Greetings Star Truckers!
Work continues on the next update and while there's still lots to do, things are taking shape! The UI and UX has moved along considerably and we're hard at work on a variety of different job types.
For this update I thought it might be nice to provide a little extra info on how the new Business Ventures will work. Keep in mind some elements are subject to change but it should make for an OK overview.
After you’ve met requirements, you’ll receive a CB holler from a brand-new character. They’ll brief you on their venture and provide updates and chatter as you complete jobs for them.
These bite-sized tasks are perfect for filling gaps in your schedule or breaking up a long freight haul. With a bunch of new VO, they also help the galaxy feel more alive (especially in Freeplay mode).
Unlike freight or side jobs, you can accept a venture job at ANY TIME from a new option in the game menu. However, these job slots are limited and have a cooldown. This helps maintain their role as a supporting feature within the larger context of the game, while still providing plenty of short-term goals.
The first business venture we plan to roll out lets you step into the role of a galactic handyman, helping “King Vinny” tackle a growing backlog of work - everything from updating billboards to repairing infrastructure.
For context, this is how we handle unlocking this venture…
Regular Mode - After you complete your first side job for either Red Eddie or Sour Candy
Freeplay Mode - From the start of your playthrough
Existing Save - Shortly after you load (If you’ve met requirements)
Future ventures might require a specific rank or unlocking a specific zone but in general, you should be able to get stuck in fairly quickly if you’re a returning player.
As previously mentioned, each venture features a new voiced NPC and for “King Vinny” we’re happy to have the talented Ray Fox join our expanding team of contributing voice actors…
Ray started his career working at Sacramento radio stations, learning the ins and outs of the broadcast industry before realizing that “rock stardom” was a far more stable career path than radio. He shifted his focus to music as the bassist - and occasional singer - for the band Sedona. The band appeared alongside dozens of high-profile acts, including Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, and Peter Frampton.
He also hosts a TikTok channel called Fox Rock Challenge, featuring classic rock brain teasers and trivia - but according to Ray, his expanding voice-over career has left him with little free time as animation and video game roles have proven an irresistible draw.
King Vinny : Listen, pal. I'm booked back to back to back today but I've got a client out in Medusa Six that needs a hand. Do me a favor and go check it out, will 'ya?
Vinny is just one of a bunch of new NPCs so be sure to keep an eye on future dev blogs for more info on new characters!
* Bonus trivia : Ray’s brother Jimi Fox toured with the Doobie Brothers during the ’90s as a percussionist - proving the Fox family has always rolled with good rhythm!
If you have a stash of cash to spend you should consider investing in “Boosts”.
These allow you to take on more jobs and earn bonus VXP. Well worth the investment if there’s a customization reward you want sooner than later or if you like to take on extra jobs while haulin’ freight.
Speaking of rewards. We recently finished some all new bobble tech! This allows various items on your dash to sway, bounce and get knocked about when you turn, crash and poke them.
Obviously great for bobble heads but it also works on mag-float accessories such as our UFO spinner 🛸
Hopefully this update proves insightful as to what’s going on here at Monster HQ and how the Business Ventures will work. As mentioned at the start of this post, there's still a lot of work and testing ahead of us but things are shaping up nicely!
We’ll swing by again soon with a progress update and screengrabs of various interior customization options. Until then we hope you’ll continue to follow our ramblings as we move closer to the release of this update.
10-10 and out!
Dave & Dan ( aka Monster & Monster )