weapon may appear invisible or inside the character's head.
	 Swapping an item with a Jerry Can in the fuel slot on the quad causes the other item to be placed in the fuel slot.
	 Lantern doesn’t appear in the player's hand when equipped.
	 Save files do not properly sort by date.
	 Baseball bats cover too much of the screen in First Person perspective.
	 Opening inventory can cause cameras to clip through walls.
	 When LED light runs out of battery, it unequips but does not re-enable belt chem-light.
	 NPCs can have ‘black beams’ coming out of their eyes when running the game using FXAA.
	 Occasionally, interacting with the bow causes pistols to reload one bullet at a time.
	 Sleeping bags placed on foundations or flat ground can sometimes be placed at an unusual angle.