Factory automation games like Techtonica are about making things work as well as they possibly can. Efficiency. How do you eke out more efficiency?
These games are also about on-the-fly solving of logistics puzzles that you, the player, create. You create these puzzles as you plan and build your factories.
As makers of a factory automation game, it’s our job to get you info in a quick, digestible fashion. We’re constantly improving the UI that delivers that info.
Today, we’ll showcase Techtonica’s Overlay Mode, which relays critical factory information and enables rapid problem diagnosis in a 3D, massive factory space.
Before we start, remember that a lot of this art is temporary! Techtonica will launch as an Early Access game this year, and elements of the game’s art and UI are regularly changing.
Let’s dig in.
Hello, Overlay Mode!
Activating Overlay Mode is simple: press the Alt key on your keyboard, and boom, it’s there.
You now have an overlay on all machines, from Inserters to Smelters and Assemblers. This overlay contains critical information. On Inserters, for instance, you can immediately tell which way the Inserter is operating. On Assemblers, you can see what the currently selected recipe is at a glance. On Smelters, you can see which ingot the machines are producing.
We also color machines based on their operational status. Green means everything is good. Yellow means the machine is paused and waiting (perhaps an Assembler that’s configured correctly but just waiting for the goods). Red means something is wrong.
With Overlay Mode, even larger factory floors become instantly legible. In the example screenshot above, Overlay Mode immediately tells me which side of my Smelting operation is copper and which is iron.
Some folks at Fire Hose leave Overlay Mode on constantly. I use it whenever I need to rapidly understand my layouts or am returning to an older save, confused and lost. (This happens often.)
Rapid problem diagnostics with big red icons
In the spirit of making sure that Groundbreakers have immediate, highly-visible information about the status of their factories, major problems will show over machines regardless of Overlay Mode being on.
If your machines are out of fuel, if an Inserter is trying to insert the wrong resource type, or if your Crank Generator needs a fresh crankin’, we’ll tell you with a red status icon over the machine.
This means that your factories let you know about problems as soon as they happen. It’s super convenient when you’re working to keep large-scale operations running smoothly and an error shows up that you wouldn’t have otherwise noticed.
Overlay Mode concepts and the future
It’s time for some concept art! ...And practically ancient in-game screenshots.
Look closely and you’ll notice old versions of the Assembler and Inserters. You’ll also notice that Overlay Mode has been with us for, literally, years as our team drew on stuff like the Inserter directions.
What about the future? The icons are all changing to be cleaner, easier to read, and to feel like they're a better fit for the Techtonica universe. Here are some of the new concepts that we're picking from.
Techtonica drops later this year. Add it to your wishlist!
If you want to chat with some like-minded factory automation fans, join our Discord!
Modifications: - Level 5, you can't fall into the void anymore. - The record section was updated.
Further note:
We decided to change the price of the game to 3.99$ If you already bought the game, you can refund it and buy it again. If you can't, please contact us at sungamestudiosup@gmail.com
Finally, there's another BETA update for Fernbus Coach Simulator for you! Apart from the upgrade to Unreal Engine 5, there are several improvements and reworks included like a new physics engine and a new sound backend.
For the full detailed list of changes, please, see the changelog below. --- Please create backup copies of your savegame files before switching to the BETA Update. Savegames may not be compatible with the new version of the game. --- ATTENTION: This is a BETA update. Technical problems, instability of the game as well as bugs during gameplay can be possible.
How to install the beta version of the update? Quite easily:
In your Library, you click with the right mouse button on the entry of the "Fernbus Simulator"
In the drop-menu, you click on the entry "Properties"
In the window "Fernbus Simulator - Properties" you select the tab "BETAS"
In the field "Select the beta you would like to opt into:" select the entry "beta-beta"
Now you can close the window and the beta version of the update should download right away
After downloading the update you can start Fernbus Simulator via the "PLAY" button
In the main menu should now be the corresponding version number of the beta version of the update and you can test the update
--- Changelog 1.30.57325 Beta
Upgrade to Unreal Engine 5
New physics engine
Map DLC’s are now shown on the map
DLC Vehicles can now be viewed when not owned
Fixed BB40 doors not opening
Fixed Bus spawning wrong in football DLC
Updated map navigation UI
New sound backend
Telemetry additions
Interactables now get highlighted
DLC coaches added as AI vehicles
Fixed crash at start town selection
New main menu backgrounds
Updated Flixbus coach painting
Level Art Fixes
Performance Optimizations**
--- Changelog 1.30.59003 Beta
Upgrade to Unreal Engine 5.1
Fixed Wheels for Lion’s Coach 3rd Gen*
Fixed OptiView for Lion’s Coach 3rd Gen*
Fixed sound W906*
Fixed crash sound when switching between vehicles*
Fixed sunblind sound playing continuously*
Fixed vehicle speeds on Highway*
Fixed missing truck trailers*
Level Art Fixes
Performance Optimizations**
--- Changelog 1.30.59783 Beta
Fixed repaint colors. This will cause long load times on first start.*
Fixed repaints not appearing on non player busses*
Fixed distorted sound in MAN/Neoplan busses*
Fixed wrong smartphone in soccer DLC*
Fixed wheel control settings*
Fixed display in W906 not updating*
Fixed missing textures on various buildings*
Fixed crash when entering AI vehicle*
Fixed volume of DLC radio
Fixed Line display activating automatically*
Fixed cloud movement causing flickering shadows
Removed FMOD sound engine
Fixed loading of savegames*
Level Art Fixes
Performance Optimizations**
--- Changelog 1.30.60209 Beta
Fixed Passengers spawning below the ground*
Fixed VDL Lifting functions*
Fixed trucks slowing down in uphills*
Fixed another crash when loading saved games*
Fixed Football DLC target stop not appearing*
Fixed Announcement Sounds*
Fixed vehicle physics settings after reset
Fixed strong reflection from some AI busses*
Fixed AI tractor movement
Level Art Fixes
Performance Optimizations**
--- Changelog 1.30.60431 Beta
Improved performance for low Antialiasing Settings*
DLC Preparations
Level Art Fixes
Performance Optimizations**
--- Changelog 1.30.60557 Beta
Fixed resolution scale setting*
Reduced performance hitches
Fixed Lights for Top Class*
Fixed being unable to leave AI Vehicles*
Fixed conflict in default keybinds*
Level Art Fixes
Performance Optimizations**
** Please, be aware that the impact of performance optimisations varies from system to system due to hardware configurations, installed software and other programs running in the background
Build no. 93874 of version 1.22 is now live on the Development branch.
(Development branch, Steam) Version 1.22 (Build: 93874) patch notes:
Fixed: Main menu showing Start Game instead of Continue
Fixed: Misleading information about animal senses on Hunter difficulty
Fixed: Wrong vehicle appearing on load (default 4x4 spawned instead of UTV)
Before you opt into the development branch, please make sure that you back up your save file, as progress you make on the development branch WILL NOT CARRY OVER to the stable version if you later choose to switch back. The patch will be pushed to the stable version and other platforms as soon as we have confirmed that it is indeed stable.
We will be grateful for any and all feedback and bug reports either in the discussion section of this post or via the THQ Nordic Redmine (when creating a ticket, please make sure that you enter the correct version).
In just a couple of days the Warden will unlock a new alternative Rundown and although experienced prisoners will know what awaits them on the deeper expeditions, everything isn’t as you remember. Clear all of your weekend plans - ALT://Rundown 3.0 The Vessel releases on Thursday the 2nd of March, 12:00 UTC.
In this Rundown, you must deliver the neonate acquired in Rundown 2.0 for the final steps in a mystifying process to create whatever is inside that HSU. You will also discover messages and logs from another prisoner called John Schaeffer, who appears to have broken his programming and is determined to discover why he’s in Garganta, and answer the question:
