This is a major update to Above the Fold. It comes with 5 new storylines to unlock, more than 3 dozen new events and visual updates from improved buttons and notifications to complete redesigns of several menus and screens. There are quality of life improvements, balance adjustments and lots of bug fixes. Check the highlights below, read on for a detailed breakdown of the main changes, or check the full, itemized list at the end.
TL;DR Bullet Points
- You now win the game, if you last all 4 years
- 37 new in-game events (5 storylines)
- 126 new elements for random headline silliness
- Improved graphics, buttons and notifications
- A dash of 90s flavor!
Because this update adds more meat and richness to the game, we're calling it The Flavor Update.
Events and Storylines
Reputation Based Events
Your newspaper's reputation in the Commercial Bias category, may now trigger new storylines. With each day your score is either very high or very low, one of these might trigger. As always, they play out over 5 events, and depending on your decisions, will end 1 of 3 ways.
A similar 5-event storyline was added for reaching a high reputation in the Fairness category. With these 3 new storylines, each reputation category now has both high and low score storylines associated with it.
Making a Profit
Every day your newspaper is profitable (not including advertisements) is a chance to unlock the new storyline associated with profitability - be prepared to negotiate with unions and more!
Climate Theme with Global Science
The 5th storyline in this update unlocks under different circumstances than the others. You must first research the Global Science upgrade, then you have a chance to trigger these 5 events by publishing a "Climate"-themed issue. Note, you may have to try more than once!
Recurring Events
Each month has 1 new event, recurring on a specific date - as long as your newspaper is in operation that day. Since you start the game without any weekend editions, it means that any event falling on a Saturday or Sunday, won't appear for you until those upgrades are unlocked.
Each recurring event gives you two ways to respond. But the results are not set in stone - what you get out of your choices depend on the newspaper you are running. For example, if you're running a business oriented, current events style newspaper, your audience will react differently to wholesome Christmas coverage, than if you're running a lifestyle or local news focused publication. So pick wisely!
A Little More 90s, Please
There were already several retro elements in the game, but none of them are as cool as the new dot matrix-style info panels. Even though many had moved on to laser printers by the late 90s, there were still plenty of working dot matrix machines in the back rooms of businesses everywhere.
More nods include the new buttons, featuring the beveled look inspired by the early Internet days, the new Win-screen uses a font that was popular at the time (Copper Plate Gothic Bold) - there are more little nods like these for you to find. Also, 30 new first names for reporters were added, based on names that were common among young adults at the time.
Names and Headlines
Speaking of adding names, there are also a slew of new last names for reporters to have. In the past, I have added last names of writers, musicians and other journalists, and this batch of names are mainly pulled from women who are pioneering or otherwise famous reporters, except for a handful of names from comedic journalism. Adding last names of real world influences is just for fun. First and last names are randomly combined in the game and any match to actual people is coincidental.
Randomized headlines is another big part of the game, and this update comes with a boost of 126 new headline elements. They add more silliness to story headlines you'll see in the game, and if our player survey says anything, it's that people like those headlines. Don't forget to share your favorite front page screenshots, and that survey is still open!
Numbers in dots!
Notifications were added to some of the features in the game. On the Office screen you might see yellow notifications on your Upgrades button. These indicate how many things you are currently researching. Clicking through to the Upgrade screen will show similar notifications next to the items you are currently researching, displaying how many days are left on each one. Those you've already completed, display a checkmark in a green bubble.
Another button on the Office screen that has a green notification is Challenges. This will now alert you to any new Challenges you've completed. If you see a notification there, click through to claim your challenge reward!
All Changes in Beta 9
There are even more changes and additions than what is covered above. See the list below for a full list of what's new and changed.
- Added: 126 new headline elements for more variation in the generated stories
- Added: New repeating event for every month. Each is tied to a real-world occasion or holiday and offers a choice. The wording of the event and the results of the choice made, depends on your newspaper's politics and credibility. Choose wisely! (12 events)
- Added: New story line that may trigger after your newspaper is profitable (5 events)
- Added: 2 new story lines that may trigger after your reputation in Commercial Bias goes either high or low enough (10 events total)
- Added: a story line that may start after you hit a high Fairness-reputation score (5 events)
- Added: New story line that may trigger with a "Climate"-themed issue, after you research Global Science (5 events)
- Added: Toggle the ambient background noise off and on. Use the N-key as shortcut, or use the Options menu to change the setting.
- Added: New button designs for features that are separate from gameplay controls (main and options menus)
- Added: Notifications on the button leading to Challenges, indicating any unlocked and unclaimed challenges.
- Added: Notifications on the button leading to Upgrades, indicating how many upgrades are being researched right now.
- Added: Notifications on the individual upgrade buttons, indicating how many days are left before research is completed, and if they are fully researched, it displays a checkmark.
- Added: 30 new reporter first names for more variation. Names were picked based on the era, the game is set in.
- Added: 20 additional reporter last names.
- Changed: More subscribers will either cancel or choose not to renew their subscriptions, scaling as you progress through the game and rival media grows stronger (TV and Internet news)
- Changed: The in-game YES/NO/OK buttons have been redesigned
- Changed: Options screen now uses checkboxes instead of yes/no buttons
- Changed: The in-game labeled buttons have been redesigned to more closely match the 90's aesthetic
- Changed: If you make it through 4 years as editor, you now WIN the game for going the distance. Previously, this counted as a loss. With this change also comes a new stat, for how many Time-based wins you have accumulated.
- Changed: the panel windows on the office screen were given a dot-matrix inspired visual update to better capture the era the game is set in.
- Changed: The Game Over screen has gotten a redesign. It has more data on it and looks different, depending on whether you won or lost the game.
- Changed: The main menu now features an animated background and pop ups have been replaced with displaying the contents directly under the logo in the center.
- Changed: Reworded the Award info-panel to display more clearly, whether you have already secured the monthly theme award.
- Changed: When it's a reporter's kid's birthday, there's a more variation in their quote of the day.
- Changed: (and added) Several in-game fonts.
- Fixed: Sometimes, firing reporters who had an in-office rival, could make the game crash.
- Fixed: Some challenges did not unlock properly, when they should!
- Fixed: Sometimes the Morale Event button would be visible, even though the event was still locked
- Fixed: The achievement for publishing a 2,500 point issue now triggers as expected (was accidentally set to 25000!)
- Fixed: Random surge events could cause an error if queued at the wrong time.
- Fixed: Surge-markers on the map guide would still show, even if you hid the guide.
- Fixed: Crash based on a personality trait effect not firing correctly.
- Several minor bugs, typos, misspellings and oddities.