Patch 1.15: Cretaceous DLC Support + Optimizations

Okay, the new patch is here! It supports the DLC so you will need to upgrade before you can use the new Cretaceous Mongolia.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/700320/Tyto_Ecology__Cretaceous_Mongolia/

The rest of the improvements in this patch:

Improvements for Hunting Failure Rates

Thank you to all who contributed their experiences on the forums to help us diagnose this and look for specific scenarios.

First, background on why animals can fail hunts to begin with: previously, predators ALWAYS succeeded, then everything always died unless it was in perfect balance. Having hunting failure is an effort to make it possible for some predators to die off before everything is eaten so that you may get some ecosystem bounce back as you'd see in real life ecosystems with boom-bust populations. Obviously this is more challenging in a much smaller game ecosystem with less variables than real life, but something that gave ecosystems a chance of recovery.

However, there were a few issues as we've discovered with more edge cases and your feedback. As our gamers have pointed out, insectivores were struggling pretty regularly. The other issue is that the algorithms to determine failure rate was based on the ratios of predator-prey relationships across the entire biodome, which would make some zones' behavior not make sense.

So, here's what we did:

• We've fixed how the success rate algorithm sees insect/swarm populations comparing to insectivores so that they don't get out of balance and begin failing so easily.
• The success rate is now determined only by populations within each zone.
• We've added more variables to the hunt success rate algorithm to make it more sensitive and specific, such as the health of the prey animal and the hunger of the predator.
• We've added limits to the amount that a singular variable like the comparative population ratios can impact the success rate (i.e. one variable cannot make success completely impossible for a predator any longer).

Save Improvements

Previously, ALT+F4 or other sudden closes (including crashes) would sometimes corrupt your save file, which would then wipe your plants. Saving has been refactored so that this should no longer happen.

Optimizations

• Graphics performance has been improved (engine upgrade).
• More effective use of CPU threads is now present (engine upgrade).
• Window mode switching on OSX will no longer randomly crash your game (engine upgrade).
• Stability improvements, especially during time skips.

KNOWN MAC ISSUE, MAC USERS PLEASE READ

Unfortunately, there is a known bug between our version of Unreal Engine and Steam which is causing issues with Steam integrations. We are waiting for Epic to fix this and then will update with the fix.

If you use a Mac, your Steam overlay may appear washed out, and your screenshots via Steam will not work so we've implemented a back-up method.

Your screenshots will (for now) save to:

User > Library* > Application Support > Epic > Tyto Ecology > Saved > Screenshots

* Library is a hidden folder. The fastest way to access is to go to Finder then when in the "GO" drop-down on the top, hold down your OPTIONS key. Library will then show up as an option.

Again, we'll put this back as soon as Epic and Steam start playing friendly on Mac again!