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Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator News

We're asking the age old question, which view is better?

Let us know your thoughts!

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How did we make Barcelona at a 1:1 scale?

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Creating a realistic urban environment can be a challange. Especially at a 1:1 scale. Leveraging the power of OpenStreetMap vector data, we craft our buildings with precision and detail.

But that's not all! 🌆

With the integration of the Houdini engine, we take our simulation to the next level. All non-landmark buildings are meticulously generated by spawning instances of wall elements, ensuring a diverse and authentic cityscape for you to drive through.

See you in Barcelona.

Hasta La Proxima,

Mike

Taxi Life: Developer Blog #14



Hello Drivers!


We're back again with another exciting update on our progress with the development of the game! As we continue to fine-tune and enhance the gameplay, we’re thrilled to share some of the new features and improvements we've been working on. So, let's get into the latest updates:

[h2]Driving Model Fixes[/h2]

We've made substantial improvements to our driving model. Our team has been working hard on refining the physics and tweaking the handling to ensure that the driving experience is as immersive and responsive as possible. We believe you'll enjoy the nuanced and authentic feel of driving mechanics when you get behind the wheel.

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[h2]New Vehicle Alert[/h2]

WE've added a new vehicle into Taxi Life. It's sleek, it's fast, and it's all set to bring an extra dose of thrill to your driving experience. We can't wait for you to discover and drive this new addition to our vehicle lineup! But remember, always follow the rules of the road in and outside of Taxi Life 😉

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[h2]AI Improvements[/h2]

Our AI has also received a significant upgrade. The aim here isn't just about upping the challenge, but also about making the game world feel more dynamic and alive. With smarter traffic patterns and more lifelike pedestrian behavior, we're striving to create a rich and immersive urban environment for you to navigate.

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[h2]New Voice Overs[/h2]

We added new voice overs for the passangers as well as the new tutorial guide. We hope you'll enjoy them when you get your hands on the game and let us know what your thoughts are on what you hear in the video below.

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[h2]Tutorial Update[/h2]

Tutorials are crucial to any simulation game and that's why we've added a new tutorial to guide newcomers through the game mechanics. It's currently in the polishing stage, and we're making sure it's as helpful and comprehensive as possible. We'll be sharing more information on the status of the tutortial in the coming days/weeks.

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[h2]Thank you![/h2]

As always, we're very greatful for the feedback you all have been giving us throughout this time. Keep the comments and feedback coming and remember Taxi Life is coming at the end of 2023 so make sure to wishlist if you haven't already. Stay up to date with the latest news and updates from the Simteract team, please join our Discord and follow us on Twitter.

P.S.

There have been some people asking about livestreams. We've had a bit of a break on streams, but we're coming back with more live content for you all very soon. Stay tuned!

Hasta La Proxima,

Michal
Simteract Community Manager

Taxi Life Developer Blog #13



[h2]Hello Drivers![/h2]

We are thrilled to announce a series of updates that we have implemented in our game to enhance your gaming experience. Our team has been hard at work making improvements, and we can't wait to share them with you. So, without further ado, here are the latest additions and changes:

[h3]Menu Improvements[/h3]

We have thoroughly overhauled the menu interface to enhance both its aesthetics and usability, making sure that your navigation throughout the game is as seamless as possible. Here's a detailed look at the changes we've made.

Streamlined layout: We have reorganized the menu layout to be more intuitive, with logically grouped and clearly labeled options. This makes it easier for you to find and access the features you need without any unnecessary confusion.

Visually appealing design: Our design team has worked diligently to create a visually engaging menu interface. The new design not only looks great but also contributes to an enjoyable and immersive gaming experience.

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[h3]Manual Saving Option and New Task Spawning System
[/h3]
In response to your suggestions, we've incorporated a manual saving function, granting you greater flexibility in determining when and where to save your progress. Furthermore, we are currently developing a new and enhanced task spawning system for the game. Once implemented, this updated system will supersede the previous one, offering a more captivating and dynamic experience as you advance through the game.

[h3]Enhanced Car Controls Quick Looks Feature
[/h3]
We've significantly enhanced both gamepad and keyboard controls, resulting in a more engaging and reactive driving experience. In addition, we've addressed and incorporated the quick looks feature to improve situational awareness during gameplay. This function enables you to swiftly survey the surroundings, simplifying the process of strategizing your moves and responding to obstacles.

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[h3]Camera Operation and Rotation
[/h3]
We've improved the camera operation, resulting in a smoother and more user-friendly movement. We've introduced camera rotation during turns and we believe this addition heightens the sense of immersion, giving you the feeling of being in complete control of your vehicle.

[h3]Thank you!
[/h3]

We hope you're as excited about these updates as we are! Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to continually improving the game based on your input. So, please keep the suggestions coming, and thank you for your continued support!

Hasta La Proxima,

Mike
Simteract Community Manager

Dev Blog #12 | Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator




[h3]Hello Drivers! [/h3]

We've been busy working on some exciting updates to our game over the past month or so and based off of last Mondays livestream, we think you're going to love what we have in store for you. Here's a rundown of some of the latest changes and improvements that we've made.

[h3]Core Loop Improvements[/h3]

The core gameplay loop in Taxi Life is going to be super important so we must make sure that it’s working correctly. We've removed loads of common issues and now you can easily pick up and drop off clients. We've also improved the AI traffic flow and will be further improving it later down the line. The AI traffic and pedestrians is what makes the city of Barcelona feel alive and we hope players will get immersed in the city when the game launches.

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[h3]Garage Panel Improvements[/h3]

We’ve restored the Garage panel to the game. You can easily enter the garage, repair, refuel, and clean your car, check its parameters, and even buy a new one. Plus, we're adding more features in upcoming updates, so stay tuned!

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[h3]Skill Tree Improvements[/h3]

Now we mentioned this in the past about the skill tree being added into the game, and now, it’s ready to be used. The experience you're gaining is going to be put to good use and you will gain experience points as you level up to fill up that skill tree and progress your game. Plus, we've added basic menus, so you can change resolution, load quick saves, and auto-saves with ease.

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[h3]Charging Stations and Keeping your Car Clean[/h3]

Want to make your car look like it's fresh out of the showroom? We've implemented a dirt and cleaning mechanic! The car can get dirty, and you can use the car wash to clean it. You can also clean the car in the garage, and you can even charge EVs at gas/charge stations. We've got you covered, no matter what kind of vehicle you're driving.

[h3]Car Model Improvements[/h3]

We've also added some new cars to the game and now they are fully functional from both cabin and TPP view. We've also added the small city car (the blue one you guys may have seen in our previos social media posts) with a few things left to fix in the cabin, but it's ready for you to take for a spin.

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[h3]Collectibles[/h3]

We've hidden some collectibles in the game world, just for you! If you're in range of one of them, hold down the action button to get some EXP. It's a way to level up, and we've got some tweaks planned, so keep an eye out for those!

[h3]Miscellaneous Changes[/h3]

We've made loads of smaller and bigger fixes, like map visual improvements and new levels. They look great, thanks to our LA and LD teams, but all levels are still under construction. And we've improved the controls for wheel support. It's better now, but we're still going to be working on it in the future.

[h3]Thank You! [/h3]

We hope you're as excited about these updates as we are! We’re planning on releasing Taxi Life at the end of this year and we just wanted to thank the community for sticking with us throughout the entire development process for Taxi Life. Make sure to follow us on our socials and join our Discord to stay up to date with the latest news and updates from our team.

Hasta La Proxima,

Mike
Simteract Community Manager