This open beta launch has been very smooth going compared to the last one, but then again that's a pretty low hurdle to take! Today we got through most of the bugs and issues you posted about (thank you!), and the changelog reads as follows:

General Fixes & Improvements

• Fixed not being able to delete engine families in grid mode
  
• Fixed game not returning to correct manager when closing designer
  
• Fixed parts not unlocking for more modern engine variants in a family
  
• Fixed issue with bore / stroke not showing decimal when over 100mm
  
• Fixed various issues with cam and rocker animations
  
• Fixed issue with fuel system tooltips
  
• Fixed engine test breaking when making zero torque
  
• Fixed engine test and sound breaking for 100% knocking engine
  
• Fixed issue with desirability calculations
  
• Fixed issue with calculation of cargo volume vs desirability
  
• Fixed bug in scenario generator success rate display
  
• Fixed not being able to choose 10min time limit in generator scenarios
  
• Fixed engine builder AI issues with making different engines in sequence
  
• Fixed problems with tutorial scenarios*
  
• Fixed various specific car body morph issues
  
• Rebalanced many tutorial scenarios*
  
• Potentially improved initial load screen

*This only updates the scenarios if the scenario database is deleted, this will most probably be done in a better way in one of the next patches. No action is required on your part, just be aware that in principle the issue has been addressed, but the fix doesn't manifest.

Keep those bug reports rolling in. :)
Cheers!

This open beta launch has been very smooth going compared to the last one, but then again that's a pretty low hurdle to take! Today we got through most of the bugs and issues you posted about (thank you!), and the changelog reads as follows:

General Fixes & Improvements

• Fixed not being able to delete engine families in grid mode
  
• Fixed game not returning to correct manager when closing designer
  
• Fixed parts not unlocking for more modern engine variants in a family
  
• Fixed issue with bore / stroke not showing decimal when over 100mm
  
• Fixed various issues with cam and rocker animations
  
• Fixed issue with fuel system tooltips
  
• Fixed engine test breaking when making zero torque
  
• Fixed engine test and sound breaking for 100% knocking engine
  
• Fixed issue with desirability calculations
  
• Fixed issue with calculation of cargo volume vs desirability
  
• Fixed bug in scenario generator success rate display
  
• Fixed not being able to choose 10min time limit in generator scenarios
  
• Fixed engine builder AI issues with making different engines in sequence
  
• Fixed problems with tutorial scenarios*
  
• Fixed various specific car body morph issues
  
• Rebalanced many tutorial scenarios*
  
• Potentially improved initial load screen

*This only updates the scenarios if the scenario database is deleted, this will most probably be done in a better way in one of the next patches. No action is required on your part, just be aware that in principle the issue has been addressed, but the fix doesn't manifest.

Keep those bug reports rolling in. :)
Cheers!

Progress has been steady over the past couple of weeks and as mentioned in the last Little Dev Update today time has come for the next big update to launch into open beta!

In case you have not joined the open beta yet, right-click Automation in your Steam Library, select Properties, Betas, and select the openbeta. Then let the game update and play!

Since the last public release a lot has changed and been added. The game runs much better now too and we’ve had to fight UE4 significantly less in the recent months compared to the struggle that was the first UE4 release. A quick overview of the changes coming to this version:

• Updated game engine, improved memory handling, better loading procedure
  
• Added 32-bit client for those running a 32-Bit Windows 7, 8 or 10
  
• Engine designer random challenge mode
  
• AI engine generator accessible in sandbox
  
• 23 all-new engine designer tutorial scenarios
  
• 43 revamped general engine designer scenarios
  
• Added ~150 car bodies
  
• Major rebalance to smoothness and exhaust system game mechanics
  
• New simplified tech pool / quality mechanic
  
• Custom test tracks work again, put them into the tracks folder
  
• Improved and polished UI, vectorized icons
  
• Improved and updated translations (WIP)

https://youtu.be/9i7X0Uqimmo

V16s are now available to those who supported us years ago by buying the Turbocharged or Supercharged version of the game. We’ve put together a little FAQ regarding the V16s for both those that will get them now and those that might want to get them later.



Have a look here for the FAQ: http://steamcommunity.com/app/293760/discussions/2/1473095965290626494/

Most likely this open beta phase will run for two weeks as we continue balancing and polishing the game. Of course bugs you find and report will be ironed out in this phase, too. General feedback regarding both the new engine designer challenge mode and the engine builder AI is of course welcome, they will need tweaks for sure.

Once this update is polished up and merged with the public branch, the next goal is to prepare the car designer AI and along many other things make the car designer ready for the Lite Campaign V3 implementation. This will also include new improved car designer scenarios and tutorials, as well as many car designer balance changes and improvements.

We hope you will enjoy this update.
Cheers!

Progress has been steady over the past couple of weeks and as mentioned in the last Little Dev Update today time has come for the next big update to launch into open beta!

In case you have not joined the open beta yet, right-click Automation in your Steam Library, select Properties, Betas, and select the openbeta. Then let the game update and play!

Since the last public release a lot has changed and been added. The game runs much better now too and we’ve had to fight UE4 significantly less in the recent months compared to the struggle that was the first UE4 release. A quick overview of the changes coming to this version:

• Updated game engine, improved memory handling, better loading procedure
  
• Added 32-bit client for those running a 32-Bit Windows 7, 8 or 10
  
• Engine designer random challenge mode
  
• AI engine generator accessible in sandbox
  
• 23 all-new engine designer tutorial scenarios
  
• 43 revamped general engine designer scenarios
  
• Added ~150 car bodies
  
• Major rebalance to smoothness and exhaust system game mechanics
  
• New simplified tech pool / quality mechanic
  
• Custom test tracks work again, put them into the tracks folder
  
• Improved and polished UI, vectorized icons
  
• Improved and updated translations (WIP)

https://youtu.be/9i7X0Uqimmo

V16s are now available to those who supported us years ago by buying the Turbocharged or Supercharged version of the game. We’ve put together a little FAQ regarding the V16s for both those that will get them now and those that might want to get them later.



Have a look here for the FAQ: http://steamcommunity.com/app/293760/discussions/2/1473095965290626494/

Most likely this open beta phase will run for two weeks as we continue balancing and polishing the game. Of course bugs you find and report will be ironed out in this phase, too. General feedback regarding both the new engine designer challenge mode and the engine builder AI is of course welcome, they will need tweaks for sure.

Once this update is polished up and merged with the public branch, the next goal is to prepare the car designer AI and along many other things make the car designer ready for the Lite Campaign V3 implementation. This will also include new improved car designer scenarios and tutorials, as well as many car designer balance changes and improvements.

We hope you will enjoy this update.
Cheers!

Things are going well and we're approaching the open beta release of the next big update which comes with plenty of added content and balance changes. We're aiming for the end of next week for when you can dip your toes into the new version.

Part of this update will be the delivery of the promised preorder bonus of V16 engines for those early supporters who paid an extra $10 about 3-4 years ago to support development. Back then that was part of the reason two of our back then 3-man team were able to go full-time. During those years, the issue of DLC and preorder bonuses has turned from pretty much a non-issue into a big one, a massive potential pitfall for developers.



So now we're stuck between a rock and a hard place, breaking our promises is not an option, and paid DLC during Early Access is not perceived as acceptable either. There definitely is no perfect solution that can please all. We're going discuss what the best course of action would be all sides considered and will announce what exactly is going to be done in a separate video and a "V16 FAQ". At least that means it all stays transparent, even if we can't please everyone.

Back to easier things - with the scenario balancing currently ongoing, we're taking the opportunity of having to rebalance the scenarios anyway, to change and fix some of the realism and balance problems in the engine designer.

Among those changes are a rebalance of the exhaust system, intake flow, a complete rewrite of the smoothness calculations, and with that some natural changes to how large engines can be made depending on their configuration. Bye bye 3L I3s, there's a good reason you don't exist IRL!

For more info and discussion on how these changes will affect the engine designer, have a look at the latest Little Dev Update:
https://youtu.be/S9AipxrdJXU
Cheers!

Things are going well and we're approaching the open beta release of the next big update which comes with plenty of added content and balance changes. We're aiming for the end of next week for when you can dip your toes into the new version.

Part of this update will be the delivery of the promised preorder bonus of V16 engines for those early supporters who paid an extra $10 about 3-4 years ago to support development. Back then that was part of the reason two of our back then 3-man team were able to go full-time. During those years, the issue of DLC and preorder bonuses has turned from pretty much a non-issue into a big one, a massive potential pitfall for developers.



So now we're stuck between a rock and a hard place, breaking our promises is not an option, and paid DLC during Early Access is not perceived as acceptable either. There definitely is no perfect solution that can please all. We're going discuss what the best course of action would be all sides considered and will announce what exactly is going to be done in a separate video and a "V16 FAQ". At least that means it all stays transparent, even if we can't please everyone.

Back to easier things - with the scenario balancing currently ongoing, we're taking the opportunity of having to rebalance the scenarios anyway, to change and fix some of the realism and balance problems in the engine designer.

Among those changes are a rebalance of the exhaust system, intake flow, a complete rewrite of the smoothness calculations, and with that some natural changes to how large engines can be made depending on their configuration. Bye bye 3L I3s, there's a good reason you don't exist IRL!

For more info and discussion on how these changes will affect the engine designer, have a look at the latest Little Dev Update:
https://youtu.be/S9AipxrdJXU
Cheers!

We’re making good progress on our way to the next big update, which will be featuring the engine scenarios, the new engine design challenge mode, and plenty of new content. It looks like we’ll be able to bump up the number of car bodies from the current ~40 to about 160 with that, add back in mechanical injection systems, and improve many other aspects.

In case you missed them, here are the recent Little Dev Updates, one from today and one from last week:

https://youtu.be/0L_LF7DpqH0
https://youtu.be/IPsbMPTTMII
Also, if you want to take a closer look at the engine designer scenario challenge mode and how it plays, have a look at this video:

https://youtu.be/o0pcn5bAKGU
From the looks of it, we’ll get ready to push this update to open beta in the next few weeks. Before we can do that we need to rebalance the engine designer scenarios and tutorials. So far that is going well!

Automation does have loads of text in descriptions, tooltips, etc. At this point the translations of the main languages are incomplete - that would be German, French, Spanish, and Polish. We would like that to change so that players from those countries not quite as well-versed in English can enjoy the game fully, too.

This is where you come in. The existing translations are crowd sourced, but for the first time we now have a proper platform to use in order to facilitate the translation process in a user friendly way. For that, we have chosen crowdin, and would like to invite you to join the translation process if you’re up for it and help bring Automation to a wider audience! Please check out the accompanying video for more details:

https://youtu.be/VLwjQPLCKz4
Lots of videos today… that was the last one though! We’ll keep you updated on the progress towards the next update.
Cheers!

We’re making good progress on our way to the next big update, which will be featuring the engine scenarios, the new engine design challenge mode, and plenty of new content. It looks like we’ll be able to bump up the number of car bodies from the current ~40 to about 160 with that, add back in mechanical injection systems, and improve many other aspects.

In case you missed them, here are the recent Little Dev Updates, one from today and one from last week:

https://youtu.be/0L_LF7DpqH0
https://youtu.be/IPsbMPTTMII
Also, if you want to take a closer look at the engine designer scenario challenge mode and how it plays, have a look at this video:

https://youtu.be/o0pcn5bAKGU
From the looks of it, we’ll get ready to push this update to open beta in the next few weeks. Before we can do that we need to rebalance the engine designer scenarios and tutorials. So far that is going well!

Automation does have loads of text in descriptions, tooltips, etc. At this point the translations of the main languages are incomplete - that would be German, French, Spanish, and Polish. We would like that to change so that players from those countries not quite as well-versed in English can enjoy the game fully, too.

This is where you come in. The existing translations are crowd sourced, but for the first time we now have a proper platform to use in order to facilitate the translation process in a user friendly way. For that, we have chosen crowdin, and would like to invite you to join the translation process if you’re up for it and help bring Automation to a wider audience! Please check out the accompanying video for more details:

https://youtu.be/VLwjQPLCKz4
Lots of videos today… that was the last one though! We’ll keep you updated on the progress towards the next update.
Cheers!

We're currently working on bringing back scenarios and specifically tutorial scenarios. The latter will be a lot more refined and expanded to smoothen out the learning curve of the game.



A scenario creator and a random scenario generator are on their way, too! Have a look at the latest Little Dev Update to see what's going on in development.

https://youtu.be/4bca53k0PQI
Cheers!

We're currently working on bringing back scenarios and specifically tutorial scenarios. The latter will be a lot more refined and expanded to smoothen out the learning curve of the game.



A scenario creator and a random scenario generator are on their way, too! Have a look at the latest Little Dev Update to see what's going on in development.

https://youtu.be/4bca53k0PQI
Cheers!