PANPC 2.1 Open Beta!

So I've decided to do something that I haven't really done since the very earliest days of PANPC in 2018: an open dev process. Usually when I do a new version, I ship it in a private release to a handful of trusted people, who then bang it around a while before it goes out to the general player base. But 2.1 is a complicated situation.

First, it contains virtually all of the upgrades and redesigns that went into PAST, the now-discontinued Starfield PANPC prototype. The logging system has been redesigned. Certain internal condition checks are far faster and more efficient. Tons of bugs and inefficiencies have been fixed. NPCs can now detect whether they (and others) are in cover, and take that into consideration for their tactics. And on and on and on.

The changes are significant enough that most of the AI behavior sets need to be almost reimagined, because few of the old configurations work anymore. The good news there is that the code base is more stable, more efficient, and more configurable than ever before.

I shipped the first beta of 2.1 today. If you would like to participate, drop by the GreslinGames Discord, in the #panpc-21-beta channel. Check the pinned comments for a link to the package and some basic instructions for testing feedback.

Looking forward to it,

• G.