Hi everyone! 😊
This week, we’ve been busy improving the hotel system AIs and crafting a brand-new hotel menu. Along the way, I also tackled several fixes and balance adjustments. These updates should be live on the public test branch in just a couple of days. After that, I’ll focus on the final touches for the transportation system. Once that’s complete, we’ll be ready to merge everything into the default branch for the release of the "Echoes of the Community" update and kick off public testing for the "Nightlife" update.
Here’s a closer look at what’s been in the works this week:
Laundry System Overhaul
Dirty sheets will now function as physical objects within the game, similar to trash in the waste management system. You’ll need to store these "by-products" of guest services and remove them efficiently. Housekeepers can collect and deposit dirty sheets into laundry bins, which can then be processed in washing machines and iron presses.
The new system encourages players to identify and address bottlenecks by managing housekeeper numbers, storage capacity for dirty linens, and available washing machines and presses. And the new hotel menu, along with detailed data graphs, will provide all the insights you need to stay on top of things!
Hotel System AI and Behavior Updates
Housekeepers:
I’ve completely rewritten the housekeeper AI for improved performance and streamlined behavior. Housekeepers now operate in two key work states instead of one randomized one:
Collecting dirty sheets – They can pick up to three sheets at a time and deposit them into the nearest available laundry bin.
Cleaning and ironing – They retrieve dirty sheets from bins in their assigned laundry rooms, wash them, and iron clean sheets for reuse.
Housekeepers prioritize laundry bins based on their assignment, be it a assigned room, a patrol route base room, or the closest available bin if unassigned.
Guests:
Guests can now use luxury amenities, such as hot tubs, in high-end rooms. We’ve added new behaviors and mood modifiers for these items, making the guest experience more dynamic.
The Hotel Menu
The newly designed hotel menu provides an at-a-glance overview of room occupancy rates, laundry bin capacity, counts and capacities of key housekeeping items. You’ll also have the option to open or close rooms for bookings, whether to catch up on services or manage other hotel operations.
Customer Inventory
Borrowing from the employee inventory system, customers are now have an inventory too. This feature allows players to see what guests are carrying, such as casino chips, souvenirs, or vending machine purchases.
Finally, we’ve decided to add a special touch to the main menu: a little character to honor the memory of Bacon, our beloved pug, and a cherished member of our development team. We hope this small tribute keeps his playful spirit alive in our hearts and the game.
Until next time,
Tolgahan