Alpha Dev Release – Candy Factory
What's new this week
We are excited to announce that we have completely rewritten and redesigned the HUD in our game, bringing a fresh and improved user experience!
This Alpha marks a huge milestone for us: from a simple Game Jam prototype, we’re now shaping Candy Factory into a fully-fledged modular tycoon experience.
Please take in mind that the version outside staging branch is not updated. Please do not test the game outside staging until October.
Please take in mind that the version outside staging branch is not updated. Please do not test the game outside staging until October.
After the game jam, we took a well-deserved break. But now, with renewed enthusiasm, we're back and committed to making our game even better. Our primary goal is to elevate the overall fun and immersion of the game. Here's a sneak peek at what we've been working on.
Our previous HUD was quite basic and lacked visual appeal. We've now implemented a sleek new design that provides more information without compromising immersion.
- Cleaner, cartoon-inspired UI.
- A dynamic notification system to keep you updated on everything happening in your factory.
- Better readability, with contextual highlights (profits, losses, upgrades, etc.).
We’ve moved away from placeholder assets and introduced handcrafted 3D models designed in Blender and textured in Substance Painter.
- Factory machines now have unique designs and animations matching their functions (Mixers, Heater/Cooler, Molding press, etc.).
- Buildings and props follow a cohesive cartoon style to support the fun and light-hearted mood of the game.
- These models are fully modular to fit with the production line system.
We’ve overhauled the economy with a more engaging marketplace experience:
- Buy ingredients directly from a Supermarket hub.
- Use a shopping cart to grab everything you need before heading to the checkout.
- Enjoy funny supermarket announcements echoing in the background, adding a lighthearted and immersive touch.
Our production system is the beating heart of Candy Factory, and in this Alpha it’s all about progression through modular lines:
- Start with a basic Mixer to create a chocolate base that’s worth almost nothing.
- Unlock the Heater/Cooler and then the Molding Press to start shaping your candies and actually increase revenue.
- Your first line is dedicated to Dark Chocolate.
- Once stabilized, you’ll expand to Line 2 for Milk Chocolate, again unlocking the required machines step by step.
- Finally, progress to Line 3 for White Chocolate, pushing your factory towards larger profits and more complex management.
This progression ensures that every new unlock feels rewarding, while also teaching you how each machine fits into the bigger production flow.
No more losing your progress!
- We’ve implemented a robust save/load system based on S&box scenes and metadata .
- Your factory upgrades and progression are all preserved between sessions.
- Saves are lightweight and flexible, paving the way for multiple factory slots in the future.
Learning how to play should be as fun as making candies! That’s why we’ve completely reworked the onboarding experience:
- On your first launch, you’ll see a “What’s New” popup that highlights the latest features and improvements of the Alpha.
This means you’ll never feel lost, even in an early Alpha build — and returning players can quickly see what’s been added since their last session.
We’re just getting started. Here’s what’s coming in the next updates:
- Deeper recipe variety with special candies and seasonal products.
- Expanded upgrade tree for machines and the factory itself.
- Balancing of economy, ingredient prices, and production times for a more engaging tycoon experience.
- Improvements of the maps.
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