Report for the Community #86

Greetings, dear Comrades of the Soviet Republic and all the fans of our game. Last week, our usual dispatch was postponed due to an exciting venture. We ventured to Košice for the Game Days event, immersing ourselves among fellow game developers. Our absence was felt, but rest assured, the time was well spent, and we communicated our attendance through our Facebook page.

With the Game Days behind us, we dove back into our development efforts, tirelessly forging ahead with campaigns and other features. A noteworthy milestone was achieved only a few days ago—we released the first two campaigns for internal testing.

However, the heart of this report lies in the modest additions and tweaks we've integrated recently. Our vehicle fleet has expanded, welcoming two western road cranes and a hefty dumper. Take a glimpse of these mechanical beasts in the accompanying images.

Our attention was then captured by an issue reported by bballjo, who meticulously tested different road junctions in a video. He observed vehicles engaging in maneuvers that were less than ideal on one-lane roads. Thanks to his detailed feedback, we pinpointed the problem: vehicles did not factor in the entry direction into junctions, much like they would on a railroad. We've recalibrated the pathfinding algorithm, and now it should direct traffic more sensibly.

Another longstanding anomaly caught our eye—the gravel bed beneath the rails. A visual quirk, present since our game's inception, caused incorrect lighting.. We've peeled back this layer of invisibility, ensuring the gravel now basks in the limelight it deserves.

Last weekend wasn't all work; Game Days also provided a rare opportunity for our team to bond. We set up shop with a kiosk, showcasing our game, but the highlight was the personal time spent together, alongside a few members of our inner circle who could join us. If you missed this occasion, we encourage you to mark Game Days 2024 in your calendars. It's not just about us; Košice has much more to offer for the curious explorer.

That concludes our update for this week. While there aren't any groundbreaking announcements, it gives us space to refine and polish, inching closer to a full-fledged release. Yet, the journey ahead is sprinkled with challenges, and we count on your patience and support.

In the meantime, remember to live your life to the fullest. Enjoy gaming, stay safe, and keep an eye peeled for our next report.

Thank you for your unwavering support,

3Division Team

Report for the Community #85

Greetings, dear comrades of the Soviet Republic and fans of our game from around the globe! Ah, the winds of change are blowing! Just like our memories of the Soviet era's iconic designs and ways of life, our game is continuously evolving.

Remember when we started with just a few types of residential buildings? Well, we've come a long way! Now, it's time for a little sprucing up. We're refreshing the visuals of our older residential buildings to blend in seamlessly with our latest graphical and gameplay updates. Oh, and don't worry—our Cathedrals are next on the list for a graphical makeover!

Now, let's roll out the red carpet for some new neighbours! A massive thank-you to comrades Billman007 and Shotkey. Select buildings from their awesome "Type 95" residential designs will be part of our in-game collection.

They've fine-tuned their original mods for a perfect fit within the game, although not all variants will make the cut into the official lineup

Don't think we forgot about the "Type LG-600A" buildings—better known as "Brezhnevka." They're also joining the neighbourhood, and trust us, they are both high-quality and stunning to look at!

Now, let's get to the specifics. We're revising both the cost and the quality of living for all residential buildings. The new pricing structure aligns with what you're getting—early-game brick buildings will cost a bit more per apartment, while larger prefab options offer a more cost-effective living space per flat.

We're also getting real about building sizes. Some buildings will now house fewer flats due to their smaller footprint, while others, with more floors and space, will offer more living spaces. It's all about achieving a more realistic and balanced game environment!

Here's something you should know we're phasing out some older models, especially those we acquired from Turbosquid that didn't quite fit the bill. If you've already built them in your game, don't worry—they'll stay put until you decide to bring in the wrecking ball. However, these models will no longer be available for new construction from the build menu.

We know this update might not be the fireworks show you hoped for, but it's the little things that count! These changes will streamline your in-game planning and improve the lives of your virtual citizens. And let's face it, who doesn't want their Republics to look more fabulous?

And that's the news for today! Keep on enjoying life and stay tuned for more updates down the line. A big thank you for your continued support and feedback; it helps us make the game better every day.

Thank you for your support,

3Division Team

Report for the Community #84

Greetings, Comrades of the Soviet Republic and fans of our game! As the seasons change, we all know the struggles of shorter days and longer nights. While nighttime has its own charm, it also comes with challenges, much like in our game.

The darker nights in our simulation have created visibility issues. While realistic, we understand that gameplay should also be enjoyable. That's why we've decided to lighten the nights a bit. This change will especially help YouTubers, making it easier to showcase their in-game experiences.

Today, we’re focusing on Quality of Life improvements. New icons will now show when buildings or constructions are turned off. A red 'X' will appear near the icon, making it clear that the structure is inactive. This will save you from scratching your head, wondering why something isn't working.

We're also introducing a visual cue for items marked for demolition. This red mottled highlight will make it easy to spot what you're about to tear down, reducing the chances of accidental demolitions.

In addition, we’ve added new alerts for waste management. These notifications will help you find issues at container stands and waste dumps much quicker.

For those who use construction offices, you'll be pleased to know we've added an option to disable auto-search before placing the office. This will give you greater control over what gets built and when.

For path planning, we’ve introduced a new tool to help you consolidate fragmented paths into longer, continuous sections. This will be particularly helpful for organizing underground pathway tunnels.

We're not stopping there. We're also looking into improving Construction Office (CO) efficiency. Specifically, we aim to fine-tune how COs allocate workforce to various sites, ensuring a more logical distribution of labour.

We want to extend a special thank you to our CZ/SK community and, in particular, Jan Mitiska. Their role wasn't just to offer suggestions but to serve as curators of ideas, collecting valuable input from various players and presenting them to us in an organized manner. This collective effort has been immensely helpful, and it's a model we would love to see replicated across all our communities. If you have ideas, suggestions, or constructive critiques, don't hesitate to compile them and bring them to our attention. We're always listening, and it's this kind of collaborative spirit that helps us enhance the game for everyone.

That’s all for today’s update. Stay tuned for more improvements and, as always, enjoy your life beyond the game as well.

Thank you for your support,

3Division Team