AColony News

Hi everyone,

it's time for a new but short update and this one is about the space program (the endgame event).

[h3]First of all[/h3]
This will be the last steam update before the Early Access Release on January 19, 2023. The plans for the next weeks are to polish, check and prepare everything for the release!

[h2]Space Program[/h2]

In the last week I have finally finished the big endgame event - the space program. It consists of 10 separate phases which the player has to manage until the main event is completed.

In the following sections, I will give a short and general overview of this event.

[h3]Launch Pad[/h3]
The event starts when the player has researched and built the launch pad. The launch pad is the biggest construction in the game and also consumes the most power.



[h3]Spaceship[/h3]
In the next phases the player has to research and build the single modules of the spaceship. After this is done, it's time to refuel and load the spaceship with all essential resources, like fuel for the thrusters, fuel rods for the ship reactor and more.



[h3]Test Phases[/h3]
To guarantee a successful launch, the player has to perform some test phases to check the various systems. In these phases, attacks from animals, insects and colonists must be fended off.

[h3]Select Crew[/h3]
If the previous phases are managed, it's time to select some colonists and to let them enter your spaceship.



[h3]Launch[/h3]
When all stuff is done, the launch of the spaceship can be initiated. :)



[h2]Related Technologies[/h2]

In connection with the space program, I have also added 5 new technologies. They can be found at the end of the tech tree and consist of the following single techs:

• Space Program
  
• AC13 Thrusters
  
• AC13 Supply Module
  
• AC13 Cockpit
  
• LDCS (Long distance communication station)
  

I hope you have enjoyed this short update,
Cheers!

Hi everyone,

it's time for a new update and this one is about the Early Access Release date, the new relationship system, some new traits and more.

[h2]Release Date[/h2]

I'm happy to announce that we finally have a release date for the game:

[h3]19. January 2023![/h3]

In addition, the game will participate in the Steam Base Builder Fest which will start a few days after the release. :)

[h2]Relationship System[/h2]

In the last weeks I have finally finished the relationship system which allows your colonists to have opinions about other colonists. This also includes colonists of the other players.

It not only contains a lot of influences from different traits or specific actions your colonists do, but also a talking functionality which allows your colonists to have conversations. These can be good or bad with an additional chance for a compliment or an insult.

In connection with that, I have added 4 new events which can be triggered when the opinion values are reaching a certain threshold.



[h3]Love Relationship[/h3]
If the opinion about another colonist is high enough, there is a chance (depending on some factors) that these two colonists can get together in a love relationship. If that happens, your colonists want to share a double bed and will get a positive mood effect.

Note:
I have also added a new cuddling animation state for 2 colonists sharing a bed.



[h3]Marriage[/h3]
If 2 colonists are a couple and a certain amount of time has passed (and the opinion about each other is high enough), they can get into a marriage. At the moment, this only adds an additional positive mood effect, but it's planned that the player can create a wedding event in the community room in a future update.



[h3]Breakup[/h3]
Unfortunately, I also had to add an event for the breakup of 2 colonists in a love relationship, which can happen when the opinion about each other is very low :/



[h3]Fight between Colonists[/h3]
Of course, colonists can also have very negative opinions about each other and if enough insults have been thrown around, the situation can escalate.



[h2]New Traits[/h2]

The game contains 3 new traits now, which are the following:

[h3]Short-Sighted[/h3]
This trait decreases the view range (and weapon range) of a colonists by -50% if he is not wearing some glasses. If he is wearing glasses, the view range is increased by +15%.

[h3]Lovable[/h3]
This trait is connected to the relationship system and gives other colonists a positive opinion about the colonist with this trait. In addition it also increases the probability for a good conversation with others.

[h3]Argumentative[/h3]
This trait is the opposite of the lovable trait and gives other colonists a negative opinion about the colonist with this trait. In addition it also increases the probability for a bad conversation with others and the probability for triggering a fight.

[h2]Additional Updates[/h2]

At last I have listed a few other tasks which I have done since the last update:

• finally added auto switch functions for jobs on crafting tables
  
• enabled online coop for 4 players (but is still very experimental)
  
• added online coop ping function (you can mark stuff on the world for other players now)
  
• added mood indicator panels (they indicate impacts like wrong food, no bed found, rotting smell, etc)
  
• added talk indicator panels
  
• added new clothes (MC Jacket & headscarf)
  
• added new mode which shows the room info to beds which are assigned to colonists (room size, room beauty, expected furniture, etc)
  
• updated cannibal trait (wants at least all 4 days human meat now)
  
• fixed a lot of smaller bugs
  

MC Jacket:

New bed menu mode:

[h2]End Game Event[/h2]
After the last update I have decided that I will add the relationship system before the end game event. Therefore I have only made here a little bit of progress and will show all related stuff (and more detailed things) in the next update.




I hope you have enjoyed this update,
Cheers!

Hi everyone,

Join the second livestream of AColony for the Steam Next Festival.

This time I will play with a good friend in online co-op to show how the game work and looks in this mode.

Cheers!

Hi everyone,

Join the first livestream of AColony for the Steam Next Festival.
If don't have time today - that's no problem, there will be another livestream on Friday!

Cheers!

If you are interested to join our community, here is a link to our discord server.

Hi everyone,

it's time for a new update and this one is about the release of the demo, updated graphics and effects, a new technology and the first preview of the space program.

[h2]Demo[/h2]
In connection with the Steam Next Fest, the demo is finally available and can be downloaded on the store page!

[h3]Includes:[/h3]

• Online co-op
  
• 6 technologies
  
• Wanderers
  
• Player-to-player trading
  
• Attacks
  
• The demo monument with its associated demo end event.
  

[h3]Restrictions:[/h3]

• Maximum 3 colonists
  
• No traders
  
• No quests
  
• Very limited events, technologies, constructions, resources, traits, expectations and functionalities.
  

Note:
Because the demo is a simplified form of the closed alpha version, it can still happen that maybe some bugs or errors may occur. We have tested the demo in single player and online coop without any problems, but if you run into one (or if you have feedback or suggestions), feel free to write it in the community hub or in the demo category on our discord server



[h3]Demo end event[/h3]
Because I had started with the implementation of the final end game event (and because I not wanted that the demo simply ends when you have researched all technologies), I have also added a shorter demo end event which will be triggered, when the player builds the demo monument.



[h2]Graphics, Colors and Post Processing Effects[/h2]
The game also got some visual updates and extended settings which include:

• Updated textures
  
• New colors and related settings
  
• New brightness and related settings
  
• Tonemapping
  
• Depth of field effect
  
• Updated tree models
  

[h2]Rocket Technology & RFS-1[/h2]
I have added a new type of "artillery" which is the RFS-1. It is the last long distance weapon which will be available in the tech tree, and it can fire tactical rockets with a good accuracy at the given target location.



[h2]Space Program [End game event][/h2]
While in the last weeks a lot of work went into preparing all stuff for the steam fest and the demo,
I have also started with the work on the final end game event which will be initiated with the space program. The models and many functionalities are already implemented, but there are still a few things missing for the different phases of this event - I will reveal more details about it in the next update.



[h3]New Short Trailer[/h3]
In addition, I have also created a new and short trailer with the new color and graphics updates:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

I hope you have enjoyed this update,
Cheers!