pc
Universe At War Patch Lets Xbox 360, PC Players Duke It Out
Posted by Michael McWhertor at 10:00 AM on June 10, 2008
Sega and Petroglyph's real time strategy sci-fi game Universe At War: Earth Assault was all patched up today, bringing with it an exhaustive list of changes, tweaks and fixes. The most notable? The saucer's build time was reduced from 30 to 28 seconds. Almost as exciting was the addition of Xbox 360 versus PC cross-play in Ranked, Quickmatch and Conquer the World game modes, something that should make it much, much easier to find a game for Universe At War players.
For the full list of changes implemented in patch 3, hit the jump for details.
General Changes:
Implemented Interoperable cross-play between Xbox and PC players in Ranked, Quickmatch and Conquer the World modes.
Team voice chat fixed so that communication between players is on a team basis during tactical combat
Fixed an issue where difficulty for Achievements was not being tracked correctly resulting in cases where Achievements might not always unlock.
Fixed an issue where the Corruptors would not fire on enemies within their attack radius.
Fixed an issue where Defilers would walk in place if the Project Radiation ability was targeted to close to them.
Fixed an issue where Collectors would stop collecting because they were trying to reach resources outside the playable area.
AI players are now added to custom multiplayer sessions with unique colour and team settings.
In replays objects should no longer be tinted as if under the fog of war.
Implemented a quality of service check for multiplayer games to improve game matching, especially in Conquer the World mode.
Fixed an issue where Altea's aura would not un-phase enemy units.
Fixed an issue where Avengers would take zero pop-cap.
Fixed an issue where cloaked units that have been in the sight radius of a Sight-linked unit loose their ability to cloak until Sight link is removed.
Fixed an issue that was having a Conquer the World player leave the session if the other player disconnected BEFORE the stats results could be reported, preventing the player who remained connected from getting the win.
Fixed an issue where the light/dark mode was not properly reset during a tactical battle restart.
Fixed an issue where units selected in a group would not respond to orders if some were locked down by a Hacker.
Forged Alliance Achievement Renamed to Peacebringer. Requires the player to defeat 2 ranked game or CTW opponents on the opposite platform.Xbox 360 Specific Changes:
Performance optimizations.
Fixed a random game freeze issue related to particles.
Fixed a random game freeze related to voice chat.
Fixed several Out of Sync issues, including a high-latency issues which would
cause the game to go OOS instead of correctly waiting for players.
Added Guard mode to the special ability carousel.
Added Patrol mode to the special ability carousel.
Fixed an issue where network selection lag would cause the carousel to never come up.
Fixed an issue where the build queues selected from the Command carousel would randomly disappear in battle.
Fixed an issue with paint select decal selecting units outside its radius.
Mirabel now plays her unit responses.
Fixed an issue with Foo cores not adhering to double-click movement rules.
Fixed an issue where Hackers were able to be built without the Science Center.
Fixed the invisible radar map issue in the Novus Homeworld tutorial.
Fixed an issue where the A button might appear behind something in the Novus patch menu.
If saving a replay to a full memory unit an appropriate error message is now displayed.
Players can no longer incorrectly bring up the pause menu at the battle end screen.
Multiplayer is now properly paused when the Battle End Screen is activated after the game is over, so you don't get continuing sound and rumble effects.
Fixed an issue that was causing the skirmish lobby to force the pop cap *UP* to 60 if you added 3 AI even if your chosen pop cap was less than 60.
Fixed an issue where the Y button prompt appears off the Radar Map and fails to function when maximum build cap is reached.
Fixed an issue with accepting an invite while the attract movie is up.
Fixed issue with white texture showing up for the neutral detection array's scan pulse ability.PC Specific Changes:
Added Patrol mode via hotkey: Ctrl+A
Added progress bars to display unit/upgrade production in tactical and global modes.
Added multi-threaded support for systems with multi-core processors providing a large performance increase on those systems.
Research now available in Single Player Campaign.
Fixed an issue where using a laptop with a touchpad containing a horizontal and verticals scroll touch option would break the mini-map.
Fixed an issue where the help text would display off screen.
Fixed an issue where dropdown text would get cut off at extremely high resolutions.
Fixed an issue where tooltips for the capture ability would give an incorrect time.
We now hide the Private Game combo box when hosting, so you must make the decision about hosting a private game when you first create the session ... you can't change your mind later.
Fixed an issue which was preventing disconnected game notices from ever being displayed.
Game now pauses when LIVE dialoguescreen is up.
Fixed an issue which was causing multiplayer games from ending properly if the game was minimised when the battle ended. In Conquer the World this could prevent a player from being awarded a territory in some cases.
We now check save files to make sure they haven't been corrupted on the PC.
Fixed an issue where the game would crash when holding ALT key while loading and saving a game.
Fixed an issue with the research tree and other menus closing intermittently while in a MP game.Novus Balance Changes:
Hackers now autonomously lock down targets in range.
Constructors now repair 14% faster.
Increased Constructor's FOW reveal by 20%.
Reduced Constructor's build time from 18 to 13 seconds.
Reduced Constructor's price from 650 to 500.
Increased Constructor's crush defence from 10 to 30.
Increased Founder's Prowess health from 900 to 1100.
Increased Founder's FOW reveal range in Prowess mode.
Increased Founder's health from 500 to 650 in performance mode.
Decreased Vertigo's FOW by 10%.
Increased Vertigo's health from 700 to 775.
Increased Vertigo's guard radius by 15%.
Increased Mirabel's base weapon damage by 20%.
Decreased Mirabel's Snipe recharge from 55 to 52 seconds.
Increased Mirabel's missile damage volley by 10%.
Increased Mirabel's missile speed by 10%.
Decreased Mirabel's missile range by 25%.
Increased Amplifier's movement speed by 10%.
Changed Amplifier's armour from light to heavy.
Decreased Amplifier's global cost from 450 to 400.
Decreased Amplifier's tactical cost from 900 to 800.
Decreased Amplifier's build time from 28 to 26 seconds.
Increased Amplifier's guard range by 15%.
Increased Amplifier's crush from 6 to 21.
Increased Field Inverter's FOW reveal by 15%.
Decreased Field Inverter's global cost from 600 to 500.
Decreased Field Inverter's tactical build time from 30 to 28 seconds.
Increased Field Inverter's guard range by 25%.
Increased Field Inverter's shield mode walk speed by 25%.
Increased Field Inverter's damage by 15%.
Decreased Hacker's speed by 15%
Increased Hacker's guard radius by 20%
Increased Hacker's cost from 500 to 600.
Decreased Hacker's max targeting range on lockdown ability by 15%
Increased Ohm's max attack range by 25%.
Increased Ohm's run speed by 10%.
Increased Ohm's health by 15%.
Increased Ohm's guard radius by 20%.
Decreased Corruptor's cost from 600 to 500.
Increased Corruptor's guard radius by 20%.Hierarchy Balance Changes:
Increased Kamal's health 900.
Decreased Kamal's FOW reveal by 20%
Increased Nufai's health from 700 to 750.
Increased Nufai's guard radius by 15%
Increased Defiler's cost from 775 to 850.
Increased Defiler's build time from 26 to 30 seconds.
Increased Defiler popcap from 3-5 (updated)
Increased Saucer's guard radius by 10%
Increased Saucer's popcap from 3 to 4.
Decreased Saucer's build time from 30 to 28 seconds.
Decreased Saucer's cost from 825 to 750.
Increased Saucer's speed by 10%.Masari Balance Changes:
Decreased Light Mine damage by 50% for standard and upgraded figment mines.
Increased Charos, Zessus, Altea and Disciple's guard radius by 15%
Increased Zessus' health from 800 to 850.
Decreased Altea's walk speed for both light and dark modes by 15%
Increased Altea's health from 600 to 725

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Shiryu
Posted 10:58 AM 10/6/08
Shame on me, never played this, but my interest was peaked wathing a friend of mine playing the PC version, with the faction with the huge mechs. Very impressive stuff.
Shiryu
CCCombobreaker
Posted 10:50 AM 10/6/08
@Palladium:
A patch fixed those messed up frame rate issues. When UAW 360 first came out though it had weird frame rate dips. Like single digit FPS. However it also still suffers from the same problems as the PC version. Why did they keep that camera? its way too close even when youre zoomed out as far as you can go.
The controls were good though. I think C&C3 360 had slightly better controls, but all in all still good if you cant get the PC version.
CCCombobreaker
Krondonian
Posted 10:41 AM 10/6/08
@okenny :): I sometimes play Half Life 2: Deathmatch with a 360 pad when I'm too lazy to move my arm with the mouse.
It's slightly sadomasochistic in all out deathmatch, but I'm not noticeably worse than others in co-op play against monsters.
Although it would give me a nice excuse to beat someone to death...
Krondonian
Tob3z
Posted 10:39 AM 10/6/08
@Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.: @Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.: Like Shadowrun?...
Tob3z
Krondonian
Posted 10:38 AM 10/6/08
@Cabal17: Thankyouthankyouthankyou!
That's great news. After thinking about it, as this is on 360 and PC, my PC couldn't run it. But muchas gracias for the link, downloading now.
Perhaps upon acquisition of a 360 in a month or so I'll pick this up.
Krondonian
okenny :)
Posted 10:35 AM 10/6/08
@Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.: Trail by fire my friend. Nothing like repeated shameless spartan-style ass raping to forge a console RTS player from the flames of bitterness and anger. You'll find special forms of autism forming in people who play console RTSs to the point they begin to do strange things like breaking into an opponents home and beating them to death just to win.
Can't wait :)
okenny :)
okenny :)
Posted 10:31 AM 10/6/08
@Palladium: The reactions were definitely all over the place. If seemed to pale in comparison to the PC version but holds up pretty well on it's own. I'm just vomiting out what I heard... I'm actually not smart enough to plat RTSs :(
okenny :)
Cabal17
Posted 10:26 AM 10/6/08
@Krondonian: If you really want it just for the music, the soundtrack was released for free: [www.petroglyphgames.com] (may require free registration)
As for recommending the game, its a solid RTS. Its not quite groundbreaking but it has a lot of great ideas. Before this patch the balance was rather off, can't say about it after this yet. If you liked Empire at War, there's a good chance you'll at least enjoy UaW.
Cabal17
Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.
Posted 10:26 AM 10/6/08
lol i can't wait to hear about people whining how the pc players are raping the 360 players due to the precision and speed of a mouse and keyboard versus the controller.
really i'm sure everyone's see some of the insane korean starcraft players. imagine that against some dude with a controller lol.
Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.
okenny :)
Posted 10:26 AM 10/6/08
What about the PS3 patch to let PC vs. 360 vs. PS3? >_>
okenny :)
Palladium
Posted 10:24 AM 10/6/08
Yeah, but I heard that the 360 version is nearly unplayable. If that's true, why bother creating a version or mode in which the PC player will win every time, uncontested?
Actually, at this point, that applies to every PC/Platform game ever.
Palladium
Cabal17
Posted 10:24 AM 10/6/08
Awesome, I couldn't care less about the cross platform play, but most the PC specific fixes are things I've been wanting since launch.
Cabal17
Krondonian
Posted 10:23 AM 10/6/08
Can anyone recommend this game?
I've been looking for an excuse to try it out, as Frank Klepacki did the music for it, and I love his soundtrack for Lands of Lore III. Odd reason...but I don't want to waste money if the game's not worth it
Krondonian
cubed2D
Posted 10:21 AM 10/6/08
want pc vs 360 multiplay the whole point of this game?
cubed2D
NessD12
Posted 11:20 AM 10/6/08
Then suddenly as if all at once 360 players cried out "Hacker!"
NessD12
Ryuujin1024
Posted 11:03 AM 10/6/08
I must admit this is a great game, sure single players a little bland and needed abit more polish, and on-line play on pc is lacking any sort of lobby system, thanks Live...
But this is a good little number for the money plus the faction diversion really is one of a kind.
Ryuujin1024
Strangelove
Posted 11:42 AM 10/6/08
I hate to say it, but 360 players will get housed by the mouse-wielders.
Strangelove
LordMagnusMastah
Posted 11:38 AM 10/6/08
The fact that this is all under Games for Windows LIVE still bugs me.
LordMagnusMastah
SAKY
Posted 12:04 PM 10/6/08
@Strangelove: you can try and argue about kb/mouse Vs controller in an FPS game but I agree there is no contest when it comes to RTS gammes, kb/m for the win.
SAKY
string_theory
Posted 11:49 AM 10/6/08
@Strangelove: for sure.
Like in UT3 for PS3 there are controller servers & mouse servers. For that very reason.
string_theory
StagnatedLives
Posted 12:54 PM 10/6/08
PS3 rts with keyboard and mouse control. Why, I beg to know, has this not been done yet?
StagnatedLives
CCCombobreaker
Posted 1:09 PM 10/6/08
@StagnatedLives:
Because now the developers are making RTS games on consoles with the gamepad controls in mind. It actually works well if you give it a try. Im a veteran RTS player and I gave it a try because I wanted to see if the controls have changed since Starcraft on the n64. They have. They work great now. Is anything better than the click and drag box? Well no, but its still good. If I had to rate controls between console RTS and PC RTS these days Id give console a 9 and PC a 10.
CCCombobreaker
JASONSPAZ
Posted 2:10 PM 10/6/08
Unlike Command & Conquer 3, on the 360. The developers of this game (Petroglyph) responded and talked with us in the petroglyph forums about the status of the patch. Te EA guy
(apoc) promised us a patch for C&C3, a year ago and it never came out. Srry to rant about EA but they are liars and claimed Microsoft would not allow a patch for their RTS game. But Petroglyph did it and they deserve praise.
By the way, the best 360, players are destroying the PC players on this game.
JASONSPAZ
OnLegendary86
Posted 2:25 PM 10/6/08
I enjoyed this game on the 360...when the framerate was above 10fps. I put it aside to wait for this very patch, and now it looks like i need to pick it back up.
OnLegendary86
belo
Posted 3:00 PM 10/6/08
Played through the first two campaigns, couldn't keep my interest to continue it. The story was interesting enough... just nothing really amazing about the game itself, sides from the lack of a interface to keep it clean looking.
CoH spoiled me.
belo
LULCATS
Posted 10:26 AM 10/6/08
I haven't had a chance to try this one out yet, but
LOL@PC rts players going against Xbox.
LULCATS
koji
Posted 1:46 AM 11/6/08
I actually played this one when it was released, will probably give it a go again, I really liked it strange enough (played on 360 and it wasn't all that bad performance wise)
and about that cross platform multiplayer, the game is designed in a way where it will be a close match
koji