We're back with a big update, now available on the Default (ordinary) branch.
The new features are demonstrated in this gameplay video:
Youtube Video
which is commented by one of the devs. (Click the time codes on the video to skip to the demonstration of the 'Trade' features.)
TRADE///////////////////////////////
COMMUNICATION. BUYING GOODS. INVITING SETTLERS.
On 'Fields of Tau Ceti', your group now starts with radio equipment which allows them to contact a neighbor settlement and arrange trade deals. They have a small amount of cash to pay for a barge and can buy supplies and invite more colonists. To do this, they first need to set up a radio hut and build a simple boat landing at a suitable spot (which appears on the map).
You can then access the map screen and arrange for a boat to come:
SELLING GOODS
Next step is to start selling goods. To do this, you need to build a simple port which consists of a small pier and a storehouse. You assign which item types you want to sell and as soon as the goods have been placed in the storehouse, you can offer them for sale in a trade deal.
ADDITIONAL GAMEPLAY FEATURES///////////////////////////////
SETTLERS - SKILLS AND SPECIALIZATIONS
The characters now have clearly defined specializations such as 'Security', 'Engineering', 'Bushcraft' etc, which is indicated with an icon next to their name. If a character has a very low skill level, which is inadequate to start a task, this will be indicated with red color in the skill list.
Most characters will now be generated with random names, clothes and specializations.
ANIMAL MIGRATIONS
On 'Fields of Tau Ceti', there are now migrating herds of animals that cross the map from time to time. 'Lesser whipjaw' travels along the great river in the middle, while flocks of 'bajingan' enter from different corners and move to the west. They are voracious scavengers and can quickly devour meat left in the open but on the other hand, their hides and own meat are valuable for trading.
STORAGE/CARRYING CAPACITY
The available space for carrying or storing items is now clearly indicated with a bar in the side panel.
MUSIC
We now have 5 additional tracks, composed by Jesper Lundager - the track titles are:
Prosperous Frontier. Building a Home. The Diamond Birds. Muckroot Toil. Cetian Skies.
They can also be heard HERE
VARIOUS FIXES
-Reduced the food need of humans so that they now only need to eat roughly 50% of the previous amount of food.
-Improved the way characters handle ammunition. They will now put half of a fresh magazine in their weapon and carry the other half with them.
-Increased decay rate of the 'shreds' that animals bite off from carcasses so that they rot quicker and do not fill the screen with progress bars.
-Structures now decay slower.
-Adjusted output of fish traps so that fish traps no longer run out of fish (they still break down though).
-Removed the 'Dozens of settlers' start since we now have the immigration feature, allowing you to invite people.
-Solved the crash that sometimes happened when you placed the signal pyre or the deadfall trap (this was reported by players - thank you!).
UPDATED: GAME FEATURE ROADMAP///////////////////////////////
We have re-estimated the road to release (this year) and have moved some features to possible post-release while some planned game features have been replaced with new ones. You can see the updated list under the Early Access section on the store page, it now looks like this:
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- Save game functionality -DEPLOYED!
- Trade / migration -DEPLOYED!
- Happiness
- Democracy
- Research
- Many more scenarios -SEVERAL ADDED!
- Creatures can feed on food items and carcasses -DEPLOYED!
- More animations / effects -DEPLOYED!
- Interface graphics polished -DEPLOYED!
Possible features in the long term (after Early Access)
-Modding support (maps, scenarios, game data)
-Languages (community provided translations)
-Game feature: Medical treatment
-Game feature: Electrical power
NOTE (Jan 2016): We have decided NOT to aim for making a Mac/Linux port because of the cost. Sorry!
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We hope that you are ok with this new list! Our focus is to make a great game with the resources we have and to do that we need to prioritize as we go along.
See our website for a list of current features and what we might develop in the future.