Its dev update time! Another dev byte comes your way and this time, we will discuss an issue that plagues most game developers. Yup, its Scaling and its not as bad as it sounds. Scaling is a lesser-known hurdle in the world of game dev. You acknowledge that it exists but you feel hesitant to tackle it. Given the impressive, and exhaustive, range of displays on offer in the current hardware market, Scaling effectively boils down to the resolution a monitor/screen has to offer. Most screens currently offer a 16:9 ratio with 1920x1080 displays. However, with the growing popularity of 4K resolution and wide-screen/curved monitors, it is essential to ensure that a game looks good no matter the display it is running on. For City Block Builder, the game world is easier to scale depending on the display it is using. The UI, on the other hand, is where the scalability really kicks in. The goal is to make the text in the UI crisp, clear and legible. As of now, CBB has been scaled to adjust perfectly with resolutions up to 1080p. The next target is to scale the game up to 4K resolution and to enhance the general feel of the game at such high resolutions.
Scaling the props and the UI is equally crucial, as seen here. As for the aspect ratios, most displays follow the standard 16:9 ratio while the wider screens have adopted 21:9. These ratios will be the main focus for the CBB UI with retrospective scaling for other ratios like 4:3 (does anyone use this now?), 5:4, 1:1, 3:2 and 32:9 to name a few. The idea is to introduce letterboxing for incompatible aspect ratios while still maintaining the efficiency of the current UI. We are super excited to showcase the glorious era of Los Angeles in stunning detail regardless of the resolution. The scaling process is a tedious one but forms a crucial part of the visual fidelity and aesthetic of City Block Builder. In the meantime, be sure to let us know here and on our social channels what display configuration you have that you intend to play CBB on!

[ 2021-05-06 16:00:59 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!