Big Ambitions EA 0.7: Optimization #2
[previewyoutube=JXVGxZFoZUQ;full][/previewyoutube]
Hello to our big-shot business owners!
We know the last update took a really long time, so this update is coming faster than ever! It's a smaller update that focuses on optimization and quality of life, but we also got a few new features in it as well!
So let's dive into what's new!
Player-Owned Gym Business
You no longer have to choose between working out at home or at the city gym! Now you (and your rivals) can make your own gym businesses!
To go along with this, we added a bunch of new exercises and equipment! So go jump on the Fitness Trampolines and do situps on the Fitball! Plus we added new equipment like the Squats Station!
And lastly, we added a way to make your daily workouts more effective! Click on the Gym Training Board to add a personalized workout plan for an extra daily happiness boost!
New Game Menu - Full Revamp
We updated this new game screen to match our new streamlined UI while also addressing a few frequent quality of life issues:
1) Better explanation of the differences between the difficulties
2) Custom game settings can be defaulted to easy/medium/hard, then customized and saved!
3) Added option "No vehicle damage" when starting a custom game
Art Upgrades
We added a few nice visual upgrades in this update as well!
Cleaning Employees
Your cleaners are no longer invisible! Now you'll see the employees walking around and cleaning, so you don't have to wonder why they didn't show up to work!
And while we were in there, we also improved the cleaning animation!
Rain
We did it - we added rain!! It's purely a visual (and audio) element that won't impact business, but it's cool!
This visual upgrade brings a whole new level of atmosphere to the game - just watch out for all the umbrellas and puddles on the street now!
New Flower Display Stand
Do you want something unique to show off your flowers in your Florist Shop? Well, we've got you covered!
Ika - Full Revamp
Last, but certainly not least on the art side, your favorite furniture store just got a major glow-up! IKA’s new design is more realistic and immersive, making shopping for decor even more enjoyable.
But that’s not all—IKA now features its very own cafeteria! Who says business can’t be delicious?
Launch Issues / Crashes
Some players with older machines have been reporting difficulty with getting the game launched, so we have added a few changes.
Firstly, we changed how the game loads in, which should help some systems already. However, if your computer is going slow - have patience and let it run through its process. If the game crashes, try to launch it again. It should automatically recognize that it crashed and should lower the settings when you try to launch again, increasing your chances of successfully launching!
Quality of Life / Bugs
One of the big focuses for this update was to clean up, streamline, and optimize some code and graphics.
This should help greatly reduce or eliminate lag spikes for each new hour, new day, and at delivery times as well as make the game run more smoothly in general!
- Improved taxi frequency, especially at night.
- Can put flatbed cart inside Freight and Courier trucks
- Added fade-out/fade-in when entering/exiting buildings for a smoother transition
- Camera no longer rotates when exiting a vehicle!
- You now enter a drive-in store and warehouse the same way you exit - by driving through the door!
- Fixed lighting in underground parking lots
- Fixed issue causing buildings to be owned by "undefined" when the rival shut them down
- Added ability to write custom text on glass barriers
- Fixed can't buy Checkout Counter (Right) from AJ Pederson if you're holding a cart
- Removed forklifts since they were causing lots of issues in warehouses and not being used much
- Added "Storage is Full" indicator to hand trucks, flatbeds and vehicles.
- Fixed issue causing rivals screen to break if a broken employee was poached
- Fixed issue where you could be parked "illegally" after using autopark
- Fixed issue where the truck repair shop would cause you to crash around after calling the tow truck
- Fixed issue causing the blueprints page to get stuck if you switched from blueprints to library in certain circumstance
- Fixed issue causing Interior Designer achievements not to be registered
- Lowered Casino ("Lucky Potato") achievement requirements
- Adjusted color of drive-in store product signs to be easier to read
- Fixed a couple issue with the interior designer not updating objectives
- Fixed an incorrect collider size of the industrial sewing machine
- Fixed lighting in the underground parking
- Fixed issue where you could grab a mop while already holding a box
- Fixed issue with windows flickering
- Fixed issue with delivery spots showing “Click to manage” in AI businesses
- Fixed an issue with switching business type
- Fixed inventory was sometimes lost if the customer didn't like the price
- Fixed an issue where paper bags weren't properly counted while you were in the store
- Fixed sometimes activity timers would reset to 1 hour
- Fixed an issue causing Electric Scooters to get stuck on their sides
- Fixed issue sometimes causing two music tracks to play at the casino
- Fixed issue where AI sometimes sits on player in chairs
- Fixed hanging sign lists don't change when you add new items to the store
- Fixed rotating an object then grabbing it doesn't reset rotation properly
- Fixed "free parking" if you cancel selling your car
- Fixed issue causing some damange when on parking ramp
- Updated money/number input
- Fixed import contract not cancelling when shutting down a warehouse
- Fixed can't grab cart in some cases
- Fixed can get stuck in queue if there are no paper bags in the register
- Added new animation for eating ice cream
- Removed restaurant LCD screens for sale as they currently are non-functional
- Fixed items not appearing properly in AI character's hands
- Fixed an issue where machines would output raw goods [list]
- Note - if this already happened to you, you'll need to clear the item from the conveyor belt, but it shouldn't happen again. Please report it if you see it!
We hope you enjoy this update and we look forward to bringing you another speedy update next! Our goal is to aim for closer to 3 months for future releases!
And finally don't forget to set up your Christmas tree before December 25th, and then click the tree on the 25th to get your 2024 holiday decoration!
~Hovgaard Games, and the Big Ambitions Team
