Trailmakers News

Let's face it. Most of us suck at Trailmakers.

At least compared to some of the insane vehicles and inventions some players put up on the Steam Workshop. Some of that stuff is downright HUMBLING - even for us developers.

I mean, who builds a fully functional Vigenere Cipher Machine?! Kezo the Cabra does…

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1918326155

Or what about this self-landing SpaceX Starship by Esh?

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1903958914

Here is one of my personal favorites for when I really want to feel like a failure at the game. Martysama’s 3-part pirate ship “The Midnights Curse”. Three complexity-limit interlocking ship parts that can be assembled to a massive Man O’ War with manual control deck, turning sail, secret weapon console, accessible lower deck, and lots of hidden features.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1870831742
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1870832484
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1870833007

If you feel like I do, vote for Trailmakers in the “Best Game You Suck At” category of the Steam Awards. But don't forget: Suckin' at something is the first step to being sorta good at something.

Hey Trailmakers!

It’s been 1½ months since the release of Trailmakers 1.0. We’ve been so happy to see you enjoy the Stranded in Space campaign, and sharing your fantastic new creations in the Workshop, the Xbox Gallery, and on our Discord. Today, we want to give you a heads up about what we’re working on, and when we expect it is ready for release.

1.0.4 - Welding, New Maps, Block Skins, and DLC
The next content update for Trailmakers on Steam will have a bunch of awesome features as usual. We have also decided to add some DLC content to the game - some of it paid and some of it free. We have very carefully decided what type of content we want to add as DLC because we want it to feel entirely optional. Buy the DLCs if you want to support the development of Trailmakers and future Flashbulb games. Here are some of the new features in this update:

• We have entirely rewritten the vehicle Welding code. Welding is what happens when you exit the builder, and turn the vehicle from a bunch of blocks into a physics-based creation. We found a huge bug in the old code that caused several issues in the game, such as creations with weird bouncy wheels. The new welding code will fix many annoying bugs and make welding much faster, but also change the way vehicles are put together. It may change the behavior of some of your vehicles, but we felt it was necessary and For The Greater Good™.
  
• We are adding two new sandbox maps. The first one is a completely flat and empty map that many of you have requested to test out the top speed of your vehicles. The second is a paid DLC map with a donut-shaped racing track, and long stretches of tarmac.
  
• We are adding a Block Skin feature that changes the texture/material of the block. The changes to the block are only in appearance, not physical. Most of the Block Skins are part of Paid DLC bundles, except the Glass Skin which we are adding as a free skin.
  
• And much more...

Future Projects
While we are still working on Trailmakers, we are also working on some unannounced projects that we are not ready to talk about yet. More on that later :)

NOTE: THIS UPDATE HAS BEEN ROLLED BACK AND POSTPONED A FEW DAYS UNTIL WE FIX A SERIOUS MULTIPLAYER BUG.

Hi Trailmakers! Thanks for all the great feedback on our 1.0 release and Stranded in Space. We have just released a small update that adresses many of the issues you reported. If you have feedback or bug reports, head over to our Discord!

• Updated the Transform help video
  
• Added resolution change prompt
  
• Made explosive salvage a little less frustrating
  
• Halved the duration of a day in Stranded in Space
  
• We put more blocks into Stranded in Space so you can find every non-accessory block.
  
• Added a spinner to the Steam Workshop/Xbox Gallery to indicate download progress.
  
• Added a "Downloaded!" message to the Xbox Gallery/Steam Workshop when a blueprint is stored locally.
  
• Made the visualisation of the players build bounds much clearer.
  
• Added direction arrows to pistons in the builder.
  
• Changed the way Salvage appears on the Stranded in Space map. It will show up when you come within 200m of it ignoring height. It will say “Unknown Salvage” until you get close enough to scan it.
  
• Added a message to notify the player when they attempt to bind a key that cannot be assigned.
  
• Air Race and Beach on Race Island have new and improved instruction vehicles.
  
• Added some more Magnetic things around the Sandbox Island.
  
• Spaceship Seat can now be used underwater.
  
• The Controls and Instruction drop down menus in the Builder now save their state.
  
• Changed the transform key to holding down R to free up Alt as a keybind for your vehicles.
  
• Vastly improved the strength of the magnet when used on blocks/vehicles.

• Fixed a crash that could be caused by Transformation.
  
• Fix for crash when joining a server as it's shutting down.
  
• Further loading time improvements.
  
• Server Region Dropdown fix.
  
• Fixed a thumbnail scaling issue in the Help Menu
  
• Fixed Sonic Boom orientation
  
• Fixed a few memory leaks
  
• Fixed a bug where your Stranded in Space save game could get corrupted
  
• Attempted fix for players not seeing the introduction movie for Stranded in Space which caused them to be stuck unable to move when entering the game mode.
  
• Fixed weird Internal Forces on Magnets + Salvage making vehicles spin
  
• Fixed an issue where the player was incorrectly told they didn't have enough power cores.
  
• Rounded 2x1 is correctly aligned again.
  
• Fixed an issue where previously collected Salvage would still glow at a distance in Multiplayer.
  
• Auto Saved blueprints no longer saves identical structures.
  
• Fixed some localisation display issues on the static Help screens.
  
• Fixed issue in Multiplayer where you couldn't enter Build Mode due to being too close to another player.
  
• Fixed the Salvage piece in Bogwood that had a mind of it's own. (was constantly rolling down a hill into water then respawning).
  
• The Salvage Hologram should now correctly display your profile colours.
  
• The Salvage Hologram should now actually be a hologram.
  
• The Leaderboards on Race Island now have a collider.
  
• Catapults on Danger Zone no longer completely destroy a vehicle.
  
• Fixed some broken geometry on King's Island.
  
• Fixed some broken geometry on Race Island.
  
• Fixed an issue with some water based vehicles incorrectly saying they were airborne when trying to repair.
  
• Fixed you being able to repair and enter build mode in mid air.
  
• Repairing should place your vehicle down more carefully now.
  
• All vanity items now correctly have no aerodynamic value
  
• Fixed the ramp.
  

We’ve a couple of outstanding issues that aren’t gonna be fixed until 1.0.4, like the wobbly welding and if your vehicle becomes corrupt it kills your Stranded save game. Thanks for having patience with us :)

Today's Deal: Save 33% on Trailmakers!*

Look for the deals each day on the front page of Steam. Or follow us on twitter or Facebook for instant notifications wherever you are!

*Offer ends September 25 at 10AM Pacific Time

The 1.0 update is the biggest and greatest update to Trailmakers we have ever made. For returning players, it will feel both familiar and like a brand new game as we have added tons of new blocks and a brand new massive campaign. For new players, it has never been easier to get into Trailmakers with better tutorials and help menus. You can read the full change notes under the new launch trailer. From the whole Trailmakers Team, we really hope you enjoy it!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

• NEW CAMPAIGN - STRANDED IN SPACE
  • On your way to deliver a not-so-precious cargo of Space trash, you are hit by an asteroid and stranded on an alien planet. You must explore the planet and recover the space trash. Each part you salvage can be used to build new means of transportation and ultimately a spaceship that can bring you back into orbit and home again.
    
  • You collect the lost salvage and unlock new blocks by delivering it to the Recovery Drones. This is not always easy as the salvage can be stuck in holes, at the bottom of the sea or even highly explosive!
    
  • To help you recover the salvage, we have added a new block to the game: The Electromagnet. After you find this block in Stranded in Space, salvaging will be a lot smoother. You can read more about this block in the New Blocks section of the update notes.
    
  • There are new ways to earn coins, that you can spend on accessory blocks. If you find a Nugget Thief make sure to chase them down and take their gold.
    
  • There is an unprecedented amount of new wildlife and fauna to find on the planet in Stranded in Space. Explore above and beneath the surface to find them all.
    
  • Unlike the old Expedition game mode, Stranded in Space is available as a MULTIPLAYER mode in its entirety. Your progress carries over if you join a multiplayer game, and you can collaborate to recover some of the trickier salvages.
• The TRANSFORM FEATURE is back!
  With the push of a button you can transform between different vehicle you have made (or downloaded). PC Players assign the vehicles they want to transform to by hovering over the blueprint and pressing a number from 1-4. You can transform while driving by pressing ALT+1-4. Xbox Players can use the D-pad while hovering over a blueprint, and transform in-game by pushing LB+D-pad.
  
• We have added some very satisfying Water Splashes and foam effects for all you sailors out there!
  
• There are now a series of Steam and Xbox Achievements you can complete if you’re a real completionist!
  
• We have added more template vehicles - premade vehicles by the Trailmakers developers. You can find them in the builder menu next to your saved blueprints.
  
• The First Person camera view is now much nicer. You can access it on PC by cycling through the camera angles by pressing C, and on Xbox by pressing down the right stick.
  
• There is a new camera angle called Helicopter Chase camera. We have added it as a great angle when you are piloting helicopters or drones. You can access it on PC by cycling through the camera angles by pressing C, and on Xbox by pressing down the right stick.
  
• Due to some engine tweaks (see the Blocks section), we have changed some things in the Trailmakers Rally mode AND on Race Island. This includes:
  
  • New Bronze, Silver and Gold ghosts on most tracks.
    
  • New instruction vehicles.
    
  • Many track tweaks like more tarmac.
    
  • Now, you can also teleport to another race track while in the builder by opening the map.
    
  All these changes will of course mean a leaderboard reset.
  
• The player’s Visor opens up when out of seat.
  
• Changed the Chat Font - goodbye Comic Sans, you will not be missed.
  
• The soccer field in the Sandbox map is much more professional.

Please note that your graphics settings might have been reset in this update. Go to preferences, and select your preferred graphics settings again - sorry for the inconvenience.

• Loading times have been vastly improved across the board.
  
• A great many textures have been optimised.
  
• There are new minimum quality setting for potato PCs.
  
• Maps now have greater details.

We have continued our work to make the Trailmakers builder intuitive and informative. Here are the changes to the builder in 1.0:

• You can now toggle the arrows that indicate the aerodynamic properties of your vehicle on and off.
  
• We have added a Complexity indicator to warn you when your vehicle is nearing the complexity limit.
  
• Many blocks now have a “Show Advanced” toggle in their configuration menu. If you are missing some block options that used to be there, remember to toggle the advanced view.
  
• We have added an info window when you hover over blocks with the cursor. It shows the name of the block, the weight and the keybindings (if applicable).
  
• There’s a brand new Help Menu available from the top right of the builder or from the Escape Menu. Here you can find quick images and videos explaining basic concepts in Trailmakers like aerodynamics, Power Cores, controls and more.
  
• The builder UI has been redesigned completely.
  
• When you open the builder you will notice an arrow on the ground. We recommend you build your vehicle facing in this direction. It makes the aerodynamic arrows match, makes sure other vehicles you transform to are pointed in the same direction, and aligns many blocks in the right direction when pulling them out of the inventory.
  
• The game will attempt to auto save your creation if the server crashes or shuts down while you are in build mode.
  
• Increased the cursor speed when using a controller in the builder.
  
• Blocks now become opaque when rotating or coloring in the builder.
  
• You can now build underwater!
  
• We have removed the ‘Favorites’ category of blocks and added one with Lights.
  
• There is now a Lights category in Blocks AND one in Accessories. The Lights in Blocks are free, the ones in Accessories are purchased with coins.
  
• Armor plates have been moved from the Gadgets category to the Frames category.

• NEW: ELECTROMAGNET - The Electromagnet attracts or rejects magnetic objects when you activate it. This is configurable. Many objects in the game have been made magnetic.
  
• NEW: Spaceship Seat - The Spaceship Seat is a brand new seat designed for the Spaceship in the new game mode, Stranded in Space. It is immediately available in all Sandbox modes.
  
• NEW: Ship’s Wheel - You can finally sail your boat in style with a proper Ship’s Wheel.
  
• NEW: Ski - Snow not included.
  
• Engine Tweaks
  
• The Bulldawg, RAW and Dragon Engines have been reworked. The diminishing returns when using several of the same engine is now less noticeable.
  
• The Spinning Servo and Helicopter Engines have received some big changes. The curve of the speed configuration has been normalised - previously there was virtually no difference between 6 and 10. The new top speed (10) is a little higher than before, while the new 6 is slower than the old 6. The new servos will also feel more like they are applying a certain amount of force rather than trying to spin at a certain speed. This will be evident when you try attaching something light to them - it will spin faster than when you adjust something heavy. If you have vehicles that rely on these servos, you might want to readjust their configurations.
  
• NEW ACCESSORY BLOCKS:
  
  • Rainbow Maker
    
  • Bubble Maker
    
  • Mad Science Block
    
  • Swine Hood
    
  • Snake Hood
    
  • Hound Hood
    
  • Periscope
    
  • Rib Cage Pipes
    
  • Stop Sign
    
  • Yellow Neon
    
  • Wind Sock
    
  • Wind Propeller
    
  • Wood Bumper
    
  • Swirling Rim
    
  • Fidget Rim
    
  • Sun Rim
  
• Many Accessories have had their coin price changed.
  
• The Propeller AND the Underwater Propeller now have a keybind for going in reverse. You can assign this in the configuration menu on the individual block.
  
• Many Aerodynamic blocks have been changed from having block colliders to mesh colliders. In practice, this means it is much more smooth to build a ramp and drive on it for example.
  
• All Aerodynamic blocks have received new weight values - now properly based on science and stuff.
  
• Some blocks have had their aerodynamic values adjusted.
  
• All accessory blocks are now much less of an obstruction when it comes to making fast and aerodynamic vehicle. You should not have to choose between putting cool accessories on your vehicle and going fast.
  
• We have added three new trophies for repeating winners of the Weekly Challenge (more info: https://www.playtrailmakers.com/weekly-challenge)

• The horn will no longer keep blaring when you respawn.
  
• Fixed some memory leaks.
  
• Light in the blueprints category is now consistent.
  
• Light in blocks category is now consistent.
  
• Fixed uneven ground warning when ground is not uneven.
  
• Fixed aerodynamic arrows not showing in multiple cases.
  
• Fixed some seats spawning 90 degrees rotated.
  
• Fixed camera anchor point issues.
  
• Fixed glitchy camera movement during repair.
  
• Fixed birds hovering above ground in some situations.
  
• Fixed builder inventory appearing empty when going between tracks in rally.
  
• Fixed camera spinning out of control when rotating while assigning input in the configurator.
  
• Fixed values in configurator not saving correctly if using the slider.
  
• Fixed the ramp.