We are sorry for not meeting the 31st GMT (UTC+00:00) estimate for publishing the 0.2.0 build of Gang Beasts to Steam yesterday (there were a number of significant version control merging issues that forced us to have to repeat some of the work collating game scenes made in different branches of the project) but we have now published the first playable build of the Unity 5 version of Gang Beasts to Steam.

We also want to apologise to those expecting the 0.2.0 Unity 5 alpha build to be a feature complete updated version of the previous 0.1.5a Unity 4.x alpha build as the 0.2.0 build still has numerous issues that need a series of bug fixes, and gameplay modifications over the coming weeks before the Unity 5 build will pass the gameplay content and aesthetic of previous builds. This confusion is our mistake for not explicitly sharing information about the complexity of porting Gang Beasts to Unity 5 and the current development status of the game in recent months.

For reference the 0.2.0 Early Access alpha build is the first public version of the Unity 5 build of Gang Beasts, we have published the 0.2.0 build to Steam as an unstable opt-in 'Beta' for play testing and taking feedback (on the new character animation system and game mode prototypes). For the next 4-6 weeks the previous 0.1.5a alpha build will continue to be downloadable on Steam until Unity 5 builds have full parity (of content and features) with previous Unity 4.x builds.

How to download the 0.2.0 alpha build on Steam

To download the 0.2.0 alpha build right-click on the game name on the Steam library page and select 'Properties' from the dialogue window that opens, from this window select the 'BETAS' tab then select the 'unstable' option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled 'Select the beta you would like to opt into:' (to revert back to the 'stable' 0.1.5a Unity 4.x build select 'stable' from the same menu).

For reference switching between 'unstable' and 'stable' branches of the game can force the selected build to download to the Steam client (the size of the 0.1.5a 'stable' alpha is approximately 100MB / 50MB compressed, the 0.2.0 'unstable' alpha build is 500MB / 260MB compressed).

Gang Beasts is an Early Access game that is currently in uninterrupted development, the 0.1.5a build and the 0.2.0 builds have bugs and partially implemented gameplay content and mechanics. (please see the Steam Early Access FAQ at http://store.steampowered.com/earlyaccessfaq for more information).

0.2.0 Issues

Porting the Gang Beasts character and rope physics to the Unity 5 implementation of PhysX 3.3 has triggered a number of open issues (information on currently identified issue in the 0.2.0 build is listed at the end of this post) that compromise specific categories of stage hazards, these issues are associated with the modified collision tolerances and higher level of exactness of PhysX 3.3 simulations. The immediately priority for development is to fix this list of current issues, the full list of issues (sorted by stage name is:

Game
no game launch sequence
fade to / from black transition sequence (for stage transitions) is missing
inputs mapped to SLUMP / CRAWL do not currently work for de-incrementing menu item selection
scene cameras script need modifying to adapt to aspect ratios
menu attract mode is missing
score UI scales incorrect on large resolution screens
endless playlist mod is currently disabled
random playlist mode is currently disabled

Ring
meshes need UVs modifying to remove light baking artefacts (for scene to be illuminated as expected)
ring out sound is missing

Grind
meshes need UVs modifying to remove light baking artefacts (for scene to be illuminated as expected)
configurable joints on railings need modifying to make breakable

Gondola
meshes need UVs modifying to remove light baking artefacts (for scene to be illuminated as expected)
current priority of rope targets is set too high
configurable joints on cables need modifying to make breakable

Trucks (excluded from 0.2.0 build)
meshes need UVs modifying to remove light baking artefacts (for scene to illuminate as expected)
truck model needs configurable joints and weights modifying to make stable

Incinerator
meshes need UVs modifying to remove light baking artefacts (for scene to illuminate as expected)
configurable joints on railings need modifying to make breakable
glass model need configuring to make breakable

Wheel (excluded from 0.2.0 build)
meshes need UVs modifying to remove light baking artefacts (for scene to illuminate as expected)
pier model needs configurable joints and weights modifying to make stable

Subway
meshes need UVs modifying to remove light baking artefacts (for scene to illuminate as expected)
elevators are disabled
escalators are missing from scene

Vents (excluded from 0.2.0 build)
meshes need UVs modifying to remove light baking artefacts (for scene to illuminate as expected)
circular gravity simulation is not current compatible with Unity 5 (simulation needs replacing or updating to work with Unity 5)

Containers
configurable joints on cables need modifying to make breakable

Race mode prototype
weights for apparatus need modifying to be heavier
session fails to end when competitor falls from apparatus
contextual win condition information not shown in text overlay

Waves mode prototype
stairs enclosure needs grab targets
stairs enclosure needs enemy spawn behaviour when players enter

Break mode prototype
win scenario not currently implemented
weights and configurable joints need modifying to make stable
contextual win condition information not shown in text overlay
car colliders need remaking to approximate car geometry

Race protype
meshes need UVs modifying to remove light baking artefacts (for the Incinerator scene to be illuminated as expected)
contextual win condition information not shown in text overlay
weights and configurable joints need modifying to make stable