Since the last DevLog there has been a beta test and the amount of great feedback has been extremely valuable. In this DevLog I want to summarize the feedback from the beta and what has/will be done to address it.
The topics for this DevLog are:
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Beta Feedback
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Automation
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Remaining Work
Let's begin!
It is absolutely amazing how many were interested in the beta. Even better was all the great feedback which I received. I'll summarize all of the feedback and changes that will be made to address it.
The most important point of feedback can be summarized as the game needs more automation, earlier on in the game or in other words the game is too slow. I have taken this very seriously and a lot of changes will be made to improve on that point. The most important changes related to the pacing of the game are summarized under Automation further down.
Other important changes that were made based on your feedback include:
- Fixed 5 game crashing bugs.
- Fixed 10+ non-game crashing bugs.
- Enabled offline farming from the start.
- Added more hotkeys for better UI navigation.
- Localization improvements.
- Transfer UI improvements.
- Increased transfer points and capacity available.
- Changed mastery rewards.
- Added tooltips to explain parts of the game.
- Several crystal system improvements.
- Robot helper improvements.
50+ other minor changes have also been made, see the Discord for more detailed patch notes.
The changes with the largest impact on the game are related to automation and the pacing of the game. I'll go over what has been done since the beta first, and then show some work in progress for the companion system.
Changes that have been done relating to automation and pacing:
- Cursor towers:
This new upgrade which is unlocked very early shoots target seeking arrows at energies that collect them. Cursor towers can be moved around in a field and their rate of fire can be upgraded. This helps automate pick ups early in the game.
- Prestige Surge: This new mastery reward unlock gives you a tenfold increase in research speed when you unlock a field after a prestige. This helps you to more quickly come back to the point at which you were before the prestige. The effect time of the prestige surge can be upgrade by increasing your mastery level.
- Offline farming: Offline farming is now available from the start and will farm at 50% efficiency for 4 hours. It can be upgraded to farm at 150% efficiency for 24 hours.
- Robot helpers: The first robot helper upgrade is now unlocked much earlier and the research times for subsequent robot helpers has been reduced.
- Transfer points: Transfer points now change the transfer rate in this pattern: 3 -> 10 -> 30 -> 100. This allows more granular control of transfer rates than before. The number of transfer points have also been increased, you can now transfer 10x more than before.
Changes that will be done relating to automation and pacing:
- Capacity: Capacity will be increased, especially in the early game.
- Research speed: Research speeds will be increased, especially in the early game.
- Companion system: The companion system is by far the largest change coming up, it is perhaps the largest system in the game. The companion is a helper that you unlock at level 3 that will follow you around, talk to you, is customizable and can pick up energy.
The companion is planned to be able to do things such as: increase research speed, spawn power ups and spawn more helpers. A huge spec tree is planned is currently being worked on right now. Here is a rough sketch:
It is also planned to have a small amount of lore introduced via the companion.
- Intelligent robot: One new robot type is planned and it will be unlocked as the last mastery system reward. It will be an intelligent robot that actively seeks out energy and picks it up. It is planend to be called the AI helper.
When all of these changes are implemented a new beta wave is planned. Check out the Discord if you are interested in testing out the game.
First of all, due to all the great feedback and changes from the first beta wave, there is going to be a new beta wave. There are a couple of more things to do before the next beta wave. Namely, completing the companion system, quality of life improvements and pacing improvements.
During the beta I will continue to adjust the game according to the feedback received. But more broadly, the following things remain to be completed before the game is done:
- Implement max level 100.
- Implement max energy level.
- Add many more upgrades (but no new upgrade types are planned).
- AI Helper robot unlockable via the mastery system.
- More achievements.
- Balance improvements.
- Optimization.
- A lore system.
- The last skill.
- Tons of minor improvements.
I still hope that the game can be released in the first half of 2023. My ambition is to create a final trailer and announce a release date shortly after the second beta wave starts. Hopefully the second beta wave will kick off in April.
In short, things are moving along in a steady pace. Much more news coming soon! Stay tuned!
Check out the official Discord server for the game: https://discord.gg/62FCUKa5G3.
Come hangout and discuss the game! I will look for beta testers in the Discord channel when the next wave starts.
Check out the store page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2017540/Energy_Collector/