MineMogul News

[h2]Unclogged Bulk Sorter[/h2][p]In the previous update, we made it so the Vertical Bulk Sorter would flush items down the center if it got clogged.[/p][p]This was really confusing, so we removed it, and made it so the bulk sorter can't get clogged.[/p][p]Previously, all the objects passing through the bulk sorter still had real physics collisions with everything else inside it. So, if two objects were trying to go in opposite directions at the same time, there was chance they could get stuck and cause the machine to clog.[/p][p]In this update, objects going in different directions no longer have any collisions with each other. This fixes clogging entirely (unless you try to put some large objects like plates through it)[/p][p]However, this makes the Vertical Bulk Sporter much much more powerful and a much higher tier item. It's price has been drastically increased to reflect this.[/p][p][/p][h2]Save file play time[/h2][p]Individual play times for save files are now tracked! However, all existing save files will have their play time initially set at 0.[/p][p][/p]

• [p]REMOVED flushing mechanic from bulk sorter, and made it impossible for it to clog (unless you try to put some large objects through it like plates or pipes)[/p]
• [p]Increased vertical bulk sorter price from 1200 to 4800[/p]
• [p]Renamed current map from "The Cool New Cave" to "Classic Cave" (in anticipation of upcoming new larger map)[/p]
• [p]Fixed settings not applying until you load a save file (most notably, volume setting didn't apply on the main menu)[/p]
• [p]Fixed ingots disappearing right after being made sometimes after pressing "clear all physics ore" button[/p]

[p][/p][p]Thanks for playing MineMogul! We look forward to all your feedback in the Steam Discussions and Discord.[/p]

[h2]Smart Splitter[/h2][p]The "Conveyor Splitter Tier 2" has been reworked into the new "Smart Splitter Conveyor"[/p][p]It has a sensor, and will only change directions when objects pass through them. This results in a nice 50/50 split when you have a low amount of objects running through them, like 1 or 2 blast furnace's worth of ingots.[/p][p]Also, the arm speed has been reduced to hopefully prevent larger objects from getting knocked off the belt.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]New Merging Conveyor[/h2][p]The T-Junction has it's merging capability REMOVED, and added to the new "Merging Conveyor" (previously Straight Merge Conveyor). There's also a new 3 to 1 merger variation. You can cycle through the merging directions by pressing "Q"[/p][p][/p][h2]Increased FPS[/h2][p]Object pooling has been introduced for Ore Pieces (including processed resources like ingots)[/p][p]Ideally, the game should function exactly the same as before, but with slightly higher FPS.[/p][p][/p][h2]Steam Cloud Saving[/h2][p]Steam cloud saving is now enabled! If you play the game on multiple devices, your saves should now be synced across them.[/p][p][/p][h2]Bigger Inventory[/h2][p]The inventory was too small, so we made it bigger. Enjoy an extra row of inventory slots![/p][p]There's also a couple bug fixes & QOL features, like inventory slot numbers on the hud, and the ability to drag items out of your inventory to drop them.[/p][p][/p][h2]Clogged Sorter[/h2][p]The new Vertical Bulk Sorter was still clogging and overflowing sometimes if too many objects were trying to go through it. I was able to reduce the chance of it clogging in the previous update, but that didn't completely fix it.[/p][p]Now, this bug has become a feature![/p][p]If the Vertical Bulk Sorter detects it may be clogged, it will create a loud error sound, and flush all stuck objects down the center chute.[/p][p]This should only happen very rarely, if at all for most setups. If it happens often, it's a sign that your sorter is probably overloaded.[/p][p][/p]

• [p]Added Field of View setting[/p]
• [p]Added new 3 to 1 merger (variation of the "Merging Conveyor" item)[/p]
• [p]Added Object Pooling for Ore Pieces (makes fps higher)[/p]
• [p]Added an additional row of inventory space[/p]
• [p]Added slot numbers to the hotbar[/p]
• [p]Added ability to drag items out of the inventory to drop them[/p]
• [p]Reworked "Tier 2 Splitter" into "Smart Splitter Conveyor"[/p]
  • [p]Uses a new sensor to detect when objects are moving through it. Only changes directions when objects have passed through it recently[/p]
• [p]Moved merging version of the "T-Junction" to the "Straight Merge Conveyor" & renamed it to "Merging Conveyor" (T-Junction is now only a splitter)[/p]
• [p]Updated Vertical Bulk Sorter to flush itself automatically when clogged[/p]
• [p]Updated warning when trying to load a legacy demo save file to be even scarier and have red text! Please don't play on the demo save files, they do not work anymore.[/p]
• [p]Updated FPS limit setting to mention it only works if VSync is OFF[/p]
• [p]Updated Loading Menu to skip and invalid save files (instead of completely failing to display any if one was invalid)[/p]
• [p]Updated save file backups to check if they're actually valid before being saved[/p]
• [p]Updated "clear physics ore" button description to be more descriptive[/p]
• [p]Fixed Drill Bit descriptions "Dril Bit" instead of "Drill Bit"[/p]
• [p]Fixed main menu Steam News thing looking weird sometimes[/p]
• [p]Fixed T2 Blocker not saving it's open/closed state[/p]
• [p]Fixed "F" button to close computer shop not using key binds[/p]
• [p]Fixed cannon conveyor being really inconsistent and not launching things as far as it's supposed to[/p]
• [p]Fixed dev mode being forced on when loading a legacy demo save file[/p]
• [p]Fixed some cases of ingots getting stuck on conveyors randomly[/p]
• [p]Fixed some cases of objects phasing through the Roller Ledge[/p]
• [p]Fixed inventory items visually disappearing when closing your inventory while dragging an item[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][h2]Physics Engine[/h2][p]The current physics engine (unity's default, PhysX) is at it's limit. There's not much more I can do to improve performance with the current physics engine.[/p][p]So, I've started looking into a NEW physics engine! Specifically, the very confusingly named, non-default "Unity Physics" (or potentially Havok if that works better), which is multithreaded. I've done some initial testing, and it looks very promising, allowing for much more physics objects.[/p][p]However, this will require a LOT of work, so it likely won't be ready for a while.[/p][p][/p][h2]New Map[/h2][p]We started working on a new, much larger map. This will be an option you can choose from when starting a new game.[/p][p][/p][h2]Experimental branch[/h2][p]We plan on creating an experimental branch on Steam for people to test out the latest changes before future updates go live! We'll be posting more info on this in the official Discord server. Come join if you want to test new features like the new map and new physics engine![/p][p][/p][p]Thanks for playing MineMogul! We look forward to all your feedback in the Steam Discussions and Discord.[/p]

[h2]Key Binds[/h2][p]Rebindable keys are here for keyboard & mouse controls![/p][p]Note: [/p]

• [p]There may be a few spots in-game where the UI still shows the original key bindings (for example, on the Magnet Tool's screen). Please let us know if you see any other spots where this happens, so we can fix them![/p]
• [p]The game doesn't have controller support yet, that would come in a later update.[/p]

[p][/p][h2]HO! HO! HO![/h2][p]Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Shaftmas![/p][p]Santa has come to the mine shaft and delivered some special holiday items and a present reskin for the Packager Machine boxes![/p][p][/p][h2]Building Supports Wrench[/h2][p]A new wrench tool to remove/add support pillars.[/p][p]Note: It doesn't work with some things like scaffolding or the Vertical Bulk Sorter yet. Currently it only works on conveyors & chutes.[/p][p][/p][h2]Ingot Straightening Conveyor[/h2][p]A new conveyor type to help if your ingots are jamming up in front of the Rod Extruder[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Clogged Sorter[/h2][p]The Vertical Bulk Sorter that was added in the last update could get clogged very easily if there was a lot of stuff going through it.[/p][p]That's been greatly improved now.[/p][p]It can still clog up sometimes if you run an absurd amount of objects through it, but it should be much more clog-resistant now. This will probably be improve more in future updates.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Corrupted Save Files[/h2][p]A couple people have had their save files become corrupted due to do power loss or random PC issues when saving the game. The game now has save file backups and additional safety precautions, so hopefully this shouldn't happen in the future.[/p][p][/p][h2]Version 0.1.1.1 released: [/h2]

• [p]Added key rebinding[/p]
• [p]Added new Festive Lamp Poles & Shaftmas Tree[/p]
• [p]Added new Straightening Conveyor[/p]
• [p]Added save file backups & extra safety precautions when saving the game[/p]
• [p]Updated ore crushing sound to be a little quieter[/p]
• [p]Updated minimum mouse sensitivity to be 0.1 instead of 0[/p]
• [p]Updated some machines to be slightly more lenient when determining if the ground is flat enough for them to be placed on[/p]
• [p]Updated Emerald and Ruby gems to look dirtier when dirty[/p]
• [p]Updated Packaging Machine package to use special festive wrapping[/p]
• [p]Updated the game's icon to use the game's actual icon instead of an old placeholder pickaxe icon[/p]
• [p]Updated Main Menu popup to include a message about the game using real physics simulation[/p]
• [p]Decreased Polishing Machine time to polish from 1.5 seconds to 1.25 seconds[/p]
• [p]Reduced chance of Vertical Bulk Sorter getting jammed (However, it can still jam sometimes if you have too much stuff going into it)[/p]
• [p]Fixed Shaker Table description saying it produces gold (it does not)[/p]
• [p]Fixed scrolling research, quest, and resolution menus being super slow when using mouse scroll wheel[/p]
• [p]Fixed Hardened Drill Bits thinking they have durability when taken out of an autominer[/p]
• [p]Fixed some strangeness when messing with Drill Bits that are attached to rapid autominers (but not all strangeness)[/p]
• [p]Fixed weird stuff happening if your save file had ore with invalid positions[/p]
• [p]Fixed Rolling Mill getting stuck in the "jammed" state sometimes when pressing Clear all Physics Ore[/p]
• [p]Fixed Sloped Roller sometimes creating supports that stick conveyors below it[/p]
• [p]Fixed Angled Chute not removing supports of things that are above it[/p]
• [p]Fixed Rapid Auto-Miners always starting on when loading a save if it has a drill bit, even if it was turned off previously[/p]

[p][/p][p]Thanks for playing MineMogul! We look forward to all your feedback in the Steam Discussions and Discord.[/p]

[p]The Bulk Industries update is here with the following new buildable objects:[/p]

• [p]Vertical Bulk Sorter[/p]
• [p]Walled Conveyors[/p]
• [p]Ore Overflow Splitter[/p]
• [p]Shaker Table[/p]
• [p]Roller Conveyor Slope[/p]
• [p]Roller Sorter[/p]
• [p]Turbo Drill Bit & Hardened Drill Bit for the Rapid Auto-Miner[/p]

[p][/p][h2]Vertical Bulk Sorter[/h2][p]The newest sorting device. It's large, but it can handle a lot of incoming resources. It has a main passthrough output and two filtered outputs.[/p][p][/p][h2]Shaker Table[/h2][p]The first of potentially many uses for coal. This machine inputs coal, and has a chance to produce Diamonds or the new Ruby Gem[/p][p][/p][h2]New Rapid Auto-Miner Drill Bits[/h2][p]There are two new drill bit types for the Rapid Auto-Miner[/p][p][/p][h3]Turbo Drill Bit[/h3]

• [p]Produces a TON of ore very quickly, but only lasts for 2 minutes[/p]
• [p]Can not produce gems[/p]

[h3]Hardened Drill Bit[/h3]

• [p]Slower than the standard Rapid Auto-Miner Drill Bit, but lasts forever[/p]
• [p]Still faster than the Auto-Miner Mk1, but doesn't produce gems[/p]

[h3]Standard Drill Bit (original)[/h3]

• [p]Faster than the Auto-Miner Mk1, but doesn't produce gems.[/p]
• [p]Breaks after 10 minutes[/p]

[p][/p][h2]Improved T-Junction[/h2][p]Previously the T-Junction was pretty bad at splitting ore because it was purely physics based. If all your ore was on the left side of the conveyor, it would all go to the left.[/p][p]This still happens a little, but I did some tweaks to the physics to hopefully make it split slightly more evenly (However, it's still heavily influenced by which side of the conveyor belt the objects are on)[/p][p][/p][h2]Broken Quests[/h2][p]Many people were experiencing an issue where some resources they deposited were not counting towards the quests. This wasn't a bug. If you had multiple quests that required the same resource (for example Iron Rods), then the Iron Rods you deposited would only count towards the first quest, until you got all the Iron Rods for that quest. Then it would starting towards the next quest.[/p][p]This was confusing, so we changed it. Now, if you deposit resources, it will count towards ALL your active quests, instead of just one. [/p][p][/p]

• [p]Added new Shaker Table Machine[/p]
• [p]Added new Vertical Bulk Sorter[/p]
• [p]Added new Walled Conveyors[/p]
• [p]Added new Ore Overflow Splitter[/p]
• [p]Added new Roller Conveyor Slope[/p]
• [p]Added new Roller Sorter[/p]
• [p]Added new Turbo Drill Bit & Hardened Drill Bit[/p]
• [p]Reworked Research Tree layout & prices[/p]
• [p]Updated Roller Conveyor Straight & Rolling Conveyor Ledge to be unlocked via Research instead of Quest[/p]
• [p]Updated Research Tree items to become unlocked when ANY of their prerequisites are researched instead of ALL of them[/p]
• [p]Updated T-Junction to split resources more evenly (still heavily physics based)[/p]
• [p]Updated deposited resources to count towards all active quests with the same requirement, instead of only 1[/p]
• [p]Updated Sorters to be slightly faster when sorting large objects[/p]
• [p]Updated Crates to act the same as Filter Baskets for Magnet & clearing ore[/p]
• [p]Changed Magnet Tool "Resources not in Filters" text to "Resources not in filter baskets"[/p]
• [p]Reduced Rapid Auto-Miner research ticket cost from 3 to 2[/p]
• [p]Reduced requirements for the Ore Mogul quests from 5000 to 2000[/p]
• [p]Reduced requirements for "Master of Pipes", "Master of Rods", & "Master of Plates" quests from 400 to 300[/p]
• [p]Reduced price of Tier 2 Splitter from 4 research tickets to 2[/p]
• [p]Fixed UI sounds playing in 3d instead of 2d[/p]
• [p]Fixed Discord button not working in the pause menu[/p]
• [p]Fixed ingots getting stuck randomly sometimes on some conveyor pieces[/p]
• [p]Fixed Drill Bits not saving which Rapid Auto-Miner they're attached to[/p]
• [p]Other minor bug fixes & tweaks[/p]

[p][/p][h2]Future Thoughts:[/h2][h3]The inventory is too small[/h3][p]The current inventory size is getting pretty small for the amount of items in the game now.[/p][p]We plan to make it bigger in a future update.[/p][p][/p][h3]Replacing Conveyors is annoying[/h3][p]Currently if you want to switch from a regular conveyor to a walled conveyor, you need to manually pick up the old conveyors and replace new ones. This is really annoying and will be improved in a future update. Ideally you should just be able to replace the old conveyors with new ones.[/p][p][/p][p]Thanks for playing MineMogul! We look forward to all your feedback in the Steam Discussions and Discord.[/p]

[h2]Lost in the cave[/h2][p]It was pretty easy to get lost in the cave before. There's no map or compass or anything to help with navigation. So, we added these new Arrow Sign Posts as a cheap default unlock. You can also write text on them[/p][p][/p][h2]Better Rapid Auto-Miner[/h2][p]The Rapid Auto-Miner was about twice as fast as the regular Auto-Miner, but it has a variable speed, so it's hard to tell. Sometimes it's slower, but usually it was faster. However, it seemed really underpowered.[/p][p]It's been updated to produce ore faster, and the Drill Bit now lasts 10 minutes instead of 7.5[/p][p][/p][p]We want to improve this more in the future. We'll make it easier to tell how much time is remaining, and also add new Drill Bit types (as seen above) [/p][p][/p][h2]Higher FPS[/h2][p]The FPS was already pretty good IMO, given you can have 1000+ real physics objectives active at a time. But I found some more optimizations I could do with the conveyor belt logic. Ideally, everything should function the exact same as they did previously, but FPS might be slightly higher with very large factories.[/p][p]Please let me know if you notice any differences in fps or see any weird new physics behaviors!

This update also includes a VSync option, so if you had weird fps issues before, try turning VSync on or off.[/p][p][/p][h2]Key binds and Translations and Achievements[/h2][p]These are some of the most asked about things. I want to add key binds very soon.[/p][p]Language translations will come less-soon, but still "soon". I'm not sure exactly when, but I know they're very important. Currently the game is only in English.[/p][p]We also want to add Steam Achievements at some point. Probably as part of a future major update.[/p][p][/p][h2]Bigger Cave[/h2][p]Personally, I enjoy the puzzle aspect of having to build in the limited space. But I understand that's not for everyone. Some people just want to build unrestricted! So, we'll probably be adding buyable TNT that you can use to blow up some of the stalactites / stalagmites / other rocks around the cave to free up some space for your factory.[/p][p]This will become even more important as we add more new machines in future updates. We might also add more maps in the future, but I think that's a long ways away.[/p][p][/p][h2]Version 0.1.0.3 released: [/h2]

• [p]Added New Arrow Sign Post with editable text![/p]
• [p]Added VSync and FPS Limit settings[/p]
• [p]Added unlocked item descriptions to the Quest & Research trees[/p]
• [p]Added "View Roadmap" button to main menu[/p]
• [p]Added "Force Unlock Cursor" accessibility option[/p]
• [p]Added a few more Broken Drill Bits hidden around the map (only applies to new saves)[/p]
• [p]Optimized conveyor logic a bit more, hopefully improving fps slightly[/p]
• [p]Increased Rapid Auto-Miner mining speed[/p]
• [p]Increased Rapid Auto-Miner drill bit time from 7.5 minutes to 10 minutes[/p]
• [p]Updated Rapid Auto-Miner drill bit description to say how long it lasts[/p]
• [p]Updated "Scavenger Hunt" quest description to say you can get broken drill bits from the rapid autominer[/p]
• [p]Updated Quest/Research info panels to be a bit wider[/p]
• [p]Updated polishing machine description to say that it gets dirty if you run raw ore through it[/p]
• [p]Reduced polishing machine time to polish from 1.75 seconds to 1.5 seconds[/p]
• [p]Fixed "Cancel" button when creating a new game being hard to press[/p]
• [p]Fixed some cases of ingots falling through the floor if there isn't a conveyor in front of the blast furnace[/p]
• [p]Fixed some cases of purchased machine boxes getting stuck in the elevator shaft[/p]
• [p]Fixed some cases of ore phasing through the angled chutes if falling from high up[/p]
• [p]Fixed ore not being grabbable sometimes if it was grabbed by a grabber arm, then moved through a conveyor belt before being dropped[/p]
• [p]Fixed random news articles appearing in the in-game news feed (It should only be our Steam update posts)[/p]

[p][/p][h3]HO HO HO!!!!!![/h3][p]The large man is preparing his list, and checking it three times! Looks like he will need A TON of coal to deliver to naughty moguls soon! Coming in a future update![/p][p][/p][p]Thanks for playing MineMogul! We look forward to all your feedback in the Steam Discussions and Discord.[/p]