The new possibilities and the new Build14 release date
The new machine just arrived recently. It has more capability than the previous one. So I can dive into the engine's code more frequently. This phase aims to optimize the game to run at 120 fps on RTX3050. I want more people to play together, even if they have a lower-end machine. The optimization update will apply as soon as I finish researching the new techniques.
The next update should be on 31 October or sooner. I have to migrate the engine version to Unreal Engine 5.6, and some systems may be broken, so I have to fix them. Also, I will take this opportunity to try new features like PCG(Procedural Content Generator) and MetaHuman, which I cannot do with the old machine.
As always, thanks to my sponsor ZAP-Hosting You can visit their website for more services.
See you next time.ːemofdrː
Build14 is delayed for about 2 months.
My GPU has died
I cannot do the work that requires a dedicated graphics card. I have to wait until I get the whole new machine(about 2 months, I wish). In the meantime, I will continue to do the work that is still doable on the integrated graphics chip, like researching and web things.
Steam Item Images Issue
I found that the item images hosted on the external website(Imgur.com) aren't loaded properly. I'll re-upload the picture as I work on the project. Eventually, they'll be all fixed.
I will let you know when the new machine arrives and give you the new approximation of the Build14 release date.
See you very soon, my friends.ːemofdrː
Build13 is now live.
The World is Saved
Now your character will be saved every 1 minute. If the server is closed and re-opened, your Inventory and Bank Account will be the same as the last save. The worst case is that it rolled back 1 minute at most. You can carry your wealth across updates given that the savegame is not broken or deleted.
The savegame system will cover more items in the later updates.
Banking Service
You can request banking operations via an ATM. Currently, available operations are
Import Steam Currency Items to your bank account in the server.
Export your banknotes from the server into Steam Items.
Deposit your banknotes into your account
Withdraw your banknotes from your account
Bonds and Funds
There are 4 Bonds and 2 Funds. Bondholders can manually claim 5% of the bond's interest every 4 hours. In total, you will receive 300% interest from the bond's base price.
Funds are currently importable but not usable yet. They will be used by the Local Governments in the future.
These banking functionalities are the foundation of the LittleArctic Economy. So I chose to implement them early, even though there are not many items to buy yet.
As always, thanks to my sponsor ZAP-Hosting You can visit their website for more services.
See you next time.ːemofdrː
Build12 is now live.
New Features, Economic Adjustments, and Bugfixes
New Physics-Based Movement
I reimplemented the movement system using Physics Constraints. This allows characters to collide with other physics actors. Later updates will also support Vehicle Physics.
Now you can sprint by holding the LeftShift button.
New Item: Steam Inventory Packer
This item is now available at UnionShop. You can use this item to pack your Steam Inventory.
Added More Items to the Lottery's LootTable
Now, Lottery items contain an additional 3% chance to get 1 random Currency Item besides a 5% chance of getting 3 Business Bonds(3+ million Katta equivalent).
Other Changes
Reduced price of "The Welcome Box" to 1,200 LUC and "Matryoshka Doll" to 800 LUC
Added PlayFab authentication
Increased metabolism rate
Reduced Katta payout from the job
Added sound notification when working and receiving money
Improve nameplate visibility, scaled by distance
Fixed: The station removed the whole item stack when collecting ingredients
Fixed: Tools degraded even when working with a job that required just bare-hand
Fixed: Show wrong active item when re-login to the server
As always, thanks to my sponsor ZAP-Hosting You can visit their website for more services.
See you next time.ːemofdrː
Build11 is now live.
You have new jobs
I implemented the new job system. It's a contract-based job. The contractee(job giver) creates a contract with some requirements, like tools and ingredients. Once the contract is resolved, the contractor who worked on that contract will receive payment.
You can see the contract details by holding the right mouse. Some contracts require a specific tool, you need to equip it and hold the left mouse button to work on that contract.
You cannot work on the contract if the required ingredients are missing.
You can interact with the station's clipboard to browse sale offers. You may need to buy some ingredients from one station and sell them to another station to fulfill the contract needs.
Currently, only government contracts are available. In the later update, people can buy the job station and create their contracts too.
The unboxing table is back
If you have some lootbox items, you can open them at this table. Also, there are items for sale with Labour Union Credit(LUC) including 2 lootboxes.
If you find a bug, you can report the bug with this telephone. It will redirect the message to my Discord.
I want to push new Build every month as possible
Build11 has too many coding and reworks which make the update take almost a year. I want to make a smaller update every month instead. I hope that the plan works.
As always, thanks to my sponsor ZAP-Hosting You can visit their website for more services.
See you next time.ːemofdrː
Prepare for the Development's Temperary Pause
My computer is about to stop working.
It acts like the previous one, which was six years ago. I have to pause the development that uses the computer to work. I have to work offline on the other parts of the game, like art, designing, and reading books about advanced programming. It can take 5-6 months before I can get the replacement.
So, if I disappear online, it means I can't open my computer anymore. I barely finish this announcement.
I will work on the game even if I have to do this offline.
See you in the next update as soon as possible.ːemofdrː
Build10 Hotfix2
Added
- a 5-second delay before exiting to Windows, let the Steam Services to close the game
Fixed
- The Character's animation of other people doesn't display correctly. - The Nameplate sometimes doesn't display correctly.
Build10 Hotfix1
Added
- Outfit and Headgear are now able to be taken off.
Fixed
- The Character's position is not synced. - The Character moves back to the origin after leaving the server instead of sitting at the last position.
Build10 is now on the DefaultBranch
Hello, my friends.
After you helped me clean this abandoned locomotive maintenance building, now we have something else to do. We are assigned to make this train work again. But first, we have to gather machine parts as much as possible since our supply line is not firmly established yet.
For now, the job is simple. You just walk close to the disassembly table and you automatically disassemble the machine for the parts. You will be paid and then you can buy either Hardhat, Factory Jumpsuit or even "The Welcome Box".
You get paid and the work also drains your stamina too. Your stamina though will be replenished over time.
Currently, there are 2 wearable items to buy.
Press TAB or I to open your inventory. Hold the left mouse button to use the item.
"The Welcome Box" is available at 3,000 Katta. You can send it to your Steam Inventory but you cannot open it yet until the next update.
As always, thanks to my sponsor ZAP-Hosting You can visit their website for more services.
See you next time.ːemofdrː
Devblog#37 Build9 is Released
A Blizzard Storm is on the outside
We are stuck here as there is a blizzard storm outside. This is an old abandoned locomotive maintenance building. We were sent here to repair and construct new railways for the expedition.
However, we cannot do much as the supplies do not arrive yet. So we have to at least clean this facility first.
Now you can buy "The Welcome Box" with "Labour Union Credit"(LUC) without having to wait for 7 days. This is the project created by The Labour Union and The Social Welfare Department. You will be paid with LUC for doing public service jobs.
Also, any package can be unboxed here(if you have some).
Some Technical Details
- Temporarily removed the Discord Voice Chat - Lock all Graphic Settings and the Framerate is capped at 60fps for stability.
Next?
I have to test and study some systems, especially those that affect server stability.
After that, I will try to move to the new engine version(UnrealEngine5.1.1) since it has many performance improvements and new useful features (like large world coordinates).
Then I will continue to add and improve features and test them on the Experimental Branch. When there are enough new stable features I will push the new version as Build10.
As always, thanks to my sponsor ZAP-Hosting You can visit their website for more services.
