Welcome to our 8th Development Status. Here is progress we've made in the last two weeks.

Multiplayer Testing

Our team gathered once again to test the multiplayer level. We have implemented new features to this scene, as projectiles of infantry, their transportation on tanks, general movement together with other infantry’s animations like fighting and dying. We are doing gameplay testing once a week, where we compare different solutions with each other, analyze them, and make design decisions from there.

So far we have those conclusions from tests:

• 5km x 5km map is currently too big, we can use half of it.
  
• Driving from one checkpoint to another was taking more or less 4 minutes without fighting with any enemies. If we will have 6 checkpoints, then 10 minutes per checkpoint would be optimal for one-hour gameplay. Driving around and fighting in a larger area would take more than one hour.

Measurements

Designing balanced gameplay, features and levels is a challenge. That’s why we base ourselves on gathering analytical data of player’s behavior. In this way, we measure mainly difficulty and intensity in time. We’ve created some diagnostic tools in which after testing we can see player’s movement on the map, where players were shooting, where players died, how fast have been they moving etc. With such data, we can balance gameplay and standardize the creation of new levels. Gameplay has to be balanced, it can’t be too easy because it becomes boring but at the same time it can’t be too difficult because it becomes irritating.

Tank Obstacles

We’ve created few tank obstacles which player will have to face in the game:

Tank trap with wooden logs





Bridge


Tank crew inspecting a bridge



Bridge will be in several states:

• Good - won’t collapse under tank’s weight
  
• Weak - will collapse under tank’s weight
  
• With explosive trap

In most cases, players in such a situation will have to get out of a tank and inspect the bridge before crossing it. Getting out of the tank will expose players to be an easy target for enemy infantry.

Anti-tank ditch





A driver can’t see the ditch because just before it there is a terrain bump. Falling into a ditch won’t destroy your tank but it will expose it to enemy fire and it will take some effort to get it out.

Question

We are looking for references for gun calibration in tanks. We wonder if adding such a feature to our game would be possible and interesting to you. If you know of any books or videos on this topic, please let us know!

Thanks and have a great weekend!

DeGenerals

• Fixed a bug that caused some images such as terrain and weapon/armor icons to be drawn incorrectly depending on the window size setting.

We present you the sixth batch of fixes and additions to The Mansion Early Access! Please visit our forums and leave us your feedback :)

Additions:

• We've started to replace voice acting with a new one.
  
• Some new Alvin appearance now added
  
• Some minor bugs are fixed
  
• Some new bugs are added

A Platoon is a unit of several players who will go into battle on the same team. You can play in a Platoon in the following modes:

• Random Battles (Standard Battles, Assault, Encounter, and Grand Battles)
  
• Frontline
  
• Steel Hunter
  
• Some special modes for game events

You must select a mode before creating a Platoon.
The number of players in a Platoon depends on the selected mode.

• Random Battle: 2–3
  
• Frontline: 2–3
  
• Steel Hunter: 3

NOTE: Your actual player name is displayed to the other members of the Platoon, even if you selected Anonymize your nickname in battle in the game settings.


+15% XP
For playing in a Platoon, regardless of vehicle tier, battle results, or Premium Account

+15% credits
If you have WoT Premium Account

+10% credits
If you don’t have WoT Premium Account, but at least one of the Platoon members does

NOTE: These bonuses do not work for Dynamic Platoons.

To play in a Platoon, you can create one and invite your friends, or choose Find Players to be matched with other players.
To create a new Platoon:

1. Click Create a Platoon to the left of the Battle! button.
   
2. In the drop-down menu, click New Platoon. The Platoon window will be displayed.

Once the Platoon is created, you will be the only player in it. To form a Platoon, invite your friends or find other players.

NOTE: You can also create a Platoon with one of your friends from your Contacts in the bottom left of your Garage. To do this, right-click the player's name in the contacts list and select Create Platoon. After accepting your invitation, the player will join the Platoon and appear in the Platoon window.

An automatic search allows you to find players who want to play in a Platoon and correspond to your mastery level and search preferences.
An automatic search considers the following criteria:

• World of Tanks Rating (WTR): Players in a Platoon should have a similar WTR.
  
• Number of battles in each vehicle tier: The system compares the number of battles that each player has fought at a specific tier. Only tiers of vehicles that are present in the player's Garage and ready to battle are considered. Players with similar numbers in each available tier join the same Platoon.
  
• Server: The search is performed within one server.
  
• Available vehicles: Players are matched according to the number of vehicles of each tier in their Garages. Only ready-to-battle vehicles are considered.
  The selected vehicle does not affect the search results. You can select a different vehicle before going into battle with your Platoon.
  
• Players of the same clan: Members of your clan have a higher chance of joining a Platoon with you.

In addition to the main criteria, you can set your own search preferences:

• Vehicle tiers. Select vehicle tiers for Platoon players, and the system will search only for players with vehicles of the corresponding tiers.
  
• Voice chat. Select this parameter if you want to use voice chat to communicate with your Platoon. This option is not available if you disabled voice chat in the game settings.

You can use the Platoon menu in your Garage and search for players before creating a Platoon. In this case, the Platoon is created automatically and includes you and the players found.
If the Platoon has already been created and has vacant places, you can activate the player search in the Platoon window. Note that starting an automatic search cancels all sent but unanswered invitations.

To set search preferences and find suitable players:

1. Click Create a Platoon to the left of the Battle! button.
   
2. In the drop-down menu, click (Set Search Preferences) and select the desired parameters.
   
3. Click Find Players. The search for players begins.

NOTE: Only the Platoon Commander can find players from the Platoon window.

To set search preferences and find suitable players:

1. In the Platoon window, click (Set Search Preferences) and select the desired parameters.
   
2. Click Find Players. The search for players begins.

If there are no players within the selected tiers, the system continues to search for players outside them.
The Platoon Commander is marked with a special icon . The player with the highest WTR becomes a Commander in the following cases:

• If the search is performed before the Platoon is created
  
• If the search is performed from the Platoon window and there is only one player in the Platoon

The Commander will not change if the Platoon already consists of two players.

NOTE: A Platoon Commander can transfer their permissions to another player. To do this, right-click the target player in the Platoon window and select Transfer Commander's permissions.

If the Platoon is created and has vacant places, you can invite players to join you. You can send invitations to several players. However, the number of places in a Platoon is limited and only those who accept your invitation first will join the Platoon.

NOTE: Only the Platoon Commander can invite players.

To invite players to a Platoon:

1. In the Platoon window, click Invite Players.
   
2. In the Invite to Tactical Unit window, drag the players from your contact list to the right part of the window. If a player is not among your contacts, click Search Outside Contact List.
   
3. Add a message to your invitation if you'd like.
   
4. Click Invite. The invitation is sent to the selected players. They will be added to the Platoon as soon as they accept the invitation.

If you are invited to a Platoon, a special notification appears in the bottom right of the Garage. It shows who sent you the invitation along with a message, if there is one.
To accept the invitation, click Accept. The Platoon window will be displayed.



The invitation expires after a while. You also won’t be able to accept the invitation if the Platoon is full or has been dismissed.

NOTE: You can set from whom you want to receive Platoon invitations. In the game settings, go to the General tab and select Accept invitations only from friends in the Garage, then click Apply.

The Platoon Commander can exclude a player from the Platoon before the battle starts.
To exclude a player, right-click the player in the Platoon window and select Exclude from tactical unit.



If you search for players after this, the excluded player will not appear in your Platoon again.

NOTE: If you want to leave the Platoon yourself, click Leave Platoon in the Platoon window.

Members of the Platoon can exchange text messages in the Platoon chat and talk to each other using the voice chat. These are available both in the Garage and during battle.

In the Garage, find the Platoon chat in the right part of the Platoon window.
During the battle, two chat modes are available: one for the whole team, and one for your Platoon. Press Tab to switch between modes.

To enable or disable the voice chat, click in the Platoon window or press H during the battle.

NOTE: Voice chat is disabled in Dynamic Platoons by default.

If voice chat is enabled and you want to say something to your Platoon, press and hold Q. Release the button when you are done.
You can disable the voice chat with specific users in battle or in the Garage. Right-click the player's name in the formation or ally team roster and select Disable Voice Chat.

NOTE: If you do not plan on using voice chat at all, you can disable it in the game settings.

Careful preparation for battle is one of the most important factors when playing in a Platoon. Use Platoon and voice chats to discuss vehicles for the battle, excluded maps and battle types, tactics, and other important issues.

There are several rules that determine which vehicles you can select while playing in a Platoon:

• Platoon players can only select vehicles of the same tier as the Platoon Commander’s vehicle.
  
• Only one SPG per Platoon is allowed.
  
• A Platoon for Frontline must include only Tier VIII vehicles.
  
• A Platoon for Steel Hunter must include only special vehicles used in this mode.

NOTE: There are certain vehicles in World of Tanks which benefit from Preferential Matchmaking. This means that they can't go into battle with enemies above a certain tier. If you play in a vehicle with Preferential Matchmaking, but at least one of your Platoon mates doesn’t, you will not benefit from this feature.

A Platoon cannot play on maps and in battle types excluded by the Platoon Commander. Note that only the Commander’s settings are taken into account.

Once you have selected your vehicle, click Ready! to confirm that you are good to go.
When all players have confirmed that they are ready, the Commander can send the Platoon to the battlefield. To do this, click the Battle! button.

NOTE: After players confirm that they are ready, their vehicles are displayed in your Garage. This function can lead to low performance or graphics issues. To disable it, unselect Display vehicles of Platoon members in the Garage in the game settings under the General tab, then click Apply.

You can also create a Platoon during a battle. This is known as a Dynamic Platoon.

To create a Dynamic Platoon:

1. During a battle, hold Ctrl and mouse over an ally’s name in the Team Panel.
   
2. If the player can be invited to a Platoon, this icon is displayed to the left of the player’s name.
   
3. Click (Add to Platoon) to send an invitation to your ally.

The icon is displayed next to the ally’s name. Your teammate is notified of the invitation and can accept it during or after the battle.

If you want to cancel an invitation, hold Ctrl and right-click the player’s name. Select Recall Invitation.



Joining a Dynamic Platoon
If you are invited to a Platoon, you'll receive a notification in the battle chat and see an icon next to the player who invited you. To accept an invitation, hold Ctrl and click the icon—you’re now in their Platoon!

It’s dangerous to go alone: Create Platoons and fight side by side with your teammates!

Greetings, Heroes! Our Satellite Uplink has detected a number of well-stocked resource deposits across every region. It’s time to increase your resource harvesting efforts and claim these precious nodes!

Resource locations of levels 7 through 10 will be available until 1PM (UTC) on TUESDAY, June 1st!

This weekend, we're also running a Gain Resources Sustained Challenge, where players can compete to gain Titan Tanks as a special challenge reward. Have an awesome weekend, Commanders!

XP and Credits Boost Weekend

• Thursday 5/27 until Tuesday orning 6/1, players can earn about 50% extra Credits and XP from matches.

Steam DLC

The Dreadnought Battle Ready: Recruit Bundle is now available as DLC.

This bundle includes:

• The Marauder Hero Ship - Tier II Tactical Cruiser with an offense based loadout.
  
• Shugyosha Outfit
  
• 2,500 GP
  
• 110,000 Credits
  
• 90 Days of Elite Status

Market Updates

Hero Ships 50% Sale

• Akkoro - Tier IV Tactical Cruiser
  
• Hanuman - Tier III Dreadnought
  
• Hasta - Tier III Artillery Cruiser
  
• Naga - Tier III Corvette
  
• Zaratan - Tier IV Destroyer
  
• Demeter - Tier IV Corvette
  
• Leviathan - Tier IV Dreadnought
  

Elite Status Sale

• 30 Day Elite Status is discounted 25%
  
• 90 Day Elite Status is discounted 50%

Credits

• 110,000 Credits are discounted 20%
  
• 300,000 Credits are discounted 40%
  
• 500,000 Credits are discounted 50%
  

Bundles

• Sinley Bay Combat Training Bundle is discounted 50%
  
• memento Mori Mask is discounted 25%

PlayStation Bundle

This bundle includes:

• The Marouder Hero Ship - Tier II Tactical ruiser with an offense based loadout
  
• Shugyosha Outfit
  
• 110,000 Credits
  
• 90 Days of Elite Status

Good news for puzzle games players! Long Ago: A Puzzle Tale is now available to download and play. With 80 levels to solve in a set of relaxing ambiances, lots of mechanics to uncover as you progress and a fully voiced story told in rhyme, there is plenty to enjoy in this charming puzzler.

Follow the tale of a brave princess striving for freedom and adventure when everyone around her tries to keep her in line with the status quo. Solve intuitive puzzles, collect feathers to reveal the story, gems to unlock new levels and coins to customize how the ball you're playing with looks.

Discover new mechanics as you progress in a campaign consisting of 80 levels plus 30 variations. Each of the five chapters brings with it a new beautiful setting, such as windy summer forests, barren deserts, mountain forests at night and town squares.

Never get stuck with the included hints system. Once charged, you can use it to see the first few steps to nudge you in the right direction or check out the entire solution if you prefer.

Take a little time off for yourself and enjoy some relaxing puzzle solving, surely you've earned it!

Get Long Ago: A Puzzle Tale now!

We have discussed the topic of UI previously - at that time we focused on the menus concerning the hints and dialogue boxes. However that is only a part of the grand scheme of things - UI is multilayered as our game is a little bit more complex and featuring tools and collectables system makes it necessary to design a neat UI and menu tailored especially for that particular feature. At the same time we want to make certain areas of the game more clear - to this effect we've been designing specific icons that will be easy and quick to understand.



Radial menu that we've prepared is designed to provide you with all the important information about the items and objects that you've collected throughout your gameplay. Not only all of them will receive an icon that will resemble the original object but you will also be able to read a short description of each of the objects and you'll be informed in a concise way about the effects of each of the items. This way you can make snap decision in the heat of a moment but if you have a moment of time and want to read the actual description - that is also completely fine!



We're also happy to present you with the icons that you will see in the game. Some of them you've already seen in the video above, some might be completely new to you. We'll be happy to discuss more about them in our next devlog - up until then we're wondering if you will be able to tell us what they might mean? If you could let us know in the comments what do you think they represent we will appreciate that a lot - it will also be a test of sorts for us to check if they are as transparent as we believe them to be.

Thank you for checking in this week and see you in the next one!

Kind regards,
Chernobyl Liquidators Simulator Team



https://store.steampowered.com/app/1113010/Chernobyl_Liquidators_Simulator/

Dream Flash demo #15 is now out! This is a pretty big update that finally includes the fourth stage of the game, along with 5 new bosses. There are also some new champion variants to existing previous bosses as well as touch ups to a few other existing things. Check out all the changes below:

Change-log for Demo 15 and previous updates



I am very happy with the state of the game at this point. Each run now feels pretty "complete" as you go through room to room and chapter to chapter facing increasingly harder bosses until the end. The game is going to feel even more complete with the next update, which will add a new major gameplay feature that I've been planning since before I started working on this game.



We are definitely starting to get close to the end phase of development for Dream Flash. Thanks for playing, and look forward to the upcoming updates.