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City Game Studio News

Save File Optimization: Improved Stability and Performance

Hello everyone!

Things are progressing well, and I'm happy to tell you that I've fixed the save file issue. Or at least isolated the problem.
This means I couldn't make progress on mods, but I'll tell you all about it right away!

[h3]Weekly Recap[/h3]
As I mentioned at the beginning, I've improved the save file management. First, I optimized the save file size. Small save files have gone from 3 MB to less than 1 MB. Meanwhile, the larger ones, I'm talking about those over 15 MB, now take up less than 5 MB. And that's really great. By optimizing the save file size, I've also optimized the loading speed, but all of this comes at a cost. Creating a new save file takes more time. But since save creation is handled in threads, this is completely transparent to you.

Loading a game isn't much faster, but listing your save files is. In fact, I rewrote the save loading algorithm to make it more stable and faster. The old save management algorithm dated back to early access. With this new algorithm, you'll no longer be stuck in-game when you save. All of this has been fixed. And as a bonus, an error report is sent if a save cannot be completed. This will allow me to find the error and fix it. This error report includes the error code, file size, and the name of the file that caused the problem.

I've also reworked some of the game's icons to make it more modern. I hope you'll like these small changes.

[h3]What's Next[/h3]
Last week I told you that I needed to work on the mod rating system. Since I spent the week on save file management, I couldn't make progress on that topic. So, this week I'll spend my time improving mod support to give them ratings.

But unlike last week, I'll focus on this task, and only this task. If I manage to finish early, I'll work on the next item, which is reworking the human resources interface. But that's only if I have time to do it.

That's all from me, thank you for reading.
Have a great day!
Xavier aka Binogure

Patch v1.23.0-rc3

Default version of the game, we want to make sure to have a chance to discover bugs and adjust the balancing, to give you the best game experience possible.

Access the Unstable branch on Steam by right clicking City Game Studio in your Steam library, and then select ‘Properties’. In the new window, select ‘Betas’. The Unstable branch should now be available for you to choose from.

Please leave any feedback you may have in the appropriate channel in our Discord, or in the subforum on Steam.

As always, remember to be considerate towards players not partaking in the Unstable, in case they want to avoid spoilers.

Please make sure to make backups of your save files before playing.


[h3]Interface[/h3]
  • Rework some icons from the game

[h3]Savegame[/h3]
  • Rework the savegame algorithm:

    • Always save the game when asked no matter what happen
    • When trying to close the game while saving, it's going to close the game anyway once it's been saved
    • Add double check when writing a new savegame
    • Add compression for some models (laargest ones)
  • Rework the load algorithm, it's faster than it used to
  • Rework the game load, the first part wasn't using threads, it does now

Mod Improvements and Stability

Hello everyone!

What an incredible week!
Not only was the v1.22 release extremely well received, but Fortune Avenue, which just launched, is also getting a great reception!
I won't hide it from you, I was super stressed about releasing a new game! But now I'm relieved because it's really being well received!

So I'll be able to continue my cruising rhythm of 50% on City Game Studio and 50% on Fortune Avenue. And yes, I'll spend even more time on City Game Studio, because I want to provide you with the best video game company simulation game. And I think with 91% positive reviews, I'm getting pretty close!

I still have plenty of work to do, so here's a quick update on the latest changes in the unstable version.

[h3]The Week's Recap[/h3]
I've completely overhauled the mod management system. Loading is incredibly faster now. Not to mention the mod browsing page which has undergone an amazing facelift that makes it much more pleasing to the eye. For mod creators, it's night and day - the page for creating mods is more pleasant, and listing your creations is also easier.

On top of that, there's a layer of HTTP connection optimization. This prevents your machines from being overloaded when you haven't linked your game to Twitch, for example. And other important behind-the-scenes changes have taken place. All to make the game even more stable.

[h3]What's Next[/h3]
Next is continuing to work on mod management. The idea is that when you create a mod, the game assigns a score to your mod. The scale isn't established yet because I haven't defined all the criteria that determine the ratings. But the idea is to know if a mod makes the game imbalanced, or if it's a mod that will simply improve your gaming experience. The score will be automatically assigned when creating the mod, which will let everyone know if a mod is likely to harm your gaming experience or not.

Another thing I want to work on is the save system. Currently, there's a small group of people for whom saves don't work. And that bothers me tremendously. So I'll probably devote a large part of my time to fixing this bug as a priority, so they too can have a great gaming experience.

That's all from me, thank you for reading.
Have a great day!
Xavier aka Binogure

P.S:
Fortune Avenue is out, don't hesitate to grab it at a reduced price:
store.steampowered.com/app/1810050/Fortune_Avenue/?utm_source=cgsannonce

OFFICIAL RELEASE

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1810050/Fortune_Avenue/?utm_source=cgs_annonce

Hello everyone!

FORTUNE AVENUE IS FINALLY HERE!. Yes, after months of development, I'm super happy to announce that Fortune Avenue is available today on Steam! For those who have been following me for a while, you know I've been talking about it since the 1.19.0 update of City Game Studio.

[h3]What is Fortune Avenue?[/h3]
Fortune Avenue is my new baby! Imagine a revisited Monopoly with a bunch of mechanics that will make you love (or hate) your friends:
  • A voting system to collectively decide on certain actions
  • A helicopter that completely changes the game dynamics
  • A Fortune Wheel to add that little chance factor that makes games unpredictable
  • Special cards that can turn the situation around at any moment
  • And many other surprises that I'll let you discover!


[h3]An offer you can't refuse[/h3]
To celebrate the launch, Fortune Avenue is available with a 40% discount during the first 15 days! That brings the price down from $4.99 to just $2.99!

It's the perfect time for City Game Studio fans to discover my new project. And if you liked the way I've developed and improved City Game Studio over the years, know that I have the same plans for Fortune Avenue.

[h3]But rest assured...[/h3]
City Game Studio isn't being abandoned! As I announced previously, I'm still working on:
  • Revamping studio furnishing with copyable templates
  • Reducing console manufacturing costs based on sales volume


These features will arrive as planned. I just wanted to take the opportunity to tell you about Fortune Avenue, which is really close to my heart.

[h3]New updates for City Game Studio[/h3]
For those who might have missed it, I've just released v1.22 of City Game Studio, which has completely revised and fixed studio management! This update brings many improvements that will make your experience even more enjoyable.

[h3]A little thank you[/h3]
I really wanted to thank you for your continued support. It's thanks to you that I can continue to create games like City Game Studio and now Fortune Avenue. Your feedback, suggestions, and passion are what motivate me to get up every morning (even when I have to fix a bug at 3 AM).

Don't hesitate to share your impressions of Fortune Avenue, and if you enjoy it, a small review would be greatly appreciated!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1810050/Fortune_Avenue/?utm_source=cgs_annonce

I wish you excellent games, whether managing your video game studios or bankrupting your friends on Fortune Avenue!

Xavier aka Binogure

P.S: For those who made it this far, the next update for City Game Studio will focus on better mod support! You'll be able to filter them more easily and improve their download experience. I'm working hard to offer you the best possible experience with mods!

Patch v1.23.0-rc0

Default version of the game, we want to make sure to have a chance to discover bugs and adjust the balancing, to give you the best game experience possible.

Access the Unstable branch on Steam by right clicking City Game Studio in your Steam library, and then select ‘Properties’. In the new window, select ‘Betas’. The Unstable branch should now be available for you to choose from.

Please leave any feedback you may have in the appropriate channel in our Discord, or in the subforum on Steam.

As always, remember to be considerate towards players not partaking in the Unstable, in case they want to avoid spoilers.

Please make sure to make backups of your save files before playing.


[h2]Changelog[/h2]
[h3]Mod support[/h3]
  • Rework the mod loader algorithm
  • Rework the mod creation panel (looks better)
  • Rework the mod list (looks better and loads all the images now)

[h3]Misc[/h3]
  • Rework the HTTP requester, used by mods to load images. Remove the Thread dependency, so it's now crash-free.

[h3]Twitch[/h3]
  • Do not try to connect when there's no need to open a connection