Flotsam News

Hi drifters!

The last weeks we've taken the time to rework a lot of the behind-the-scenes project code and optimize the art assets even more. While you won't immediately see a change from this, it does mean that it will be easier to track down bugs and implement fixes for us in the long run.
The art optimization should reduce the memory impact and improve the game performance slightly.

Additionally we've added some build improvements as well. Snapping to walkways is now disabled and constructions show their boundaries when placing them for easier placement. A new type of wooden walkway is now also availabe.

Enjoy the new update!

[h2]Change Notes[/h2]
We've internally changed the way projects (IE Salvaging a building, using a producer, etc) are handled. This may come with a few bugfixes, but it will allow us to fix things faster in the future. While it may not have a direct effect right away, it will stabilize the game a lot more in the long run.

General

• Constructions will now display their boundary with a dotted line when placing a new building.
  
• Clicking a landmark on the map will move the camera to it (as close as possible).
  
• Made the mooring point blocking area smaller to reduce other mooring points from blocking a mooring point.
  

Gameplay

• Split walkways into wood & plastic walkways.
  
• The map no longer shows a path for your town. You can hold right click, or click on a location, to display it. The cursor now displays where you can and cannot move.
  

UI

• Walkways will now grey out their deconstruct button if they cannot be deconstructed.
  
• Mooring points will now grey out their deconstruct button if they cannot be deconstructed.
  
• Boats will now grey out their deconstruct button if they cannot be deconstructed.
  

Visuals

• Updated the visuals of walkway segment to reflect their required resource.
  
• Updated wood walkway visual to be more readable.
  

Performance

• Decreased material count on walkways, increasing performance.
  
• Decreased material count on storage yard, increasing performance.
  
• Decreased material count on houses, increasing performance.
  

Fixes

Due to the nature of us improving the base of our project system, many issues may have been fixed that we couldn't track.

• Fixed issue where constructions would often snap to pontons.
  
• Fixed issue where 2 walkways could not be placed directly opposed to each other.
  
• Fixed issue where going back to the main menu and starting a new game could cause selection outlines to stop working.
  
• Fixed "Can't move" tooltip staying visible after closing the map.
  
• Fixed issue where items would get stuck in boat.
  
• Fixed issue where reclaiming a boat with items could break a save.
  
• Fixed issue where disabling oil in the townheart storage would cause drifters to get stuck when refilling the boat.
  
• Fixed issue where drifters could get stuck on landmarks when loading a save.
  
• Fixed issue where playtime in savefile wouldn't count previous playtime.
  

Ahoy drifters!

The last weeks we've taken the time to rework a lot of the behind-the-scenes project code and optimize the art assets even more. While you won't immediately see a change from this, it does mean that it will be easier to track down bugs and implement fixes for us in the long run.
The art optimization should reduce the memory impact and improve the game performance slightly.
Any help tracking down issues that this rework might cause is really appreciated.

When bugs occur, provide as much information as possible to help us resolve these faster!Read here how to submit and track the current bugs in the game.

Additionally we've added some build improvements as well. Snapping to walkways is now disabled and constructions show their boundaries when placing them for easier placement. A new type of wooden walkway is now also availabe.

This patch is still in development, but can be tested on the experimental branch to give feedback.

This is how you can enable the experimental branch of Flotsam. This will only work when you're not in a game:
1. Open Steam Library
2. Right click Flotsam
3. Select Properties
4. Go to tab 'Betas' at the top.
5. Select 'Experimental' in the drop-down.

Enjoy the new update!

[h2]Change Notes[/h2]
We've internally changed the way projects (IE Salvaging a building, using a producer, etc) are handled. This may come with a few bugfixes, but it will allow us to fix things faster in the future. While it may not have a direct effect right away, it will stabilize the game a lot more in the long run.

General

• Constructions will now display their boundary with a dotted line when placing a new building.
  

Gameplay

• Split walkways into wood & plastic walkways.
  

Visuals

• Updated the visuals of walkway segment to reflect their required resource.
  
• Updated wood walkway visual to be more readable.
  

Performance

• Decreased material count on walkways, increasing performance.
  

Fixes

• Fixed issue where constructions would often snap to pontons.
  
• Fixed issue where 2 walkways could not be placed directly opposed to each other.
  
• Fixed issue where going back to the main menu and starting a new game could cause selection outlines to stop working.
  

Hi all!

We got some reports of issues with boat mooring. This hotfix should fix those.
Have a good week!

[h2]Patch notes[/h2]
Fixes

• Fixed issue where boats could not be deconstructed.
  
• Fixed issue where salvaging a mooring point would freeze a drifter.
  

Hi all!

We hope you're doing well. Before starting the weekend we wanted to post a small hotfix for some lingering issues.
Let us know if it resolves things and enjoy the game!

[h2]Patch notes[/h2]
UI

• You can now scroll back to previous patch notes.
  
• Updated main menu buttons and background.
  

Performance

• Improved performance in bigger towns where drifters were looking for new projects.
  

Fixes

• Fixed issue where 2 boats would try to moor at the same mooring point.
  
• Fixed issue where fishing spots would show on the map, but would not be in the world.
  

Hi all!

After releasing the newest update we've gotten lots of feedback. This has helped us to resolve some performance issues and bugs.
This build is live now and your game will update automatically.

[h2]Patch notes[/h2]
Performance

• Heavily reduced the length of a lagspike when a drifter could not find a path.
  
• Improved pathfinding to generate less lagspikes overall.
  

Fixes

• Fixed issue where drifters would get stuck navigating to a landmark or piece of flotsam.
  
• Fixed issue where boats could get stuck at landmarks when moving.
  
• Fixed issue where the map compass would not point in the right direction.
  
• Fixed issue where the clearance of an obstacle would not update correctly, causing drifters to navigate in odd ways.
  
• Fixed issue where you couldn't save after a boat got stuck at a landmark.
  
• Fixed issue where a mooring point would become unusable when moving to a new location on the map.