DEVLOG: Early Sneak Peek of Major Update 4

[p]Today we want to give you an early preview of what we’re currently working on for the next major update, which is planned for next month.[/p][p][/p][p]For a few of these features we can already share visual sneak peeks. Others are still too early for screenshots, but we still would like to give you an idea of what’s in the works right now. Please note that features, details, and scope may still change as development continues.[/p][p][/p][h2]Airplane Liveries[/h2][p]We will introduce airplane liveries to Ground of Aces! You’ll be able to unlock new skins through gameplay. (EDIT: It was initially planned that they would also provide stat variations to their plane, but this is postponed for the moment.)[/p][p][/p][p]A first preview (work in progress overview. The red liveries are placeholders):[/p][p]Mock-up of the user interface for changing the skins:[/p][p][/p][h2]New AA-Gun: Oerlikon 20 mm cannon[/h2][p]Our studio is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and with the Oerlikon 20 mm cannon we’re excited to add a piece of equipment that was historically produced just a few kilometers from our main office (Oerlikon is a district of Zurich).[/p][p]Here’s a historical reference image from 1944, showing an Oerlikon gun in action:[/p][p][/p][p]October 1944: A 20mm land based Oerlikon mobile Ack-Ack gun, in action in Italy.[/p][p][/p][h2]Lookout Position[/h2][p]Connected to the AA guns, we’re introducing a lookout post that you can get via shipments. The NPC assigned to this position will actively scan the sky, increasing the effective firing radius of nearby anti-air guns. This adds more tactical depth to base layout and crew assignments.[/p][p][/p][h2]New Map [/h2][p]We're planning to introduce a new map with new environmental objects and a new stone resource type.[/p][p]Screenshot from our virtual whiteboard on which our team discussed possible options for the new map:[/p][p][/p][h2]Map Editor[/h2][p]And we also want to give you the tools to make your own map! We are reworking our own map creation mode (we call it internally "god mode") so that a simplified version is also available to you.[/p][p]Mock-up for a user-interface of the map editor (the grass icons are placeholders):[/p][p][/p][h2]Graphical Improvements[/h2][p]Our 3D artist is currently working on updating the shading effect, to make it more comic-like. You may need to have a closer look but here is a comparison in one picture split in two halves to show the difference in the shadows. On the left side you see it with the old shading, and on the right side you've got the new shading:
[/p][h2]A New Airplane…?[/h2][p]From your feedback, there’s one particular airplane name that comes up again and again. We’re currently exploring whether we can introduce it earlier than originally planned…[/p][p][/p][h2]…And More[/h2][p]Beyond what’s listed above, we’re also working on ideas expanding the crew character depth. It’s not yet certain how much of it will already be part of the next major update and what may come later, but we wanted to share a glimpse of what’s ahead.[/p][h3][/h3][h3]Thank you for playing and all your feedback[/h3][p]Thank you for playing Ground of Aces and for all your reports, suggestions, requests, feedback entries, and reviews. We read everything and do our best to respond, help out, and improve the game based on your input. In case you missed it, we also released a hotfix update this week.[/p][p][/p][p]The Blindflug Studios team[/p]