Hello and welcome to first experimental Mainframe Defenders devlog!

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for feedback on the demo! No matter how small following this game will have, you people are always warming my heart =)

But today, I want to talk about upgrades system.In current state, it allows to get some less useful stats to trade for more usefull effects from items. For example, you can increase move distance to trade it for raw firepower of Heavy Autocannon. This was intended as a way to sink excess matter, when you don't have anything to spend it on. And here lies the problem: you often don't have items you need in the fabricator (or as mission rewards). That is especially true for items that have move original mechanics (like reducing CD or clensing status effects)! So, now a lot of these fun mechanics are baked into upgrade system:

So, as you can see, new upgrades will offer more unique options alongside with direct stats increase. Some effects upgrade system offers can not be found on items at all. For example, new aura-type effect that slows enemies and extremely usefull for tank roles.

New system will also help player units to feel more unique overall, that was one of weakest aspects of demo, in my opinion.
And this feature will be available in demo for everyone this week (most likely)! I will hold onto more unique upgrades for full release though. I have to sell game somehow, after all =D

Do note that upgrade blance obviously in early stage an subject to constant changes.