Ahoi everyone!
Gamescom is over and I am glad to announce the content of the next upcoming demo update.
Some things have been shown at Gamescom, so some of you may have already an impression, but there will be a lot more that was not showcased!
I am currently uncertain how much time it will take to polish the update, since it will turn the game pretty much into a new one, so I want to take my time with it.
New Mechanic: Ships!
Previously the ships you could find on the map had no purpose. This changes with the next update. Players will be given a ship which they can use to travel the map and find islands to settle on! Set your course and be on your merry way towards new adventures!
New Mechanic: Fog of War
The map in the next update will be completely covered in fog. You will have to sail your ship through this fog and find beacons who permanently uncover the map.
Lighthouses now also have a purpose: they provide a huge area in which they uncover the map permanently.
UI Overhaul
As you may have seen from the previous screenshot, the User Interface got a complete rework. I have improved the readability by switching to a new font, added a new color scheme together with some juicy animations to improve the gamefeel.
The Tide-Display was also reworked and is now permanently visible and indicates the waterlevel and current tide status. There was also a minimap added to provide you with better orientation.
Map Rework
Speaking of orientation: the map also got a complete rework. It now consists of many much smaller islands. Forests are quite rare and you have to manage your space more carefully. Islands have to be approached by ship and then be claimed to be unlocked for building.
Sadly your current saves won't work in combination with this map overhaul, since it completely changes how the game is played and how different systems interact. But the new map system gives me the ability to avoid this in the future and make changes or additions to the map more easily.
New Buildings
There are also some new buildings and production chains planned, to give you more content to play with and build more cozy, frisian towns!
That's it!
(for now...) I am really excited for this one and will keep you updated about what's to come!