Star Trucker News

It’s been a week since launch and we just wanted to say thank you again for all the support and feedback we’ve been receiving from the Star Trucker community.

I know we talked a bit about priorities in the previous post but I thought it was worth diving a little deeper into what’s been going on and what the future holds for Star Trucker.

So I’m going to split this post into two parts. Firstly we’ll provide an overview of how we’re treating ongoing work and then I’ll go into a bit more detail regarding the next patch.

[h2]Phasing[/h2]

As you already know, we’re a super small team ( Currently 2.5 of us! ). We’re planning to ramp up by bringing on board some extra code support to help Dan but it will take time to finalize so we have to be super careful how we prioritise current and future work.

Knowing this we’ve tried to plan out some phases. We can’t give solid estimates but it should give you an idea of how we’ll tackle things going forwards.

It’s also worth noting that there might be multiple updates during a phase and some tasks could move around due to complexity and time scales.


[h3]Phase 1[/h3]

• Critical fixes (see the “Bugs” section below)
  
• Difficulty tweaks - Focusing on essential items like power cells / air filters and revisiting fines
  
• Custom key bindings
  

[h3]Phase 2[/h3]

• Extended controller support ( e.g. HOTAS )
  
• Balance refinements - Focusing on economy, sector hazards and upgrades
  
• Sector optimizations and updates
  

[h3]Phase 3[/h3]

• Online radio support
  
• Corporation and cargo updates
  
• Extended CB system (e.g. send out a recover SOS / ask for gossip)
  

We also have a couple of cosmetic packs already in the pipeline. These don’t require code support so shouldn’t delay new features / balance tasks but they are pretty cool ( I would say that though... ) and every sale will help fund future updates.

Beyond these phases we’ll begin work towards a longer roadmap with some more substantial feature / content work. Once we’ve locked down a plan we’ll be sure to update you all!

[h2]Progress Tracking[/h2]

In the name of transparency we want to give you a slightly more detailed update on what’s been going on since launch / what we’re up to this week.

It’s kinda hard to break it down properly but hopefully this will give you an idea of where we are with the next update and the issues we’re currently trying to address.

Some of these have only been found thanks to the keen eyes of the community so please continue to report bugs to the Raw Fury Support Desk so that we can keep squashing them.

[h2]Bugs[/h2]

Many of these fixes should be in the next patch but a couple might slip to a subsequent update.

[h3]Done[/h3]
✅ Fixed an issue preventing saving after dying during warp
✅ Fixed an issue preventing warp gates working after a recovery
✅ Fixed an issue preventing access to x2 dropzones in Darkside
✅ Fixed an issue preventing access to a weigh station in Enigma Belt
✅ Fixed an issue where under some circumstances items vanish from containers on reload
✅ Fixed an issue with weigh stations ignoring your cargo capacity skill level
✅ Fixed various string issues
✅ Fixed an issue where some side jobs were not showing "Wait for CB Call" prompt on the Convoy screen
✅ Fixed issue with oversized Panel Trailers generating in multi-trailer jobs resulting in some drop zone deliveries being impossible


[h3]To Do / In Progress[/h3]
➡️ Fix an issue where the job board is not showing the correct reward values
➡️ Fix an issue where job rewards are not calculating correctly
➡️ Fix an issue with some dropzones thinking you can deliver oversized trailers to them
➡️ Fix an issue where under some circumstances the job board freezes
➡️ Fix an issue where reloading a save sometimes unhitches your trailers
➡️ Fix an issue where under specific conditions the mileage counter shows an incorrect value


[h2]Balance [/h2]
We’re working on some initial balance adjustments to help make the game fairer and more consistent. A future update will focus on a more robust balance pass once we’ve collated more data.

[h3]Done[/h3]
✅ Increased frequency of essential items in shops ( e.g. power cells and air filters )
✅ Adjusted Power Cell costs and maximum charge levels


[h3]To Do / In Progress[/h3]
➡️ Adjust recovery penalties
➡️ Adjust abandoned job penalties
➡️ Adjust repair costs


[h2]Miscellaneous[/h2]
Where possible we’ve also been chipping away at some other bits n pieces. Some of these are listed below…

[h3]Done[/h3]
✅ Electrical and Atmospheric Cloud optimizations
✅ Spark City Station and Tommy T Diner optimizations
✅ Various platform and girder LOD optimizations
✅ Updated Power Cell labels to reflect their quality ( e.g. Power Cell ++ )


[h2]Roundup[/h2]
So that’s the current situation! As you can see we’re working hard to improve player experience and address various issues. Not only that but an update is imminent, our team is expanding and we’re planning a LOT of great new stuff for the future.

So once again, thank you for your support and patience. We hope you’ll stick with us as we find a sustainable cadence for updates and begin working on new features and content.

Peace out.

- Monster Dave

Howdi Star Truckers,

We just wanted to take a moment to say a huge thank you for helping make the launch of Star Trucker so special for us Monsters.

We’ve been blown away by the response to our niche indie space sim, and we want you to know that we’ve been enjoying your streams, reading your feedback, and taking lots and lots of notes.
As we’re such a small team, it might take us a little while to address everything, but we’re putting together a plan for the future, and we hope you’ll stick with us as we iron out issues, deliver new features, and continue to enhance the game over the coming months.

While on that topic, we wanted to share our immediate priorities with you all…

[h2]Custom Key Bindings[/h2]

We’ve heard you loud and clear regarding the lack of key bindings. This feature has been bumped to the top of our list, and work has already begun on an initial implementation.

[h2]Balance Adjustments[/h2]

With so many new players comes a whole lot of new gameplay data. There’s a lot to digest, but in the short term, expect a variety of adjustments that should help provide a more consistent and fair experience.

[h2]Extended Controller Support[/h2]

We know how important extended controller support is to sim fans, and we’re gutted this feature wasn't ready for launch. The basics have been implemented ( we can confirm driving the truck using HOTAS is great fun!), but there's more work to do before it can be rolled out properly.

Oh, and it should go without saying, but we’ll also continue to squash bugs and work on performance optimizations as part of any future updates.

With that out of the way, we want to give a final shout-out to everyone who helped us over the finish line and release our first multi-platform game - the development support, the audio team at Laced, the incredible musicians and voice actors, Raw Fury for giving us the chance of a lifetime, and of course, all of our players, both old and new.

Thank you. You’re all superstars!

- Dan and Dave (aka Monster and Monster)

P.S. Cheers!

STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I know, I say that a lot - certainly more than I should to readers who could literally be anywhere in the world and doing anything at the times I end up addressing them. It's justified this time though, I swear.

You see, Xbox has just announced the latest batch of Game Pass arrivals - the titles which'll be hitting the service during September - and they're almost all aimed at the particular genre of boring wanker I am, and that you may well be too.

September's list of Game Pass arrivals includes no less than three games all aimed at us wetwipes, in the form of Star Trucker, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, and Train Sim World 5. Can you hear that? It's the sound of a thousand lads called Keith who could yak about a five-speed transmission for hours and have their day made whenever they go on a rail journey violently orgasming. Now, cover your ears and give them some privacy.

Read more

It’s been a long time since we started Monster and Monster ( waaaaaay back in 2011 ) and to be honest I don't think either of us imagined we’d be writing a post like this when we did.

As a two person indie team it’s been more than a decade of highs and lows but we’re grateful to still be here making the kind of games we love.

Star Trucker is the culmination of our many years working on different projects and proved to be a galactic sized challenge for such a small team. Thankfully we had some incredible people help us along the way and today we can finally release the game out into the universe.

We are also incredibly humbled by the community reception that got us here - from the Future Games show announcement, to the Next Fest Demo and massive exhibition halls at Gamescom full of eager players. Thank you!

Releasing a game like this is a big deal for a small team like ours. We hope you’ll bear with us on this long haul into the unknown as we collate community feedback and continue to support Star Trucker beyond release.

And lastly… Thank you again all for the support y’all have provided so far. It's finally time to shift gears, get comfortable in the cab seat and form up - we got ourselves a convoy!

- Dan & Dave ( aka Monster and Monster )

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

In Star Trucker, players take the most open road of them all - space - in this Americana inspired retro sci-fi sim. Explore expansive sectors, overcome the challenges of zero-g physics and master a range of certifications and intergalactic hauls.

[h2]Key Features in Star Trucker include: [/h2]

• Cruise the hyper highways, taking on a variety of jobs such as fuel-hungry long hauls and hazardous drop-offs to earn cash and unlock new content.
  
  
• Use the galactic map to plan your journey and warp jump pointss, while keeping an eye on your fuel reserves and power levels.
  
  
• Utilize the fully voiced, interactive CB radio to get the latest gossip from fellow truckers and swing by local garages to modify and upgrade your truck., request docking permissions or send out an SOS, and swing by auto shops to upgrade and improve your truck systems to gain access to new areas.
  
  
• Kick back, crank up the cab hi-fi and cruise to a range of starburst blues, galactic rock and asteroid-influenced Americana, spotlighting unique tracks by acclaimed musicians like Tom Bromley from Los Campesinos! and award winning songwriter, Randall Breneman., composer Randall Breneman and more.
  
  

Some posts to learn more about Star Trucker:

• Playing Your Way: The different game modes in Star Trucker
  
• Spoiler Territories: A look into the routes and lanes
  
• How realistic is this simulation?

Remember that we'll be streaming the game and answering your questions today at 9AM PT / 5PM CET / 4PM BST. You can join us in any of these platforms:

🔸 Star Trucker Steam page

🔸 Raw Fury Twitch channel

🔸 Raw Fury Youtube channel

And finally, if you have comments or feedback, join us on Discord or the Steam forums. We'd love to chat and know your impressions.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2380050

Keeping your eyes on the road isn’t easy when the horizon hosts crackling azure nebula; when the voluminous nightglow from the planet below makes even the gargantuan industrial indicators look like so many tiny, twinkling cat eyes. I, a terrestrial chump, cannot help be taken in by it all. But I get the sense all this spacey wonder is just so much unremarkable grease pooling at the rim of a diner plate for my Star Trucker. He’s seen a couple things, that’s for sure. Taken the long way round the spiral arm to slip past security checkpoints and offload cases of booze for off-the-record cash. Seen reduced-to-clear Ginster’s wrappers glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. Hummed that Freebird solo a thousand times while waiting for the traffic to thin out near the shoulder of Orion.

Read more