I admit that I didn’t expect so many thousands of people to pre-order Production Line. The target I set for ‘I should be on early access when this many people are playing’ has already been hit, and I don’t have the video done yet, or the steam info ready for early access. I’ve been caught a bit by surprise.

This latest build changes the way engines are built, changes (again!) the financial modelling, adjusts a lot of numbers, puts in proper achievement art and text, adds a simple bit of tutorial stuff fixes a whole bunch of small issues, and adds some new research tech too. I feel really good about this build, its definitely the most balanced, fun and playable so far by a long way. If you are already playing the game you should get an update popup, but either way, just re-download the installer and you’ll get the new version. You can trigger an order email re-send from here.

The near term will see me getting new car model types into the game (coming soon, my artist dude rob is already working on them) and some proper music (are you sick of that loop yet? :D), and then the immediate order of business after that is to get the correct steam and GoG integration done so that I can get into Early Access on both platforms. (I know GoG call it something else). The longer term will see me thinking about marketing, competitors, a better tutorial, mod support, multiple language support, more achievements, and an expansion of the tech tree in all sorts of directions. I’d also like to get steam workshop support in there, obviously trading card support, and a bunch of character and polish.

I haven’t really done much to promote the game other than my weekly youtube videos which are fun to do and fairly popular (by my paltry standards). I’ve spent a few hundred dollars on reddit and facebook to boost the game a bit, but nothing serious. I’ve partly relied on it having a bit of a bargain price (that is likely to go to $13 next week, and probably $15 for early access), but that wont be my strategy forever. I’m considering getting a booth for EGX in the UK in September (when I assume the game will still be in Early Access) to help get the word out a bit more. I haven’t made much of a push to contact youtubers, but once I hit early access I will start to do that a bit too.

Anyway, the most important thing by far is that I’m really enjoying working on it, its gets better every week, and so far the community have been really helpful and understanding when I break stuff or mess things up :D. If you haven’t already grabbed the game, its still $12 for a few more days:

Complete 1.15 changelist:

[version 1.15]

1) [Bug] Fixed crash bug when upgrading power plants.

2) [Bug] Fixed memory leak caused by the save game dialog. (Big one :D).

3) [Feature] Engine system redesign. Flywheel no longer used, engine is now a powertrain, new research, new slots for new engine production line.

4) [Feature] Stop-start engine is a new researchable upgrade. This is the first upgrade applying to a component you can manufacture.

5) [Bug] Fixed issues where changing the requirements for a supply stockpile would cause overlaps and confusion.

6) [Bug] Fixed routing for production line slots so resource requirements changes frees up the right room for newly required components.

7) [Performance] Vastly sped up drawing and creation of the car stock dialog when number of cars in stock is very high.

8) [Feature] Load game dialog now auto-sizes where possible and will not load invalid save games.

9) [Feature] Changes to economic model. Design screen now automatically matches market value unless you override. feature price tab removed.

10) [Feature] Basic tutorial pop-up windows added.

11) [Bug] Some achievements that did not display progress now do.

12) [Feature] 2 new researchable factory upgrades increase the refunds from demolishing equipment.

13) [GUI] Refunds now have a green rising value to distinguish them from expenditure.

14) [GUI] Supply stockpiles now also show their delivery point as a colored tile like normal stockpiles in resource-placing mode.

15) [Balance] Major re-pricing of upgrades and the market-values of features. Most upgrades to slots doubled in prices. Many features are now less valuable.

16) [Graphics] Some production slots now have work-pits next to the conveyor belt.

17) [GUI] Achievements now have final graphics and better text.