Derail Valley News

Hey all! Quick update this time.

As some you noticed, as of update #70 sometimes you'd not be able to go through tunnels. This build should fix that. Have fun!



World:

- Attempted fix for not being able to go through tunnels

Hi everyone,

We have several notable fixes today!





All of it. Trees, as well as rocks, will no longer appear on tracks. Moreover, we’ve been able to gain quite a visual improvement too. With the new approach the gravel texture previously painted next to tracks to remove vegetation is no longer necessary. This brought a lot more track-side texture variety, and allowed us to bring vegetation closer to the tracks, making all environments feel more authentic.



In the future, once aged tracks are implemented, this will also allow us to make abandoned tracks somewhat more overgrown than others.



One of the most obvious issues with the game was that, when transitioning to a new area vegetation would blink for a few frames. This made hangs a lot more noticeable than they really are. As of this build vegetation will no longer blink.



We know that shovel in VR is often wonky. Until it’s reworked, there’s now a temporary setting in Misc submenu, that lets you interact with coal in a way that doesn’t involve physics. This means that lags or losing tracking will no longer launch your coal into orbit.



Despite simulating train brake you’ve all experienced cars buckling and sometimes causing derailments in turns when braking. All the cars shared the same braking power, however their mass differed. Being heavier, some cars would push against the light ones as they had a harder time stopping.

Now, car brakes are automatically adjusted for car and cargo mass, ensuring that the entire train brakes with mostly the same force.



Many of you wrote to us about bugs with jobs stuck in inventory and loader levers not working. Both of those issues are now fixed.



World:

- Removed vegetation and rocks from tracks
\ Removed need for gravel texture next to tracks (more natural track-side)
\ Allowed bringing vegetation closer to tracks
- Fixed vegetation flickering at terrain loading
- Fixed terrain bump at lake loop

Jobs:

- Fixed non interactable levers on load/refill machine (introduced recently)
- Fixed being unable to take out job booklets from inventory (introduced recently)

Steam locomotive:

- Added non-physical shovel option for VR, making coal stick to the shovel
\ Can be found in settings, under the Misc submenu
\ Can be switched on and off during gameplay

Cars:

- Brake strength now automatically adjusts for car mass (no more buckling)

Hi everyone,

Today's a quick one. Last night's fixes caused some errors in the steam locomotive making it unusable. This build fixes it. Enjoy!



Steam locomotive:

- Fixed coal not being accepted into the firebox (introduced in last build)

Shunting remote:

- Made buttons easier to press in NonVR

Console:

- Player.GiveWallet command now forces wallet into inventory (or L&F if no room)

Hi everyone,

Earlier today we hotfixed a tutorial bug some of you were experiencing, introduced in last night’s update. In addition to that hotfix, we’re now also adding a few more features:



We added basic support for key remapping. It can be done either by editing keybindings.ini file located at Derail Valley\DerailValley_Data\SaveGameData or using console command “bind”, supporting multiple bindings per action. See changelog below for more details on how to remap keys.



Bought too many items? Not to worry, as now you can permanently delete them from every spawning again by throwing them away into yellow dumpsters. In addition, all previously “essential” items can now be purchased in shops, apart from wallet, the true essential item.



Some of you didn’t have enough information to deduct how to pair the remote. Now when you buy it you will also receive a short manual explaining just that and a few of its other details.

Apart from that we made a few more improvements to the game. See the full changelog below for more details:



Build #68 - April 4, 2019:

Items:

- Fix broken tutorial due to item falling through ground (introduced last build)
- Added Item Dumpster
\ Dumpsters can be used to permanently delete your items
\ They can be found next to each lost and found shed
\ Purchase-able items tossed into the dumpster will be deleted if player moves 200m away
\ Job booklets tossed into the dumpster will be deleted immediately (same as trash bin)
- All previously “essential” items can now be bought in shops (except wallet)
- Player.GiveEssentialItems became Player.GiveWallet
\ Backup command in case there was a bug with the save-game that deleted the wallet
- Optimized world map, no longer calculating player position if 5m+ away from player

Shunting remote:

- Added shunter remote booklet manual
\ Buying the remote will now also issue the manual
- Fixed LED bars showing fully empty when there’s still slight control input

Controls:

- Editing keybindings using text editor:
\ Start game at least once to generate keybindings.ini file
\ Edit the file in text editor to remap keystroke(s)
\ The file is located at Derail Valley\DerailValley_Data\SaveGameData\
\ Supports multiple keys to be assigned to one action
\ The changes will apply at next game start
- Editing keybindings in-game using console commands:
\ “showbinds” to see all current key bindings for reference
\ “bind” followed by action and keystroke(s) (e.g. “bind moveForward W UpArrow“) to remap
\ Automatically updates keybindings.ini file
- Added steam whistle key control (default: num+)

World:

- Fixed floating L&F sheds at Sawmill and City SW

Shunter:

- Fixed levers jumping into place after a moment when entering the shunter

Hi everyone,

Today we’re adding one of the first community unlocks, the Shunter Remote Controller! Thank you all for making it possible by spreading word about Derail Valley! There’s many more to come!



Many of you wished to be able to control the shunter remotely, and now you can! The shunter remote controller is an item that can be purchased in shops. It has buttons and joysticks that are all fully interactive in both VR and nonVR. In nonVR additionally it can be used with keyboard, featuring some new controls listed below.



The remote runs on a battery that can be recharged by a solar-panel (it needs sunlight!). It is range limited to about 300m after which it gradually begins losing signal.

The remote can be used to drive two locomotives from the cab of one, until proper Multiple-Unit support is added in the future (which requires us to implement player-owned locomotives and upgrade system first). Needless to say, implementing the remote involved a lot of technical advancements that will be useful with future features.



We are aware of all your problems with items since item storage was added. There have been some bugs or unfinished features that lead to items seemingly or literally disappearing. With this build that should no longer happen and you should always find your items either in your inventory or in the nearest Lost and Found shed.

In addition, dropped items will be easier to spot, as they are now getting highlighted if you empty-click in nonVR, or telegrab in VR.



NonVR version got more train driving keyboard controls, such as horn, coupler, etc. These were necessary in order to make the shunter remote controller operable with keyboard only, but may also help some of you who map joystick peripherals to keyboard controls. Support for keyboard control configuration via .ini file is coming soon.



For VR we’ve added belt points, where you can store items. This makes it easy to, for example, carry a map or a shunter remote in front of you while keeping your hands free.



For those of you who have unlocked the Old Bob’s vehicle, you’ll be able to summon it at any point with a menu button. The menu will soon be slightly redesigned to accompany features like this with smaller button form.



As usual, there are many more changes! Have a look at the full changelog:

Shunting remote:

- Is an item that can be purchased in shops
- Makes it possible to remotely control a shunter
- Features interactive joysticks and buttons (VR and nonVR)
- Can be used with keyboard controls in nonVR (when equipped)
- Features solar-powered battery mechanics
- Features limited wireless range with signal loss
- Includes various technical reworks and improvements to be used in future features

Controls:

- Added keyboard controls for all train commands
- Added belt item points (VR)
- You can place items to belt points for quick access
- Provides hands-free item interaction (useful for shunting remote)
- Fixed nonVR player being dragged by moving train if teleporting off of it
- Fixed camera flickering when teleporting in nonVR

Items:

- Hand-held items are now saved to inventory, rather than falling to world
- If inventory is full they are sent to L&F shed
- Reduced item spawning distance in L&F sheds to 50m
- Updated Player.GiveEssentialItems console command
- Now adds lost items to inventory if there’s space, else to L&F sheds

UI:

- Added menu button to refresh Lost & Found
- Added menu button to summon Old Bob’s vehicle (once unlocked)
- Added tooltips to menu
- Reworded many options
- Added highlighting nearby items (VR: telegrab press, nonVR: LMB click)
- Added build number to main menu

Railway:

- Fixed glitches with clipped shadows occurring on some parts of the railway
- Fixed railway LOD sometimes appearing (e.g. at Machine Factory)

Save-game:

- Fixed job loading errors, potentially causing other bugs

That’s it for now, see you next update!