Introduction
This update will be a little different from our last few updates. We try to change things based on feedback from you. We are making three changes in the ways we schedule and write our press releases.

Being an all-volunteer project attempting to create a quality product, we try to balance professionalism with our more casual interactions with the community (more on this in my next blog).  It seems, based on feedback, that our updates have become a little too … stuffy, so we will be changing the tone.

The other two changes are overdue. I feel that it is time for us to start increasing the frequency of our updates. Because updates will be more frequent, they will be smaller. HOWEVER, the total amount of information will be greater (more on this in my next blog).

This update will cover:
Community Highlights
Developer/Staff Updates
Ascension Updates
Open Positions


Community Highlights

First, we had some excitement a few weeks ago when a spammer registered a bot and ran an automated script to PM users on the forums. It seems it was designed to miss the staff, but unfortunately for it, it hit an account I had registered for testing purposes – "smurf". All the PMs were deleted in the database, so while you may have had an email saying you had a PM, you should not have actually received any. If you have any further questions, please contact Teratos.

Current Threads:

• Wipeout's 'Wipeouts Class System Idea' thread
• Brocephus's  'Sensor Jammers and You.' thread
• Angel's 'When I think of you I...' thread – A bizarre, but popular thread.

Reminders:

• We want to encourage our new members AND old members to take the time to introduce themselves in our "Introduce Yourself" thread.
• We encourage all our community members to chat with us via IRC - the quickest way to ask a question and get a response from the RenWerX team. More information can be found here.
• Also, don't forget the Q & A Time thread where you ask questions, and we answer them.

RenWerX Developer Updates

We have two new hires.

The first is innociv, a texture artist  that criticized our skyboxes, so we put him to work.

The second is Jexy, a marketing and public relations assistant.

Inside Ascension

Engine

The engine department has been really busy since the last update. There have been four new builds released and numerous other fixes.

Byte has made improvements to the netcode, GUIs, and the TriCon server admin program. A particularly annoying bug with rebinding keys in the options GUI has been fixed. Additionally, a long list of server browser and mission loading bugs has been fixed.

Marketing

The Final Frontier Podcast did an interview with Teratos and Calsa. We now have the unedited recordings and are awaiting the release of the finished version from Final Frontier.

Models

The modeling department has been working on level of detail (LOD) for the armors.

Scripts

Mr. Keen has been busy adding in some useful functions for scripters. He is now working on the inventory system (which we keep mentioning). That leaves improvements to the targeting AI as the last major hurdle for scripting.

Open Positions

Skinning:

Skinning remains our weakest point. If you are a skinner/texture artist, or know of someone that is, please contact either fleeky or Teratos.

Scripting:
Mr. Keen is looking for another scripter. If you are able to contribute roughly ten hours per week and have experience, please contact keen or Teratos.

Sound Effects:
Our sound effects department is a little behind the rest of the team, if you have the ability to help them catch up, please contact either Calsa or Teratos.


If you wish to discuss this update, you may do so here.


 - Teratos

Introduction
I must apologize for the lack of major updates reviewing the March and April progress. The lack of updates is entirely my fault - the development team has been hard at work the entire time.

This update will cover both March and April. In addition to our regular format, we have an interview with lead programmer Byte including community submitted questions.


This update will cover:
Community Highlights
Developer/Staff Updates
Interview with Byte (Lead Programmer for Ascension)
Ascension Updates
Open Positions


Community Highlights

Our April Closed Beta Spot Contest (link) did not produce a clear winner, however we would like to compliment all of you on your photoshop skills. The next contest will be a little more cheater-resistant.

Current Gametype Threads:

• *TMS* Shade's  Ninja Vs Samurai [GameType] thread - This is a variation on a typical Rabbit-style gametype.
• MORMEGIL's  random map gametype thread - This thread discusses the possibilities of randomly generating maps.
• Cytonuclear's Assimilation{Gametype} thread - An interesting multi-team construction type game with positive feedback.

• Night Terror's Custom Models/Textures [Client-Side] thread - This thread addresses a question that has come up several times. Let us know how you feel about custom models and textures.

Reminders:

• We want to encourage our new members AND old members to take the time to introduce themselves in our "Introduce Yourself" thread.
• We encourage all our community members to chat with us via IRC - the quickest way to ask a question and get a response from the RenWerX team. More information can be found here.
• Also, don't forget the Q & A Time thread where you ask questions, and we answer them.

RenWerX Developer Updates

We have had little change on our 'payroll' in the last two months. While we are glad no one has retired, we are still looking to expand our roster.

The only notable change is that Exadon, a very talented mapper that had taken a leave of absence, has returned. We are very happy to have him back and working with us once again.


Developer Interview

Byte, longtime RenWerX developer and lead programmer of Ascension has taken the time to answer community submitted questions. You can read the full interview here.
If you like this feature, we will continue to do interviews in the future.



Inside Ascension

Concept Art

This update includes three images of a base and flag stand concept by word.

Image 1
Image 2
Image 3  

Engine

The last two months, Byte has been busy working on TGEA 1.7.0, the latest upgrade of Garage Game's Torque Game Engine Advanced.
For those of you that frequent IRC, TGEA 1.7.0 is what we sometimes refer to as "Juggs" because many of the changes have been backported from Torque Juggernaught.
A new build released at the beginning of the week seems to have fixed the stability issues found during playtesting during the weekend.

Models

The Modeling Department has completed all major models except for the catapult and animated capture switch.
Both models are waiting on approved concept art.

Music

DjBjra and the rest of the Music Department has assembled the final playlist for beta. The soundtrack currently includes fifty tracks.

Scripts

The Scripts Department has successfully moved to TGEA 1.7.0.
The only remaining work is to finish the rewrite of the inventory system and the turret AI.

Introduction
Hey everyone, March has rolled around so quickly. It is time to wrap-up February's progress.

I know I said last month that I planned to change the format of these monthly updates. You may wonder why it looks the same as last month - well, the comments I received were to keep it the same.



This update will cover:
Community Highlights
Developer/Staff
Ascension Updates
Beta Spot Contest News
Open Positions


Community Highlights

We have had several gametypes getting attention this month. The community has generated so many wonderful ideas for gametypes.
We are going for everyone to vote on their favorite community designed gametypes.

Current Gametype Threads:

• Cytonuclear's Zombie [Gametype] thread.
• Angel's [Gametype] Hive Mind thread.
• Cytonuclear's [Gametype] MiTD. thread.

• We want to encourage our new members AND old members to take the time to introduce themselves in our "Introduce Yourself " thread.
• We encourage all our community members to chat with us via IRC - the quickest way to ask a question and get a response from the RenWerX team. More information can be found here.
• Also, don't forget the Q & A Time thread.

• One of the most exciting fixes is the deployable code. Deploying now works perfectly.
• The ability to undeploy items is also fully-functional see this thread for more information on undeploying.
• Fixed several MA death messages. The names of the killer/victim were backwards. It was so confusing - I thought someone had actually killed me once!
• Improvements and fixes to the projectiles/particles code. Together with the new projectiles from Fleeky, killing people is looking much nicer.
• The targeting laser no longer crashes Ascension. The laser rifle now does damage (works). Mobile inventory fixes.
• Some tweaking to the grenade launcher and plasma rifle.

Closed Beta Spot Contest Winner
First I want to say that we had some really great entries. We were pleased to see the work everyone put into the contest. The results were really close, with the winner receiving one more point in the voting than the runner-up. All the images managed to get at least some votes.

So, without further adieu, Angel is the winner.

Thank you to everyone that participated. Keep watching for more opportunities to win!

You can discuss the contest results here.