Tower Inc. - Patch Notes v.0.3.0
New Features & Gameplay
Character & Elevator Upgrades: I’ve implemented a new progression system. You can now upgrade your character and the Elevator to improve your survival odds.
Suit Customization: Added the ability to change your Suit color, with more advanced customization options planned for future updates.
Shoulder Flashlight: New holster system! You can now move your flashlight to your shoulder (via upgrade) to keep your hands free while lighting the way.
Console App: Added an in-game console app where you can scan for nearby enemies and access other utility functions.
Rebalanced Mechanics: To make the upgrades more meaningful, I’ve slightly reduced base game time and flashlight battery life. You’ll need to invest in upgrades to push these limits further.
Streamlined Experience: Removed "Solo Game Start" as it felt redundant for the current loop.
Optimization & Technical Safety
Hardware Safety System: I built an automatic "Safe Mode" handler. If the game detects lower-end hardware, it will dynamically adjust settings to ensure the game actually runs without crashing your drivers.
Memory & GC Improvements: Major work done on the Voice system and Garbage Collection to reduce stutters, though I'm still fine-tuning this for the weakest machines.
Quick Settings: Added a "Fast Edit" menu when starting the game so you can jump straight into the action with your preferred settings.
Mic Controls: Added a toggle to fully enable or disable the microphone.
Bug Fixes & AI Improvements
Logic Overhaul: Fixed various issues with general game logic, network synchronization, and item handling/attachment.
Enemy Behavior: Improved the AI and spawn logic for enemies, specifically polishing the "push" behaviors for Bull and Sally09.
GUI Polish: Fixed several interface bugs and gave the menus a cleaner, more professional look.
Main Menu: Built a brand new main menu scene with improved logic flow.
AI Content: Removed the majority of AI-generated content to focus on a more hand-crafted aesthetic.
⚠️ Known Issues (Currently Being Investigated)
The "Dark Screen" Glitch: I am tracking a bug where the game appears extremely dark on specific resolutions or when certain graphic settings (like Fog) interact poorly. I’m working on a permanent fix for this rendering issue.
Mic-Related Freezing: On some PC configurations, enabling the microphone can cause the game to hitch or freeze. This doesn't seem to affect high-end PCs as much, but I am actively rewriting the buffer logic to solve this for everyone.
A Note from the Developer
As I’m working on Tower Inc. solo, your feedback is vital. This update represents a massive push toward better performance and more depth. Thank you for sticking with me while I iron out these remaining technical hurdles!