WarpedVector v0.0.46

Full Changelog: https://github.com/NTDLS/AxisEngine/compare/0.0.43...0.0.46

Please note, this is still an alpha release - there is nothing substantial to play.

This release represents a major architectural step forward for the engine, focusing on performance, asset-driven architecture, editor tooling, and foundational multiplayer/session infrastructure. Large portions of the engine were refactored to support a database-backed asset pipeline, metadata-driven gameplay systems, and significantly improved performance.

Major Architecture Changes

Asset-Driven Engine

A significant portion of the engine has been migrated to an asset database architecture.

• New asset package format
• Asset database reader/writer implementation
• Asset packing tools
• Project extraction and ingestion system
• Asset export and replacement capabilities
• Asset schema improvements and metadata pruning
• All assets now include metadata
• Weapons, sounds, animations, and sprites increasingly driven by metadata
• Major progress moving engine code and configuration into assets
• This work establishes the foundation for data-driven gameplay and tooling.

Sprite System Refactor

The sprite system received a major internal reorganization.

• Major SpriteBase refactor
• Sprite creation and lifecycle management improvements
• Simplified sprite attachment creation
• Sprite direction is no longer tied to movement vector
• Sprite attachment orientation and position modes (fixed and independent)
• Explosion attachment fixes
• Metadata optimizations for bitmaps and animations
• Split responsibilities within SpriteBase
• Sounds now derived from sprite metadata

AI System Improvements

• AI moved to a lower abstraction layer
• AI integration with the asset database
• Multiple observed objects for AI models
• Hostile engagement work in progress
• Debug enemy metadata support
• Example boss enemy added

Math and Physics Improvements

Mathematics and movement systems were significantly cleaned up and improved.

• Replacement of SiAngle with the more robust SiVector system
• Standardization of math utilities
• Simplified radian and vector handling
• Orientation and movement vector improvements
• Improved angular collision momentum propagation
• Improved collision propagation across sprites
• RecalculateOrientationMovementVector implementation
• Epoch timing now expressed in seconds

Performance Improvements

• High-efficiency bitmap implementation
• Extensive caching improvements
• Animation and sound caching
• Metadata caching improvements
• Major munition hit detection optimizations
• Reduced reflection usage
• Optimized asset loading
• Lazy starfield initialization
• Resolved redundant image loading
• Delegate thread pool caching improvements

Editor and Tooling

Asset Editor

• Asset explorer
• Property editor
• Metadata editing and saving
• Sprite viewer improvements
• Multi-tab editor interface
• Tree view icons and improvements
• Class picker constraints
• Asset folder creation, deletion, and export
• Metadata picker improvements
• Debug sprite explorer

Development Tools

• Debug interrogation system in the editor
• Debugger injection support
• Action buffer system
• Development mode improvements
• Manual compilation support
• NuGet compiler integration
• Installer updates
• Engine lobby integration with shared engine

Graphics and Visual Improvements

• New visual systems and improvements include:
• New explosion effects and customizable explosions
• Inflatable rigid body explosion effects
• Particle system improvements
• New particle types
• Random asteroid field generation
• Starfield improvements and restored stars
• Smoothed skyboxes
• New rendering shapes and modes

Gameplay Systems

• Highlights:
• Weapons driven entirely by metadata
• Weapon selection by asset key
• Improved munition creation
• Guided projectile fixes
• Better collision handling
• Improved hit detection
• Attachment tick behavior improvements

Networking and Multiplayer Foundations

• Session connectivity scaffolding
• Lobby system scaffolding
• Datagram communication work
• Early multiplayer support (WIP)
• Messaging system groundwork

Engine Infrastructure

• Logging improvements
• Engine configuration options
• Monitor settings
• Improved settings dialog
• Installer improvements
• Updated dependency libraries
• Upgrade to .NET 10
• Updated build scripts

Asset Pipeline Improvements

• Asset compression improvements
• Reintroduced compression to control asset growth
• Asset byte read/write utilities
• Asset schema cleanup
• Removal of oversized asset check-ins
• New asset packaging system
• Improved loading progress reporting

Bug Fixes

• Fixed guided projectile targeting
• Fixed metadata picker issues
• Fixed redundant image loading
• Fixed window-to-render coordinate mapping
• Fixed orientation event handling
• Fixed starfield parallax
• Fixed weapon classification issues
• Fixed sprite orientation offsets
• Fixed initial enemy angle handling
• Fixed asset loading paths in debug mode
• Fixed scaling issues

Miscellaneous Improvements

• Additional improvements include:
• New DM messenger system
• Theming support (night-friendly editor)
• Tree view improvements
• Metadata system cleanup
• Type guarding improvements
• Namespace cleanup
• Nullability improvements
• Standardized naming conventions

Development Notes

This release represents a large internal restructuring of the engine to support:

Asset-driven design

• Metadata-based gameplay systems
• Improved performance
• Expanded tooling
• Future multiplayer support

Many systems remain actively under development, particularly:

• Asset editor
• Multiplayer networking
• AI expansion
• Property editing tools