APICO News

Few last little fixes to get everything ready for the updated demo that drops tomorrow for #WorldBeeDay!

The demo is limited in content (same as it's always been with just the starting island only, no other NPCs outside of Skipper, limited bees/flowers etc), but now that we're in GameMaker I spent some time fiddling the project so both builds can come from the same 'core' build, meaning if a bug is fixed for the demo it's fixed for the Alpha and vice-versa - saves a lot of maintenance going forward.

• Updated small + large pot sprites
  
• Added a bunch more gamepad GIF 'variants' for the quest book when using a gamepad
  

• Fixed pots not being able to accept other flowers
  
• Fixed pots duplicate flowers on save + reload
  
• Fixed infuser not carrying on where it left off after saving and reloading
  
• Fixed some issues with recipe discovery not saving properly
  
• Fixed your hair going WILD when using a bench
  
• Fixed extractor error always showing regardless of how full it is after being run
  
• Fixed bee particles without an origin not getting removed correctly
  
• Fixed pickaxe sounds not playing when mining stone
  
• Fixed issue with tapper from preloaded save (sc_tapper_alarm0)
  
• Fixed map showing a highlighted hair sprite on the player icon
  
• Fixed using "Select" twice locking out movement in gamepad mode
  
• Fixed being able to change selection to inventory/hive when on the discover species menu in gamepad mode
  

Mostly bug fixes and tweaks here - still working on the GIFs for gamepad mode but it doesn't effect gameplay!

• (Maybe) fixed an issue with sc_gui_draw script
  
• Fixed an issue with tappers crashing the game (sc_tapper_alarm1)
  
• Fixed an issue in gamepad mode when opening a beehive (sc_beehive1_gamepad)
  
• Maybe fixed an issue with ob_bee's losing not being able to get home :'(
  
• Fixed an issue in gamepad mode where the predictor crashes
  
• Fixed an issue with a game crash when clicking the discover button
  
• Fixed an issue where using X on a slot in gamepad mode on the inventory when just the inventory is open yeets the item into the void forever
  
• Updated keyboard shortcuts to controller shortcuts in NPC dialogue
  
• Fixed fermenter GUI rendered off-pixel in fullscreen mode
  
• Fixed mouse middle click / controller right stick "pickup as many as I can" function not working
  
• Fixed menus not updating properly in controller mode when using X to move an item in/out an input/output slot
  
• Fixed discovery popup softlocking the game on controller as you can't press the button
  
• Fixed Beekeeper's Delight not getting discovered
  
• Fixed various menu GUI elements not being rounded correctly
  
• Fixed Flower Book showing text way darker for undiscovered flowers
  
• Added try-catch to stat logger to prevent it failing if the server is down (co_core_Other_62)
  
• Added fix for menu sometimes failing on "instance_exists()"
  
• Fixed screens at 1920x1080 exactly not using 3x scaling
  
• Fixed some issues with saves corrupted after GM error windows (maybe?)
  
• Fixed opening an NPC in gamepad mode buying the item of the day
  
• Fixed tooltip for placement to snap to grid missing on gamepad mode
  

So a few little changes and tweaks, including a true fullscreen mode!

I've also taken the first stab at controller/gamepad support - this completely changes the controls of the game and how a bunch of stuff works, like there's no multiple menu system and instead there's a "focus" mode.
If you've got any sort of controller for the PC I'd really appreciate your feedback on this one, I think I've got a good starting point but would love to know where we can take it.

Note - if you are testing with a gamepad you'll notice there's a bunch of GIFs missing from the guide, I still need to draw all the "gamepad" GIF equivilents so there's better examples for controller users.

• Added controller support!
  
• Added two more beautiful tracks thanks to @Brodux
  
• Added missing lore for the new 6 bees
  
• Added more splashscreen messages (rly important updates u kno)
  
• Game now starts in true fullscreen - you can go back to windowed mode from the settings menu
  
• Increased amount of resin needed per item in the infuser from 5bl to 10bl (bee-litres, obviously)
  
• Tweaked hybrid flower seed spawn chance
  
• Tweaked bee mutation chances now that stability trait buffs apply
  
• Updated undiscovered bee chapters to have the text faded to be clearer
  

• Fixed beehives crashing the game sometimes when bee particles got deleted off-screen
  
• Fixed predictor showing wrong icon for undiscovered bee species
  
• Fixed quest book showing wrong icon tooltip for rewards when opening the book via notification
  
• Fixed infuser being able to start with less than the needed amount of resin
  
• Fixed tappers not showing the "empty" status when reloading a game
  
• Fixed the game crashing when trying to read the shift tooltip of a bee
  
• Fixed stats not resetting when creating a new world
  
• Fixed Windows having a stretching issue the first time you run windowed fullscreen
  
• Added missing clicks to character customisation buttons
  
• Fixed rollover sound spamming on mechanism use
  
• Fixed library book icons being off by 1 pixel on large displays
  
• Fixed books opening when writing in signs
  
• Fixed some chapter hitboxes going funky when opening via notification
  

Well here we are gang! About a month later from when we first let you loose with the new Alpha, we're here with the first of 3 major content updates - the Frosty Update.

This has quite a lot of new bits and bobs, the main focus being around the new "polar" climate and climate control. There's also the beginnings of the character customisation system so you can finally play as yourself instead of me! (if you have any requests for hairstyles let us know :D)

This update also introduces fermentation, which lets you take water + honey to make mead, which can be further infused with spices to give it special properties, like making you able to run faster or see better at night!

There's also some more bees (of course) - in this update we introduce some special species you only find in certain places rather than through cross-breeding. This will lead to a few different things in future, like species NPCs give you, special quest reward bees, seasonal bees etc. We've also tried rebalancing the items you can sell to give more focus to bee produce + honey/mead.

Not much has changed with the NPCs as the next major content update is focused around NPCs and questing, but we have updated the shops!

As always, let us know any Bugs you find in our Bug Reports forum (over on Guilded), but otherwise we hope you enjoy! I'd recommend a new world if you can part ways with your old one, as a lot of content needs a fresh world!

• Added character customisation! You can now change your look and hair style and overall colours and all that good stuff when starting a new game (hell yeah!!!)
  
• Added the polar regions! This harsh frozen landscape is home to some very hardy bees..
  
• Added "snowing" weather in the polar regions, leaving a layer of snow you can gather with a spade
  
• Added 6 new bees! Some of these are "one-off" species not found by cross-breeding but by exploring (requires a new world)
  
• Added a "New Discovery" animation sequence when you find/breed a new species (who's that... bee!!!)
  
• Added 2 new flowers for the polar regions (no new flower mutations this update!)
  
• Added the Heater, an object that warms up the surrounding area to make it feel like a warmer climate - bought from Beenjamin
  
• Added the Cooler, an object that cools down the surrounding area to make it feel like a colder climate - bought from Beenjamin
  
• Added Rain Tanks, these store rainwater when it's raining, which you'll need to make mead!
  
• Added the Fermenter, which let's you combine all that golden honey you've been hoarding with water to make mead!
  
• Added the Bottler which let's you bottle mead, optionally infusing the mead with spices! Spiced mead has special effcts when drunk, different spices do different things! - bought from Skipper
  
• Added 3 different spices, each can be produce by a specific bee species, or bought from Skipper's specials item!
  
• Added 5 new quests to cover new mechanics - rain tanks, fermentation+bottling, heaters, coolers, and polar islands
  
• Added an introduction chapter to the flower book that explains cross pollination in more detail
  
• Added another type of light source, the Lamp, which can now be crafted
  

• Beetrix now sells sawdust and sawdust bricks
  
• Updated snowing icon, "polar" icon, and matching icons in the microscope
  
• Added an AoE circle to smokers so you can see what hives will be affected by it
  
• Hives now hide the second bee input slot when a queen is in the first bee input slot to try and aid in confusion of what is needed in a hive
  
• Added a tooltip on empty crate 'eye' slots to explain what they do
  
• Added boats to the map so you can see where ya left em!
  
• You can now hold and drag the mouse while holding shift to move items between menus (rather than having to click each time)
  
• Added a small 'E' icon next to the inventory to show you can toggle it
  
• Added slot numbers to the highlighted hotbar slot
  
• You can now hammer the Sir Sengir statue and move it where you want! (Will leave a glitched invisible solid block on old worlds but still works)
  

• Fixed flower buffs not applying correctly
  
• Fixed flower buffs not displaying on active queen trait cards
  
• Updated tooltip delay so the tooltip doesn't flicker when moving the mouse over the same thing
  
• Added missing flower 'placeholder' icon to the smoker flower input slot
  
• Fixed the "Hold 'Control' To Snap To Grid" tooltip being replaced with floor/carpet tooltips when placing on those things
  
• Fixed the smoker not automatically refuelling itself when the game is loaded
  
• Fixed smokers not actually having an area of effect and smoking every hive in the world
  
• Fixed input/output slots not having awhite "input/output" title in the tooltip
  
• Fixed NPCs not appearing on the map when the game loads if they're too far away
  
• Fixed issue with walls not showing the correct variant in some layouts
  
• Fixed canisters sometimes not resetting to "empty" when filling certain tanks
  
• Fixed there being no beehive at Beenjamins place
  
• Fixed not seeing an "out of reach" error on far away walls + tiles
  
• Fixed Nana not sitting on a bench and instead rising above the ground (ASCEND)
  
• Fixed missing @ symbol in "Picture Perfect" quest dialogue
  
• Fixed rain carrying over to a new world if it was raining in the last game you played
  
• Fixed tree taps having the wrong sprite in the swamps
  
• Fixed deep tiles not showing the correct tile sometimes
  
• Fixed the smoker quest missing a GIF
  

Heya!! Lot's of bits and bobs in this one and a few tweaks - mainly around bees and the bee book!

Note: The home screen says 2.3, but in-game says 2.2, ignore that it's just a typo you're on 2.3 I promise! ːsteamsadː

We've added back in the introductory chapters for the bee book that explain crossbreeding again as well as explain the traits and what they are. We forgot to add the intro chapter for flowers - whoops! We've also added the "special produce" for each species, a proper microscope unlocking panel to show you need to microscope 3 bees per species to get all trait info visible, and added in the conservation status, which tracks queens produced and bees rehabeelitator(ed?) to add to the overall species status.

The book stuff is a lil rough and ready but I got carried away with it (this was just supposed to be bug fixes)

This will be the last patch for the time being (unless I've bricked this one :disgust: ) so I can focus on all the new content for the Frosty update, so enjoy!!

• Prevented you being able to hammer the boat you're sailing in (why would u want to do this)
  
• Added an introductory chapter explaining how to discover bees to the bee book
  
• Added an introductory chapter explaining each of the bee "traits" to the bee book
  
• Added tier seperators to the bee book
  
• Added special produce infomation to the bee book, unlocked when you discover that produce
  
• Added a visual for the shiny variant of each species when you've come across it!
  
• Added conversation status to the bee book, effected by how many queens of that species you've bred or bees you've rehab'd (it's worth noting in a new game, all tier 3 bees will be already Thriving, but existing saves will have all species as Lost, sorreeee)
  
• Changed the bee species chapter icon to be coloured based on conversation level for quick progress viewing
  
• Added a proper trait "unlocking" progress bar for each species, 3 bees of the same species need to be microscoped to unlock trait info for a species
  
• Changed tooltips to only show after the mouse has been still for 1ms to prevent tooltip flicker as you move the mouse (One note on this is it still flickers when moving around while highlighting the same item, so sorry about that but we're working on it!)
  
• Updated a few items that shouldn't of had a sell value, namely Honeycomb, Propolis, and Glue (money balancing stuff will come into the Frosty Update when you can sell bottled honey and mead!)
  
• Reduced the amount of propolis generated by frames from 2-3 to 1-2 (what on earth would you need that much glue for)
  
• Changed the wording of the tooltips for the time of day icon slightly
  
• Updated minimap surface to be stored as a buffer so that Windows doesn't sometimes take ages to re-open the map
  
• Added the first debug machine, the Entity Tracker. You can spawn this in dev mode with /gimme debugger1. This tracks entity counts (funny that) - if you've been getting random FPS drops after a long period of time please spawn one and plonk it down when the FPS drops and let me know the craic!
  

• Updated a LOT of boundary boxes (the things that check collision + highlight) so placement should be less restrictive at times (like how sometimes a flower needs 500m of space around it)
  
• Fixed being able to place multiple items on the same tile when shift-placing
  
• Fixed "gml_Script_sc_Sawmill_alarm1 - variable unknown_object.item" issue when taking input items out the sawmill
  
• Fixed crate content preview not showing when shift-hovering over a crate (it's super cool pls try it out!!!)
  
• Fixed being able to click a bench while sailing
  
• Fixed being able to click a bed while sailing (how do you people find this stuff honestly)
  
• Fixed Squeezer tank GUI not moving with the menu
  
• Fixed being able to chop the Squeezer with an Axe
  
• Fixed not being able to pick a Squeezer back up (we were just trying the idea of a crafting roguelike where all actions had consequences clearly)
  
• Fixed the Squeezer not carrying on where it left off when save+quit then resuming
  
• Fixed buttons being able to be highlighted underneath a highlighted menu's buttons
  
• Fixed being able to place items through a menu into the slots behind it when not highlighted
  
• Fixed recipes that require frames using up all frames in your inventory
  
• Fixed tree taps making a magic "empty" white mylk liquid you could sell to hipsters for $7 a pop
  
• Fixed rehabs stopping working when offscreen when mid rehabing (thats a word now)
  
• Fixed beehive1_alarm1 crashing screens showing randomly
  
• Fixed Beenjamin selling a magic pink cube instead of the smoker
  
• Fixed quest "Smokey Eyes" having the wrong requirements
  
• Fixed the smoker crashing when no scent is provided
  
• Fixed beehives, clockwork machines, and tappers, having a flash of white on the lifespan bar when opening them
  
• Fixed bee particles not despawning properly when a hive ends
  
• Fixed the menu highlight line connection showing in Photo Mode
  
• Fixed objects having a highlight in Photo Mode
  
• Fixed being able to click stuff through open books
  
• Fixed file delete buttons not resizing with the screen size
  
• Fixed being able to click the bed/benches in the intro scene
  
• Fixed an issue where crafting benches would still show the contents of menus closed when moving too far away
  
• Fixed the boat depth issue so lilypads don't smack you in the face as you sail
  
• Prevented rain drops spawning on floor tiles and filling your house with water and making all your crates soggy
  
• Fixed the rain icon not showing when it starts raining if you're standing still