New Settings, Cleaners and Break-Ins!
[p]When I released the demo back in October’s Steam Next Fest I received lots of useful feedback surrounding the general balancing of the game and how many people have vastly different expectations on the experience they wanted. Some players really loved the stressful danger of frequent zombies’ attacks, some felt it was too common for a ‘simulator-esque’ game. Today I’d like to discuss the new settings available in The Walking Trade’s full version.
[/p][h2]New Game Settings
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[/h2][p]When starting a new save in The Walking Trade you’ll be given some options for how you’d like the game to feel. The first option is Hardcore Mode. When Hardcore Mode is active, you only get one life – and upon death, your save is not longer playable. This one’s definitely not for the chill-seekers. Hardcore Mode has fixed settings to unify what a hardcore save is.[/p][p]If you decide Hardcore is not for you, you can tweak any of the following settings at the before you create your save or change them at any time in game too.
[/p][p]Freeze Time When Store Is Closed – if you’re feeling rushed off your feet at the start or end of a shift, you can completely freeze the time when your store is closed. Freezing time was commonly requested but I felt that freezing time fully unrestricted (while being able to serve customers) would be far too overpowered.[/p][p]Day Speed – a multiplier for how fast time moves in-game. Ranges from x0.25 – x1.5.[/p][p]Zombie Spawn Rate – a multiplier for how many and how often zombies can spawn. This does not affect raids, only the normal day zombies. Ranges from x0.25 – x1.5.[/p][p]Skip Introduction – this option becomes available after you’ve completed the first day on your first save. When active, the player will start the first day with the opening tutorial complete (shop clean, shelves stacked etc.).[/p][p][/p][h2]Clean-up Crew[/h2][p]Another largely requested feature was being able to hire cleaners to keep your store and car-park squeaky clean and organised. After unlocking some Management skills, you’ll now be able to hire cleaners.[/p][p]![]()
Placing rope on a rope-exclusive shelf.
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Placing a weapon on the mixed weapon rack.[/p][p][/p][p]Once a cleaner reaches Cleaner ⭐⭐⭐, they will be able to loot and dispose of corpses in the nearby skip. Super handy for preserving your store’s reputation.[/p][p]![]()
The cleaner worker disposing of a corpse after automatically looting it.[/p][p][/p][h2]Breaking and Entering![/h2][p]A common tactic in the demo during the zombie raids was to close the door, have a pint, and wait for everything to blow over by cheesing the entire fight killing mobs through the safety of the window. This felt good for the chill audience but ultimately breaks a core pillar of the game’s design. Zombies can now destroy the front door leaving you and your store vulnerable. If you really do not want to participate in the onslaught, you can now close the bedroom door, allowing immunity, but you cannot defeat enemies from there (unless you have remote detonations, but that’s a topic for another day!).[/p][p][/p][p]![]()
The zombie horde have broken through the door![/p][p][/p][p]Hopefully you like what I’ve been cooking. I’m really excited for launch and I’m really looking forward to you guys getting to try out these new features for yourself on March 5th!
Adam[/p]
[/p][h2]New Game Settings
[/p][p]Freeze Time When Store Is Closed – if you’re feeling rushed off your feet at the start or end of a shift, you can completely freeze the time when your store is closed. Freezing time was commonly requested but I felt that freezing time fully unrestricted (while being able to serve customers) would be far too overpowered.[/p][p]Day Speed – a multiplier for how fast time moves in-game. Ranges from x0.25 – x1.5.[/p][p]Zombie Spawn Rate – a multiplier for how many and how often zombies can spawn. This does not affect raids, only the normal day zombies. Ranges from x0.25 – x1.5.[/p][p]Skip Introduction – this option becomes available after you’ve completed the first day on your first save. When active, the player will start the first day with the opening tutorial complete (shop clean, shelves stacked etc.).[/p][p][/p][h2]Clean-up Crew[/h2][p]Another largely requested feature was being able to hire cleaners to keep your store and car-park squeaky clean and organised. After unlocking some Management skills, you’ll now be able to hire cleaners.[/p][p]
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Adam[/p]