No update this week, instead I will discuss my plans for the major updates that will arrive later this year.

Buildings update

The first major update will be released before the end of July and will permit to add buildings to your farm. You will have to purchase the plans, then decide where you want to build. Then youll have to bring the materials to complete each step of the construction. Once you have bought a building's plans, you can build as many as you want as long as there is enough free space around your farm, but you will still have to collect or buy the materials. Buildings will include the chicken coop, a barn (with 2 new animals), a greenhouse and a multipurpose shed. This is pretty standard for farm sims, Ill probably add some more exotic buildings and upgrades for the existing ones later. If you have suggestions, dont hesitate to share in the comments.

World Update

The next update is planned for the end of the year, and will extend the map. It will be about 200% larger, with many new areas and more variety.
Map of the current world. The NPCs will also be updated with new dialogues and more quests, that will evolve according to your friendship status. This is a major update that will probably not be compatible with old saved games (since the map will be very different). Luckily, it is possible to keep multiple version of a game on Steam, so I will make sure that those who want to continue to play the previous version can easily do so.

End Game

Next year I would like to work on progress and replayability, two important aspects of the farm sim genre. Currently, the game lacks an endgame, a goal that gives you a reason to continue playing and feel that you are getting somewhere, like the Community Center in Stardew Valley. Im thinking that it would be nice if you could be elected mayor of the community, and choose how it will evolve. You could decide if you let the community grow, or if you keep it small, if you prioritize productivity or the environment or something in between. You could also decide what festivals should take place during the year, what new shops or industries can open in town, etc. Id like to make the changes to the community pretty epic. You could end up with an ultra-modern town with robots and technology everywhere, or turn it into an ecological sanctuary for endangered species, each change on the way having both advantages and disadvantages. It would give both a sense of progression, and a good reason to replay the game and see what happens to the town and its inhabitants when you make different choices.

[ 2020-05-15 13:14:40 CET ] [ Original post ]