The features added in this update are the last major additions to the game play before Above the Fold's full release.
Zooming
The number one requested feature for a long time was being able to zoom in and out on the city map. That’s in the game now, and it adds a whole new layer to your strategy: spend less time looking for matching stories, and more time finding better ones.
Tip: Some players prefer to assign any story of a preferred type early on, and look for higher value replacements once every reporter has an assignment.
Auto-Sorting
The second huge feature is the addition of auto-sorting your stories when building the front page. Previously, stories were always sorted by straight point value. Often that may not be your top priority however, so now you can sort by politics and age groups as well.
Auto-sorting gives you better insight into how each story affects your overall issue, and more time to fine tune the front page.
Tip: Different story types appeal more to specific age groups than others. By assigning stories that match, you will attract more readers of that age group.
Upgrade to Upgrades
The in-game upgrades screen for your office has gotten a visual redesign, honoring the mighty White Board. Alongside the visual boost is another 5-event storyline, that plays out after your research “Web 2.0”. Will your newspaper publish a special edition with a Goodbury Online CD-Rom?
Tip: Storylines can unlock Awards, cash, or allow more Angry Letters. They trigger through upgrades, themed issues, and reputation, each playing out only once per game. Every storyline has 3 possible outcomes - the exact effect depending on your newspaper’s direction and your choices, so consider each one carefully.
The Final Beta
With the next update, Above the Fold will be leaving Early Access. There is still more in-game content, polish and balance tweaks to come, but the basic gameplay loop is now done. Thank you to everyone who supported the game getting to this point!
There are several other changes and additions in this update. As always, there’s a detailed list below.
All the changes in Beta 10
- Added: 101 new headline elements for more variation
- Added: Zoom in and out on the City Map using the scroll-wheel on a mouse, or comma (zoom out) and period (zoom in). Hit the equals-key to reset the zoom level.
- Added: Sort buttons on the Editor's Desk, that let you automatically sort your stories by score, political lean or age group appeal.
- Added: "Going Online" a 5-event storyline that may trigger after you research the "Web 2.0" upgrade.
- Added: Buttons for switching and picking elements on the Desk Customization screen, making it easier to design your desk. The old shortcuts have been removed.
- Added: New reporter quotes, for when there is competition for those front page slots.
- Added: More variation and flavor to the occasional event "Your Mom Called".
- Changed: The Upgrades screen has a visual update, inspired by a classic office accessory: whiteboards.
- Changed: When starting a new game, your Editor's Desk is now randomized.
- Changed: The "Ads Ending Soon" panel now shows data compared to the end of the month, incl. how much your stand to make.
- Changed: Kellum Ded will wait longer, before he might start killing off celebrities in Goodbury.
- Changed: Sometimes reporters will have interests, you haven't unlocked yet.
- Fixed: Screenshots are now saved locally in their own folder: \Users[your username]\AppData\Local\AboveTheFold\Screenshots
- Fixed: The game might crash if you ran outta cash!
- Fixed: The game would crash if the reporter who landed the top story, was also leaving the paper on that same day.
- Fixed: Celebrity NPCs added to the game after a save game was started, are now integrated on game load. Fixes a crash where events would try to load NPCs that were not present in the save game file.
- Fixed: Panel text made darker to increase readability.
- Fixed: The "Clear the Front Page" Challenge no longer require 25 Awards to unlock (that wins the game). 20 will do.
- Fixed: Sometimes desk customization was not displaying the proper labels for the graphics.
- Fixed: Triggered events involving a dead celebrity no longer trigger.
- Fixed: Several minor bugs, typos, etc.