Good day, fellow Meeps!

Here are the patch notes for version 1.04, which has just been released:

• Expanded the range you can see into space before having Lookout Towers, to make steering easier as you can plan ahead better.
  
• Fixed a bug that caused some Reeve customization not to be applied to the Reeves.
  
• Fixed a "reasonability check and log" step on loading, which caused some saved games not to load correctly and lead to a black screen. All games saved with the previous version (1.03) can still be loaded with the new version (1.04).

De Chelonian Mobile!
Gideon

Good day, fellow Meeps!

For patch #3, which is now live, I've standardized camera rotation and scrolling across frame rates, and the camera movement is smoother. I've been spending some time on the "behind the scenes" of the threading and have decreased the "overhead cost" of the threads, which should improve stability and reduce occasional stutters.

The Steam Summer Sale starts in a couple of hours' time. World Turtles will be discounted by 40% for the sale, which is the largest Steam discount yet! Just saying...

De Chelonian Mobile!
Gideon

Good day, fellow Meeps!

I'm uploading Patch #2 with a few small additions / changes, plus an impactful one (in some cases):

Added:

• "Reduce Cutscenes" option under Game Options | UI. This will prevent the cut scene while, in some cases, still displaying only the message.

Fixed:

• After saving a tutorial game where Reeve Learning was not yet activated, it would be activated on load. The value is now correctly loaded for new saved games. For existing saved game, it will still be activated on load, but the game will work.
  
• AI Realm names were sometimes duplicated on Tooltips.
  
• Big impact to a small number of maps: Depending on random map creation, it could happen that the Tribe Member closest to your Founders Hex could be from a Tribal Camp (just across the sea) that does not actually have a path to your Founders Hex. There would be a Tribal Camp with a path to your Founders Hex (on your continent), but slightly further away from your Founders Hex. However, the closest Tribe Member is picked to join your tribe and, in this case, no path would be found to your Founder Hex. If this happened repeatedly, it would clog up the pathfinding thread, leading to delays in everything, and possibly freezes/crashes. This has now been rectified!

Did not impact the game, but fixed / improved:

• A wild animal would "lose visibility" of the surroundings and would not be able to find a path to walk around randomly.
  
• Idle Meeps don't clump up for extended periods of time anymore.

I've had reports of a Reeve harvesting medicinal herbs, and then "getting stuck" without returning it to the Founders Hex. I am unable to replicate this on my side, even when loading someone's saved game where this happened. If this still happens after the changes above, I'd appreciate if you could log a report with as much information about the circumstances under which it occurred as possible.

De Chelonian Mobile,
Gideon

Good day, fellow Meeps!

I'm uploading Patch #1 with a few small changes:

• The "Mouse Scroll" icon looked more like a "Click Scroll Button" icon. Arrows added to the icon to clarify.
  
• In the farming tutorial, once in a blue moon (by random numbers and very specific lay of the land), it could happen that the Dwellings was requested to be constructed outside of your territory, preventing you from progressing past that step. The launch build already catered for this happening for the farm, but I've now also catered for the Dwellings.
  
• If, for whatever reason, a path cannot be found back home by a Reeve ending an expedition, it will wait a short while and keep looking for a path back home, rather than stay stuck out on the map.

I've had reports of a Reeve harvesting medicinal herbs, and then "getting stuck" without returning it to the Founders Hex. I am unable to replicate this on my side, even when loading someone's saved game where this happened. If this still happens after the changes above, I'd appreciate if you could log a report with as much information about the circumstances under which it occurred as possible.

Regards,
Gideon

Good day, Fellow Meep!

It's been four and a half years since I first started tinkering with a hex grid map and thought "wouldn't this look neat on a Discworld-like Turtle!" It's been quite the journey... so far!

First off, I wanted to thank everyone who's supported me in whatever way to get to this point. Making an (even slightly successful) game is a huge undertaking, and I've had loads of assistance and support throughout the years. I hope I can ask for one more, crucial, favor:

As a solo developer, there are so many ways you can help support me and the game.

• If you buy the game (thanks!), please consider leaving an honest review on Steam! Reviews have a massive impact on Indie games and I'd love to see your thoughts and experiences through a review.
  
• Sharing the game through word of mouth with family and friends or on social media with your followers can really help spread the word and give others a chance to discover their next adventure. So many indies are discovered with a simple share or casual discussion.
  
• Join our community on Discord[discord.com] and follow us on Twitter/X to share in the excitement and get to know other gamers trying to keep World Turtles alive.

A tribe of peace-loving beings known as the Meeps has chosen a select few to embark on a cosmic quest of monumental importance. Their mission: to save the life of the World Turtle, a colossal space reptile bearing the burden of entire worlds upon its shell.

As the Turtle journeys through the cosmos, encountering treacherous stretches of space, the survival of the Meeps and the world they inhabit depends cooperation, as the Meeps strive not only to sustain themselves but also to ensure the well-being of their celestial guardian.

Exciting Features Await You in the 1.0 Release!

• Manual control and customization of the special Reeves.
  
• Explore numerous diplomatic avenues!
  
• Feed and Heal the turtle via Helicopter and Catapult.
  
• Construct a Space Pod to start preparing the search for other World Turtles!
  
• Play on maps created by manually configuring tectonic plates, or import one of the Topographic maps and set your starting locations!

Join us as we embark on this epic adventure, where the fate of worlds hangs in the balance, and the Turtle beckons us to greatness.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1512050/World_Turtles/

De Chelonian Mobile!
Gideon

Good day fellow Meeps!

With launch date almost here, I thought I'd share the final two additions for now.


Once you have constructed a boat yard, your Reeve can embark on expeditions across the waters. Search for distant neighbors, special islands and medicinal herbs to apply to the World Turtle's wound.


While we have managed to keep our World Turtle reasonably healthy up to now, age will eventually catch up to it, even on the cosmic scale. It may only happen in the distant future on the Meep-scale, but we have the capability to start preparing for it now. Our actions may sometimes seem inconsequential, but has any significant event ever come to pass that had not been constructed entirely from inconsequential ones? So, let us do what we can, when we can, to try and ensure our own survival, and the survival of those around us.

See you again soon, for 1.0 launch...

Our Discord Server[discord.com]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1512050/World_Turtles/

De Chelonian Mobile
Gideon

---

The World Turtle carries entire civilizations on its back through outer space. Cooperation, rather than conquest will save the day, so prepare to harvest, build, research, and explore the void in this wholesome turtleback builder.

Meeps are eager to work, enthusiastic like no other, and unfortunately, exceptionally disorganized without leadership. Build up the Meepvilization from a small village in one corner of the turtleback to a sprawling colony that has mastered the challenges of living on the literal back of a spacefaring reptile.

While space is full of opportunity, there is also danger! Sectors can impact life on the turtleback - alter the climate, water levels, or unleash (un)natural catastrophes. Prepare the Meeps adequately and help them survive the journey of a lifetime.

Don't forget to wishlist the game and join the community in our Discord[discord.gg] to begin counting down to launch day! We are beyond excited to share this major milestone with you!

See you at launch!
- De Chelonian Mobile, Gideon


https://store.steampowered.com/app/1512050/World_Turtles/

Good day fellow Meeps!

I've got some exciting updates to share!


You will be able to customize your Reeves (one Male and one Female), and these settings will be used whenever a Reeve joins your Realm.


I've added diplomacy / interactions with the AI Realms to the game at last! Each AI realm will focus on a speciality, for example Woodcutting or Fishing. The interactions you can have with that AI realm will then be tailored around their speciality and various events in the game.

Examples of AI Realm Interactions / Diplomacy:

• If they're close enough (remember, your buildings can even mix), you can allow them to take leisure trips on your helicopters, increasing Goodwill.
  
• If you have enough Goodwill, they can boost your research in the field they're focusing on. Thus, depending what your neighbors can assist with, you need to adapt what your Realm needs to focus on.
  
• They can provide you with an additional controllable Reeve (as Consul) if you can help them become a large enough Realm (by number of Meeps).
  
• If your Reeve learns any of the skills an AI realm does not specialize in from your own Meeps in those fields, you can send it out on an expedition to teach those skills to the AI realm. That allows the AI realms to gain access to additional skills over time, allowing them to become a more "fully fledged Realm".
  
• In return, they provide you with "medicinal herbs" to create Heal Bales from. You will have limited Heal Bales available, and can only build more by helping your neighbors progress, allowing you to keep the turtle healthier.
  
• AI realms will have access to some foodstuffs you won't have. You can send them resources in exchange for access to these, allowing your farms to plant a larger variety, for increased Appeal.
  
• You require enough carts at the Tavern, as well as Provisions, to form expeditions to the AI Realms, as well as to distant parts of the map.

I've also been tinkering with the optimization and have managed to get rid of some serious later-game issues in terms of path finding. I've let some elements react better to the graphics quality setting, for example fewer raindrops on lower settings.


Finally, I will soon announcement the 1.0 launch date... It's around the corner! The changes of the last 4 months or so will go live with the 1.0 launch.

Our Discord Server[discord.com]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1512050/World_Turtles/

De Chelonian Mobile
Gideon

Good day fellow Meeps!

Development around the new controllable Meeps (which I call Reeves) is progressing well, and I've expanded on a number of things in the last month and a half.


I've completed the way Reeves are selected and displayed, allowing the player to easily keep track of more than one. Selecting a Reeve temporarily hides non-applicable in-map UI to make it clear which tasks can be allocated to them. The icons are created dynamically based on their skill sets, location on the map and the location of the mouse cursor. I have also updated 4 of the 5 tutorials to include the introduction of Reeve actions (including as Objectives).

Reeves can already perform the following tasks:

• Explore a limited distance around your borders.
  
• Create Expeditions, which will let a number of Meeps (with carts) follow them while they perform various tasks (to be developed) further out on the map.
  
• Complete Apprenticeships at Woodcutters, Stonemasons, Builders, Wanderers, etc. to allow the Reeve to perform the tasks associated with those skills, to assist in time of need.
  
• Gather wood, stone, shards, clay, clay pipes, mortar, foodstuffs and crystals.
  
• Survey important points on the map (similar to the Wanderer).
  
• Keep the realm's campfire burning and stock up on firewood for it.
  
• Calibrate helicopters initially, which allows other Meeps to start using them.

The AI Realms will assist you in creating "Heal Bales" for treating the Turtles' wounds. These need to be manually placed on the wounds by helicopter, taking into account the movement of the Turtle's head. Treating wounds will further improve the Turtle's health.


Various Expeditions out onto the map will require Provisions, which has always been in the plans but are now finally on-line at Farms and Fishmongers.

• I've improved the clarity of the fonts, especially the smaller numbers and headings.
  
• Mortar Pits and Kilns now use wood, clay and stone to produce Mortar and Clay Pipes, which are required for Monuments and Water Points.

I'll be back with another update next month...

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1512050/World_Turtles/

De Chelonian Mobile