[img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41151174/04a63460f6d8f007f737841feb0355b4d7a567b1.png[/img] What an exciting day! In the past (two) weeks, our latest update has been tested on the beta branch. Thanks a lot to everyone who gave feedback and reported bugs to us! With your help, we’re now finally ready for the next step: [b]The Anniversary Update is now available on the Main Branch! [/b] Let’s dive right in and have a good look at all the new content and what we have adjusted in these past weeks: [h3]The UI has gotten a fully new design! 🔄[/h3] Yep, it was about time! The User Interface has undergone various changes over the years, but it never felt cohesive. We've had a placeholder UI for a long time now, and it never really all fit together that well. Since the mood of a game can be strongly influenced by the UI, we have revamped the design that now matches flawlessly with the look and feel of the game world aesthetics! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41151174/21591bb85d971b6e674d3e63b8d66cb88f5e92a6.png[/img] So, how is it different now? Well… As you can see in the shots above and below, all the different menus, like the main menu and the construction menu have gotten a beautiful and much smoother design with more satisfying animations and transitions between screens. For further improvement of the UI usage, the new design comes with some useful feature changes, including better divisions and displays for more useful info on the spot and more intuitive interactions when constructing buildings, shopping for new engines or just getting around the settings in general. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41151174/b2ce9e19d5542942bfc822d4495f5785b6a834da.png[/img] You have always missed a preview of the different buildable items, so you don’t have to remember all the exact names and locations and scroll miles and miles down the lists to find anything? Yeeeah, we did too! The new construction menu gives a much better overview, being divided into four simple sections to easily find exactly what you’re looking for, while providing previews for each item and color option! We could seriously go on and on about the new UI, like how there are beautiful changing wallpapers in the main menu now… But you better go see it all together for yourself! [h3]We have finally added an Ingame Chat!💬 [/h3] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41151174/a28a2974440d5846742c3736b60edaebf17730aa.png[/img] So, you’re playing a Multiplayer session with your friends and you’ve just read their minds for what they are planning on doing next.. Wait, you can’t read other people’s minds?? Don’t worry, we got something that will make you feel almost like a superhero😏 With the new ingame chat, you can finally chat with your fellow party members and tell them all about that crazy dream you had last night about a certain exciting Anniversary Update👀! No, but seriously. Railroads Online really needed a chat function and now it is finally up and running in the game! Communicating with each other and coordinating all your goals and tasks is now easier than ever and simply makes the game so much more alive! We hope you love this addition! [h3]What happens when I click that “Prelaid” button? 🤔 [/h3] Trying out all kinds of different builds can be fun and we all know how many possibilities there are. We also know how much fun starting over a game can be, especially with different friends, and you may just find yourself creating a new map every now and then. But let’s be real… Starting with nothing, over and over again and having to work your way up from 0 is not for everybody! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41151174/bed7d5606fa2c94e0717d1b7a1daa82143d8e3f9.png[/img] Now, what does happen when you click that button in the map selection screen? Prelaid maps provide you with an amazing base set of engines, logging cars and already placed industries and even some money to get you started into the actual game much faster! You’re not happy with the arrangement of the base build? Don’t worry, it’s not glued to the map, you can edit it anytime😉 To everyone new: If you feel a little overwhelmed when first opening the game, a prelaid map might be just the perfect choice to start off with and simply build up on! You will receive a great first impression on what to do and where to start, so you’re not getting lost right at the beginning. [h3]Loading and Unloading made comfortable! [/h3] It’s annoying to get off the train every time you want to load or unload something from your logging cars? We get that! From now on, you don’t have to do that anymore! Loading and unloading can now be done from the comfort of the cars, without needing to ever get off! So much easier and of course faster! Okay, great! But what else? [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41151174/bcff827f28181a891ff92ab816f5b6ec9910c876.png[/img] You really enjoy thunderstorms, but it takes ages until you finally get one naturally? Just get into the Gameplay Settings and select your desired weather and time of day! What that means? Jup, Dynamic Weather is back and fully customizable! You can even freeze the day or set a timer to change the weather condition after a certain time that you can also set yourself! Going back to superheroes: Flying is now easier than ever, since the flight mode is now part of the radial menu! Finding everything in one place is just so much more convenient! [h3]Bugfixes & what’s changed since the beta? [/h3] Okay, we have talked a lot about the new content that was tested on the beta branch these past weeks. Now, let’s see, what we changed in that time to get the update ready for today’s default release. Within the last Hotfix we also implemented the new Multi Unit control system. That means you now can control several locomotives that are coupled together. Once you enter into your locomotive and work with the reverser, brake, regulator or whistle, it will control all other locomotives that are coupled in the same way. So now it is way easier, especially in Single Player mode, to haul long trains with several locomotives. We also adjusted the level system and some prices: Level 1 to Level 2: 0 - 1000 XP Level 2 to Level 3: 1000 - 2500 XP Level 3 to Level 4: 2500 - 5500 XP Level 4 to Level 5: 5500 - 10000 XP Level 5 to Level 6: 10000 - 20000 XP Level 6 to Level 7: 20000 - 35000 XP Level 7 to Level 8: 35000 - 50000 XP Level 8 to Level 9: 50000 - 65000 XP Level 9 to Level 10: 65000 - 80000 XP Level 10 to Level 11: 80000 - 120000 XP Level 11 to Level 12: 120000 - 155000 XP The new prices and new XP you will gain for unloading a freight type can be found in the Ingame Wiki. We also added a small notification for the Chat that pops up for some seconds if somebody writes a message to make sure you be aware of it. You can then open the chat as usual. Bugs we fixed after the last Hotfix https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1696810/view/4691153175743629180?l=english): [*] Fixed an issue where locomotives did not consume water [*] Fixed an issue where industries were not shown completely on the Maxi Map [*] Fixed an issue where the West Side Lumber Snow Plow appeared to have brakes after rerailing (added hand brake again) [*] Fixed an issue where pre-laid save files showed wrong XP and Money level in the save game list [*] Fixed an issue where the Montezuma derailed when choosing it as starter loco for Aurora Falls [*] Fixed an issue where 2 Water towers showed wrong preview pictures in the construction menu [*] Fixed an issue where sometimes you could click on "Back" in the menus and sometimes you couldn't [*] Fixed an issue where the unloading UI showed a wrong key binding (left mouse click instead of Enter) [*] Fixed an issue where the Oahu Water Tank car could not be deleted anymore [*] Fixed an issue where loading grain into the Boxcar with the new loading feature caused the boxcar to derail [*] Fixed an issue where clients could not control locomotives at long distances anymore. [*] Fixed an issue where looking at long distance caused a big FPS loss [*] Fixed an issue where opening the Maximap caused a big FPS loss in zoom level 0. This should also have solved the issue where clients got massive sync issues while the host opened the map. [*] Fixed an issue where crude oil loading didn't work correct with the new loading system (directly from the car) [*] Fixed an issue where iverted axis controls didnt work [*] Fixed several optical locomotive issues (missing doors, windows...) [*] Fixed an issue where Locomotive and Car header were switched in Purchase menu [*] Fixed an issue where facilities could not be placed on ground level [*] Fixed an issue where loading screens would not swap tips or facts while loading [*] Fixed an issue where the rotary snow plow was missing it’s stack and light options [*] Fixed an issue where the refinery and the water well were missing snap links [*] Fixed an issue where the water hose at the farming chains did not connect to the water cars [*] Fixed an issue gold ore on the gold mine did not drop into the car while loading Also, check out our latest DevVlog, where you can get all the info in action and color! Or, you just get into the game right now and check it out for yourself! Probably more sufficient😉 [previewyoutube=b3a0MzwdVbI;full][/previewyoutube] You’re still reading? Get into the game and enjoy! [h3]Your Railroads Online Team!💜[/h3] https://store.steampowered.com/app/1696810/Railroads_Online/