Hey everyone, there's a new build of TCPD available now!

Read the patch notes for the new build below or just go download the new build now!

On the last update post I said:

I promise the next update will be within the next month or so, not year!

Well...that didn't go as planned, but at least it hasn't been a whole year? Even this update post is a few weeks behind schedule! I've gotta admit, working full time at one desk during the day and trying to make myself work even more after that nightly at my personal workstation (on a project that seems never ending) has not been easy. I'm not making the progress I'd like, but I'm trying not to burn myself out and TCPD is still improving month by month as development continues.

Since I've decided to forego a Steam Early Access launch, I do not have a clear release window set for the project. I'd love to be able to release before the end of next year (2024) but given the current state of the game/what I want to add and my current working situation, I'm not convinced I'll be able to meet that goal.

That said, I appreciate anybody still interested in this project and hope to eventually release something 'finished' that at least a few people get enjoyment out of. I'll try to do bi-monthly updates from now on, even if they don't contain full patch notes like this; no promises though!

🔳 Latest Changes (5/27/23 build)

It's been a minute so there's probably some stuff I'm forgetting, but this list describes the majority of changes:

• LATC undergoes more heavy construction!
  
  • Added honk-to-enter garage with ability to swap and customize your vehicle rims and color!
  • Destructible and collapsible bushes now cover most of the map
  • New visuals like graffiti and updated props/vehicles
  • Better stylized grass (more lush and performant)
  • Broke up campus area with intersecting road and updated surrounding area
  • Many more ramps and grind splines scattered around the level, including  vert ramps (marked with arrow decals)!
  • Slightly better post processing visuals
  • Added more hittables/destructibles with some SFX
  • Added pedestrians around the map who walk around, dodge your vehicle + yell, and sometimes sit at tables or talk to each other
  • Traffic vehicles have engine sounds + honk when you're in the way
  • Traffic now spawns quicker in general immediate area
• Vehicle controller gets even better!
  
  • Fixed drifting at rest
  • More stable landings and less getting stopped hitting ramps
  • Higher gravity and more stable suspension
  • Updated physical material for less friction/more restitution on vehicle mesh
  • Added ability to use vert ramps
  • Updated donut and wheelie cams to showcase tricks better
  • Added delay so tricks cannot be quick spammed
  • Added crash particles for hits and better shake when landing
  • Better traffic collisions
• Taxi mode improvements!
  • Updated passenger models from single Mixamo character; there are now 20+ variations of passengers/pedestrians
  • Passengers now have more sounds and animations when getting picked up, doing tricks, crashing, and delivering
  • Driver now has basic sounds/animations when picking up/dropping off
  • Camera animation when picking up/dropping off passengers
  • Slightly better UI with ability to see destination cam at any time by pressing 'select'
  • More passengers and destinations around LATC
• General optimizations and updates!
  • Traffic + pedestrians were more resource intensive than planned, and my lack of other optimization started tanking performance, so I've done some general BP and level optimizations that make performance acceptable for now. There will be more optimization focused updates in the future and hopefully a more stable frame rate as traffic/pedestrians keep up with the vehicle controller.
  • Tricks now give more points
  • Simplified main menu a little and updated wishlist graphics (+ added banner to pause menu)

🔳 Near-term focus (shooting for early-mid July 2023 build)

There's so many areas of the game I want to continue building out and improving, but up next will be:

• Fixing known issues from last build:
  • Normal wheelie is broken
  • Grind attach sometimes auto-fails the combo/detaches
  • Talking pedestrians glide when moving out of vehicle path
  • Vehicle sometimes gets slowed down by pedestrians
  • Pedestrians/other objects can obscure camera view
• Finish out areas of LATC that are still in 'block out' mode:
  • Parking garages
  • Finish general ramp and grind spline placements
  • Update out of bounds areas and kill zones
  • Ensuring proper/simple collisions where necessary
  • More hittables/destructibles with sound and visual effects
  • More distinct delivery spots and more passengers
• Vehicle + gameplay improvements:
  • Vert ramp physics could use some work
  • Prototype skeletal vehicle for better non-trick animations
  • Prototype a few new tricks
  • More general stability/suspension tuning
  • Better UI and ratings calculations for taxi mode

Once I get past this personal need to continuously tweak and build, I'll finally start adding more content and hopefully start working on a second level at some point. Have any ideas or suggestions on locations for a new level? Let me know!

I welcome and encourage all constructive feedback, positive or negative. I need your help to continue making "TCPD" into the best possible game it can be, so please post or message me with any comments or suggestions you may have!

Make sure to follow me on Twitter to stay up to date on Tristan Cole's Pro Driver!

One last thing before you start stunting, please wishlist on Steam to support development!