Hey, folks. Usually I don’t do any kind of updates unless a patch has just been issued or a game has been released. However, more consistent updates on what’s going on seemed like a better idea. That being said, here is the first planned dev diary, for both Haulin’ Oats and The Dope Game remaster.
Haulin’ Oats Status
Since the initial Haulin’ Oats playable alpha, there was a lengthy and expected list of bugs that needed fixed. Everything from weird screen resolution issues, to offset mouse clicks, and even the inability to play the game except for roll dice. All of those, hopefully, have been fixed at this point. With all that out of the way, for now, the focus shifted to multiplayer, Steam, and adding in missing content.
Multiplayer will offer two different modes: first-to-place and placed. First-to-place is obviously the first driver to complete all required deliveries and make it back to the warehouse. Naturally, placed mode is the top three drivers to do so; since it’s a 4-player game, one of you will lose.
Multiplayer and Steam will go hand-in-hand as the game will be using Steamworks’ P2P and networking functionality. This will give easier invite options, server lists, and NAT-punching than what was in Into Oblivion (though this is getting changed in the Brewmaster update). While it is not planned, there may be a non-Steam version of multiplayer utilizing Godot’s networking.
Speaking of Steam, the game officially has an app ID now and bits of pieces of the store page and Steamworks stuff has been started. The store page will become public once the first beta version comes out. However, Steam keys for alpha testing will roll out this week for all cast, crew, and early adopters from Itch.io; it will also make updating the game a lot easier too.
Missing content is being added in the form of cards. Currently all missing Encounter cards have been placed in the deck, bringing the total up to 75. They are a pretty good mix of pick-up / drop-off missions, offers to do things (cure disease or sell stuff), etc. and finally round out the cast list for the game. While they will be present in alpha v0.0.2 the remaining Incident and Resource cards will not. A lot of drawing and programming goes into the card system so expect to see the last two categories in v0.0.3.
Additionally five more guest characters have been added (Isaac McDaniels, Phyllis Guffy, Unknown, Ol’ Glitchy, and Dankey Kang) and two new regular characters (Amara Hanks and Ford Dowling). All guest characters are locked by default and only available after certain tasks are completed. Now that stats are actually being recorded in v0.0.2, you should be able to unlock those characters and use them.
Speaking of stats, achievements should also work in v0.0.2; if not in Steam, at least in the game itself.
The Dope Game Remaster
Most of the time spent on the remaster has been, well, remaking all of the graphics in the game; mostly to support resolutions up to 1440p.
That and a little touch-up never hurt. The location graphics have been a huge time-sink; with the interfaces being less so.
Like the bus map. You will even notice in this image of the new bus map that there is a new location you can visit.
The Starkham Docks, which are actually a location from The Dope Game 2, will be added to The Dope Game remaster. It felt like there needed to be one more location added due to multiplayer. This new area, of course, comes with a new sub-location and new NPC. You will be able to visit the Brewery and talk to Jenkins (from One Way To Die and Into Oblivion); he will offer you a way to spend some of your cash as well as sell you some drinks that have different effects.
Speaking of multiplayer, it was mentioned previously that it is being added as a test for The Dope Game 2 but will have less functionality. The Dope Game remaster’s multiplayer will only let you join or host timed matches, much like the single-player mode. The goal still being to raise as much cash as you can before time runs out. Or just kill all the other players.
That being said, you can fight other players or even jump into a fight another player is having with an NPC, like the cops or Sweaty Mike. You will be given the option to either join the NPC or the player in combat. Of course, killing NPCs means they are dead for everyone and will lock off whatever services they provide.
Lastly, the newest thing has been an overhaul to the HUD. The HUD now sits across the top of the and has color coded data points. The player’s avatar also sits in the corner and changes based on damage taken. Players will also be able to change the hoodie, hair, and skin color of their avatar; primarily because of multiplayer so everyone doesn’t look the same.
Henchmen will also get their own little avatars and and health bars; though in this image they are missing their armor bars. Obviously armor will now be a thing you can acquire and equip.
That’s about it for now. Stay tuned for more information.
Hey, long-haul truckers! Just dropping a quick note that Haulin’ Oats will be going up on Steam this weekend. The store page will not be made public until the beta is ready but all alpha testers should be receiving Steam keys next week.
The move to Steam is necessary since the multiplayer aspect of the game is going to rely on Steamworks; and a lot of other functions need tested through Steam itself.
In addition to this, there will be weekly dev update for all major projects, currently Haulin’ Oats and The Dope Game remaster, starting this coming Monday. Then, of course, every Monday after that.
Hey, death-seekers! Today is a super tiny QoL update that will / should have no discernible effect for most of you. Just upgrading the engine and fixing missing executable icons on Windows.
Here’s the change log which basically states the exact same thing:
Hey, dope fiends! Today is a good day for talking about the upcoming The Dope Game Remaster and The Dope Game 2.
As you can see from this image, from The Dope Game Remaster, the graphics have been redone on the locations and pretty much everything else. The title itself has been altered to match the sequel’s title too. Characters, avatars, and interfaces are also getting a touch-up. Everything getting scaled up to 1440p as opposed to the original 1080p and, of course, done in the art style being used for our games currently.
The Dope Game Remaster will also have an upgraded engine which fixes a bunch of minor pains under the hood, though most of this is invisible to players. What isn’t is a new multiplayer mode that serves as a test to some functionality in The Dope Game 2.
Multiplayer will allow up to 4 players to run around and compete against each other to sell the most drugs in the given time frame. Killing NPCs will cut off other players from being able to use their services. Player will also be able to fight each other or trade drugs and money.
The Dope Game Remaster will also have some minor additional features suggested by the community as well as polish to existing features including things like body armor and price tracking.
There isn’t a solid date yet but it should be out before Spring hits. While this rather huge update is free to all existing players, we are considering a small price bump for new players and are looking to the community for feedback on this.
While we slog away at getting Haulin’ Oats up to beta, The Dope Game 2 prototype is being slowly built. Built with graphical placeholders, the prototype is coming along nicely given it gets only one day a week. There are a lot of suggestions from the community on what to add so we will talk a bit about what is all going in there.
All of the regular things from The Dope Game will be in the sequel but getting expanded over six different cities across the fictional state of Blannington. Depending on a few things, players will start in different locations with different bonuses / penalties. Transit will consider of buses, planes, and private cars; each having different travel times and mini-events.
Single-player will have a story mode that takes the player through a main campaign across all the cities while dealing and making money but also taking on quests. Of course the standard timed mode will make a return.
Multiplayer will come in three flavors: timed mode, Drug Wars mode, and The Cartels. Time mode in multiplayer is much like what The Dope Game is getting with the remaster update. However, Drug Wars mode will allow some players to join the opposing team and fight against the dealers. The Cartels mode is more of a persistent world, backed on our servers, that will allow players create empires and team up or fight each other. They can even tap into a lot more of the end-game functionality.
All of the original NPCs make a comeback along with a pretty large roster of new characters, including ones you can hire for your gang. Casting calls will start once we get Haulin’ Oats released and we’ll make more announcements about that when the time comes.
Lastly, players will be able to buy and sell more than just drugs, branching their empire out in various ways; even dipping into politics. With end-game levels finally allowing players to spend their millions or billions on things that have more of an effect on the game world.
That’s it for the details we have now but there will be another post soon-ish with more details as we get closer to the Remaster release and The Dope Game 2′s first alpha test. Stay tuned!
Hey, death-seekers! We have just issued an update to address a problem that has plagued us for some time… statistics.
The game will now rely on your local save file instead of pulling statistics from Steam unless you elect to sync them in the Options section. This should prevent stats from “disappearing” because Steam failed to send the data correctly.
There are also some minor QoL updates as well. In case your the curious type, here is the change log:
Added: tooltip hints to Options menu
Added: individual death numbers to save files
Added: missing Steam stats for mode plays
Added: “Now Choosing For” in title so player knows what page is next
Changed: graphics drivers back to GLES 3.0 with fallback to GLES 2.0 if needed
Changed: complete overhaul to stat saving and loading system
Changed: how the game calculates unique deaths
Changed: how the game checks achievements and saves stats
Changed: system does not check Steam by default when loading stats, now only when syncing
Fixed: Steam achievements only looking for 17 instead of 18
Fixed: stats section not showing all achievements if unlocked
Game. In development. The revolving door of backstabbing.
About
CoaguCo Industries is based in Austin, TX making video games, comics, videos, and whatnot. It is also the parent company / publisher for Tenth&Hess and Second Class Villain games.
