https://store.steampowered.com/app/1124180/Rail_Route/

Demo anniversary

Its been a month since we released the Steam demo on the 12th of April! That was a big milestone for Rail Route, and a great opportunity for us to gather valuable feedback from our players. Weve been polishing and bug fixing during the last month a lot. We hope that this will ensure a smooth experience during the Early Access release on June 23rd for everyone! [previewyoutube=SE5c_QyIbUo;full][/previewyoutube]

Editor

A ton of updates were made to the editor to improve the experience for map creators. Your suggestions in our community Discord have been so great! Hopefully weve solved all of the biggest issues. The most significant changes include: the ability to test the map right from the editor, more detailed train configuration (type, speed, composition), timetable view for the stations, and a lot of small changes here and there.

Steam Workshop

While we were doing updates to the editor, we also looked at how custom maps can be shared. To make the creation, sharing, searching and installation of maps as seamless as possible, we integrated a Steam Workshop support.
The creator can now share their map with just a few clicks. You can browse Rail Route's Workshop to search for maps, sort by rating / time played, filter by tags (e.g. Timetable vs Endless) and click Subscribe to download the map automatically. All subsequent updates to the map are downloaded automatically as well, but they do not affect saved games changes affect only newly started playthroughs.
Note: not working in the demo due some limitations

Hints

Another area we targeted was the onboard experience. While we dont want to make our tutorial any longer so new players arent overwhelmed, we saw we needed to improve the start of Endless mode, which was not covered by the tutorial at all. The most important thing to communicate were the contracts. We implemented the Hint screens that could help new players understand the mechanics of Endless mode more easily. These hints are shown automatically when certain actions occur; accepting the contract for the first time will show the hint explaining how contracts work, for example. We will probably include more hints in the future.
There is also a new contract offer screen after you run the first (trial) train of a recurrent contract. It helps communicate how the reward is calculated, and thus how the recurrent contracts work more properly. Tell us what do you think about it!

Building

Last, but not least, we have seen some struggles during track building in Endless mode when we were observing the YouTube recordings from new players. Things such as the fact that you couldnt build on the allocated / occupied tracks was one of the various issues. Right now, we are showing the explanations why you cant build upfront, as well as the possible destinations from the current mouse position. This change might seem minor, but it really makes a difference! See for yourself:
We really want the start of Early Access to be as smooth as possible. So we will spend the next month polishing it as well as we can until we release it on June 23rd! But dont worry, we also operate a separate track where we are preparing the game design for the next big update - the Shunting update! Keep an eye on our Discord as we might share the details there over time. Thank you and happy dispatching!

Full Demo Changelog

Yeah, we've done a lot of work on that with Michal! :)

New

NEW: Add mandatory count on contract offer NEW: Allow Start map from the Editor, allow edit map from the game NEW: Brake at Signal, Stop at Signal penalization in scored maps NEW: Braking penalty icon on train detail NEW: CoachYard can be used in Timetable maps; Stations marked Border accept trains in Sinks, Not marked Border in CoachYards. NEW: Daytona timetable map NEW: Font for simplified Chinese configuration NEW: Glouchester map NEW: Hint that contract & prototype stops at every station NEW: Language selection in the Options NEW: Localization strings in Save&Share UI NEW: Map Gateway NEW: Maps from Steam Workshop in Menu NEW: Marradon map NEW: MaxSpeed and train composition (order of vehicles) configurable from Editor NEW: Nice & Shiny `Contract Offer` panel NEW: NoBrakingPenalization flag can be set from Editor; Editor does not clear it when set by level string editing. NEW: Occupied segment penalization NEW: Options available also in the editor NEW: Penalization log on victory screen in timetable level NEW: Perfect time renamed to perfect score, added % score to Victory screen NEW: Platforms connected with tracks are automatically activated at the start of Custom Endless Map NEW: Playtime tracking for workshop items NEW: Prevent prototypes of rejected Contracts from entering the CoachYard (a train for free - causes confusion) NEW: Redsnag timetable map NEW: Reset UI scale button NEW: Run through penalty for scored maps NEW: Some Hints displayed during the Endless mode NEW: Sound notifications of waiting trains as new Upgrade NEW: Station Detail with Timeline in the Editor NEW: Station signs can be clicked in the editor to show Station definition NEW: Support for two subsequent scheduled visits of one station in a row NEW: Target speed instead of expected speed for recurrent contracts NEW: Timeline Modal in the Editor NEW: Toggle `Any` platform in the timetable editor NEW: Tooltip for non active autoblocks NEW: Track, switches and other elements can be selected only by holding CTRL. NEW: Train can be set to receive no braking penalization in map txt NEW: TrainType can be set from Editor; Editor does not clear it when set by level string editing. NEW: Two new Unlocks for the points exchange NEW: Uploading of own maps to Steam Workshop

Updates

PERF: Optimizations to level loading REFACTORING: Train.CurrentSpeedKmph and Train.MaxSpeedKmph extracted to centralse computing UPDATE: A lot missing strings exported to localization UPDATE: Ambient sound disabled until we have final audio files UPDATE: Auto-accept and auto-reverse turned on by default after the upgrade UPDATE: Autosave button in debug panel UPDATE: Better research description for some item UPDATE: Better score screen (and translated) UPDATE: Better time manipulation in the editor UPDATE: Bigger platform selection field in Timetable panel UPDATE: Bigger stations panel in editor UPDATE: Building enabled hidden from the editor, controlled by selected Mode UPDATE: Building enabled hidden from the editor, controlled by selected Mode UPDATE: Changed format of texts in the Unlocks UPDATE: Coach Yard station renamed to Yard on Prague map (to prevent confusion) UPDATE: Contract limit message made more visible UPDATE: Different color for error labels to improve accesibility UPDATE: Different icon for secondary exp. point UPDATE: Don't remove tracks with right click when doing track speed change UPDATE: Feedback button is opening the Discord UPDATE: Floor the % on victory & offered contracts UPDATE: Highlight current destination upon departure in Train Detail UPDATE: IC trains from CoachYard made more probable to be generated soon after train stabled. UPDATE: Initial contracts penalties lowered UPDATE: Keep tracks white outside building in the Editor UPDATE: Localizations UPDATE: Localizations UPDATE: Localizations UPDATE: Localizations UPDATE: Localizations update UPDATE: Localizations update UPDATE: Lowered sounds volume by half UPDATE: Mandatory counts for contracts lowered from 10 to 5 UPDATE: Manual signals on autoblocks in Prague and Washington. Autoblocks speeds set to 40 kmph UPDATE: Map settings & Save buttons moved to the right in the Editor UPDATE: New icon for braking penalty on train detail UPDATE: New platforms have proper sinks in the editor UPDATE: News on main menu UPDATE: No penalties for non-stop visits that are not last visits in schedule (train shall exit on time but may not enter on time) UPDATE: Options are modal on main menu UPDATE: Panning enabled with right mouse when placing/removing wall UPDATE: Prague screenshot updated UPDATE: Screenshots for prague, washington and willamate UPDATE: Scroll to destination BEFORE the current highligted destination in train detail UPDATE: Scroll to the Unlock when clicked on 'Unlock Autblock' etc. UPDATE: Select station name when adding new in the editor UPDATE: Show `keys` for not translated texts UPDATE: Show possible directions on mouse over when building a track UPDATE: Show some error message right with mouse over during building of tracks UPDATE: Show station detail on level start UPDATE: Show station name in train details when train is stopped in station UPDATE: Show time to departure in seconds on train labels instead of departure time UPDATE: Show train departure in seconds on train detail UPDATE: Show upgrade / downgrade cost when changing track speed UPDATE: Side notification does not make sound when game is loaded UPDATE: Smaller UI scale as default UPDATE: System Upgrades shown in English when translation is not available UPDATE: Time slider can fall over the hours in the editor, when clicked plus/minus UPDATE: Trains have speed 0 when going out from coach yards UPDATE: Tutorial2 better highligh of Timeline UPDATE: Upgrade descriptions partially reworked! UPDATE: V1 destination on overview opening the train detail UPDATE: Wakefiled map minor changes UPDATE: Warning in the options that translations are not finished UPDATE: Washington map wall updated on one spot UPDATE: Wider build buttons (more space for translations) Fixes FIX: A lot of Localizations were not set to receive arguments FIX: Adding platform will scroll stations panel only for last station FIX: After contract prototype taken reversed (using Ctrl) from Coach Yard, all subsequent instances went also reversed (without Ctrl) FIX: Allow track speed change between close signals FIX: Autoblock with train can be properly selected for sensors and routing FIX: Back Button in loader size auto-adjusting FIX: Better precision of speed upgrade/downgrade tool in the editor FIX: Better scrolling score display in timetable maps FIX: Black background options label translate FIX: Build Autblock in editor translation FIX: Build a loop into itself v3 FIX: Buying a platform cost money again FIX: Can't accept trains on tracks without sinks FIX: Can't change manual signal when not active FIX: Can't open pause menu while modal dialog is present FIX: Can't upgrade not active signal FIX: Clear cache of localization string when language is changed FIX: Clone Train button works again in the editor FIX: CoachYard automated scheduling did not work for advance < 2 => advance 1 fixed, 0 forbidden. FIX: Custom Endless maps with trains having more than 3 stops FIX: Daytona map timetable FIX: Do not remove train twice from CoachYard when just entering/exiting during save&load FIX: Do not show pause menu using Esc when level is completed FIX: Don't connect tracks with East platform sinks FIX: Don't hide tunnel connectors when changing speed FIX: Don't interrupt scroll on level list FIX: Don't penalize for occupied segments when train is in autoblocks FIX: Downgrade speed of tunnel in editor was not possible FIX: Experience points can be clicked FIX: Fixed that CoachYard & FreightPlatform in distance 6 was possible to build but not load from save FIX: Fixed that displaying of upgrade cost actually added downgrade cost to Wallet FIX: Flexible pause menu (translations fit) FIX: Game failed to load any maps for new players ('community levels' directory missing) FIX: In-game maps proper border station flags FIX: It was possible to bulldoze switch with active / occupied tracks via bulldozing of a neighbour switch that caused bulldozing propagation along 1-tile-long connections. FIX: Join discord text localized FIX: Long trains does not receive braking penalty when stopping at station as well FIX: Loop can't be built on one continuous track FIX: Main Menu button was not working in tutorials FIX: Main menu showing proper map cateogry FIX: Map setting text wrapping FIX: Max score defined for all timetable maps FIX: No message & contract still active when failed one-off contract (omitted station). FIX: Older saves were not working FIX: Order of stop now matters in when computing next stops. FIX: Overview Panel settings resetted when the panel was hidden FIX: Pause menu was visible during map load FIX: Platform UI label variable length in the editor FIX: Plurals not working for New Contracts -> Limit reached text + Czech 3-form localization FIX: Prevent of the map size increase with every load in the Editor FIX: Price from tracks remained after the build FIX: Proper Options init, does not change resolution FIX: Proper change language on timetable stop item FIX: Proper clear of the station detail panel FIX: Proper colliders for newly built tracks FIX: Proper level of detail for newly built components (based on zoom) FIX: Proper pause when clicked on the pause button (can be unpaused with space) FIX: Proper remove all the station in the editor FIX: Proper right button placement in the Editor FIX: Random train crashes outside the board FIX: Remove timetable entry when station or platform are removed FIX: Removing sink in the editor creating platform-locked signal FIX: Restart tutorial button translation FIX: Save map name when creating a level FIX: Save&Exit did not work FIX: Saving score on timetable maps FIX: Show 0 trains when finishing timetable map FIX: Signals blocked Station Topology construction. Some saves failed to load FIX: Sinks set to max speed FIX: Sorting of timetable in Editor did not work FIX: Station signs proper size when using localized names FIX: Stop can have more than 60mins FIX: Timetable items properly maximized FIX: Toggle buttons properly colored FIX: Toggles are properly colored FIX: Tooltip not disappearing fix FIX: Tooltip placement improved FIX: Tooltips have been rendomly disappearing FIX: Train Label Component was description FIX: Train crashed only on the same nodes, not X-crossings FIX: Train type toggles in Editor's Timetable Detail were not initialized correctly. FIX: Train waiting notification sound was not played when train detail was active FIX: Train was displayed in the middle of tunnel. FIX: Trains cannot be accepted on platforms without sinks FIX: Tunnel portal cannot be build over itself in the editor FIX: Tutorial4 check for the arriving platform FIX: Tutorials mark border stations FIX: Typos in unlock texts FIX: Update Level item on main menu when save is deleted FIX: Vertical scrollbar on contract offerings (destinations) FIX: Wading of Willamate fix FIX: Wall/Remove Wall localized FIX: When reversing a train, do not deallocate its original path past switch run-through because there is already other train's path FIX: Wrong Wading the Willante breaking penalties

[ 2021-05-13 21:00:45 CET ] [ Original post ]