Ding ding ding! Another Dev Byte for our Builders is out and this ones a doozy. Today we bring to you some exciting information about the Movie Scheduler and the Research Tree. So without any further delay, lets begin! Movie Scheduler A first-of-its-kind feature in a tycoon game, the Movie Scheduler forms the backbone of your cinema operations. After all, you cant run a cinema if you dont run anything IN the cinema, right? The Scheduler menu allows you to purchase movies and also set a time-table for your cinema using those movies. Whenever you obtain new movies to showcase, either through progress or through research, they will appear in the catalogue section of the Scheduler menu. There, you can purchase these movies, one per cinema hall. Once purchased, you can schedule that movie anywhere on the timeline as you feel appropriate. You can schedule multiple movies in a single day as long as you have enough time slots.
But devs, what if I have more than one cinema hall? Well, every time you build a new cinema hall, you get a new timeline added to the Scheduler menu allowing you to run 2 different movie schedules for each day! But more on this later. Research Tree The Research Tree menu is your fundamental source of research and development, and hence progress. No matter which business, or businesses, you choose to explore and run, they can only get better with time AND research. The research tree is unique for every business. In addition to that, a generic research tree exists too, to provide improvements and new features to your business empire as a whole. Each tree is split into branches and has various nodes on it. Some nodes may even split into further branches or end up merging 2 or more branches. Hence, the development path you take at the start dictates the direction of your business plan.
Each node on the tree can be purchased/unlocked using Research Points. Research Points can be earned by investing money into R&D. The more you invest, the more Points you obtain. Certain elements of your business can only be unlocked through the research tree and no amount of progress will grow your business if your research progress does not go hand in hand at the time. And those are just 2 of our headliner features that will be gracing City Block Builder! A little sneak peek, these features will also be available for our closed Alpha! To hear more about our closed Alpha (its right around the corner), keep an eagle eye on the upcoming Dev Bytes!

[ 2020-12-15 17:00:40 CET ] [ Original post ]

The 1950s. The start of the quintessential American Dream is here. Los Angeles is in the midst of a cultural revolution and is bustling with immense amounts of growth throughout the city. Skyscrapers are being built. Tentwood is taking the city by storm and a utopia is on the rise with beaches, warm weather and palm trees. Los Angeles has become a real estate paradise with millions migrating from all over the world.

Follow the life of Joey, a returning war veteran that has just received a plot of land, as he weaves through his personal life and financial struggles with street smart and innovative decisions. Help him fight his struggles and discover the true face of LA. The time to build and invest is now! City Block Builder will be out for Windows on launch and will release shortly later on the Linux and Mac OS platforms!



City Block Builder is a genre-blending tycoon game with city-building elements. Build your own Business Empire through an immersive game with easy to learn, but hard to master mechanics. Inspired by tycoon games of yesteryear, experience a tycoon tribute to the 50s. Build Cinemas, Restaurants, Bowling Alleys, Shops, News Stands, Drive-Ins, Jazz Clubs and more!

Every enterprise has its own customization capabilities based on its specifications. With the option to play a dedicated campaign mode or an open world sandbox mode, the choices are limitless. Time to start a business revolution!

Carve out a name for yourself in the City of Stars and experience the golden era of America! California has never looked better than now and is the dream of every American. Everyone wants to be in Tentwood, everyone wants to start something in LA. But only a few succeed. The glamour and lights are enticing. But all that looks hunky-dory isn’t necessarily that.

What secrets does the City of Flowers hold? What problems will Joey face? What awaits you in the business empire? Will you make friends of enemies? Is the war truly over?

Each business will have its own extensive research system with different nuances. Unlocking different parts of the research tree is based on their opportunity costs. Higher points unlock better rewards but you can adjust your goals for short term solutions. With the research approach in your hand, you are completely in charge.

Would you be the quick-fire businessperson? Or would you be the patient strategist? The world is your oyster and so is the growth of your business.

You meet Joey, a 1950s war veteran, who has dreams and ambitions to become a business tycoon. A charming individual with a colluded past, he aims to turn his business and LA around and needs your help. Animated and voice-acted characters with a comic book-styled story mode grace the campaign. You encounter interesting anomalies in the city. Joey seeks those answers just like you. Each decision you make has its own specific implications as the story grows.

Will you do anything you can to rise to the top? Staying true to your morals or bending the rules to your advantage, the campaign mode offers a playground for you to experiment and succeed. Try innovative schemes or stick to the tried and trusted methods and build a business mega-city.

An extremely user-intuitive sandbox adventure awaits those who want to jump right into the thick of the action. Explore the game and harness your creative juices into building an engine of a business. Manage, and micromanage every single detail of your empire and aim for the stars. The perfect blend of gameplay with freedom, City Block Builder is surely up to the task of quenching your thirst for curiosity!

Right from the furniture to the lights, from posters to advertisements, feel what it was like to live in that era of America. With the signature style of 1950s LA, experience the art and aesthetic of downtown LA. Interact with, build and place items that once were the staple of that era. Movie posters, food, glitz and glamour, immerse yourself with what’s in store for you!