Drill Core News

[p]Greetings, Platform Managers! [/p][p][/p][p]The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the Contracts Expanded Update is now live! [/p][p]As always, you’re welcome to consult the full patch notes from the R ‘n’ D Department at the conclusion of this post, or simply update your game to experience these changes firsthand.
Drill Core Inc. and its partners, collaborators, or derivatives will not be held liable for any loss of life, wellbeing, or ‘emotional distress’ caused by any recent technological developments or discoveries. [/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]Contracts Expanded [/p][p]
Previously, every contract at Drill Core Inc. had one singular goal: to reach a specific depth on the Planet you’re mining, and detonate the Core. We know, however, that our esteemed Platform Managers are capable of much more than simply depleting a planet’s resources and blowing it up, which is why there are now three new contract types to truly encapsulate your skills:[/p]

• [p]Competitive Contracts: Faced with a rival Platform Manager from one of Drill Core Inc.’s competitors, and will be tasked with completing the contract before they do. You’ll have access to a brand new Competition Office to help you gain a tactical advantage through whichever means necessary.
  Note from the R ‘n’ D Department: this rival Platform Manager is not a multiplayer feature.[/p]
• [p]Resource Shipment Contracts: Assist various Drill Core Inc. internal initiatives by providing a designated amount of a specific resource - simply mine the Planet for all you can, and leave the hollow husk behind in the name of Drill Core’s unstoppable expansion. [/p]
• [p]Field Trials: Assist the Department of ‘Useful’ Constructions with sketchy invaluable research by constructing buildings and turrets from a selected pool made available to you. Platform Managers will only need to construct the set amount in order to complete the contract, but will not be able to unlock any other building or turret types, and nothing can be demolished. We have a budget to adhere to, you know! [/p]

[p]Diligent employees will need to consider these new objectives carefully when planning their strategy for undertaking these new contracts, but we’re sure you’re up to the challenge. [/p][p]
These new responsibilities in the Platform Manager role will not be compensated.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Accelerated Gameplay Mode [/p][p]
Of course, the Board of Directors highly approves of any employee looking to maximize their profits; that’s why the R ‘n’ D Department has worked hard to provide a brand new Accelerated Gameplay Mode to all Platform Managers. In this mode, events unfold at a much faster rate, and you’ll likely find yourself with a greater number of constructions by the time you’re ready to detonate your Core.[/p][p]
Naturally, this doesn’t necessarily mean that contracts will be easier to complete; in fact, you’ll need to keep a much closer eye on how your Platform is developing in order to adjust to this expedited timespan.
Here’s an overview of how Contracts will differ in this mode:[/p]

• [p]Building costs do not increase with each additional floor [/p]
• [p]New floors, Turrets, Turret Upgrades, and Buildings will have a greatly reduced cost [/p]
• [p]The required depth for most Contracts is significantly reduced[/p]
• [p]Technology bonuses are around two times as impactful [/p]
• [p]Block durability is reduced by 30% [/p]
• [p]Factory efficiency is increased [/p]
• [p]Days are 30% shorter in duration [/p]
• [p]Daytime Ability cooldowns are reduced by 40% [/p]
• [p]Some Daytime Abilities are rebalanced [/p]

[p]
Whilst Accelerated Gameplay Mode is not without its challenges, it should offer all Platform Managers the chance to optimize their profits productivity. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Elite Aliens [/p][p]
Speaking of new challenges, the R ‘n’ D Department has demanded suggested we advise Platform Managers that recent reports suggest that new forms of Aliens have begun to evolve on some planets: Elites. Whilst they are not quite as powerful as some of the Bosses that experienced Platform Managers may have encountered, they do pose an increased threat level and are much more resilient than their younger counterparts. [/p][p]We are of course confident in all employees’ ability to handle these new threats, but we do remind you that Drill Core Inc. does not offer compensation, health insurance, or life insurance for work undertaken on behalf of the company.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Collectibles [/p][p]
Due to the HR Department’s insistence that a sense of ‘pride and accomplishment’ is integral to employee profitability productivity, the Board of Directors has elected to allow Platform Managers to accumulate small Collectibles during the completion of contracts.

Accessible from the Findings Archive in the main console, these Collectibles consist of over 80 helmets, weapons, and gadgets that the most diligent of Platform Managers may recognize…[/p][p]
Please note that these Collectibles are not to be used for monetary gain. Any Platform Managers found to be attempting to profit from Drill Core Inc.’s generosity in any way will be terminated. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Platform Skins [/p][p]
In keeping with the HR Department’s insistence informed reasoning, they have also suggested that allowing employees to better customize their workspace may improve ‘morale’; therefore, you will now be able to select new Platform Skins from the upgrade console, with one cosmetic upgrade per Platform Type. [/p][p]
Any damage to Drill Core Inc. Platforms will be invoiced to employees directly, with a 6580% APR on all repayments.[/p][p]
[/p][p]New Gamepad Controls [/p][p]
The R’n’D Department has been hard at work in creating a new control scheme for all Platform Managers currently utilising a gamepad in their mining operations, allowing for significantly more control, and therefore profits, during contracts. [/p][p]
Radial menus are now in place for frequent actions and abilities, with cursor-style pointing a thing of the past. [/p][p]
The R ‘n’ D Department would like to inform all employees that this is currently an experimental feature, and any feedback on these new controls is welcomed. [/p][p][/p][p]New Steam Community Items [/p][p]
We’re also excited to share that our most dedicated Platform Managers will be able to show their commitment to Drill Core Inc. with brand new Steam Community Items that are now available! Find them here. [/p][p]
Of course, this is far from the full extent of everything that’s included in the Contracts Expanded Update, and we welcome all employees to review the full changelog at the end of this memo for additional details, or to update Drill Core now to begin ‘enjoying’ them. [/p][p]
We strongly encourage all employees follow the corporate TikTok and Twitter accounts for a clear line of communication with Drill Core Inc., and also join the corporate Discord server to take part in company-wide conversations. [/p][p]
With lukewarm regards,
The Drill Core Inc. Board of Directors [/p][p][/p][p]Full Changelog:[/p][p]Features:[/p]

• [p]New Mission Types (Competitive Contract, Resource Shipment to Headquarters, Field Trials).[/p]
• [p]Faster Gameplay Mode has been added.[/p]
• [p]New Platform Skins has been added (2 for each platform).[/p]
• [p]Collectables added (80+ different accessories from sсi-fi culture). They can be found on all planets in blocks.[/p]
• [p]Elite enemies will appear during gameplay.[/p]
• [p]New gamepad controls.[/p]

[p]Other:[/p]

• [p]When drilling down becomes available, a small reminder will now appear in the interface.[/p]
• [p]Visuals of all lasers have been updated (they no longer look like stretched images).[/p]
• [p]Updated HUD.[/p]
• [p]Added steam community items (cards, emoticons, backgrounds).[/p]

[p]Balance:[/p]

• [p]Boss HP reduced on higher difficulties.[/p]
• [p]Bosses will appear more often now. Required depth lowered for most difficulties.[/p]
• [p]Factory performance in Swarmlite production mode increased by 10%.[/p]
• [p]Explodrone no longer damages workers.[/p]
• [p]Number of positive planetary conditions for contracts increased by 1 on most difficulties.[/p]
• [p]Ion Core shields increased from 5 to 12.[/p]
• [p]Ion Core stun duration increased from 5 to 8 seconds.[/p]
• [p]Ball Watchtower ball size increased by 25%.[/p]
• [p]Lucky Number upgrade now reduces the cost of buildings on 3-6-9-etc. floors by 2 iron in normal mode and by 1 in faster gameplay mode.[/p]
• [p]Most of the blocks that used to kill workers immediately now do a lot of damage, and workers can get stuck in them if they survive.[/p]

[p]Greetings, Platform Managers! [/p][p]
The Drill Core Inc. R ‘n’ D Department is hard at work in their unventilated basement on the impending upgrades soon to be made available to all employees, and as such we’re pleased to be able to share a little more about these improvements, which will be rolled out as part of the Contracts Expanded Update.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Elite Aliens[/p][p][/p][p]Surveillance by expired former employees suggests that new forms of Aliens have begun to evolve on some planets: Elites. These Aliens will begin to appear on all Planets during mining operations, and whilst they are not quite as powerful as some of the Bosses that experienced employees may have encountered, they do pose an increased threat level and are much more resilient than their younger counterparts. [/p][p]You’ll need to be incredibly diligent, Platform Managers, but we’re of course confident that you will rise to the occasion! 
[/p][p]Please note that repeated requests for ‘life insurance’ or ‘critical injury cover’ to the Drill Core Inc. HR Department will be considered harassment, and employees will be dealt with accordingly. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Contracts, Expanded [/p][p]
As mentioned in our previous internal memos, new contract types will soon be made available to all Platform Managers, with three new contract types in total. Each of these will offer a range of new challenges for your mining operations, but we are, of course, expecting you to hit the ground running. [/p][p]These 3 contract types are:[/p]

• [p]Competitive Contracts: You’ll be faced with a rival Platform Manager from one of Drill Core Inc.’s mortal enemies competitors, and will be tasked with completing the contract before they do. You’ll have access to a brand new Competition Office to help you gain a tactical advantage through whichever means necessary.
  Note from the R ‘n’ D Department: this rival Platform Manager is not a multiplayer feature.[/p]
• [p]Resource Shipment Contracts: In this new contract type, you’ll be tasked with aiding the success of Drill Core Inc. through providing the designated amount of a specific resource - simply mine the Planet for all you can and leave the hollow husk behind. [/p]
• [p]Field Trials Contracts: In order to assist the Department of ‘Useful’ Constructions with invaluable research, you’ll be required to perform vital research by constructing buildings and turrets from a selected pool made available to you. You only need to construct the set amount in order to complete the contract, but you will not be able to unlock any other building or turret types, and you may not demolish anything once built…do you think we’re made of money?[/p]

[p]
These new contract types will provide a range of new objectives and Platform Managers will need to strategize appropriately to best meet the challenge. [/p][p]Please note that no additional financial reward will be provided to employees in regards to these new responsibilities. [/p][p]

Projected Update Timeline [/p][p]
Whilst the Board of Directors find outcry for ‘transparency’ within Drill Core Inc. to be highly contentious, we have decided to graciously share the projected timeline for the company-wide release of the Contracts Expanded Update: all Platform Managers should notice these changes go live on their central systems on October 29. We will of course share the R ‘n’ D Department’s full Changelog and an overview of the changes at this time. [/p][p]
We look forward to seeing the increase in profits productivity that these upgrades will bring to all employees. [/p][p]
We strongly encourage all employees follow the corporate TikTok and Twitter accounts for a clear line of communication with Drill Core Inc., and also join the corporate Discord server to take part in company-wide conversations. [/p][p]
With lukewarm regards,
The Drill Core Inc. Board of Directors [/p][p]
[/p]

[p]Greetings, Platform Managers! [/p][p]
As you’ll know from our previous Internal Memos, the Drill Core Inc. R ‘n’ D Department is hard at work on various new developments coming to all Platform Managers later in October, but we’ve temporarily unchained them from their basement dungeon workstations to share a little more about some of these developments with you, today.[/p][p][/p][p]Collectibles[/p][p]
The Board of Directors appreciates a few all Platform Managers, but especially those who are most dedicated to Drill Core Inc.’s profits mission. To help foster a sense of pride and accomplishment whilst completing contracts (which the HR Department insists is ‘important’, for some reason), you’ll now be able to accumulate Collectibles during your contracts. [/p][p]
Accessible from the Findings Archive in the main console, these Collectibles consist of over 80 helmets, weapons, and gadgets that the most diligent of Platform Managers just might recognize…[/p][p]
*Please note that any Platform Managers found attempting to profit or in any way benefit from these Collectibles will be terminated immediately. Also, you’ll be fired. [/p][p][/p][p]Field Trials Contracts [/p][p]
Those employees who have been keeping up with the Board of Directors’ Internal Memos will know that the impending update will introduce 3 new contract types available for Platform Managers; we previously mentioned Competitive Contracts and Resource Shipment Contracts, and today we’ll be sharing more about the final new contract type: Field Trials Contracts. [/p][p]
All Platform Managers should, by now, be familiar with the Department of ‘Useful’ Constructions and how they impact the important profits work of Drill Core Inc., which is why the Board of Directors is allowing them to utilize all employees as a resource for Field Trials. [/p][p]In this contract type, Platform Managers will start with only certain building and turret types available, and no more shall be made available during operations. Instead, your task will be to construct the required number of buildings in order to complete the contract successfully. Of course, in order to best optimize the value of these contracts, you won’t be able to demolish any buildings once they’re constructed, but we’re sure you’ll be diligent with your resources! [/p][p]
We’re sure that this Internal Memo has proven beneficial to all Platform Managers, but as always, please forward any and all feedback or concerns with the HR Department’s employee complaint incinerator. [/p][p]
//NOTE! Don't forget to insert words of appreciation after this paragraph and delete this note//[/p][p]
We strongly encourage all employees follow the corporate TikTok and Twitter accounts for a clear line of communication with Drill Core Inc., and also join the corporate Discord server to take part in company-wide conversations. [/p][p]
With lukewarm regards,
The Drill Core Inc. Board of Directors [/p][p]

[/p]

[p]Greetings, Platform Managers! [/p][p]
The Board of Directors is pleased to be able to share further updates regarding the developments currently underway at Drill Core Inc., which will come into fruition later this month for all employees (and we’re not even charging you for them!).[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Platform Skins[/p][p]
The most dedicated employees treat their Platform as if it were their only second home; as such, the HR Department has suggested that allowing Platform Managers to better customize their workspace is the route to true profits ‘employee satisfaction’, whatever that means. To best support this, you will now be able to select new Platform Skins from the upgrade console, with one cosmetic upgrade per Platform Type. [/p][p]
The Board of Directors would like to remind all employees that any damage caused to Platforms is considered destruction of company property, and Platform Managers will be invoiced for such liabilities. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Gamepad Controls [/p][p]
The R’n’D Department has been hard at work in creating a new control scheme for all Platform Managers currently utilising a gamepad in their mining operations, allowing for greater control - and therefore, profits. [/p][p]
Cursor-style pointing will now be a thing of the past, with radial menus in place for frequent actions and abilities, allowing you to switch from element to element as seamlessly as if you were playing a game*! [/p][p]
*The Board of Directors would like to remind all employees that Drill Core Inc. does not support employee down-time or ‘recreation’; any such ‘free periods’ should simply be used for undertaking further Contracts.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Resource Shipment Contracts [/p][p]
As mentioned in our previous internal memo, 3 new contract types will be available to all Platform Managers in the upcoming update. Today, we’d like to share the second of these new contract types with you: Resource Shipment Contracts.[/p][p]
Sometimes, resources are needed by Drill Core Inc. for specific initiatives; for example, the HR Department may need to build a secondary Employee Complaints Incinerator when the first one simply cannot handle all the incoming…’feedback’. In cases such as these, the Board of Directors may require Platform Managers to acquire these necessary resources and ship them back to Headquarters. Naturally, we expect that all employees will be glad to contribute to Drill Core Inc.’s mission in any way asked of them, and won’t be offering additional compensation for these endeavours. [/p][p]
We trust that this latest memo has been beneficial to all employees, and look forward to continuing to share more about what’s coming in the late October update soon. [/p][p]
As always, we strongly encourage all employees to follow the corporate TikTok and Twitter accounts for a clear line of communication with Drill Core Inc., and also to take part in company-wide conversations on the corporate Discord server. [/p][p]
With lukewarm regards,
The Drill Core Inc. Board of Directors [/p][p]
[/p]

[p]Greetings, Platform Managers! 
[/p][p]The Board of Directors is pleased to share some insight into upcoming developments which will be impacting all employees in the near future. [/p][p]Thanks to an inspired collaboration between the R’n’D and HR departments at Drill Core Inc., we’re now able to share two new ways of working: Accelerated Gameplay Mode and Competitive Contracts. [/p][p][/p][p]
[/p][p]Accelerated Gameplay Mode[/p][p]
We greatly support any Platform Managers who show the initiative to maximize their profits; for this reason, we’re introducing a brand new gameplay mode that will allow you to complete Contracts much faster than ever before. In Accelerated Gameplay Mode, events unfold at a much faster rate, and you’ll likely find yourself with a greater number of constructions by the time you’re ready to detonate your Core. [/p][p]
However, the HR Department has asked us to remind you that this doesn’t necessarily mean Contracts will be easier, just that they’ll be expedited. You’ll need to keep a close eye on how your Platform is developing in order to survive the shorter timespan.  [/p][p]
Here’s an overview of how Contracts will differ in this mode:[/p]

• [p]Building costs do not increase with each additional floor [/p]
• [p]New floors, Turrets, Turret Upgrades, and Buildings will have a greatly reduced cost [/p]
• [p]The required depth for most Contracts is significantly reduced[/p]
• [p]Technology bonuses are around two times as impactful [/p]
• [p]Block durability is reduced by 30% [/p]
• [p]Factory efficiency is increased [/p]
• [p]Days are 30% shorter in duration [/p]
• [p]Daytime Ability cooldowns are reduced by 40% [/p]
• [p]Some Daytime Abilities are rebalanced [/p]

[p]
Of course, this list doesn’t reflect all of the changes you might experience in this new mode, but you know how secretive the R’n’D Department can be. [/p][p]
Whilst Accelerated Gameplay Mode is not without its challenges, it should offer all Platform Managers the chance to optimize their profits productivity*. [/p][p]*Please note that Drill Core Inc. will not be held liable for any increased injury rates that may occur during the implementation of Accelerated Gameplay Mode. [/p][p][/p][p]Competitive Contracts [/p][p]
Currently, every Contract has one singular goal: to reach a specific depth on the Planet you’re mining, and detonate the Core. However, we know our astute employees are capable of more than just depleting a Planet’s resources and blowing it up. That’s why we’re pleased to be able to share with you one of the 3 new contract types coming in the next update: Competitive Contracts. [/p][p]
Naturally, due to unprecedented success, Drill Core Inc. is not without its copycats competitors, so we’re encouraging all Platform Managers to get out there and prove that our mining operations are unmatched! In this new Contract Type, you’ll be faced with a rival Platform Manager; your goal is simply to complete the contract before they can. [/p][p]
Don’t worry though, the HR Department has been hard at work on ways to help dissuade the competition: you’ll have access to your very own Competition Office to help you gain a tactical advantage, perhaps through sending a bomb demoralizing flyers over to their side of the mine? Of course, they may attempt to do the same thing to you, but Drill Core Inc. employees are expected to have a strong enough constitution not to let such dirty tricks get in the way of profits. [/p][p]
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about these new ways of working which will be implemented in late October, and of course, if you have any queries or concerns, please keep them to yourself. The HR Department is busy enough with all these frivolous ‘inhumane working conditions’ claims. [/p][p]
As always, we strongly encourage all employees to follow the corporate TikTok and Twitter accounts for a clear line of communication with Drill Core Inc., and also to take part in company-wide conversations on the corporate Discord server. [/p][p]
With lukewarm regards,
The Drill Core Inc. Board of Directors
[/p]