News Tower News

[h3]Dear tycoon enthusiasts and newsbearers,[/h3]
winkwink 🐻

This upcoming Thursday, February 1st, at 6pm CET / 9am PST / 12am EST, JOIN US as we will be streaming on Twitch, YouTube and Steam to share exciting news about the game, the original soundtrack and TONS of information about the new content coming in Early Access!

Subscribe to our YouTube and Twitch to get a notification when it's out!
➣ Our Twitch channel
➣ Our YouTube channel

With the participation of Robert, Bart & Jan-Maarten, you will get to discover what we have in store for you during the Early Access and learn more about the music...
While you *eagerly* await the game's release on February 13th, you will find plenty in this stream to keep you entertained!!

You can hit the "Set a Reminder" button on the right side of this post to be notified when we're live!






[h2]NEW TRAILER: THE WOLF OF BROOKLYN[/h2]

The year is 1929, and you're about to become the next media mogul in New York City. But be careful, the news business is cutthroat, and you'll need to be ruthless to succeed...

Will you be able to print the news every Sunday? Or will you end up like the other poor saps who tried to make it in this town?

Well today, George, our very own Wolf of Brooklyn, will share with you his most useful tips to becoming New York's most influential (and rich) publisher...

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
This trailer will become the new official one on our Steam page, so give it a look!




[h2]ROAD TO EARLY ACCESS[/h2]

We wanted to let you know what is to come, so we put this development roadmap together so you can have a look!
Feel free to prepare any questions you might have for the stream on Thursday.



Please also keep in mind that we are developing the game together with the community, that is you people, so we would love to hear your opinion about which features you want to see in the game and your feedback once the game is out on February 13th!

So head on over to our Discord right here to share it all with us!





[h2]ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER TEASE....[/h2]

WE HEARD YOU! Or so you will see... when you come to the stream hehe.
It has to do with the original soundtrack of the game...
And if you paid attention, there is a hint right in this blogpost!

[h3]I'll put it here in case you missed it:[/h3]
less of a hint, more of a "YOU SEE IT NOW?" approach






So, set a reminder and tune in for a good time with us on Twitch right here or on YouTube there, at 6pm CET / 9am PST / 12am EST on Thursday, February 1st!

Also, we still have a demo out, in case you missed it... :D :D

Take care and see you soon in the Tower,

The News Tower Team

[h3]Welcome and a good day to you, dearest publishers & future media mavens![/h3]

We are THRILLED to unveil our News Tower demo, now available as part of the Steam Economy and Capitalism fest!

To be a successful media mogul, master the printing process.
Remember, there is one rule: print every Sunday and beat the Sunday deadline with more articles.
Get more revenue by delivering more articles with impressive combos and extensively researched content. Increased earnings will pave the way for a higher Tower and expanded article coverage... And more money!
Well, you get the idea, right? 😎

Keep in mind that our demo is a work in progress for what News Tower Early Access will look like!





[h2]📰 DEMO CONTENT[/h2]

In the News Tower demo, you can experience the full tutorial as well as 6 months of publishing newspapers, up until July 1930 - with limited access to buff items, shops, and storylines.

To become a successful publisher in a short time, you'll need to optimize your production as much as possible!



[h3]Here are a few tips on how to play the demo the best way![/h3]

[h3]Focus on Crime and Sports[/h3]
The demo allows you to unlock 6 districts in Brooklyn and 3 in Queens, whose readership is particularly interested in juicy crime reports and fascinating sports news.
By focusing your reporters on these news items, you will help them gain experience and work faster!

[h3]Dismiss news that don’t fit your needs[/h3]
On the news map, you can dismiss news items that aren't relevant to your publishing goals for the week. This will free up your news searcher's line of communication!





[h2]🗽 HOW TO PLAY THE DEMO[/h2]

[h3]Go on our store page below and click on the "Download" button as showcased under! As simple as that![/h3]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1649950/News_Tower/







[h2]📝 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS[/h2]

[h3]Will my progress carry over when I buy the full game?[/h3]

The demo build is still a work in progress, our goal being to gather your feedback and keep improving News Tower to eventually create the best possible version of the game. Before the full release, we will keep on implementing changes, meaning that, unfortunately, your progress will not be carried over.

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[h3]When can I play the demo? [/h3]

You can play the News Tower demo from January 8th 10AM Pacific time until January 15th 10 AM Pacific time!

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[h3]What has changed since News Tower Closed Beta?[/h3]

We’d like to thank once again all our Closed Beta players whose feedback has been very valuable!

Progression and unlocking reworked:

• You can now unlock districts even if you haven’t met all the necessary tags but you will get less subscribers.

Shop distribution reworked:

• You can now have access faster to the much needed security items to protect your tower from mobsters and protesters.

Mafia mission reworked:

• Our mafia boss is now kinder to you and doesn’t send his goons on the first missions.

*****************

[h3]In what languages is News Tower available?[/h3]

News Tower is currently available only in English in his Early Access phase. We appreciate your understanding as we focus on refining the game! More languages will surely come along at a later point.

*****************

[h3]Will there be ongoing improvements and updates during Early Access?[/h3]

Absolutely! We're committed to enhancing News Tower continuously during the Early Access based on your valuable feedback. Your input will play a crucial role in shaping the game's development!






[h2]🗞️ JOIN THE COMMUNITY[/h2]

Join us on our journey as we strive to bring the ultimate newspaper tycoon experience!!

💬 Join the devs & the community on Discord
🐤 Follow us on Twitter

[h3]Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm.[/h3]

Let's tomorrow's headlines to the world!

[h3]Greetings, fellow publishers & aspiring media moguls of the roaring 1930s![/h3]

The ink is set, the presses are primed, and we are THRILLED to unveil the release date for News Tower!!
Thanks to all the feedback we gathered from the Closed Beta, we have been able to set the grand launch date for News Tower early next year!
Thank you, once again, for all the feedback and support you have given us during this Closed Beta.
It was invaluable.

We cannot wait to have you experienced this game we put so much love and energy into.





[h2]📰HOT OFF THE PRESS!
FEBRUARY 13TH EDITION UNVEILED![/h2]

Mark your calendars for a ♥ date ♥ with the most anticipated newspaper tycoon: News Tower releases in Early Access on February 13th! 🎉

Get ready to have a heart-to-heart with influential and potentially unsavory people as a Valentine's Day treat ♥



Dive into the bustling world of 1930s NYC, where the clatter of typewriters and the hum of printing presses echo through the streets as the newsboys shout "Extra! Extra!" from the top of their lungs...

Your journey as an influential publisher awaits, with headlines to craft, stories to unfold, and the fate of your News Tower hanging in the balance.
Will you navigate the treacherous waters of journalism, striking deals with the mafia, or uphold the integrity of the free press?
The choices are yours to make, and the city, as well as we, are buzzing in anticipation.





[h2]📝 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS[/h2]


[h3]On which platforms can I access the Early Access version?[/h3]

Currently, News Tower's Early Access is available exclusively on Steam for Windows PC. We're exploring possibilities for other platforms in the future. Stay tuned for updates!

*****************

[h3]In what languages is News Tower available?[/h3]

News Tower is currently available only in English in his Early Access phase. We appreciate your understanding as we focus on refining the game! More languages will surely come along at a later point.

*****************

[h3]Will there be ongoing improvements and updates during Early Access?[/h3]

Absolutely! We're committed to enhancing News Tower continuously during the Early Access based on your valuable feedback. Your input will play a crucial role in shaping the game's development!





[h2]🗞️ JOIN THE COMMUNITY[/h2]
Talk with the devs & other aspiring tycoons

Join our vibrant community of passionate journalists and tycoons, and be part of the journey as we strive to bring you the ultimate newspaper tycoon experience.

💬 Join the devs & the community on Discord
🐤 Follow us on Twitter

[h3]Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm.[/h3]

Together, we will bring tomorrow's scoops to the world!

[h3]Greetings to you, tycoon enthusiasts and future publishers![/h3]

First off, a massive and heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who signed up for the Closed Beta. Your support means the world to us as we're working very hard to bring the best possible version of News Tower, and we are so excited for you to try it during this Closed Beta!

[h2]Guess what? The Closed Beta is officially live! 🎉 [/h2]

For those of you who have been selected, congratulations are in order!
You simply need to check your Steam email confirming your access.

If you missed the boat, there's still a chance; we might open another round of playtesters on Friday, December 2nd... so grab your mouse and click on the "Request Access" green button on our Steam page right here:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1649950/News_Tower/



[h2]WHERE DO I SHARE MY FEEDBACK?[/h2]

During this Closed Beta, we highly recommend that you join our Discord to give your feedback and discuss with the team and devs!
This will make it much easier for us to gather everything you might share and answer to everyone in one place :)
There are even dedicated channels on our server for the Closed Beta participants.

You can join the Discord right here:

BRING ME TO THE NEWS TOWER DISCORD PLEASE TY



[h2]WHAT CONTENT CAN I EXPECT?[/h2]





[h2]KNOWN ISSUES[/h2]

[h3]IMPORTANT[/h3]

• On rare occasions, employees can get stuck in the tower. Picking up the employee will fix this.
  
• Introduction can lock on rare occasions, somewhere in the second week around building the stairs to the newly added floor.
  
• Selling workstations (such as typesetters and assembly tables) while an item is being processed results in the loss of the item. The incomplete item can never be finished and may lead to unexpected game behaviour, such as the inability to save for a couple of weeks or potential corruption of the save file.
  If you did happen to come across this bug, delete the item using the trash can button on the article drawer.

[h3]GAMEPLAY[/h3]

• Employee’s salary is severely undercooked, best left untouched.
  
• Employees that get unassigned from their desk while walking a staircase or elevator will fall to the ground and drop their item if they were holding one.
  
• “No Light” status icons are affected by lamps rotating after placing an object.
  
• News item completion time estimates are sometimes too high.
  
• Some objects take up less space than the visual shows (Gramophone, Telegraphing station).

[h3]NYC MAP[/h3]

• Tags that are asked by districts are sometimes overrepresented in the following week’s news.
  
• Some items in the shops are missing an icon.
  
• The “Globe” buff object must be bought in a shop even though it is automatically obtained when playing with introduction.
  
• The “Clock” object must be bought in a shop even though it is automatically unlocked in both play modes.
  
• The “Wide Lamp” object must be bought in a shop even though it is automatically unlocked when playing without introduction.

[h3]UX[/h3]

• Article drawer sub item can be hidden in some cases. Closing and expanding all items fixes this.
  
• The purple Mayor tag is displayed as a Mafia tag.
  
• Clicking on the portrait of a reporter in the employee list doesn’t do anything if that reporter is assigned to a Storyfile in a news item.
  
• For limited stock build objects (e.g. Telegraphing station), the amount left in stock displayed in the top left corner of the build card doesn’t update after placing it in tower.

[h3]VISUAL[/h3]

• Lots of Z sorting issues (especially for employees that are holding stuff).
  
• Some pedestrians are missing an umbrella when they’re walking in the rain.
  
• Lamps stay rotated when building in pause.

[h3]IN-GAME TEXT[/h3]

• Contains a lot of spelling mistakes.

[h2]FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS[/h2]


[h3]What platform can I play the Closed Beta on? [/h3]

The News Tower Closed Beta will be available on PC for Windows.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[h3]Can I register after Closed Beta starts? [/h3]

You can still register for the Closed Beta, but we might be able to invite other players than those we selected on November 28th.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[h3]Will there be another Closed Beta? [/h3]

We do not intend on having another Closed Beta before our launch early 2024, so don’t miss out and register right now!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[h3]Am I allowed to share what I see? / Is there a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in place? [/h3]

There is no NDA for our Closed Beta, you can share and stream your game.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[h3]When is the early access starting? [/h3]

We are targeting an Early Access release for News Tower in early 2024.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[h3]Will I be able to keep my progress at launch? [/h3]

As we're still in development, significant changes are on the horizon during and after the Closed Beta. Unfortunately, this means progress won't carry over to the full launch.




Keep in mind that the Closed Beta represents a work in progress, providing an early look at the rich content and mechanics that will define News Tower when it launches in Early Access.

Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm!!!

We are VERY excited to see you in the world of News Tower!

[h3]The News Tower Team[/h3]

[h3]Dear publishers-to-be and aspiring media mavens,[/h3]

This upcoming Monday November 27th, join us on our Twitch channel or on YouTube at 5pm CET / 8am PST / 11am EST to meet the devs, talk about News Tower and ask them your questions before the Closed Beta goes live!



With the participation of Robert, Bart & Jan-Maarten you will discover how to get started in News Tower! We will give you some context about the game but also share some tips & tricks to ensure a smooth start. And, of course... show you what your great end-game news tower could look like, should you be tenacious enough to get there!

There will be no shortage of things to enjoy before you dive into Closed Beta yourself!

Plus... we will also be giving away keys to get access to the Closed Beta, so don't miss out on your chance to secure a spot!



[h2]A little bit more about who you'll meet in the stream...[/h2]

[h3]Robert[/h3]

Our developer and programmer Robert is making sure everything is running smoothly. With his degree in game development and being an avid gamer, he provides invaluable insights on how to adapt News Tower to the current gaming habits.

[h3]Bart[/h3]

Lead developer and composer of the game’s music. Studied jazz guitar at the conservatory of Amsterdam. A creator at heart, he found a way to express himself through music and the creation of video games. Bart is a perfectionist and is doing everything he can to make sure you have the best game possible.

[h3]Jan-Maarten[/h3]

Jan-Maarten serves as our Creative and Art Director, drawing from his prior experience on 'Turmoil,' another indie game, which ignited his passion for game development. He's responsible for the captivating art and visuals in our game, crafts the multitude of news items, and thinks about the way the game is supposed to be played. During his free time, he enjoys birdwatching and playing board games.





So, set a reminder and tune in for a good time with us on Twitch right here or on YouTube there, at 5pm CET / 8am PST / 11am EST on Monday, November 27th!

Take care and see you soon in the Tower,

The News Tower Team