Casey here, the solo developer behind Horror Tycoon, and I wanted to provide you with an update on the games current development as well as the plans for the remainder of 2023 into 2024!
But first, let's address some news regarding Horror Tycoon's publisher. My partnership with Playway S.A. has come to an end, but fear not! The development of Horror Tycoon remains unaffected. I'm on a mission, dedicated to delivering a top notch haunted house building and management experience.
2023 was just the beginning! We've witnessed two major updates and over 10 patches, introducing an arsenal of new scare traps, decor items, gameplay mechanics, quality of life improvements and squashing over 200 bugs! The roadmap for 2024 promises even more heart-pounding updates, bringing you closer to the edge of your sanity.
Some of the new features that are coming in Major Update 3:
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Power management
Place down power supply items like generators and batteries to generate sufficient power to your haunted house interiors!
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Breakdowns
- Items will now breakdown randomly over time, upgrading items will help to reduce the chance of a breakdown, but will not eliminate it.
- Repairs will be needed. I wanted to provide a gameplay experience where the player can accomplish repairs in or out of the guest camera mode and make the first person mode 100% optional if the player does not enjoy the first person/guest mode experience.
- Complete repairs yourself in first person/guest camera mode during an active wave
- Wait for the wave to finish and complete the repair work via the item details UI.
- Repairs will require parts to complete repairs. In a new mini game, you will need to shop and stock up on parts that your attractions need to operate successfully. These items will cost money so you will need to pay even closer attention to your cash spending.
- Items will now breakdown randomly over time, upgrading items will help to reduce the chance of a breakdown, but will not eliminate it.
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Scare your guests now in first person/guest camera mode
Scare Stamina recharges over time so you will not be able to consistently scare a guest, however, using it strategically to do a final scare or 2 could make the difference of successfully completing the level or not.
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Lost Lands Amusement Park
Build your haunt on a portion of the old abandoned dinosaur themed amusement park with new obstacles and challenges.
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We're going vertical!
This is still a work in progress and will be further developed in 2024 but you will be able to create multi-story haunts.
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Quality of life improvements
- Rotate items on all axis
- Height lock toggle for keeping all items at the same height for vertical building
- Outdoor decorating and more!
- Rotate items on all axis
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Sinister traps re-worked from the ground up.
Sinister Traps will operate more like Ultimate Abilities that will cost souls to use and should only be used in emergency situations where you need a lot of souls to complete a task or fill the devil's contract requirements.
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Franchise Rights
- Earn more income by expanding your Horror Tycoon empire by selling franchise rights in a new regional map. These franchises will help generate income for you and while these are all "legitimate" as in no deal with the devil, there may be some gameplay mechanics that could cause some disasters at those locations and generate some emergency souls for your contract...but at what cost?! You will have to find out when this new feature is ready for you to explore!
- Speaking of exploring, there will be even more to do in first person exploration mode and new secrets to uncover (if you choose to explore)
- Earn more income by expanding your Horror Tycoon empire by selling franchise rights in a new regional map. These franchises will help generate income for you and while these are all "legitimate" as in no deal with the devil, there may be some gameplay mechanics that could cause some disasters at those locations and generate some emergency souls for your contract...but at what cost?! You will have to find out when this new feature is ready for you to explore!
I've heard your feedback and am committed to infusing the game with new and creative tycoon gameplay elements.
Thank you, from the depths of my haunted house-loving heart, for your enduring support. Together, we're crafting the game of our nightmares, and I can't wait to see you on the other side.
Prepare yourselves, Haunters. The nightmare is just beginning.
