Hey!👋
I hope your year has started off great! We’re finally about to launch the next update, kicking off a pipeline of content updates. I’m really excited about it. It’s time for another Community Gazette to go over what’s been happening since the end of the holiday season.
Starting Map Size System & The Go Global Update
For a while now, we’ve had three map sizes to choose from when starting a game. However, many in our community have requested different ratios, larger maps, or even more basement floors than upper floors. To address this, I’ve added an even bigger map size and implemented a customizable map system where you can set the width/height ratio and the percentage of basement floors before starting. This feature is live on the public test branch and will roll out to the default branch with the Echoes of the Community update package. Sorry for the delay in getting this to you, public test players! I had to address some issues with the transportation system while implementing it.
But the most significant part? This ties into the upcoming Go Global update. In the future, you’ll manage multiple casinos in different cities, each with unique challenges. Map sizes and settings will play a crucial role in this system. This means the customization options may be revisited again before the 1.0 launch, but for now, these settings should provide a solid foundation.
Financial Data Graphs & Transaction Names
I’ve finalized the casino data collection and financial graph system I mentioned earlier. The financial data graph is now live on the public test branch, with additional graphs coming in the next patch after some UI tweaks.
If you’ve been using an older public test save, you might notice some outdated transaction names or financial data for casino rooms at first. However, as new data comes in, everything should gradually align with the latest system.
Transportation System Refactor & Vehicle Changes
There was one part of the transportation module that hadn't been refactored during the past backend work campaign. It stood firm, a stable, a shrine of old code, if you will. 😊 However, since unlocking worker trucks and private cars, bugs have been creeping in. So, I decided to give the system a proper overhaul and migrate it to the new vehicle garage system too.
So Heads-up: After updating, you might notice all your cars have disappeared when loading an old public test save for the first time. Your people might also complain about not finding their cars, but in theory, everything should settle smoothly after that!
Cheat Panel & Final Pre-Balance Features
The public test branch is still out of balance so the "Cheat Panel" is still active for you to use while testing, but I have two key features left to improve before tackling the game’s balance update. Yes, improvements can go on forever, but I know, you know, we all know that these two features are essential before we can truly feel satisfied and move on to the content phase of the roadmap 😅
- Building Research Overhaul – I plan to move the building research tree to a licensing system, similar to transportation. This means using administrative documents and money to purchase building licenses, improving permits and elevator specifications.
- Hiring Negotiations – While we introduced auto-hiring through the HR Manager, the negotiation messaging system still feels a bit clunky. I want to improve both its UX and mechanics as part of the Echoes of the Community update.
Next Steps & Community Save File Sharing
The plan (which can't stop changing) is as follows:
- Later today or tomorrow – A hotfix patch addressing collected reports (huge thanks to everyone who submitted them!).
- Next focus – Completing the transportation system, then implementing negotiation improvements and building licensing.
- Final stage – Game balance, quality of life and polish update, which will be released as a major default branch update.
Since balance is on the horizon, I’ve created a new Discord channel called “Save It and Leave It.” Here’s the cinematic channel description:
Submit Your Legendary Saves! Got an epic, oversized, or glorious save file? Share it here! I’ll use it to test and balance the game, and the community can explore and enjoy it too. Whether it’s for inspiration, chaos, or just curiosity, your save could make an impact!
So, feel free to drop your saves into the channel, especially when you’ve wrapped up a casino and are moving on to a new one. This will help me tremendously in balancing the game, and it’ll also serve as a space where you and other players can share and review save files. Eventually, I’ll implement Steam Workshop support for an even smoother experience.
Thanks for Being Part of the Community!
That’s all for this week’s update! I appreciate all of you for being part of this journey.
See you in the next one!
Cheers!