Hello everyone! Welcome to this month’s devlog! If you just stumbled upon this, I am Adrienne, also known as insertdisc5! I’m the developer, writer, artist, main programmer, etc of the game. The game being In Stars and Time, which is the next and final game in the START AGAIN series, following START AGAIN: a prologue (available here!). You can find out more about In Stars and Time here!!!
LET’S GET TO IT

In case you didn’t know, this month we announced that In Stars and Time will be coming to Nintendo Switch, as well as showed off a brand new trailer!!! Did you see it? Did you see it. It’s such a good trailer. Watch it again.



And in case you didn’t know (second edition), In Stars and Time had a booth at the Tokyo Game Show! And I got to be there, along with Gabrielle, the Release Manager from Armor Games Studio! AND I GOT TO SEE PEOPLE PLAY THE DEMO RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY VERY EYES!!!! It was such a surreal experience, and so validating too… Feedback has been very positive and I couldn’t be happier! (I also got a lot of compliments on the battle system, which has surprised me??? I’m glad people like the battle system…)



I’d never been to a video game convention before, or to Japan, so I had a lot of new experiences thrown at me very fast! Japan is such a beautiful country (so clean!!!), and I had a wonderful time exploring and looking at the other TGS booths and talking to people… Gabby was here to use her Japanese language mastery to show off the demo, but thankfully I also learned the key words to survive and be able to explain my game in Japanese: “time loop RPG” to explain the concept, and “Jankenpon” (Rock-Paper-Scissors) to describe the battle system! Sometimes that’s all you need!!!



Thank you to everyone that played the demo, and passed by the booth!!! The demo will be available for the whole month of October still, so you should play it while it’s still up!




As for development, it is going well! The game having reached alpha last month means it’s time for intense rounds of QA to catch all those nasty little bugs. And localization into Japanese is underway! And!!! Studio Thumpy Puppy finished the soundtrack, and oh my god!!! I cannot wait for everyone to play the game and hear all those amazing tracks!!! So exciting!!!

That’s all I have to say for today! Let me know if you have any questions, or if there’s any aspect of the game development struggle you’d like me to talk about! See you next time!!!

AND DON’T FORGET TO WISHLIST THE GAME ON STEAM ALSO IT REALLY HELPS BECAUSE STEAM’S ALGORITHM IS MORE LIKELY TO SHOW OFF GAMES WITH A HIGH AMOUNT OF WISHLISTS THAT’S THE REASON WHY GAME DEVS ALWAYS ASK TO WISHLIST!!! OKAY BYE!!!!

This is just a quick post to let players know that we are aware of a significant bug that is affecting a small number of users.

When you start a new chapter in the latest update, you are supposed to get a screen allowing you to select between playing as Susan or Amelia. Unfortunately for some users this screen does not appear correctly, meaning that they cannot progress into the level.

After investigation we cannot determine what is causing this bug, other than the fact that it seems to be related to non-English region settings on player's computers. We cannot replicate the bug locally so it's difficult to fix.

Instead, since the screen was only meant to be a placeholder anyway, we will be redesigning the screen as a "proper" menu screen, similar to the rest of the main menu. Since the rest of the main menu works, this should fix the bug.

We apologize for the inconvenience to players suffering from this bug. It is a high priority fix that we will try to get out as soon as possible. It may take a few days to a week to fix the bug, depending on whether the redesigned screen suffers from the same issue and the availability of users suffering from this issue to test our fix.

Thank you for your patience. We will post another update when the issue is resolved.

* Event Duration: 5th October 2022 (9:00 AM) – 26th October 2022 (8:59 AM)

* Main Event:

1. Festival of Coexistence – Login Reward (5th October 2022 (9:00 AM) till 26th October 2022 (8:59 AM))

* Event Details

1. Festival of Coexistence – Login Reward
l  Will be removed from the Letter Box at 8:59 AM on 26th October 2022.

l  Resets weekly at 9:00 AM.

* Please Note
l  Content is adjusted to match the character who opens it.

👋 Hey detectives!

Yes, there is everything great with your eyes; the title is not a lie or a clickbait! Gamedec: Definitive Edition is VERIFIED for Steam deck! 🔥



You could play the game on this handheld already, but the badge on Steam Store is something we really wanted for quite some time now!



We know that the vacation season is over; BUT, October is cold, and the next couple of months will be even colder, so you can explore the virtualia under the warm blanket with hot chocolate next to you (we'd say, in the other hand, but playing with just one hand would be kinda impractical). ❤️

Unfortunately, we have a delay with the skin bundle we mentioned in our previous article. We want to assure you that these skins will be free, just we will deliver them to you a little bit later than we anticipated. We are working closely with Valve to find the best solution here; we want everyone to be happy!

Until the next time!

Team Gamedec!

Hello all,
In this update I added lore items that will explain why and how this island turned into a place where strange creatures and cultist types are running around. Also improved AI patch finding and client stability.

Patch notes:

Added:

• Lore items;

Changes:

• Items glow from farther away and are now more visible;
  
• Death sounds are now quieter;
  
• Flashlight durability temporarily disabled;

Fixes:

• Hints in the starting area spawn correctly;
  
• Improved client stability;
  
• Improved game performance;
  
• Tutorials now show proper texts;
  
• Items now don't disappear when dropped;
  
• Achievements for completing game without hint work properly;
  
• Cursor now shows up when an network error occurs;

- Equipments in matchmaking are now unlimited once activated
- Fixes many issue in online matchmaking
- Fixes an issue in Team VIP game mode
- Bug fixes and other improvements

Hello Friends!

This weekend we are heading to Poznan Game Arena (Oct 7-9) - the biggest game show in this part of Europe!

It means you're getting a chance to meet our dream team in person while playing and talking about our storytelling gem!! If you're gonna visit, be sure to join us at pavilion 7, stand 29.






Isn't it stunning news?
Stay tuned, Friends! This Mothers Journey for awards is not yet finished!

See you Oct 7-9!

Hey Survivors!

Have you been keeping up to date with all the exciting content we've been revealing over the past few weeks? We're looking forward to sharing with you even more interesting elements of the game that you can experiment with in Stranded: Alien Dawn.
Check out the content for the previous week's here:

• Week 1: The Basics
• Week 2: The Environment
• Week 3: The Survivors

Let's set the scene: Your survivors have just crash landed on an unknown planet, surrounded by strange and unfamiliar plants and animals. Everything seems beautiful and lush at first, but as you begin to take stock of their situation you quickly realise that there could be danger lurking just beyond the nearest hill or valley. Your job is to keep your survivors alive long enough to find potential escape or rescue for them. This will only be possible by building a solidified base to protect them from outside threats, while also researching new technologies to improve your home.

Will you build a humble cabin, or an imposing fort? The choice will be yours! It's time to explore Stranded: Alien Dawn's modular building system in more depth. 



Base-Building
You will start off building a humble camp with basic necessities and temporary shelter, but in time you'll be able to expand into high-tech fortresses with complex defense systems and gadgets. You'll have a lot of freedom to build your own unique base, whether it be one large interconnected building with several rooms, or a sprawling community made up of many different buildings

Most your survivors’ build early on will be predominantly made of sticks, wood, hay, stone or scrap metal, all of which can be drawn from the environment by scavenging, mining, chopping, and collecting raw materials.  Eventually you’ll gain access to more advanced materials, which you should definitely use.

The terrain in which you build your base will also differ each play through as your crash site be different for each game. Will your base be overlooking mountain hilltops or burrowed amongst lush greenery? Even the closest flora and fauna around you will differ. Using the environment around you as the terrain you are in can definitely have its advantages, which is something worth experimenting with!

Building your first camp should be quick and easy. Starting with a basic camp, you'll begin to fill the area with a small shelter with straw beds, a campfire, and a table and chairs for your survivors to have a place to eat.

As you settle down and Researching “Construction Basics” at a Research Bench will allow you to erect full buildings made up of separate rooms, in addition to decking them out with actual floors, walls and roofs. This personalised angle allows you to mix and match different construction materials, to create a truly unique aesthetic. Fancy a room with a stone floor, metal walls and a wooden roof? You got it! Just be aware that certain materials have specific insulation and support strengths, so a house made out of sticks might not your best option for surviving the winter. 



Multiple rooms can be built, whether you make them small or expansive, and each area could have a specific purpose to it. Your survivors will appreciate having spacious individual bedrooms so their sleep won’t be disturbed. A separate recreation room will let your survivors ease their physical and mental stressors.

Different rooms will have different needs depending on their usage. It’s probably also best to keep crafting materials close to workshops, and foodstuffs close to your kitchens. Food and materials should generally be stored underneath a roof to prevent them from degrading, and refrigeration will keep your foodstuffs from spoiling too quickly. Living spaces will need to be heated in the winter or kept cool during the summer, and this could require electricity depending on your setup.

As long as you have a safe space for your survivors from the get-go you can continuously refine it and work slowly to expand and create the base of your dreams.

Research
Conducting research will open up new possibilities for you to improve and expand your base, in addition to opening up new mechanisms that can automate defenses, reduce manual labour, and even machine-print components, weapons, or food! The research tech tree is split into 5 categories: Resources, Power, Defense, Construction, and Breakthroughs. Each play-through starts with a different set of research Breakthroughs randomly selected from the list of all breakthroughs, which will have an impact on your research strategy. In the end, it's up to you what you research and when.

As you research you may even find new ways to upgrade the durability of your structures. A house once made of sticks and stones can be transformed into a concrete or brick home. These solid structures will need to be crafted from raw materials into concrete or bricks. As you continue playing, your to do list could get longer and longer! There are also fortifications and automated turrets you can build to create sturdier defenses, as well as weapon-smithing and fashioning armor to further protect your survivors from surprise attacks.



There is an extensive list of mechanics you can unlock through researching that we haven't touched upon, so we hope you are ready to fully immerse yourself into this world and discover all it has to offer.

That's it for this week's overview on all the creative ways you can utilise the modular building in Stranded: Alien Dawn. What sort of ways do you think you'll try and build your base? Let's discuss down in the comments!

Have you been keeping up to date with all the exciting content we've been revealing over the past few weeks? We're looking forward to sharing with you even more interesting elements of the game that you can experiment with to enhance your experience on Stranded: Alien Dawn. 

If you haven't already, come join the community over on the Stranded: Alien Dawn Discord. We also have Twitter, Instagram and Facebook where we've been posting all sorts of fun content! Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep updated with future trailers and gameplay videos. 

See you next time!

各位道友好：
《蜀山：初章》将于2022年10月4日22:00-23:00进行更新维护，维护结束之后将会发放全服补偿，请各位道友相互转告，在此期间给您带来的不便，敬请谅解。为您提供良好的游戏环境，一直是我们致力的目标，非常感谢您继续支持重楼工作室！

停服时间：10月4日22：00-23：00
停服范围：全服


《蜀山：初章》重楼工作室
2022年10月4日

As we approach the November 17th launch date for Company of Heroes 3, our team has decided the game is not quite up to our players’ or our own high standards. There are still bugs to squash, pixels to polish, gameplay to adjust and feedback to address.

As a result, we’ve decided to move the launch date to February 23rd, 2023. While we know many of you are itching to get your hands on the game, we believe this to be the best decision for CoH3, our players, and our studio. This provides our hard-working team and partners with the necessary time to deliver CoH3 in a better overall state.

So, what does this all mean? It means we’re spending this additional time polishing and finalizing features while also squashing bugs. Every day we remove bugs and finalize assets and features to help guarantee a better moment-to-moment experience for our players. Over the next 4-months we will not be adding any new features — the factions, units, modes, campaigns and modding tools for CoH3 are all set for launch. Now it’s just a matter of tuning and polishing everything to deliver on that core experience.

We are incredibly proud of the dedication our community has shown throughout CoH-Development. Your feedback has been critical in these last stages of development and will continue to be a driver for our team for years to come. Since we first revealed Company of Heroes 3 in July of 2021, your feedback across all areas of the game has been considered, processed, and in many cases, implemented. Some examples include:

• Improvements to the Dynamic Campaign Map, such as a new supply system, UI improvements, a more aggressive A.I., and faster travel across the map through seaport and airport improvements.
  
• Adding a stronger focus on visual grit and details during battles, by improving shader technology and FX. A great example of improved visual grit is the new vehicle weathering system that we’ve implemented, seeing vehicles now slowly accrue more dirt and mud based on the terrain they are navigating through. You will see more impact damage, scarring, burning and damage on their vehicles as you progress on the battlefield.
  
• Overhauling the lighting system to provide higher fidelity and to ensure clear unit readability
  
• Enhancing moment-to-moment gameplay by making changes to the camera positioning and providing clearer mini map information. Changes are still being made to the HUD layout and the UI.
  
• Seeing players experiment with the Multiplayer Pre-Alpha in November 2021 really helped the team make significant improvements to Battlegroups, their upgrade trees, units, and call-in abilities.
  
• Reviewing and improving parts of voice-over lines to ensure they are authentic to specific characters and their native accents featured in the game.

Our team will continue sharing news and details with you week-to-week in the lead up to launch to keep you updated on our progress. Over 5 years ago, we set out to deliver the best Company of Heroes game in the franchise’s history, and with your continued feedback, we intend to do just that.


When will CoH3 be launching?
CoH3 will be launching on February 23rd, 2023, on Steam.

Why did you decide to change the launch date?
We know we want to deliver the best game possible, and we feel that we are not there yet. Your feedback helped guide our decision to ensure CoH3 is up to the high standards of both the development team and our players. This additional time allows us to work on overall improvements, balancing, and fine-tuning of CoH 3 to ensure the game will meet player expectations and deliver the deepest tactical experience in the series yet.

Will you be adding new features, modes, factions or units for launch?
No, all the content that is to be included for CoH3’s launch is set. With 4 factions available at launch, two singleplayer experiences, 12 battlegroups, and over 120 units, the scope of CoH3 is bigger than any prior game in the franchise. We’re taking this time to polish, tune and bug-fix to ensure that everything will add up to an amazing experience for all our players.

Will you be adding new content post-launch?
Absolutely! We plan to support CoH3 for years to come, and you can find out more about those plans in this dev diary.

Where can I leave my feedback for CoH3?
You can leave a comment or post on our forums or jump into our Discord. Our team is active in both of those spaces reading everything we see.

Where can I learn more about CoH-Development and CoH3?
Learn more by heading to https://www.companyofheroes.com/ or our community forums. You can also follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Twitch or join our Discord.

What will happen to my pre-order?
If you’ve already pre-ordered CoH3, nothing has changed. You’ll be ready to play on our new launch date of February 23rd, 2023. You can still pre-order CoH 3 here.