The update which was planned for the end of February has now been merged with the March update.
By the end of March we'll release an update which brings an overhauled traffic system to the new map. This update will also introduce pedestrians onto the new map. This will mark the point where the new map is fully functional, and will serve as a basis for ongoing development.
We apologise for the delay, but we believe it's what's best for the game. We'd rather release a better update later on as opposed to prematurely releasing one we're not happy with.
We'll have a new roadmap to announce soon, so keep your eyes peeled for that! We also hope you enjoy the little teaser images for the March update throughout this post.
Thank you for all of your support as always!
The Flashing Lights Team
UPDATE NOW LIVE | New Map Multiplayer Callouts + Improved Dispatch System
Hello all,
We have just released the January 2021 update for Flashing Lights! We have an updated callout dispatch system for multiplayer calls on the new map. We also have new dumpster fire callouts for the fire department.
If you are yet to try Flashing Lights, now is a great time to jump in, with new updates being released regularly.
New (Updates for the New Map) - Updated dispatch now has multiplayer support - Dispatch supports multiple calls at the same time across departments - CAD update to join/leave missions now in active calls tab - Calls now end after timeout if no players are responding - New Dumpster Fire callouts for Fire Department [ID 2001] - New garbage dumpster models around the city - Bus stop models around the city - Power Off button now appears on every screen on the in-vehicle computer - Mission complete UI pop-up now shows when the call is cleared, but does not issue any points. Points are now given for player actions in missions only - Another suspect registration point added at the back entrance of the Police Station - Added info icons on vehicle HUD for computer input [Left Shift] and extra lights input [P]
Fixes - Random fire callouts could previously spawn with no fire (New map) - Shop owner's walk animation fixed when items are returned - Time it takes to extinguish fires is now faster (New map) - Fire Tanker truck's rooftop lightbar scale increased - Fire Ladder truck's doors do not disappear in the distance anymore - Christmas hat removed :'(
We have further exciting updates coming over the next couple of months:
February: Optimised Map Release Part 3: Overhauled traffic AI + traffic will appear on the streets of the new small map.
March: Optimised Map Release Part 4: Fully functional enhanced and optimised new map. This will form the foundation of the ongoing game development.
January Update 2021
New (updates for the New map) - Updated dispatch now has multiplayer support - Dispatch supports multiple calls at the same time across departments - CAD update to join/leave missions now in active calls tab - Calls now end after timeout if no players are responding - New Dumpster Fire callouts for Fire Department [ID 2001] - New garbage dumpster models around the city - Bus stop models around the city - Power Off button now appears on every screen on the in-vehicle computer - Mission complete UI pop-up now shows when the call is cleared, but does not issue any points. Points are now given for player actions in missions only - Another suspect registration point added at the back entrance of the Police Station - Added info icons on vehicle HUD for computer input [Left Shift] and extra lights input [P]
Fixes - Random fire callouts could previously spawn with no fire (New map) - Shop owner's walk animation fixed when items are returned - Time is takes to extinguish fires is now faster (New map) - Fire Tanker truck's rooftop lightbar scale increased - Fire Ladder truck's doors do not disappear in the distance anymore - Christmas hat removed :'(
UPDATE NOW LIVE | New Map Single Player Callouts + Improved Dispatch System
Hello all!
Flashing Lights' December update is now live! This introduces some single player callouts to the new map, and also includes a new and improved callout dispatch system!
Full Update Notes
New - Dispatch system for the new map (Singleplayer only until January update) - You can now see locations before accepting a callout - The message of player responding to a callout has been moved from chat to dispatch UI section - Vehicle computer now available for all departments - You can now view all pending callouts on vehicle computer CAD section - Ability to cancel missions through vehicle computer CAD section - Suggested vehicle now shown for each callout - Police callout Shoplifting added for new map (spawns randomly around the map) - Police callout Armed Robbery added for new map (spawns randomly around the map) - Fire callout Structure Fire added for new map (spawns at random location and random size) - Fire trucks on new map now have infinite water supply until fire hydrants get added - Christmas hats added for the Holidays
Fixes - Hit or shot suspects now show stolen goods when searched - Audio settings menu could get stuck at main menu - Audio settings now update properly - Reflections fixed for new map
Thank you all so much for playing Flashing Lights this year! We look forward to another great year for Flashing Lights.
Keep an eye out for the following upcoming updates!
January: Optimised Map Release Part 2: Small map new multiplayer callouts + improved dispatch system based on community feedback
February: Optimised Map Release Part 3: Overhauled traffic AI + traffic will appear on the streets of the new small map.
March: Optimised Map Release Part 4: Fully functional enhanced and optimised new map. This will form the foundation of the ongoing game development.
🚨 New Dispatch System Teaser + Vote for us in the IndieDB Top 100! 🚨
Hello all,
We have a brand new December update teaser for you today!
But first... IndieDB Indie of the Year 2020 Top 100 - we need your help once more
Thanks to your votes, Flashing Lights has made it into the top 100 of the year! We are incredibly grateful for your support so far. A second round of voting is now live, and we need your help once again to be in with a chance of being crowned Indie of the Year!
To vote, visit IndieDB by CLICKING HERE, then select the 'Role Playing' section in the released games category. Here you'll see a big red 'VOTE' button by Flashing Lights - click on that, and you're all done!
✔️ No sign up required ✔️ You can vote for as many games as you wish
Okay, onto the new update teaser! Here's your first look at the enhanced callout system, arriving with some single player callouts for the new map in this month's update. Now, on your in-car computer, you'll be able to see a list of callouts available for you to respond to as they come in, along with info on the location of the callout so you can decide whether or not you wish to accept the job.
Remember, we have plenty of exciting updates coming up! Take a read:
December: Optimised Map Release Part 1: Small map single player callouts + improved dispatch system based on community feedback
January: Optimised Map Release Part 2: Small map new multiplayer callouts + improved dispatch system based on community feedback
February: Optimised Map Release Part 3: Overhauled traffic AI + traffic will appear on the streets of the new small map.
March: Optimised Map Release Part 4: Fully functional enhanced and optimised new map. This will form the foundation of the ongoing game development.
December Update Callout System Teaser + IndieDB Indie of the Year Voting!
Hello all!
We're excited to share with you a little sneak peek of the upcoming December update. But first we have some more end of year awards news to share with you, and we need your help.
Vote Flashing Lights in the IndieDB Indie of the Year Awards!
IndieDB are holding their Indie Of The Year Award again this year, and we need your help!
If you've enjoyed playing Flashing Lights this year, please vote for us in Indie DB's Indie of the Year Awards!
All you need to do is to visit the game's IndieDB page HERE and click 'vote now'.
✔️ No sign up required ✔️ You can vote for as many games as you wish - so even if your heart is split between Flashing Lights and another game or two, why not vote for them all?
December Update Teaser
Plus, enjoy this December update teaser screenshot! The December update will see some improvements to the callout dispatch system for the new map. The fire callout in this teaser will be able to now spawn at any building on the map (apart from department buildings), and with a randomly generated fire size.
Take the opportunity to refresh your memory on our plans for Flashing Lights over the coming months:
December: Optimised Map Release Part 1: Small map single player callouts + improved dispatch system based on community feedback
January: Optimised Map Release Part 2: Small map new multiplayer callouts + improved dispatch system based on community feedback
February: Optimised Map Release Part 3: Overhauled traffic AI + traffic will appear on the streets of the new small map.
March: Optimised Map Release Part 4: Fully functional enhanced and optimised new map. This will form the foundation of the ongoing game development.
Vote Flashing Lights for the Labor of Love Award! | Steam Awards 2020
Hello all,
Flashing Lights developer Nils Jakrins has been hard at work on Early Access updates ever since the game launched in June 2018. For those of you who have been with us since the beginning, you know how far the game has come since back then!
We'd love it if you voted for Flashing Lights in the Labor of Love Award.
If you are yet to play, why not jump in now, with 25% off in the Steam Autumn Sale?
Keep an eye out for the following exciting updates in the coming months!
December: Optimised Map Release Part 1: Small map single player callouts + improved dispatch system based on community feedback
January: Optimised Map Release Part 2: Small map new multiplayer callouts + improved dispatch system based on community feedback
February: Optimised Map Release Part 3: Overhauled traffic AI + traffic will appear on the streets of the new small map.
March: Optimised Map Release Part 4: Fully functional enhanced and optimised new map. This will form the foundation of the ongoing game development.
UPDATE NOW LIVE | Sirens Update
Hello all,
We've just launched the November update for Flashing Lights! We have introduced a whole range of new sirens, which you can choose to equip your vehicles with! Read on for the full update notes. New sirens have been a much requested feature from the community, so it's an exciting one for us to release.
The 2020 Steam Awards voting is now open! Flashing Lights is eligible for the Labor of Love Award. Take a look at the award description below and if you would like to nominate Flashing Lights, please do so here!
This game has been out for a while. The team is well past the debut of their creative baby, but being the good parents they are, these devs continue to nurture and support their creation. This game, to this day, is still getting new content after all these years.
Full Update Notes
New
- New sirens - Siren controller added (Key 2 to turn on/off when in vehicle) - Use buttons 3;4;5;6;7;8;9;0 for different sirens, when siren controller is turned on - Loop sirens with one key (Default X) - Q siren for fire trucks and large ambulance (default input G or Right Mouse button) - Siren customization in vehicle menu, you can now change sirens for each slot - Sirens and Q siren volume setting in Audio Settings Menu - Auto-off siren option when getting out of car. Can be set in Vehicle Menu - Sound effect for initializing traffic stop - Hold down Horn for secondary siren to stop traffic. Works when emergency lights are on - Input reset to support new siren slot buttons
Fixes
- Weapon wheel could be activated when in Settings Menus, breaking interaction - Removed pumpkin road flares D: - Horn now works while engine is off - Fixed issue with two mouse cursors in vehicle menu - Fixed voice chat volume resetting on each game load
We have some exciting updates arriving over the coming months, so keep your eyes peeled!
December: Optimised Map Release Part 1: Small map single player callouts + improved dispatch system based on community feedback
January: Optimised Map Release Part 2: Small map new multiplayer callouts + improved dispatch system based on community feedback
February: Optimised Map Release Part 3: Overhauled traffic AI + traffic will appear on the streets of the new small map.
March: Optimised Map Release Part 4: Fully functional enhanced and optimised new map. This will form the foundation of the ongoing game development.
Glowing Pumpkins! Big Savings! | Flashing Lights Halloween 2020
Hello all,
Halloween is almost upon us! We like to celebrate the odd event in Flashing Lights with little touches, and this year's Halloween is no different. Usually, you're able to lay down flares at incident scenes to warn oncoming traffic at night time!
But it's Halloween, so of course, the road flares are now glowing pumpkins. Remember to play in night time mode and make use of the pumpkin flares this Halloween!
And, if you are yet to jump in, we're running a special 25% discount for a limited time:
The Flashing Lights October update is here! Today marks the first step in a newly optimised game experience. We are excited to take this journey with you all, and this is just the beginning.
Today we have released the first iteration of the new game map, accessible from the main menu. This is only a small area, and does not have traffic or people for you to interact with (plus no callouts), but it is just the beginning. The new world uses a tile-based loading system, which should help to address the performance issues many of you have been experiencing.
We're excited to hear your thoughts on this first iteration of the new map!
New additional map (in the Main Menu, toggle the switch button to access the new map or go back to the original map to play the game with callouts), this is part of the new foundations for Flashing Lights
New police and fire departments (work in progress)
In the new map, EMS will now spawn together with the fire department
Parking ticket mechanics added to the new map for cars illegally parked on the sidewalk
Fuel system added to the new map
Adjusted the environment and prop spawn radiuses in the game's Graphics Settings when playing on the new map, this utilises our new tile-based loading system. The higher the setting, the more of the world that loads in together, if you are experiencing issues with performance, reduce this number
For the new map the Screen Space Reflection and Ambient Occlusion camera effects (Graphics Settings) have been adjusted for better looking visuals
Moved project to Unity version 2018 LTS
Road flares changed to pumpkins until November update
We have much more to come in the months ahead. Check out the details:
November: Sirens Customisation: Sirens selection plus manual vehicle siren controls.
December: Optimised Map Release Part 1: Small map single player callouts + improved dispatch system based on community feedback
January: Optimised Map Release Part 2: Small map new multiplayer callouts + improved dispatch system based on community feedback
February: Optimised Map Release Part 3: Overhauled traffic AI + traffic will appear on the streets of the new small map.
March: Optimised Map Release Part 4: Fully functional enhanced and optimised new map. This will form the foundation of the ongoing game development.
