All the Perk NPC's now in Zombo Town, so you can upgrade everything. The Trait Unlock NPC is also in there, though you can only get Specialist from him currently.

To see the new Upgrade characters, hit the [ INFO ] button on the title screen.

ALSO HEADS UP: This build contains a save clear for the testing branch, everyone's testing save *should be* wiped with this. If it isn't, let me know. This should be the last time it happens for this test unless I screw something up badly.

ːskeleːːskeleːːskeleːːskeleːːskeleːːskeleː

IMPORTANT NOTE: The testing branch and retail version of the game now use different save files! This is for easy swapping back and forth between the versions without errors, and also for testing purposes.

HOW TO INSTALL: Right click Death Road to Canada on Steam. Go to Properties. Go to Betas. Select Testbranch, no password necessary.

ːskeleːːskeleːːskeleːːskeleːːskeleːːskeleː

Changes:

- Two new Perk Upgrade NPC's added. They will also handle perk unlocks for their respective fields.
- Perk costs in for foreseeable perks. The design intent is that you can unlock perks fairly easily. The only perk you won't be able to unlock before clearing DEADLIER ROAD is the upcoming Ex-Wrestler.

- Trait Unlock NPC added, though he only sells Specialist right now.
- Price for Specialist increased, it's one of the later Traits you can get.
- Trait prices will be 5, 10, 15 depending. Any ZP cost at 20 or over will be reserved for weird extra stuff not related to traits or perks.

- Debug text removed form road screen.

- Build name changed to COCCYX.

- Saves wiped because I screwed something up, big time.

All the Perk NPC's now in Zombo Town, so you can upgrade everything. The Trait Unlock NPC is also in there, though you can only get Specialist from him currently.

To see the new Upgrade characters, hit the [ INFO ] button on the title screen.

ALSO HEADS UP: This build contains a save clear for the testing branch, everyone's testing save *should be* wiped with this. If it isn't, let me know. This should be the last time it happens for this test unless I screw something up badly.

:skele::skele::skele::skele::skele::skele:

IMPORTANT NOTE: The testing branch and retail version of the game now use different save files! This is for easy swapping back and forth between the versions without errors, and also for testing purposes.

HOW TO INSTALL: Right click Death Road to Canada on Steam. Go to Properties. Go to Betas. Select Testbranch, no password necessary.

:skele::skele::skele::skele::skele::skele:

Changes:

- Two new Perk Upgrade NPC's added. They will also handle perk unlocks for their respective fields.
- Perk costs in for foreseeable perks. The design intent is that you can unlock perks fairly easily. The only perk you won't be able to unlock before clearing DEADLIER ROAD is the upcoming Ex-Wrestler.

- Trait Unlock NPC added, though he only sells Specialist right now.
- Price for Specialist increased, it's one of the later Traits you can get.
- Trait prices will be 5, 10, 15 depending. Any ZP cost at 20 or over will be reserved for weird extra stuff not related to traits or perks.

- Debug text removed form road screen.

- Build name changed to COCCYX.

- Saves wiped because I screwed something up, big time.

Further implementation of the perk system! You can now test upgrading all the non-combat/more THINKIN' MAN'S perks. Then there's a lot of boring but very important under the hood stuff that I'm mostly not even covering in the notes.

To see the Upgrades/Unlocks, tap the INFO button on title screen.

I posted news on this update earlier today. Check announcements!

ːgnomeyːːgnomeyːːgnomeyːːgnomeyːːgnomeyː

IMPORTANT NOTE: The testing branch and retail version of the game now use different save files! This is for easy swapping back and forth between the versions without errors, and also for testing purposes.

HOW TO INSTALL: Right click Death Road to Canada on Steam. Go to Properties. Go to Betas. Select Testbranch, no password necessary.

ːgnomeyːːgnomeyːːgnomeyːːgnomeyːːgnomeyː

Changes:

Perk/Traits Unlock System

- New Perk Seller added. The Debutante covers all the perks that deal with support and non-combat uses. Except one she'll get later.
- Debutante is fully functional and lets you upgrade all the current perks.
- Placeholder work for 3 more perks she will get: Haggler, Pathfinder, Anime Fan.

- Costs added for all the perks. You can't see them all yet.
- Costs for each perk are the same for unlocking them (if applicable) and the first upgrade.
- Final upgrade for each perk costs double the usual price.
- All the old perks will still start unlocked for new players, even things like Martial Artist. New perks will have to be bought.

- Lots of work to make the unlock system smoother under the hood.
- Perk system now supports multiple seller characters for the purposes of going back one menu.

Zombo Town

- There's a temporary copy of the Debutante outside, for easier testing.

Further implementation of the perk system! You can now test upgrading all the non-combat/more THINKIN' MAN'S perks. Then there's a lot of boring but very important under the hood stuff that I'm mostly not even covering in the notes.

To see the Upgrades/Unlocks, tap the INFO button on title screen.

I posted news on this update earlier today. Check announcements!

:gnomey::gnomey::gnomey::gnomey::gnomey:

IMPORTANT NOTE: The testing branch and retail version of the game now use different save files! This is for easy swapping back and forth between the versions without errors, and also for testing purposes.

HOW TO INSTALL: Right click Death Road to Canada on Steam. Go to Properties. Go to Betas. Select Testbranch, no password necessary.

:gnomey::gnomey::gnomey::gnomey::gnomey:

Changes:

Perk/Traits Unlock System

- New Perk Seller added. The Debutante covers all the perks that deal with support and non-combat uses. Except one she'll get later.
- Debutante is fully functional and lets you upgrade all the current perks.
- Placeholder work for 3 more perks she will get: Haggler, Pathfinder, Anime Fan.

- Costs added for all the perks. You can't see them all yet.
- Costs for each perk are the same for unlocking them (if applicable) and the first upgrade.
- Final upgrade for each perk costs double the usual price.
- All the old perks will still start unlocked for new players, even things like Martial Artist. New perks will have to be bought.

- Lots of work to make the unlock system smoother under the hood.
- Perk system now supports multiple seller characters for the purposes of going back one menu.

Zombo Town

- There's a temporary copy of the Debutante outside, for easier testing.

Here's what were up to for the upcoming update. For reference, our last plan post was here:

http://steamcommunity.com/games/deathroad/announcements/detail/469905196792865956
First, it was renamed to COCCYX instead of the ear themed COCHLEA because the new music is going to be delayed. Life intervened for the composer! He'll catch up on that for the next update. I have heard some of the new music, and it's really good.

Second is that we're delaying some parts in the plans, though nothing we didn't account for maybe missing. Splitscreen multiplayer is either going to be in DUODENUM or a little later. In exchange, we're moving some things that were going to be in the next update to this one. Mostly in the form of new content. You can expect some events and at least one new location type.

Third is that we're going to likely miss May by a week or two. I want extra time to add more things to this one, especially in regards to more stuff for the unlock system. More perks and traits than planned, and also you'll be able to unlock some extra things that were going to come as a surprise in a later update. I want to get those things in for this update, so it's a big meaty new system.

DUODENUM update should still be on the planned schedule, but we're going to have a very busy month and a half after this update comes out.

You can test out new things for this update as we add them to the public Testing Branch. Check the announcements for instructions on how to test that. As I write this, we're testing out the new perk and trait unlock system.

Note that the Testing Branch and the main launch version of the game now use different save files. Don't worry if your characters temporarily vanish.

That's it for now! More news later as we get closer to the launch of the update.

Here's what were up to for the upcoming update. For reference, our last plan post was here:

http://steamcommunity.com/games/deathroad/announcements/detail/469905196792865956
First, it was renamed to COCCYX instead of the ear themed COCHLEA because the new music is going to be delayed. Life intervened for the composer! He'll catch up on that for the next update. I have heard some of the new music, and it's really good.

Second is that we're delaying some parts in the plans, though nothing we didn't account for maybe missing. Splitscreen multiplayer is either going to be in DUODENUM or a little later. In exchange, we're moving some things that were going to be in the next update to this one. Mostly in the form of new content. You can expect some events and at least one new location type.

Third is that we're going to likely miss May by a week or two. I want extra time to add more things to this one, especially in regards to more stuff for the unlock system. More perks and traits than planned, and also you'll be able to unlock some extra things that were going to come as a surprise in a later update. I want to get those things in for this update, so it's a big meaty new system.

DUODENUM update should still be on the planned schedule, but we're going to have a very busy month and a half after this update comes out.

You can test out new things for this update as we add them to the public Testing Branch. Check the announcements for instructions on how to test that. As I write this, we're testing out the new perk and trait unlock system.

Note that the Testing Branch and the main launch version of the game now use different save files. Don't worry if your characters temporarily vanish.

That's it for now! More news later as we get closer to the launch of the update.

At least it's not Monday anymore.

More Perks and Traits systems added, and some more misc things to test. Still mostly things concerning the new Zombo Town in [ Info ]

After this build, I'll take the debug numbers off the road screen. Keep posting those!

Posting update news tomorrow. Cutting some stuff, adding some other things, and likely launching it a couple weeks after May so we can add more uncks.

HOW TO INSTALL: Right click Death Road to Canada on Steam. Go to Properties. Go to Betas. Select Testbranch, no password necessary.

Changes:

Perk/Traits Unlock System

- A handful of perks can now be upgraded. Test them out!

- Perks and Traits can now be properly locked, with icons and everything.
- Locked perks and traits will show up in the Custom Characters screen, and their descriptions can be viewed.
- System overhaul to the unlock/upgrade words.

- Perks and Traits now properly show a preview description of themselves before being unlocked.
- Can now back out of the preview to the previous screen.
- LOCKED text added to descriptions if locked.

Zombo Town

- Tweaks to Zombo Town building placement
- Added two friendly robits
- Added helpful town directions
- Added a dire warning

- The Perk Dingus temporarily spawns a copy of himself outside, for easier testing.
- Perk Dingus has a number indicator over his head for now that will later become how many perks/upgrades/traits he has remaining.

Fixes

- Altered a placeholder WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE line
- cyoa-blank word added for easily making a CYOA event with no icon.

Debug

- console-open word for debugging

At least it's not Monday anymore.

More Perks and Traits systems added, and some more misc things to test. Still mostly things concerning the new Zombo Town in [ Info ]

After this build, I'll take the debug numbers off the road screen. Keep posting those!

Posting update news tomorrow. Cutting some stuff, adding some other things, and likely launching it a couple weeks after May so we can add more uncks.

HOW TO INSTALL: Right click Death Road to Canada on Steam. Go to Properties. Go to Betas. Select Testbranch, no password necessary.

Changes:

Perk/Traits Unlock System

- A handful of perks can now be upgraded. Test them out!

- Perks and Traits can now be properly locked, with icons and everything.
- Locked perks and traits will show up in the Custom Characters screen, and their descriptions can be viewed.
- System overhaul to the unlock/upgrade words.

- Perks and Traits now properly show a preview description of themselves before being unlocked.
- Can now back out of the preview to the previous screen.
- LOCKED text added to descriptions if locked.

Zombo Town

- Tweaks to Zombo Town building placement
- Added two friendly robits
- Added helpful town directions
- Added a dire warning

- The Perk Dingus temporarily spawns a copy of himself outside, for easier testing.
- Perk Dingus has a number indicator over his head for now that will later become how many perks/upgrades/traits he has remaining.

Fixes

- Altered a placeholder WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE line
- cyoa-blank word added for easily making a CYOA event with no icon.

Debug

- console-open word for debugging

Ugh, I hate Mondays. Technically still a Monday until I go to sleep.

This is the start of testing the Perk unlock system. Lots of new systems! Confusingly, you can now unlock a new Trait (this is not a perk).

On the title screen, go to INFO to begin this new journey.

Also, there's debug text on the driving screen. Please post what it says in the comments, along with what perks and traits you have unlocked.

I'm running behind on that news post about this update. I'll either do that Tuesday or Wednesday.

HOW TO INSTALL: Right click Death Road to Canada on Steam. Go to Properties. Go to Betas. Select Testbranch, no password necessary.

Changes:

New Unlock System

- New ZOMBO TOWN, currently in the Info button. This is where you'll be able to unlock perks, traits, and more. Currently testing the unlock of one trait.

- You can now earn Zombo Points ( ZP ). You get ZP during siege reward events, by beating the game, or through a rare event involving toilet paper.
- ZP is capped to 10 at first, but you can increase the cap by beating Deadlier Road and K*E*P*A, for a current max cap of 20. This will increase further later.
- Harder game modes give more ZP. Example is that K*E*P*A gives 10 for a successful run.

- NPC in Zombo Town does the old INFO screen text for now.
- Perk Dingus in Zombo Town lets you buy a new trait, Specialist.
- Logic for Zombo Town in regards to leaving the area, for hitting escape or walking out of the area.

- ZP amount can be viewed in the vehicle pause screen.

New Perk System

- New system to track what perk levels you have. This new method is a lot more friendly towards the upcoming unlocks for perks, traits, and perk level upgrades.

- Starting the game will run a quick conversion from the old to new system.
- If you had enough stats before the update hits, you will keep your old perk levels based on your old stats.
- Temporary debug text on driving screen to see what your old stats were.
- NEXT LEVEL: indicator now says what the next level will do, rather than how many stats you need for it.

- Friend of Dog and Explorer level checks adjusted for the new system.

New Trait

- Specialist Trait added! You have to buy this in Zombo Town before it will show up. Costs 5 ZP currently, which is probably a discount.
- Specialist gives you 2 points in Shooting, Strength, and Fitness, while also giving you +1 to the possible maximum for all three of those skills.
- As a penalty, it gets rid of all your carry slots except one. You can use one weapon at a time. You're a specialist, not a generalist.

Important

- I finally get to use the line "Special Ops? More like Special Plops!" I've been waiting for over a year to do this. Unless I did this already and forgot.

Misc Fixes

- Fix some old instances of "make the NPC face the camera" only making them face to the right, when it was supposed to be a chance of right or left.
- Fixed a very old bug with Friend of Dog that made it roll twice for dog.
- Fixed a bit in the ending where a character had an extra line return.

Ugh, I hate Mondays. Technically still a Monday until I go to sleep.

This is the start of testing the Perk unlock system. Lots of new systems! Confusingly, you can now unlock a new Trait (this is not a perk).

On the title screen, go to INFO to begin this new journey.

Also, there's debug text on the driving screen. Please post what it says in the comments, along with what perks and traits you have unlocked.

I'm running behind on that news post about this update. I'll either do that Tuesday or Wednesday.

HOW TO INSTALL: Right click Death Road to Canada on Steam. Go to Properties. Go to Betas. Select Testbranch, no password necessary.

Changes:

New Unlock System

- New ZOMBO TOWN, currently in the Info button. This is where you'll be able to unlock perks, traits, and more. Currently testing the unlock of one trait.

- You can now earn Zombo Points ( ZP ). You get ZP during siege reward events, by beating the game, or through a rare event involving toilet paper.
- ZP is capped to 10 at first, but you can increase the cap by beating Deadlier Road and K*E*P*A, for a current max cap of 20. This will increase further later.
- Harder game modes give more ZP. Example is that K*E*P*A gives 10 for a successful run.

- NPC in Zombo Town does the old INFO screen text for now.
- Perk Dingus in Zombo Town lets you buy a new trait, Specialist.
- Logic for Zombo Town in regards to leaving the area, for hitting escape or walking out of the area.

- ZP amount can be viewed in the vehicle pause screen.

New Perk System

- New system to track what perk levels you have. This new method is a lot more friendly towards the upcoming unlocks for perks, traits, and perk level upgrades.

- Starting the game will run a quick conversion from the old to new system.
- If you had enough stats before the update hits, you will keep your old perk levels based on your old stats.
- Temporary debug text on driving screen to see what your old stats were.
- NEXT LEVEL: indicator now says what the next level will do, rather than how many stats you need for it.

- Friend of Dog and Explorer level checks adjusted for the new system.

New Trait

- Specialist Trait added! You have to buy this in Zombo Town before it will show up. Costs 5 ZP currently, which is probably a discount.
- Specialist gives you 2 points in Shooting, Strength, and Fitness, while also giving you +1 to the possible maximum for all three of those skills.
- As a penalty, it gets rid of all your carry slots except one. You can use one weapon at a time. You're a specialist, not a generalist.

Important

- I finally get to use the line "Special Ops? More like Special Plops!" I've been waiting for over a year to do this. Unless I did this already and forgot.

Misc Fixes

- Fix some old instances of "make the NPC face the camera" only making them face to the right, when it was supposed to be a chance of right or left.
- Fixed a very old bug with Friend of Dog that made it roll twice for dog.
- Fixed a bit in the ending where a character had an extra line return.