Hello!
I'm glad to be writing these words as I pick up my Latte and ant take a quick sip, it has been a fun and challenging road but I finally have a beta of the CEO update ready for everyone to try! Why a beta? Well almost all the functionality is there, I still have to finish some minor visual assets but everything else is already there.
How can I play the beta?
To play the beta you just have to opt in to the beta branch called 'openbeta', here is a quick article that shows you how to do that:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=380122528
So, what can I expect from the Beta?
Well, there are many changes in this update from improvements to old systems to new exciting features, I'll give you a quick summary of the new features with some awesome screenshots.
New Rating System
The new rating system now depends on your decoration rating, and your reputation, there are also three new top-rated ranks (Bronze Bean, Silver Bean, Golden Bean) that provide additional benefits like increased idle income from your shop.
New customization options for furniture
Several items have a new customization option to change their color when buying them, providing you with more options and a better looking shop.
New Items
New items like high tables and bar stools are now available from the store.
New resource
New resource "Ingredients" becomes available for higher levels, your demand will depend on the active drinks and their ingredients.
Custom Drinks
Have you ever dreamt of creating your own drinks? Well now is the time, with Custom drinks you are able to create and sell your own creations, just make sure people actually like them.
Flavor profiles and Ratings
With the addition of Custom drinks now customers have different flavor preferences which will make some drinks more popular than others, this also adds three different types of customers "Teens, Casuals, and Experts". Depending on their type they will prefer different types of drinks, keep an eye on the new rating indicators.
Featured Drinks
Do you want to boost the popularity of your awesome new creation? You can feature it on your menu! Just be aware of the current trends and market.
Headquarters
No better place to manage your coffee emporium than from a fancy office. You can now unlock the HQ and manage your stores, you will be able to create custom Drinks from there, transfer employees, manage advances marketing campaigns, or check your store's idle income and stats.
Franchise management
Check your stores stats and idle income.
Loans
Short on money? Ask the bank for help.
New employee options
Got a Barista Rockstar that you would like to transfer to a new shop? You can now from your HQ.
Bug Fixes and other minor improvements
The update also includes fixes for several bugs and other improvements.
What is missing?
Sweet the new features look great! What is missing from the beta? Well, I’m still finishing some visual assets for the beta and I will also add things like a new Working Station, new avatars, and customization to other tables/chairs. Below is a full list of the thigs I’m still working on to release the full update.
- Increase level cap with new unlocks
- Add Market balancing campaigns
- UI adjustments and animations
- Finish drink mixer assets
- Finish drink mixer functionality (Syrup adorners and extras, option to delete Custom Drinks)
- Shop based Decor Rating
- Create a new working station
- Add alternative style to every table/chair
- Add unlockable ingredient groups
- Add ingredient order specialization for employees
- Add trending ingredients and boosts
- Add seasonality to ingredients
- Add 6 new avatars
- Improve current working stations aesthetics with Syrups
- Make seasonality bonus show against menu being modified
- Add tutorials for new features
- Add paintings/posters to Office
- Add music/sound to office
During the beta
I will be working on the remaining features while you play the beta, I will also open a new discussion to provide feedback and ideas and another for bug reports. Given that this is a beta, problems might arise and you might experience crashes, I have extensively played the beta to make sure there are no major breaking bugs but s##t happens so I’ll be looking at the crash reports and updating the beta with fixes ASAP. Thanks for playing and I hope you enjoy the beta.