Fireworks Mania News

Hey!

Its been another month and time for an update from the developer - aka me 🤓

[h2]Welcome to all the new players[/h2]
As you might have discovered, there haven't been a lot of game updates this month.
The reason is that I have spend the majority of my time basically supporting new players, new mod creators, doing marketing related stuff and a whole lot of "other" things, related to making a game.

That's just how it is right after a major update have been pushed, especially with a multiplayer update like this that brings in a lot of new players.

Welcome to all the new and veteran players 🤓🎆🎇🕺

However, I am slowly starting to get back to actually working on the game, as we are starting to get out of the "high season" for fireworks.

When that said, I have actually worked on some stuff, just haven't pushed it out yet as it's not ready.

I don't want to go into too many details, as you can see it in the changelog when I push it, but in short it's basically some bug fixes and some changes to how the "day/night" cycle looks, in an attempt to make it possible for modders to have more options for how their maps look and feel.

[h2]Live Streams[/h2]
If you subscribe to my YouTube channel or follow me on Twitch, you will have seen I have done a bit of live streaming lately. I will see if I can do it a bit more in 2025, as it's a nice way to interact with you guys and for you to get a glimpse into what's going on in even more details then in these Developer News.

Around 06:55 in this live stream I over a rough roadmap for 2025 (I won't complete it all in 2025) but to give you an idea of what I'm looking into as I see it right now.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

So a very short Developer News this time, as there isn't a lot to report right now.
However, as said, I have been working on an update that will be pushed soon (I hope) with some bugfixes and day/night cycle changes.
After that, I will start looking into upgrading to Unity 6 which will be the foundation for the future development, as mentioned in the live stream above around 06:55.


[h2]Change log[/h2]
I have pushed the following updates since last Developer News.
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/499435617083458202


YouTube | Twitch | Twitter | Discord

- Enjoy!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1079260/Fireworks_Mania__An_Explosive_Simulator/

Pricing your own game is hard. No matter what you do, someone will find it too expensive - even for free games!

Fireworks Mania have set at the same base price since launch in Dec. 2020, at a base price of 11.99$ / 9.99€.

We are in 2025 now and as you know, the game offers A LOT more content and hours of fun now.

As I have proved over the last 5+ years, I'm very committed to this game and have provided countless of free updates, latest this huge multiplayer update which took me 2 years to get to the current state that was just released in Nov. 2024.

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/499435617083457893

I want to continue to do this! 🤓

As I don't rely on DLCs, Season pass or similar stuff, the base price is all I can change to help fund the continued development.

Therefore, I will increase the base price after the current sale to 14.99$/14,99€.

Some currencies will see a bigger increase in price though.
This is because I have not adjusted the prices based on Valve's suggestions in years. That combined with the inflation being crazy the last years, some regions will see a smaller or larger price change.

I plan to be part of most major season sales on Steam going forward and do some deeper sales from time to time.
So keep an eye out for them if you still haven't gotten the game and can wait to get the game on sale.

Thank you for your support and understanding 🙏

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1079260/Fireworks_Mania__An_Explosive_Simulator/

### Changed
- Updated translations

### Fixed
- Fixed font issue what made Chinese characters have weird gray background in some cases
- Fixed font issue that made Japanese throw errors and no show a lot of texts


There are still a lot of languages that have not fully been translated, if you wanna help out you can do so here: https://crowdin.com/project/fireworks-mania


YouTube | Twitch | Twitter | Discord

- Enjoy!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1079260/Fireworks_Mania__An_Explosive_Simulator/

Multiplayer has been one of the most requested features for the game since its initial launch back in 2020.

Around two years ago I started working on it in a livestream. Pretty fun to look back at. A lot have happened since, some of you have been a part of the beta and some of you are seeing this for the first time now.

This update contains a lot more than "just" multiplayer, so lets go over some of the key changes.

[h2]Redesigned UI[/h2]
The first thing you will notice is the new UI.

I needed a UI that could easier grow and adjust to the increasing need for adding new features etc.

I'm really happy with it so far and think it gives a nice fresh look for the game, without being too much in the way.



[h2]Shells and Mortars[/h2]
Previously Shells and Mortars was only in the game via mods, originally created by Panini.


I have now added native support for shells and mortars in the game and in the Mod Tools.

This means the game now come with a few shells and mortars build-in, but more importantly, modders can create their own, which a few already did, like Amnestey.

The reason I have not added more native shells and mortars to the game, is because I prioritized the modders. Instead of spending the time adding 10 more shells to the game natively, its much better for all spending the same time making it possible for modders to create their own, as that means many many many more shells than I could ever make and the quality is often higher too.
Amnestey already added more than 150 shells and a ton of mortars. So there is enough to try out already.


[h2]Multiplayer [/h2]
This one is kind of obvious, of cause there is multiplayer, but lets look at bit more into what that actually means.



Multiplayer sessions are hosted by players using Steams Peer-to-peer Network.
You can see a list of public hosts that you can join or you can create your own.
A host can be either private or public, which you as a host decides. Often its a good idea to keep the host private if you only want to play with people you know.

To get your friends into the host you are currently on, you can either share the JoinCode (all hosts have a unique JoinCode) or you can invite them via Steams friend list if you have them there.
Alternatively, you can invite friends directly from the "Players" tab in-game - they do not even need to have the game running before joining!


[h3]Mods[/h3]
The host decides what mods should be enabled.
Talking about enabling mods, the flow to do so have changed a bit. This goes for both Singleplayer and Multiplayer.
The flow of what mods are enabled, both in Singleplayer and Multiplayer, have been changed a bit.

You still go into the Workshop to subscribe (which will download and install) the mods.
However, you have to specifically select what mods you want in a particular game, as part of the creation of that game. It might take a little getting use to, but really, it's more intuitive to having to pick the mods as part of the creation of a game.



When you join a host, the game figures out what mods needs to be downloading/updated and enabled.
No need to manually align anything with the host, just join and wait.

[h3]Characters[/h3]
As part of adding multiplayer I also added characters. There are some native characters/avatars in the game, but mod creators can also add their own, meaning you find even more characters in the Workshop.

These are some of the current characters in the game - I plan to add more soon.




[h3]Proximity voice chat[/h3]

To make the game more social and fun I have added proximity voice chat to the game.
So hold 'C' or turn off Push-to-talk in Settings for open mic and start talk to your fellow players. Be aware, it's proximity chat, so you need to be close to hear each other. Further more, I made it so the voice gets muffled if you talk with someone behind a wall or other obstacle.


[h3]Dedicated server - in the works[/h3]
A lot have asked for dedicated server support and I have been working a bit on it.
However, it was more important to me to get the game working good with player hosted sessions, as that was the original idea. However, I do see the need for dedicated server, just haven't spend enough time on it yet to make it good enough for release. So it will come later.


[h2]Still Growing Workshop[/h2]

The built-in Workshop is nothing new and it is still growing. It is becoming an more and more crucial part of the game. So if you have not yet checked out mods from the Workshop I highly recommend you do so - else you are missing out 🕺

The Workshop, which is hosted on mod.io, contains:

• 2000+ pieces of fireworks
  
• 50+ maps
  
• 100+ character
  

As of writing, 2024-11-27, the Workshop have 12+ million mod downloads!

So you guys really love mods! 🤓

If you wanna give mod creation a try the Fireworks Mania Mod Tools is the place to go.

[h2]In case you wanna go back[/h2]
Not all mods are compatible with the new version and some might just wanna keep playing the legacy singleplayer version.

Fear not, you can get back to that version - but you need to be aware that you will not get any updates to anything on that version. No updates to the game itself and no mod updates. It's frozen in time as the game and Workshop was on the 18th of Oct. 2024.

Right Click Fireworks Mania -> Properties -> Betas -> Beta Participation -> v2024.10.5



If you want to get back to the latest released version you just set back the Beta Participation dropdown to "None".

[h2]What's Next?[/h2]
So with all these new things in this update, is the game now done, is development stopped, what will happen?

Don't worry 🤓

No, the game is not done. Actually the version you are getting now is just the first version. There are so many things I still want to add and I plan to keep working on the game, exactly as I have been doing for the past 5+ years.

See you in-game!



YouTube | Twitch | Twitter | Discord

- Enjoy!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1079260/Fireworks_Mania__An_Explosive_Simulator/

I typically join random hosts after pushing a new update. This is to make sure all is working as expected. Above is a screenshot from one of the hosts I joined and talked with people there via the ingame voice, which was pretty fun and a nice way to get directly feedback from the players.

Hey!

Its been another month and time for an update from the developer - aka me 🤓

Let me start with a little disclaimer. I have been sick (flu-thingy) the last couple of days, so therefore this post comes a bit late, might be a bit short and also no video dev log this time. My voice isn't working and my head isn't either. So no energy for video this time :(

[h2]Release of Multiplayer[/h2]
2024 have been a super exciting year as the entire year have build up to the release of the new "multiplayer" version of the game.

I started adding multiplayer back in January 2023 on a livestream actually. Pretty fun to look back at now, as a lot have happened.

Now, almost 2 years later, the "multiplayer" version is ready enough to be released - which it was on the 29th of November 2024.
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/4476108833152828167

As of writing its about a month later and the overall feedback I'm getting is positive. The numbers tell the same story, as we just hit a new record of highest amount of concurrent players while I was writing this!


Today is the day before New Years eve, so we most likely have a new record tomorrow.

Anyhow, you guys like playing with fireworks together, which is really nice. Makes me happy.
This means my last 2 years of working on the new version wasn't a total waste 🤓🕺🙏

You can see if we have had new record on Steamdb since I posted this by clicking here.

[h2]2025 Cake[/h2]


As per tradition, I had to release a 2025 cake. I almost didn't make it, as I have been sick the last days, but I found the energy and made it. It's not super impressive, but now you can get that "2025" in the air, which is the most important thing.


[h2]What's Next?[/h2]
The list of things I wanna add is long, very long and it keeps getting longer with suggestions from you guys - thanks!

My main focus has been on getting the new version ready, so I haven't spend time yet figuring out exactly what is next.

However, here is a bullet list of things I am considering for 2025.
Disclaimer: This is not a set list of things, so I might drop some, replace others etc. for various reasons etc. - Just so you know :)

• Upgrade to Unity 6 (Including upgrade to latest NGO + multiplayer improvements)
  
• Ragdoll physics for players
  
• Emotes
  
• Fly-mode/Drone-mode
  
• Firing System
  
• Upgrade mod.io SDK to latest version. Meaning new Workshop UI in-game
  
• Rebindable controls
  
• Initial controller support
  
• Dedicated server support
  
• Generally more "host maintenance" tools, to enable the host to host better game sessions
  

Some of the above are HUGE tasks, some are minor, some depends on others and some depends on stuff I don't even know yet.
Will I complete all the above in 2025? Most likely no.
Will I try? Yes 🤓

I will continue to post monthly Developer News to keep you up to date with what's happening.

Keep playing, invite your friends and play some more 🎇🎆🥳

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND SEE YOU IN 2025, Firework Maniacs! 🎇🕺🎆🥳

...AND BE CAREFUL AND SAFE OUT THERE WITH THE REAL FIREWORKS - KEEP THE CRAZY THINGS IN THE GAME!



[h2]Change log[/h2]
I have pushed the following updates since last Developer News.
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/508441532014004510
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/508441532014004270
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/508441532014003203
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/508441532014002588
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/564735827901416888
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/532084177919542200
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/4476110736154691193
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/4476110736154690596
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/4476108833152828167
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/4476110736154690524
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/4476110102203469093
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/4476110102203469000
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1079260/view/4476110102203467101


YouTube | Twitch | Twitter | Discord

- Enjoy!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1079260/Fireworks_Mania__An_Explosive_Simulator/