Hi! Today we’d like to announce Crossroads Inn 2, a real-time management simulation game where the player takes on the role of an innkeeper in a fantasy world. Build, manage, and make choices that will affect your business, your story - and maybe the whole continent. [h3]Creative Freedom[/h3] In Crossroads Inn 2, we've taken the building and furnishing systems to the next level. The completely redesigned functionalities not only create a more seamless and intuitive design experience, but they also help avoid potential pitfalls that could impact the smooth running of your inn. The rooms themselves are divided into different types, each with its own functions, while your furnishing choices may affect the guests, their satisfaction, and your general popularity among different social groups. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/44304953/df60f69787dbd5d3e5f27f4f48c0552f0868d1e8.gif[/img] Crossroads Inn 2 takes a significant leap forward with our transition from the Esenthel engine to Unity. This transformative change allows us to refine and expand on various gameplay aspects, including ergonomics, pathfinding, and NPC behaviours. The shift to Unity also provides a more fluid and responsive experience when it comes to objects and interactions on the grid where the true magic of Crossroads Inn 2 comes to life. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/44304953/730ab837880b836a4537ecd66beb575032e232d4.gif[/img] [h3]Art of Management[/h3] In Crossroads Inn 2, we have entirely re-envisioned the NPC system to create more believable, diverse characters. The new system enables these characters to make intelligent decisions influenced by the environment you've created and your skilful inn management. This interactivity adds depth to the gameplay and makes your guests' needs more evident - and fulfilling them is the cornerstone of the game. The menu, the services you provide, the style and quality of your inn - it all matters! Our enhancements extend to the most essential NPCs - your workers - too. The revamped system provides a more transparent overview of your staff’s activities and highlights areas needing your attention as a clever innkeeper. By investing time in managing your workers wisely, you elevate your inn's ability to meet customer demands, creating an unmatched hospitality experience in your tavern. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/44304953/a343631f4f66a2eb37f7414ddd1e9ebafae7b35d.jpg[/img] [h3]Living World[/h3] On top of all that, we have decided to go above and beyond our game's core element - the living world and its unfolding story. In Crossroads Inn 2, you develop your innkeeper character and gameplay style your way, choosing the path that suits you best. Whether you wish to focus solely on mastering the art of management, or you aspire to be a savvy entrepreneur who knows everything about the world's events and how to cleverly interact with them, the choice is yours. Immerse yourself in a life of an innkeeper in a world where your actions truly matter. [h3]Art Direction[/h3] The main idea behind the art direction in our sequel is to put a stronger emphasis on semi-realistic fantasy visuals, and to have them correspond with the game mechanics. For example, given how the continent of Delcrys is made of three different countries (Yorevale, Untermarch, and Sambria), we want the citizens of each of them to have their own, instantly recognizable colour schemes and style. The styling of those will be based on different real-life cultures, from medieval Nordic and Slavic fashion to early Renaissance French, German, and Italian looks and trends. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/44304953/4025dc335a8b56d12fcaba2817b4172f130b44cd.jpg[/img] [h3]UI[/h3] Creating UI for a tycoon and/or simulation game is never an easy task. The most challenging part is giving the player a lot of different options - there’s walls to be built, furniture to be set, people to hire, people to welcome, and so on - while also making it clear and coherent from the get-go. So, while the UI in the original Crossroads Inn was sometimes a bit cumbersome, we’re taking all that we’ve learned to heart to make it all more clear, while also keeping the game mechanics, and even improving on those. [h3]Sound Design[/h3] Since Crossroads Inn is all about recreating the life of an innkeeper in late-medieval/early Renaissance (with a dash of fantasy, of course), we needed the sound to be rather diverse. First, we need the outside of the inn, the sound of wind, trees, etc., which invoke feelings of calm and progress; not being too intrusive, but always being there, as it’s in real life, even if we don’t notice it. But there is more to that - we have a day and night cycle, different regions with their own atmosphere, and we want it all to be represented by sound - and music. An inn has to have music, after all! And that’s it - for now! We’ll have a lot more to share with you in the future, near and distant, but we want you all to know that our passionate team is working hard and can’t wait to show you what Crossroads Inn 2 will be all about!