Gear City
v1.25.0.2 Patch
As mentioned with the version 1.25 release, updates are coming more frequently in the form of minor patches. These mainly focus on polishing up the game for release and fixing any bugs that I find or you report.
Tonight's v1.25.0.2 update has 21 documented fixes, most of which are GUI related.
I have also changed up some compiler optimization flags, hopefully, this will solve some stability issues a handful of people have reported. The Demo will be updated shortly.
Changelog:
-GUI: Fixed issue which lets the factory panel appear in the Mega Menu when a selected branch has no factory.
-GUI: Removed horizontal scroll bars from several lists. (Most of these were individual tickets, I merged them into one for this log.)
-GUI: Fixed Lobbying window UI overlap on Linux.
-GUI: Fixed issue with HR Window Wage panel size not covering stuff underneath.
-GUI: Help buttons should scroll back to the top.
-GUI: Fixed possible overflow text in contract requirements panel.
-GUI: Speed up tutorial highlights blinking on Linux and OSX.
-GUI: Fixed text being cut off in the Advanced Car Designer Warnings.
-GUI: Production Assign button now automatically clicks "Calculate" on the world map if text box values are not close to being correct.
-GUI: Disable tutorial popups after the player clicks "no", if they haven't left the room yet.
-Engine: Added Linux and OSX icons.
-GUI: World Map Autoproduction Restrictions moved to their own windows for more horizontal space.
-GUI: Fixed text cut off issue in District Autoproduction Restrictions.
-Bug Fix Fixed crash when using drag placement to place decals on vehicles.
-GUI: Fixed incorrect report values in the Factory Expense and Operational Expense reports.
-GUI: Fixed incorrect text in Branch Operations and Marketing Reports tables.
-Bug Fix: Fixed sell price text box values being overridden when changing cities in the mega menu.
-Gameplay: AI will no longer be allowed to sell vehicles for outsourcing when they contain outsourced components.
-Save Update: Due to the above gameplay changes, we have converted any non-player outsourced components that AI have, which are used in contracted vehicles, to licenses. This is a one time update to your save games if you started before v1.25.0.2. Player's are not affected.
-Bug Fix: Fixed first-time language selection not refreshing the reviews, newspaper articles, etc to the newly selected language.
-Engine: Experimental demo to full save game converter.
Demo Released
It's also a little known fact that a demo of the game is on the official website. Now that we have a more robust tutorial system, the demo has been uploaded to Steam. You can find the demo links on the right hand column, under the "Is This Game Relevant to You" panel.
I will try to keep the demo patched with the main versions. Although I may skip a patch or two now and then.
Version 1.25 Released!
We have released Version 1.25 to Default build users. If you would like to continue your v1.24 SP9 save games, please switch to the 1.24 build in the Steam Beta's tab. Click here for instructions.
What is in this update?
This update has 280 completed tickets. These include 86 bug fixes, 82 gameplay changes, 52 GUI tweaks, and 21 additional tutorials added to the game. We have completed all achievements, all in-game artwork, and all interactive in-game tutorials. The game text is almost finished, which means we can start with both editing the English files and completing translations. More details on this in the next couple of weeks. For a complete listing of changes, visit the change log.
What's next?
Save games will not break for the foreseeable future! (Excluding any possible post-release expansions.)
Version 1.25 is the last major Early Access build of GearCity. However, work will continue. The primary focus will be fixing bugs, making minor tweaks to GUI, and balancing territory maps and gameplay.
I will also be creating a series of video tutorials covering advanced topics such as supply and demand, reports data, designing good vehicles, etc. Finally, I will complete the Gameplay Manual and the In-Depth Formula sheets.
We're aiming for a February or March release, but for all intents and purposes, Version 1.25 is close to the final product.
Beyond Release!
As mentioned several times on the forums, both you and I would love new features and content in GearCity. So, I plan on launching a "Feature Bounty" system. This will hopefully allow us to expand GearCity well after release. We will announce details on this system in the next couple of months.
Other than that, you'll have to wait and see.
Accessing Old Versions and the New Versioning Scheme
1.24 SP9 Save Games
With version 1.25 coming out on November 8th, 2019, if you wish to continue to play your version 1.24 SP9 save games, you'll need to switch to "1.24" in the Steam Beta's tab. Directions on how to do this are here: GearCity Wiki.
Be sure to switch back to "Default" Build for the latest version after you complete your save game.
Legacy and Stable Build Users
We recommend switching to Default build to play the latest version of the game. But if you wish to continue these old saves, you'll need to switch builds in the Beta's tab again. As both Legacy and Stable build will be deleted on November 8th.
Legacy Build users need to switch to "1.22" to continue your save games.
Stable build users, need to switch to "1.23" to continue your save games.
Steam Builds Shakeup
I have switched "Legacy" and "Stable" Steam Beta builds to just their version names. This is primarily to avoid confusion from people who think "Stable" is more stable than the latest build. Any future save breaking major builds, such as 1.24, will get their own build inside of Steam Beta.
With version 1.25 release, both Default and Testing build will be on equal footing again. With no planned save game changes in the future, these two builds will merge back together. If any save game changes occur in the future, such as a crowd-funded expansion, the Testing Build will be relaunched to harbor those changes until v1.26 is released.
New Versioning Scheme
Sometime around 1.21, I started releasing Supplemental Patches to major builds to fix bugs before I break save games. This versioning scheme confused some people when the supplemental patch number was higher than the minor build number. For example, several people assumed v1.24 SP9 was a newer build than v1.24.3...
Since v1.25 should be the last major build, there are going to be a lot of supplemental patches. To avoid any confusion, I am switching the version scheme to Status.Major.Minor.Patch. This means that a number change after the third dot does not require save game changes. So the next update after v1.25 will be v1.25.0.1, and so forth.
Save Game Changes November 8th.
Default Build will be updating to version 1.25 on November 8th. This update will require players to start a new save game. You can still access older versions of the game using the Steam Beta's tab.
Testing Build will also receive this update, but users will not be required to start a new save game.
Version 1.25 marks the end of major development on GearCity. We are now going into the full release polish phase. This includes fixing bugs, balancing gameplay, editing english files, completing translations, writing the manual, shooting a few video tutorials, etc.
More news to come over the next few days on the run up to the update.
Testing Build v1.25 RC2
The main focus of this update was to add more tutorials. There were also several bug fixes in this build.
Some important notes, "Font Size" option was removed. If you require larger font, please use the "Scale GUI" option. Also the chat system is working again for 64-bit users. The system is new an improved. You can try out chat by clicking "Help" in the upper right hand corner, then "Chat".
The next update is version 1.25. That update will be for all users and will contain the remaining in-game text tutorials.
Change Log:
-Bugfix: Fixed backspace not working in several locations on OSX.
-GUI: Fixed transparent background issues with small magazine on 64-bit builds.
-GUI: Added language selector for first time run.
-GUI: Removed "Font Size" option. Please use "Scale GUI" instead.
-Bugfix: Racing contract teams now affect player image.
-Gameplay: Shares available notification memo for stocks.
-GUI: Unread memos that no longer appear in the memo list will no longer cause memo popups.
-GUI: Added warning message telling you how many unread memos are causing the memo window to popup.
-Gameplay: Increased Limited War Memo priority so that the player knows when they'll be hit with limited war status in their operations.
-Bugfix: Fixed "Fill Employees" autocommand not using union agreed wages.
-Bugfix: Fixed racing contract exploit.
-Gameplay: Finished adding the remaining achievements.
-Bugfix: Fixed incorrect data in side panel after issuing a bond.
-Bugfix: Fixed CEF issue causing iframes to not properly display all vehicle review content.
-Gameplay: Game will now automatically "Stop Sales" of a vehicle when player "Ends Production" of a vehicle with zero inventory.
-Gameplay: Increased aircraft engine contract weight restriction.
-Bugfix: Fixed Engine Modification torque values being incorrect.
-Bugfix: Fixed regression causing Brussels and Roterdamn to lose war status during WW2.
-Bugfix: Fixed missing data in the "Nation At War" action memo.
-Bugfix: Fixed outsourced units inventory always zero in mega menu and RnD outsourced management windows.
-Bugfix: Fixed outsource unit inventory being -1 at start of the contract. And some incorrect values in section.
-Engine: Engine now checks to see if the player has right access to all needed folders. This will reduce returns from folks who don't know that they are running the game in a restricted environment.
-GUI: Fixed several text overflows in the District lock systems.
-Bugfix: Locking district now sets shipping distance to global. Shipping is still restricted to the locked area.
-GUI: Locking a district now refreshes the window.
-GUI: Fixed showroom page flipping issues.
-GUI: Loaded mod is now displayed in the Main Menu.
-Gameplay: Boosted marketing effect significantly.
-Gameplay: Reissued hard/nightmare buyer rating penalty of 10%.
-Bugfix: Fixed slider loading with electric engines.
-Gameplay: New save games will now save after the AI is established instead of before.
-Bugfix: Fixed issuing causing negative available stock shares.
-Bugfix: Fixed autoproduction disregarding scrap prices.
-Bugfix: Fixed Main Tutorial from triggering in RnD.
-Bugfix: Fixed secondary tutorials not triggering.
-Tutorial: Added Racing Setup Tutorial.
-Tutorial: Added Showroom Tutorial.
-Tutorial: Added Banking Tutorial.
-Tutorial: Added IPO Tutorial.
-Tutorial: Added Stock Broker GUI Tutorial.
Hotfix #1
-Bugfix: Fixed issue causing auto-production to make all military contracts in hq country when hq country is at war. The game should now try to produce in peaceful countries as well.
-Bugfix: Fixed issue causing prototype vehicles to have incorrect data when using advanced component designer.
-Bugfix: Fixed possible issues when selecting components from lists while in RnD.
-Bugfix: Fixed crash when player returns to the main menu while tutorial audio is playing.
-Bugfix: Fixed missing text for Mega Menu tutorial.
-Bugfix: Fixed crash when disabling tutorials in the headquarters selection screen.
-Bugfix: Fixed tutorial highlights blinking on top of banking tutorial.
-Bugfix: Fixed issue causing tutorial audio to still play after leaving a location.
-Bugfix: Fixed issue causing main tutorial to break when players strays off course into the financial room.
-Bugfix: Several other minor tutorial fixes.
v1.25 Release Candidate 1 Testing Build
The main focus of this update was to finish Tutorials and Achievements. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, I could not complete all of the tutorials or achievements in a timely fashion.
It has been a while since the last update. And because I have been getting complaints, I decided to split this update into two pieces. Sadly, because of this, version 1.25 RC2 will most likely require a save game change as well.
At that point, hopefully, we can freeze the save game format, and start finalizing the in-game text. But we'll see.
Version 1.25 RC1 Change Log:
-GUI: Fixed several window and text cuttoff issues.
-GUI: Added build date to factory construction estimated production information.
-Bugfix: Fixed Wall Street Raider Achievement triggers.
-Bugfix: Fixed Auto Production not producing contracted designs first.
-Bugfix: Fixed Auto Production not producing enough vehicles in limited conflict cities.
-Bugfix: Fixed Auto Production producing in cities that are producing munitions.
-Bugfix: Fixed possible reaching of Advanced Designer without a selection of all three components. Also changed the error message.
-GUI: Increased Web Browser Reports window size to avoid texture skewing on some machines.
-Gameplay: Auto design for engine contract moved to RnD contract window.
-Bugfix: Fixed Auto design for engine contract system. (Should produce working engines now.)
-Gameplay: Implemented an advance game setting which limits the amount of acquitiions or merging you can do, based on the size of the companies you acquire. The larger the company, the longer you will have to wait before you can buy another company.
-GUI: You can now preview game information in the Load Game window.
-Community: Webchat re-enabled for 64-bit builds. IRC channel has been moved back to Esper.net.
-GUI: IRC window is now persistent in every part of the game, sound notifications play when someone writes. (You can disable this in the webchat settings.)
-Bugfix: AI dividends are now automatically set to a locked rate. To reduce the amount of lawsuits.
-Gameplay: You can now exit out of a Stock Takeover Approval action memo to view the companies before making your choice.
-Gameplay: Removed chassis weight's effect chassis length sliders.
-Bugfix: Fixed several instances where the RnD/Showroom floor does not reposition it self inline with the vehicle.
-GUI: Fixed several issues with the assign contracts window lists. Including vehicles with enough reserves but no production causing the window to popup.
-GUI: Newly funded racing teams will now turn green immediately in the series list.
-Bugfix: Fixed several issues with the racing results charts and reports.
-Bugfix: Fixed delayed issue with factory costs in the reports.
-Bugfix: Fixed percentage issues with Quarterly and Annual Operations reports.
-Bug Fix: Fixed Gearbox pricing in later game years.
-Bug Fix: Fixed exploit which allowed loan premiums to be written of taxes.
-Bug Fix: Fixed issue with saving loaded vehicle in the stand alone car designer.
-Bug Fix: Fixed additional issues with the racing revenues report.
-Bug Fix: Fixed some licensing royalties and signing fee payment issues.
-Gameplay: Increased factory workers per line in late game years.
-Gameplay: Reduced the number of top end buyers.
-Gameplay: Narrowed high end demographics economics band.
-Gameplay: Increased low end demographics economics band.
-Web: Added some more stuff to the wiki manual.
-Bug Fix: Fixed racing series yearly profit overview issues.
-Bug Fix: Fixed racing series contract submission month being displayed as zero when it should be 1.
-Bug Fix: Fixed Vehicle Image buyer rating bug. Buyer Rating Table reported it as *30, game used *150. I have reduced it to *50.
-Bug Fix: Fixed Buyer Rating Table using old difficulty adjustment values.
-Gameplay: Added some difficulty adjustments to AI vehicle design, which results in about 5-10% better vehicle designs than what the player can produce with the exact same setup. Removed a buyer rating difficulty adjustment.
-Bug Fix: Fixed an issue with vehicle image growth which caused to quickly grow.
-Gameplay: Tweaked Vehicle Image growth rates to make it a little more difficult to grow it as it goes up.
-Tutorial: Implemented interactive tutorial for Mega Menu.
-Tutorial: Implemented interactive tutorial for Factories.
-Tutorial: Implemented interactive tutorial for Branches.
-Tutorial: Implemented interactive tutorial for Marketing.
-Tutorial: Implemented interactive tutorial for Districting.
-Translations: 30% reduction in translatable words and 30% reduction in translation entries. (Before new tutorials were added. Word count is slowly growing with the new tutorials.)
-GUI: Fixed tutorial panel location when GUI is scaled.
-Bug Fix: Fixed tutorial text when GUI is scaled.
-Bug Fix: Fixed Adjust AI Vehicles Design Amount help button.
Testing Build Save Game Changes August 1st
Testing build will be updated to version 1.25 RC1 on August 1st. This update will require save game changes. If you are not on Testing Build, disregard this message.
Unfortunately, not everything planned for v1.25 has been implemented. Thus another save game change might be possible for v1.25 RC2.
In any case, finish up your v1.24.3 games while you can.
Testing Build v1.24.3 HOTFIX #2
I released a second hotfix clearing up a few breaking issues for 64-bit Testing Build. The hotfix addresses these issues:
-Fixed factory assigned components from showing up in Mega Menu Branch Distribution lists. Thus fixing the ability for the user to try to sell them as vehicles and crashing the game.
-Removed Save-GUI functionality on Scaled GUI, to prevent runaway GUI size.
-Fixed linking issues for OSX mod/settings tools.
v1.25 RC1 is going to be released prematurely, as I will be missing some work time this month. So instead of delaying the build, I will split what I wanted to do into two parts. v1.25 RC1 will be released between July 31st and August 3rd. And anything I haven't finished will be rolled over to v1.25 RC2.
A more definitive date will be given a week in advance as normal.
v1.24.3 Testing Build
A day after our 5th year anniversary on Steam, Version 1.24.3 is ready for Testing Build users!
This update is for Testing Build users. If you would like to join Testing Build, you can find instructions on how to switch here: http://www.ventdev.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2594
This marks the final planned Testing Build minor release. I will now start working on v1.25. There will be a few Release Candidates before v1.25 ships to Default Build users. After that point, save games will no longer be changed. In addition to that, there will be a few supplemental patches as I continue Q/A testing and as text content in the game gets added. Full release is dependent on how soon we get everything polished and translations done. As well as timing. I do not wish to do a full release during Q4 when all the AAA games are getting released and go on sale.
But that's then, what about now? Version 1.24.3 was mostly focused on cleaning up bugs, fixing up obscure issues, and squeezing a little more performance out of turn times.
Change Log:
-Gameplay: Adjusted starting loan, interest rates, and funding amounts for nightmare mode.
-Gameplay: Disable platform sharing option now located in the Autocommands panel of the Mega Menu.
-Bugfix: Fixed issue with Military Contracts canceling when contracted country entering into a limited conflict
-Bugfix: Fixed several issues with marketing employees wages. Including fixing a stuck striking issue with marketing employees.
-Bugfix: Fixed minor issue with Mega Menu arrow keys when you first open the Mega Menu window.
-Gameplay: Additional changes to baseline sales in order to combat no vehicles being sold when there are too many vehicles in a market.
-GUI: Purchased Assets expense item added to monthly and expense reports.
-Gameplay: Removed marque's effect on "Dying World" game status. Thus causing generated AI competitors sooner.
-GUI: Added vehicle type to Monthly Sales report and Individual vehicle reports.
-Gameplay: Fixed issue and tweaked the formula for RnD Researching Team's employee requirements.
-Bugfix: Fixed bug when enabling auto-sale while a vehicle is in development.
-Bugfix: Fixed issue that caused outsourced vehicles to be shipped to your HQ instead of your factories.
-Gameplay: If a stock you own is no longer publicly traded, you will get a memo.
-Bugfix: Fixed issue with HR system, that prevented you from managing employees if you had auto hire OR auto wage enabled, but not both at the same time.
-Bugfix: Fixed issue causing the memo system to popup as soon as you start the game in later years.
GUI: Magazine system has been greatly simplified for anyone playing with a "small" reports window. This is mainly to get rid of the complaints about two vertical scroll bars on a report...
-Gameplay: Vehicles using a component is now displayed in the showroom components report.
-Gameplay: The game will now automatically withdraw from player's LOC if cash funds go negative.
-Bugfix: Fixed incorrect flag for Taipei post 1920s.
-Bugfix: Fixed a number of issues with accessory placement and movement in the Stand Alone Vehicle Designer.
-GUI: Several minor GUI adjustments.
-Bugfix: Fixed issue with Mega Menu Marketing system's "All" selection which caused one form of marketing to get improper values.
-Gameplay: Player can now name licensed, outsourced, and platform shared components and vehicles. (No Trims for vehicles however.)
-Engine: The engine will now disregard and reset your video settings if you have the horizontal and/or vertical resolutions greater than supported resolutions provided by your video card. This is to prevent user-generated crashing on some laptops.
-Gameplay: Discontinuing an outsourced vehicle will now automatically cancel the contract.
-Bugfix: Fixed issue with new generation of vehicle costing a little more than a new model.
-Gameplay: Strikes and benefit demands have been reduced somewhat.
-Bugfix: Fixed issue with contract production numbers being displayed correctly, but the data internally was the old system.
-Gameplay: Used vehicle is now prepopulated with the established AI option enabled.
-Gameplay: Admin employee requirements have increased based on revenues and number of licensed or outsourced designs.
-Bugfix: Fixed issue with doubling furloughed employees.
-Bugfix: Fixed issue with AI not paying dividends
-Bugfix: Fixed issue with electric fuel types not sharing popularity
-Mod Tools: Added the missing popularity link for fuel types.
-Bugfix: Fixed issue causing some fuel types to increase in popularity when they should be decreasing.
-Bugfix: Fixed issue with frame limiter system not working properly on Windows.
-Engine: Disabled smooth scrolling for reports webbrowser on 64-bit builds.
-Engine: Hardware mouse mode enabled on 64-Bit OSX.
-GUI: Improved performance of the "Calculate" production sliders in District mode.
-Engine: 10-20% AI turn time performance improvements.
-Bugfix: Fixed bore and stroke data not being correct when loading from a file.
-Media: Added a few dozen more premade car designs.
-Mod Tools: Fixed mod loading issues in the OSX mod tools.
-Bugfix: Fixed duplicate named vehicle designs in predesigner system.
-Bugfix: Fixed issues with the year vehicle sales memo.
-Bugfix: Fixed chassis and gearbox production assignment issues on the World Map.
-Bugfix: Fixed wording issues for contract production assignment.