Gamescom and HomeGrown Update

Hey everyone!

Sorry that it's been a while since my last update, but the Gamescom preparations pretty much took over my life for the last couple of months. The event went really well and I had an absolute blast, but I'm also glad to now be back home in my quiet little room where I can get back to programming in peace after all the craziness!

I've updated the download links so you can try out all the new features that I added in for Gamescom. Some of them are still a bit rough - I was rushing to get things done before the event - but I'll polish them up in the next few weeks. In the game files, check the readme.txt file for some cheats that will allow you to quickly try out the new content in the game.

Gamer Tier+ patrons can download and play Homegrown here.

And for Programmer Tier+ patrons the code is available here.

Maple Trees and Syrup

One of the main new features in this version is maple trees and maple syrup production! You can buy maple trees to grow in your farm, and when they're fully grown you can place a syrup extractor next to it. The extractor connects up to the tree and will slowly fill up over time. You can then fill up Empty Bottles (purchasable in the tool shop) with maple syrup!

I've only implemented the basics of this feature so far. There's still quite a bit more planned for the maple trees, so watch this space!

Tool for Removing Objects

It's somewhat overdue, but there's finally a tool in the game that allows you to pick up objects that you've placed in your farm! The Sledge-hammer tool can be bought from the tool shop, and you can use it on things like fences, compost heaps, wells, etc.

After breaking the object it will be returned to your inventory so that you can place it elsewhere. It's also going to be possible to use the sledge-hammer on paths in the future, but that's not working just yet.

Background Music

The game now has some background music! The soundtrack for HomeGrown is currently being made by Jamal Green (who also made the music for Equilinox) and there are three of his tracks in the game at the moment. More will be coming soon!

The options menu also now has a slider for music volume, so you can choose how loud you want it to be.

Dry Soil Cracks

This is just something I'm testing out at the moment, but I think it makes a lot of sense. When soil in your garden is completely dry it now shows cracks on it. Previously, the only indication of wetness was how dark the soil was, and for people who have never played the game before that made it very hard to know when exactly your plants had run out of water.

Soil colour is still used to indicate wetness, but now the cracks appear when the water has completely run out and the plants need to be watered again. You can now be sure that the plants are fine until you see the cracks - then it's time to water!

Cookie Buffs

Another new addition are the edible cookies, which give you temporary buffs. These rare items can be obtained as rewards from some of the town features, and each cookie type has a different boost associated with it. The buffs are only temporary, so make the most of them! You activate the buff and start the countdown by eating the cookie, so you can be a bit strategic about when you use it.

Travelling Salesman

The travelling salesman is a shop that will pop up every now and again in the town area, offering a random selection of rare items that you can't get anywhere else. I've only just started implementing this feature, so it's currently just a rough preview of what it's going to be in the future.

For now, the travelling salesman is available every Wednesday (of the in-game week) in the field on the far-left side of the town. For now, he just offers a choice between some of the new buff cookies, allowing you to select one. In the future though, he'll offer a much larger selection of goods.

More Tool Effects

A lot of the tools in the game have new effects to make them feel a bit juicier! Things like picking fruit, placing paths, weeding, and placing objects all have some new particle effects and/or animations associated with them.

Gamescom Videos

Gamescom was one of the craziest weeks of my life. I was totally overwhelmed by the number of people who came to say hi to me and try out the game, and the feedback was all really positive!

I was very lucky to have my partner and friends helping out at the booth, because without them there's no way I would have survived the week. The whole thing was very exhausting and I got sick right afterwards, but it was definitely worth it! It was lovely getting to meet some of you!

I filmed quite a lot leading up to Gamescom and also while I was in Cologne, and I'll be making two videos about the experience. One will be out early next week, showing all the preparations I was doing in the final three weeks before Gamescom, and the second will be out at the end of next week and will show the event itself.

Coming Soon

First I have to go back through some of the features that I hurried into the game before Gamescom and clean up a few loose end, but after that I'll be working on an exciting new feature: bees! You'll be able to get beehives for your garden, look after bees, and produce your own honey!