Drill Core News

Greetings Platform Managers!

Today’s patch improves miners' AI, boosts catalyzer effects, renames Splitters to Guardian Lasers, and fixes bugs with turrets and ore behavior.

Features:

• Improved miners AI. Different adjustments that significantly improves overall miners responsiveness and distribution efficiency.
  
• Now coal ore is always in front of other ores and workers.
  
• The Spray and blizzard blocks in the 7 central blocks can no longer have a jet pointing upwards.
  

Balance:

• All catalyzers effect increased from 8.5% to 10%
  
• Now Splitter building damage depends on guards damage. That is, upgrades of the damage of guards affect Splitters as well.
  
• Splitter name has changed to Guardian Laser (only EN for now). The reloading time has been added to the description.
  

Bug fixes:

• Fixed a bug where the Teleport Turret could ignore other targets if the priority target is the Arachnor.
  
• Fixed a bug where ore could float or move in a block above the block it was supposed to fall on.
  

Best regards,
Drill Core Inc. R'n'D department

Greetings Platform Managers!

Today we released a new patch that adds In-session saves, a windowed mode and a Meta resources exchange menu. Check all details below:

Features

• Saving during the contract has been added. It saves progress after each drilling (not every day).
  
• Permanent resources exchange window added to the main menu.
  
• Windowed mode has been added to the settings.
  
• A change in the logic of the miners. Now, having dug out one block, the same workers will dig the next one after it (previously, other workers could be assigned to the next block).
  
• The volume of some ability sounds has been fixed so that they are approximately at the same volume level.
  
• Mines from the Mines Turret are destroyed at the beginning of the day. This will prevent them from accumulating in one place.
  
• Barrack, Bar, Special Bar, Cyclone Generator, and Repair Station now have animations (in addition to Laboratory and Factory).
  
• The Factory cooldown has been slightly changed (now the permanent upgrade is slightly more effective than it was).
  
• Healtower ability doesn't heal full-health workers.
  
• Bar behavior changes:
  
  1. The Bar now selects only workers who do not have a bar effect and are not retreating.
     
  2. The Bar will wait if there are no workers left to buff.
     

Bug fixes

• Fixed a bug with a Daybay qualification.
  
• Fixed a bug where a platform with an Ore Suction Plant could skip technologies due to rerolling.
  
• Potentially, fixed a ore bug when ore got into adamantite or under the platform or stopped the work of couriers.
  
• Achievements for different platform levels will be taken into account even if the platform is already at the maximum level (for players who cannot get these achievements due to the fact that they reached platform level 15 during the playtest).
  
• Fixed a bug when workers could stop working and walking after Arachnor's arrival.
  
• Fixed a bug with inaccessible ore.
  

Balance

• The cost of some permanent upgrades has been reduced.
  
• Qualifications in which players need to complete the contract in no more than a certain number of days were changed (the number of days was lowered).
  

Best regards,
Drill Core Inc. R'n'D department

Greetings Platform Managers!

Today we released our second small Patch with some bug fixes and steam cloud.

Features

• Steam cloud added.
  
• Added a save selection window in case of a save conflict with steam cloud.
  
• If the day is skipped and the factory is able to produce resources, the skipped time is added to the ore producing time.
  
• Delete save button position is now higher (after settings and before credits).
  
• Delete save window text is now red.
  
• Delete save confirmation now requires 3 times click.
  
• Temporarily removed the "Unlock bonus slot" upgrades from Platform Upgrades.
  
• The Polar Night event notifies on the day of the event.
  
• The Snowstorm event notifies on the day of the event.
  

Balance

• On all difficulties except the last one, only 1 worm appears during the daytime activity of underground worms.
  

Bug fixes

• Fixed a bug where the animation of a guard could switch to 1 frame.
  
• Fixed a bug where a player could lose control of the game during an eclipse.
  
• Fixed a bug that caused trapped workers were not destroyed during drilling and hovered in the air above the platform.
  
• Potentially, fixed a ore bug when ore got into adamantite or under the platform or stopped the work of carriers.
  
• Fixed a bug when voice volume setting wasn't loaded properly.
  
• Fixed a bug when the terrabor stopped in the middle of the shaft.
  
• Fixed a visual bug of the crumbling block.
  
• Typos in several lines have been corrected.
  

Best regards,
Drill Core Inc. R'n'D department

Greetings Platform Managers!

Today we released our first small Patch, which addresses some of immediate feedback we received after the EA launch.

Features:

• Alternative AI setting is now set by default (miners are distributed a little more efficiently according to orders).
  
• Added an indicator for workers who cannot get on the platform.
  
• Removed "conditions" from the Contracts screen in Main Menu.
  
• Added a system that prevents ore from falling below the platform.
  
• Added a new visual for Terrabors in the frost biome.
  
• Added a system that prevents loading corrupted save file. Game loads the last uncorrupted backup save file instead.
  
• "Delete save file" button added to the main menu.
  
• The value by which they change the rate of fire has been added to the description of all the Catalyzers.
  
• Turrets Expander reloading time was added to the description.
  

Balance:

• The number of permanent resources in the mine has been increased by 1.5 times.
  
• The resource and level requirements for many permanent upgrades have been reduced.
  
• The reward for contracts has been increased by 15%.
  
• The number of permanent resources for a loss has been increased by about 2 times.
  
• First 3 difficulties are easier now.
  
• The frequency of random events is greatly reduced in the first three difficulties.
  
• Arachnor is harder on higher difficulties.
  
• Higher difficulties are harder now.
  
• Catalyzers effect increased from 7.5% to 8.5%.
  
• Lightblade turret damage increased from 2 to 2.5.
  
• Laser turret damage reduced from 11 to 10.
  
• Poison turret damage increased from 8 to 9, poison damage increased from 15 to 17.
  
• The qualifications for Protector Dock, Repair Station and Drone Station now have different difficulty requirements.
  
• The qualification for Protector Dock now requires 10 iron instead of 20.
  
• The qualification for Repair Station now requires the core to be at 90% durability or more (instead of 100%).
  
• Added a new purchasable permanent upgrade for +1 technology reroll.
  
• Saw Drone Station ability rebalanced (damage increased from 2.5 to 9, speed increased from 10 to 20, initial lifetime decreased from 8 to 5.5).
  
• Exploder ability damage increased from 100 to 250.
  
• Lifeweaver enemy on frost planets HP reduced from 350 to 250, but he will appear more often.
  
• The monster distribution system in the waves has been slightly redesigned. It's more random now.
  
• Reduced the amount of transferred resources and experience from Drill Core Demo saves into Early Access version.
  

Bug fixes:

• Fixed Exploder ability sound on x2 game speed.
  
• Fixed game crash when cursor is hovering Exploder building and it explodes.
  
• Fixed a bug that caused the platform to not start drilling in some cases.
  
• Potentially fixed a bug when the app is using the wrong gpu (if player has two).
  
• Fixed a bug when Elite guard projectiles could not deal damage.
  
• Fixed a bug where the mini-drill didn't change speed.
  
• Fixed a bug where trapped workers stopped digging blocks.
  
• Fixed game crash when using the ability of drone-carriers when there are carrier drones in the mine.
  

This is small set of immediate improvements we wanted to release as soon as possible. Please, expect another patch in a week from now.

Best regards,
Drill Core Inc. R'n'D department

[h2]Subject: Immediate Company Plans[/h2]

[h3]Attention Platform Managers![/h3]
The Board of Directors extends its deepest gratitude to all of you for your unwavering support and commitment to the company's values. The days since we went public on Steam have been nothing short of mind-blowing for the entire board. We are truly humbled by the level of involvement from our exemplary staff, and it is with great honor that we say: thank you for helping us keep the profits flowing.

We also want to acknowledge the tremendous amount of feedback provided by our valued workforce. Your insights are critical in helping Drill Core Inc. maintain its position as the undisputed leader in the galactic mining industry. After careful consideration, both the Board and the R&D department have reviewed all the feedback concerning company operations, and we’ve adjusted our priorities accordingly.

Before going developing next phase of our Strategic Roadmap (SR), we’d like to address the upcoming improvements based on your feedback. The following changes are scheduled for the next Patch planned for release this week:

• [color]The first three difficulty contracts will now take place on less hazardous planets.[/color] Expect fewer negative events, reduced wildlife interference, and generally smoother operations. We aim to keep our employees...mostly intact.
  
• We’re switching technology suppliers, which means [color]Division Upgrades will become cheaper across the board[/color]. Efficiency breeds profit!
  
• Our mineral-detection software will be upgraded, resulting in [color]higher contract incomes and a greater yield of meta-minerals. And, in the unlikely event of contract failure, you’ll now receive double the honorary reward[/color]. Even when we lose, we win!
  
• Miners will now, by default, follow our experimental pathfinding instructions, previously known as ‘Alternative AI’ in settings. The Worker Instructing Department promises further fine-tuning down the line.
  
• [color]Steam Cloud Saves will be re-enabled[/color]—though we’re keeping an eye on the HR department’s so-called ‘Saves’ safety, so this might slip to later patches.
  
• [color]Some Qualifications[/color] for acquiring new company building blueprints will be slightly adjusted, with [color]some requirements made easier[/color]. We're committed to making growth manageable for our workforce.
  
• A [color]new upgrade for an additional technology reroll[/color] will be introduced at the start of the Division upgrade tree, because who doesn’t love a second chance at greatness?
  
• [color]Several turrets and equipment will receive buffs[/color], increasing operational efficiency and profitability.
  
• And, of course, [color]multiple bug fixes are inbound[/color]. Even perfection needs a tune-up.
  

Expect further details on these changes in the coming days as we roll out the patch.

[h3]Following this patch, we’ll turn our attention to the next one, arriving two weeks later. [/h3]
This second patch will focus on two key features:

1. Session Progress Saves (so you can pick up your operations right where you left off).
   
2. A Glossary (via Steam overlay) explaining the blocks, enemies, and more.
   

Over time, we’ll expand this with further entries on turrets, buildings, and other operational assets.

Rest assured, the Board is committed to monitoring Steam reviews, forum discussions, Discord chatter, and, of course, survey replies (accessible via the main Company Interaction Menu). We will continue to adapt based on your invaluable feedback. Once we’ve addressed all current operational issues, our R&D department will shift focus to the content update outlined in our Strategic Roadmap (SR)

As we continue building a better galaxy, one core at a time, know that our corporate empire grows ever stronger thanks to your hard work and dedication.

Thank you for sharing the love,
The Drill Core Inc. Board of Directors