Stormworks: Build and Rescue News

Dear Stormworkers,

Join us for the launch party live stream!

Much love
The Stormworks Developers

Dear Stormworkers,

This week, we release a huge update to train wheels!



Steam Powered Wheels

The new steam powered wheel components include train wheel pistons and linked drive wheels. These are modular parts where chains of drive wheels connect together with drive wheel linkages. A connecting train wheel steam piston will also link to the drive wheels, converting pressurized steam into driving force.

These new steam drive wheels come in multiple sizes and wheel types, from solid wheels to spoked and counterweighted.



Other Train Wheels

We have also added other train wheels! These new components include steam era leaf sprung stock wheels, as well as modern styled wheels in single, double, and triple configurations. This allows much more customization and replication of designs.



Mechanical Reworks

Train wheels now work differently! The wheels no longer pivot freely, and are fixed in the orientation they are placed. If they twist to too high a degree, they will derail. Derailment becomes more likely with speed as well.

Brakes are also reworked, and now have high high holding power at low speeds, so when applied, brakes should firmly hold your train in place.

This is a massive rework of train wheels, and just in time for the new DLC release on Thursday next week, featuring hundreds of km of train lines.

Thank you to all the players who have asked for improved train wheels. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback on this new minor update!

The new Industrial Frontier DLC arrives on Thursday at 5PM UTC / 10AM Pacific Daylight Time! We will be hosting the launch party around 1 hour before then, as a stream on the Steam Store page. Please join us!

Much love
The Stormworks Developers



Patch Notes

v1.5.17

Changes that include a #NUMBER relate to fixes or features submitted by the Stormworks community via geometa.co.uk/support/stormworks which can be accessed via the 'Report Bug/Request Feature' button in-game.

Posting a submission to this tracker ensures we review your suggestion/report since we may not see reports submitted via other channels.

Feature - New Train Wheel Assemblies and Pistons (#2393 #14402)

In this update we have reworked our train bogie code and added a variety of new parts:
- Added several new train assemblies of varying size
- Added steam train assemblies and pistons that link together when placed in sequence
- Updated the braking mechanic to prevent rolling on slopes
- Updated how trains attach to the track for improved cornering
- Added a derailing mechanic for train bogies turning through critical angles which are more sensitive at high speeds

Fix - #9407 Fix pipe components being draggable in unintended axes
Fix - #10449 Mesh error at Kalopsidiotis Chemical Storage
Fix - #10680 Detonator antenna sticks out of the block
Fix - #10987 AWACS radar has missing/transparent textures at certain angles
Fix - #12970 Cable anchors received data issues when disconnected by players
Fix - #13178 Logic slot name typo
Fix - #13224 Memory Register typo
Fix - #13233 Winch description semantics
Fix - #13236 Reversed mass changes to tank track parts
Fix - #14291 Incorrect Description for Laser Sensor (Missile)

Dear Stormworkers,

The Industrial Frontier DLC is almost here, arriving on October 13th at 5PM UTC / 10AM Pacific Daylight Time!

In this announcement, we discuss new information and details on this new DLC. We also have an incredible month of updates planned, with hints below on next weeks minor update, as well as a Halloween update in the works!

The New Biome

The new arid mainland is the new, dry biome, inspired by various deserts, canyons, mountain ranges, and styles of geology from around the world. Different areas of the new mainland represent the style and nature of various world locations, each blending into the next to create a varied and diverse landscape.



There are various built locations around the world, including an abandoned and damaged nuclear power plant on the coast (with low levels of radiation), a large oil and gas storage yard, abandoned iron ore mine and ore terminal, huge flat salt plains with ship wrecks reminiscent of the Aral Sea, metal works and foundry, gold ore separator, deep uranium mine, a radio frequency telescope inspired by the Arecibo telescope, and many other unique locations.



The new biome is 30km from end to end, 400 square km in total, and surrounded by many new small dry islands. The many dozens of new locations and landmarks across the islands are named in honor of the many great Stormworks vehicle creators who have shared their creations on the workshop.

New Rail

The new railway lines are extensive and are designed to largely form loops, as well as provide freight access to many of the new industrial locations. As well as routes and junctions, there are various shunting yards to allow for more of the operations required in rail freight. Next weeks minor update will make further big improvements for train gameplay,



Mining and Refining

The new mining system adds a new mining drill component, which can drill mineral patches to break down and extract minerals. These minerals can be held in hoppers in a similar way to coal. New mineral types include iron ore, aluminium ore, gold rich dirt, and uranium ore. These can be refined and reduced via the metals foundary, dirt separator, centrefuges, and industrial laboritory. Pure metal ingots can be sold at the metals trading yard, while uranium ingots can be taken to workbenches for building uranium fuel rods in career.



Animals

The new animals are largely grouped into some main categories: domestic dog breeds, farm animals, predators, and herbivores. There are around a dozen breeds of dog, from traditional working dogs such as German Shephards, to less traditional search and rescue canines, such as the Pug. Farm animals include breeds of horse, sheep, cow pig, goat, chicken, etc. Predators include types of bear, wolves and more, while prey includes types of hare, deer, etc.



As a reminder of the upcoming timetable:

Oct 7th: Train themed minor update

Oct 13th: Industrial Frontier DLC Launch

Oct 25th: Halloween update

Thank you to everyone for all the support we have received. We are super excited for the upcoming expansion and can't wait for release! We look forward to your feedback, and see you next week for the minor update.

Much love
The Stormworks Developers

Dear Stormworkers,

In this weeks update, we are adding a new component - the missile laser sensor component!

The missile laser sensor works a lot like the radar sensor, except it locks onto laser points rather than radar contacts. This greatly assists the creation of compact laser guided missiles and bombs.

This new sensor is similar to the laser point sensor, except it is smaller, cylindrical, and has the same composite output as the radar missile sensor, allowing simpler and more compact munitions.

We have included a new preset vehicle to help players get started with the new sensor. It works in a very similar way to the radar missile sensor, so you should be able to do a simple sensor swap-out on any existing missiles you have made. In our tests, it works great for both LG missiles and also bombs.



Thank you to everyone who gave feedback on last weeks announcement! We have been overwhelmed by the level of support and enthusiasm for this update and we can't wait for release!

Here is a quick recap of the roadmap to release:

30th Sept - More info and details of the Industrial Frontier DLC

7th Oct - Minor update including some very highly requested new components

13th Oct - Stormworks: Industrial Frontier DLC launch



We look forward to hearing your feedback on this weeks update. Be sure to join us next week for more important info on the Industrial Frontier!

Much love
The Stormworks Developers



Patch Notes

v1.5.15-16

Changes that include a #NUMBER relate to fixes or features submitted by the Stormworks community via geometa.co.uk/support/stormworks which can be accessed via the 'Report Bug/Request Feature' button in-game.

Posting a submission to this tracker ensures we review your suggestion/report since we may not see reports submitted via other channels.

Feature - Missile Laser Sensor (#5754 #6954)

Fix - #3713 Game music doesn't stop when returning to main menu
Fix - #7177 Charger sometimes not functioning as intended due to block placement order
Fix - Rope states not updating on client join
Fix - Held rope animation not matching hand position
Fix - #13070 Removed non-functional MC editor 'Don't show in inventory' option
Fix - #2633 Removed arrow rendering from logic links for improved performance

Dear Stormworkers,

On the 13th October 2022, we will be launching the new Industrial Frontier Expansion!

New Lands

The Industrial Frontier update includes a new 400 square km arid mega island. This is a huge new location, and is two times bigger than the current largest island. Overall, this expansion doubles the total land area in Stormworks.

To the south of the Stormworks world, this warmer location is a combination of salt flats, arid cliffs, hills, canyons, volcano, industrial facilities, bases, and more.



New Rail

The new location includes hundreds of km of new train line and roads, including loops, switching stations, storage yards, bridges, and more.



Mining and Processing

Several new mines and quarries are introduced, with new surface mineral deposits that can be mined using the new mining drill. The extracted ores can be transported to refining and processing facilities and foundries, to reduce them to pure metal ingots that can be sold at the metal trading yard.



Wildlife and Farms

The new wildlife system introduces dozens of species of animals, including wildlife such as deer, badgers, horses, hares, farm animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, as well as aggressive animals such as various types of bears, wolves, and more.



Stormwoofs

Many species of trained and domesticated dogs are introduced in the Industrial Frontier. They are a rare encounter but also a useful friend, and will follow instructions given by a dog whistle, as well as having a keen sense for survivors.



Additional Free Content

The Industrial Frontier expansion is a DLC and so will be a paid update. However, we will also be releasing a free major update at the same time, including an industrialization of the Sawyer Isles with loads of new rail line across the island, and the new mining mechanics for coal and uranium will also be included in the base game, with a new career fuel management system.



We cannot wait to share this new release with you! More details will come soon.

Much love
The Stormworks Developers