Beat Hazard Message Board

Changes:
- Radio stations now use direct IP address for faster start-up
- Fixed URL for Germany Number 1 Radio Station
- Radio stations now hardcoded in the game, so please now use Radio2.txt to add custom stations
- Fixed game forgetting home music folder

Changes:
- Added Local 2 Player & Online Boss Rush mode
- Added Local 2 Player & Online Survival mode

• Fixed support of ogg radio streams
  
• Fixed crash when reflecting lots of mines
  
• Online port fix
  

• Important fixes for Radio support
  
• Fixed radio corrupt save bug
  
• Premium radio station will now work
  
• Radio does not pause when game paused
  
• Less stalls when radio played
  
• No scrobbling of music played in menus
  
• No scrobbling of radio adverts
  
• Fixes to Perk achievement bugs
  
• Fix for zero progress on track info
  

• Added Internet Radio Support
  
  Radio Notes:
  
  • Radio works in all game modes, including online games
    
  • For single play, go to Music Select Screen->Show Folders->Internet Radio
    
  • Radio can take some time to warm up so wait a few seconds when you first select a station
    

Release Notes:
- LastFM scrobble support!
- Fixed online chat

• Added Escape to Keyboard config & Gamepad config screens
  
• Added more debug info for %appdata% issue
  
• Fixed hit box size on gold ship
  
• Fixed multiplier cap for online head to head play
  

• Fixed in game chat for online play
  
• Increased the power of the Ultra beam
  
• Added Ping warning if ping > 250ms
  
• Stalkers & Repulsars cannot push/pull you when invincible
  
• Added more online debug information
  
• Fixed FLAC bug
  

• Added keyboard configuration to options screen
  
• Fixed Volume bug
  
• Fixed Vsync options (should also fix mouse lag)
  
• Added NewSaveGame command to pref file
  
• Added PhotonCol command to pref file
  

• Lots and lots of gameplay tweaks and improvements
  
• Due to major gameplay changes your score and rank will be adjusted first time you run
  
• Much improved gameplay for slower/quieter songs
  
• Twitter support. The game will now tweet your high scores and achievements
  
• New perk system
  
• 1.5 hours of awesome new indie music
  
• Improved visuals & sound FX
  
• Visual feedback & difficulty settings are now independent
  
• More track leader boards
  
• wavpack support
  
• New play track options: Random, now playing, list, not played yet
  
• Auto track indexing system
  

'Tis the season, as they say, for paying whatever you want to both support charities and get some great indie downloads. You've probably already seen the Humble Indie Bundle 2, and now a group named YAWMA is offering a deal on both indie games and music with the Giving Game + Music Bundle. Paying whatever you want will grant you access to seven days of various bundles, featuring one indie CD and one indie game at a time.

Indie musicians like Girl Talk, Black Moth Super Rainbow and Twin Sister are teamed up with indie games like Beat Hazard, Multiwinia and Max and the Magic Marker for a pair of downloads each over the seven days, and there's one special secret bundle coming up on day 7. Yes, you need to buy each bundle separately, but it's pay what you want, and 25% of the profits for each day's sales will even go to charities like Child's Play and Save the Music. To take advantage of the deal, head on over and hit the "PWYW" button right now. Who knows, not only do you get some sweet tunes, but it might earn you some much-needed karma before Santa comes down the chimney. Check out a video after the break to learn more.

Being a giant, beloved video game site has its downsides. For example, we sometimes neglect to give independent developers our coverage love (or loverage, if you will) as we get caught up in AAA, AAAA or the rare quintuple-A titles. To remedy that, we're giving indies the chance to create their own loverage and sell you, the fans, on their studios and products. This week we talk with Steve Hunt, half of the team behind the music-fueled dual stick shooter action of Beat Hazard.

How did you get started in game design?

I first started making games when I was about 10 on an Atari 800. I remember I made a grave robbing game (unpublished!) where you had to break into a cemetery and drag out corpses without getting seen by the guards or caught by ghosts. I'm not sure if my parents though I was clever or messed up in the head.
I've been doing game design pretty much ever since.

Be warned: your brain will explode.

Watch this footage if you dare.