DevBlog #16 - Spring Summary
Howdy all, it’s time for another update on all things Star Trucker!
Firstly a massive thanks to everyone who pre-ordered the vinyl soundtrack. The response has been amazing! Production should start soon and we’re super excited for everyone to get their copies.
Those of you with a keen eye might have also spotted a little feature tease within the album artwork 👀
[h2]Cover Art Wallpapers
[/h2]
If you didn’t, take another look at this wallpaper and see if you can spot what it might be before I explain later in this post…
Desktop 3840x2160 // 2560x1440 // 1920x1440 // 1920x1080
Mobile 887x1920 // 1080x1920 // 1440x1920
[h2]What’s in the Works[/h2]
As always there’s a lot going on at the Monster HQ. Here’s a super quick run-down of just a few of the things being worked on right now…
Extended Controller Support
Work continues on support for joysticks, wheels and HOTAS setups. Things are shaping up nicely but we have one or two more hurdles to get past before we can spill all the beans on this feature.
Job Refresh
We’re also in the middle of various tweaks and refinements around procedural jobs. The main focus is making the Just in Time jobs less frustrating but we’re also looking to spruce some other elements too.
Reward Balance
While working in this area we’ve also been adjusting rewards and skill bonuses. The goal here is to make the progression feel a little more balanced and fair, especially in the late game.
Free Play
We’ve also been testing a Free Play mode. This would disable side jobs but allow you to start the game with all truck features enabled and the entire galaxy unlocked. Some achievements might be unavailable in this mode but we feel it will be appreciated by those who want to focus more on hauling and less on story.
More Options
Allowing players to enjoy the game however they want has been a pretty core thing for us, be it roleplaying as a trucker or trying to survive the harshness of space - so alongside Free Play we’ve also been looking at ways of disabling systems such as power consumption and system degradation. Hopefully we’ll be able to roll some of these new options out soon.
Cargo Pack
We also have a new DLC pack in the works. This will feature a new set of trailers, corporations and cargo.
Remember, DLC sales help us to continue investing in free updates and features so we’re super thankful to everyone who’s supported us by picking up a pack or two ♥
[h2]License to Reveal[/h2]
Looping back around to the feature tease from earlier, you might have noticed the truck on the cover art features a license plate!
This is something we’ve wanted to add for a while and nicely rounds off our suite of exterior customizations for the time being.
You’ll be able to equip and modify license plates at any Body Shop in the galaxy.
Some designs are unlocked via cold hard cash while others become available after completing mini challenges.
There’s also two shapes, a boxy look similar to plates found across the US and an elongated European style, both can be customized with up to 8 characters.
[h2]The Future[/h2]
Alongside all of this (and more!), we've also been thinking about what’s next for Star Trucker. Our gut is telling us to add a deeper meta game while layering up new haulage mechanics…However we’re super keen to hear from the community on what matters most to you with regard to the longevity of our not-so-little-anymore indie game.
To that extent we’ve set up a little survey you can access via the button below. If you can spare a couple of minutes we’d love to hear your preferences and suggestions!
[h2]Round Up[/h2]
Alongside these features, work continues on a whole bunch of other cool new things that we’ll talk about in more detail soon. Until then, thanks again for sticking with us and taking time to read our monthly meanderings. It means a lot!
Peace out!
--Monster Dave
Firstly a massive thanks to everyone who pre-ordered the vinyl soundtrack. The response has been amazing! Production should start soon and we’re super excited for everyone to get their copies.
Those of you with a keen eye might have also spotted a little feature tease within the album artwork 👀
[h2]Cover Art Wallpapers
[/h2]
If you didn’t, take another look at this wallpaper and see if you can spot what it might be before I explain later in this post…
Desktop 3840x2160 // 2560x1440 // 1920x1440 // 1920x1080
Mobile 887x1920 // 1080x1920 // 1440x1920
[h2]What’s in the Works[/h2]
As always there’s a lot going on at the Monster HQ. Here’s a super quick run-down of just a few of the things being worked on right now…
Extended Controller Support
Work continues on support for joysticks, wheels and HOTAS setups. Things are shaping up nicely but we have one or two more hurdles to get past before we can spill all the beans on this feature.
Job Refresh
We’re also in the middle of various tweaks and refinements around procedural jobs. The main focus is making the Just in Time jobs less frustrating but we’re also looking to spruce some other elements too.
Reward Balance
While working in this area we’ve also been adjusting rewards and skill bonuses. The goal here is to make the progression feel a little more balanced and fair, especially in the late game.
Free Play
We’ve also been testing a Free Play mode. This would disable side jobs but allow you to start the game with all truck features enabled and the entire galaxy unlocked. Some achievements might be unavailable in this mode but we feel it will be appreciated by those who want to focus more on hauling and less on story.
More Options
Allowing players to enjoy the game however they want has been a pretty core thing for us, be it roleplaying as a trucker or trying to survive the harshness of space - so alongside Free Play we’ve also been looking at ways of disabling systems such as power consumption and system degradation. Hopefully we’ll be able to roll some of these new options out soon.
Cargo Pack
We also have a new DLC pack in the works. This will feature a new set of trailers, corporations and cargo.
Remember, DLC sales help us to continue investing in free updates and features so we’re super thankful to everyone who’s supported us by picking up a pack or two ♥
[h2]License to Reveal[/h2]
Looping back around to the feature tease from earlier, you might have noticed the truck on the cover art features a license plate!
This is something we’ve wanted to add for a while and nicely rounds off our suite of exterior customizations for the time being.
You’ll be able to equip and modify license plates at any Body Shop in the galaxy.
Some designs are unlocked via cold hard cash while others become available after completing mini challenges.
There’s also two shapes, a boxy look similar to plates found across the US and an elongated European style, both can be customized with up to 8 characters.
[h2]The Future[/h2]
Alongside all of this (and more!), we've also been thinking about what’s next for Star Trucker. Our gut is telling us to add a deeper meta game while layering up new haulage mechanics…However we’re super keen to hear from the community on what matters most to you with regard to the longevity of our not-so-little-anymore indie game.
To that extent we’ve set up a little survey you can access via the button below. If you can spare a couple of minutes we’d love to hear your preferences and suggestions!
[h2]Round Up[/h2]
Alongside these features, work continues on a whole bunch of other cool new things that we’ll talk about in more detail soon. Until then, thanks again for sticking with us and taking time to read our monthly meanderings. It means a lot!
Peace out!
--Monster Dave
