Off-Island Trade + More! Indie Factory Game Devlog (Unity)

[@MashUpGames]

Keep the boat sprite, you have already reached perfection

[@BWDev]

If it ain't broke don't fix it 😎

[@noam5153]

Placeholder boat is a work of art

[@KRYMauL]

@@BWDev I think you should make a .001% or so chance for boat to be the place holder as a little easter egg

[@ThatNerdGuy0]

@@KRYMauL maybe a placeholder art mode for better preformance

[@noam5153]

@@KRYMauL lol this is funny I suggested the exact same thing in his discord server

[@scraphex]

You could add alerts (⚠️) above the carts when they cant find a path to the dock. That would be a useful notification to the player if he/she has a more complex rail way system later in the game. Great devlog btw, looking forward to the next one!

[@BWDev]

Good idea 👍

[@birduwu]

you can just use they instead of he/she btw, it's more inclusive and shorter.

[@harrykitchener5597]

I’m rly impressed man. Don’t think theres another developer on youtube as consistent and committed as you are. As someone who spent a month cobbling together half a controllable sprite I cant believe how quickly your progressing with this. Cant wait to play :)

[@isto_inc]

Yoooo that 3D technique is freaking brilliant. Love it

[@bigboibob2568]

Didn't expect to see you here can't wait for atrio

[@isto_inc]

@@bigboibob2568 ohhhh heck ya I love me some lumber mill

[@bigboibob2568]

@@isto_inc who doesnt

[@kristupasT]

I love your devlogs! It's amazing to see the game take shape.

[@dilirity]

Following a game devlog was something I didn't know I needed until I started watching yours. I really like how you think stuff through before moving forward with them. You invest time in placeholder stuff, to get a better idea of how something might work later - I love that! Keep up the good work friend

[@maxostlund9334]

I think the boat adds a lot of atmosphere, it shoulsnt fade away

[@logistic-bot458]

I'd be very interested in a video on your music creation process. I think the train looks a bit strange, with only two wheels, it looks as if it could easily fall over.

[@joeyharrington1863]

Great devlog! I do think the two-wheeled carts look a bit strange. You could try having 4-wheeled carts where the back wheels stay fixed and the front wheels turn with the tracks, sort of like a car. Also, I would definitely love to see a devlog on how you're making the game's music!

[@dneendcreeper3239]

Something that might be nice for the boat animation would be to start it when the cart starts entering the dock, instead of when it's at the end. That way the cart won't have to wait for the boat to arrive

[@HelperWesley]

I love how you did the water edge. Seems like a "screw it, I'll do it live" method I would come up with. lol.

[@FishyNiden]

A thing that could be really interesting, if you dare deal with shallows again, is that some place around the island have long shallows, while others have short shallows. Where you have to make the dock in a place that actually reaches over shallows to deep water, so that the boat doesn't ground. Basically limiting where the player can place the docks to few place around the island, giving potentially the player another challenge to optimise layout.

[@dreptschar5774]

I think it would be really cool if the different traders collect their crate's at different times of the day. This would add a bit more of a strategic layer. So you have to plan at what time you need to fulfill the trading.

[@MidasButSilver]

I dont know what it is thats different about your devlogs compared to others, but they are just so much more fun to watch and it's actually exciting to see a new one in my inbox Great channel, really!

[@thedfisch8356]

I’ve been following your Devlog since about March of last year, when lockdown started. I think it’s so amazing how much you inspire me. I always get so inspired and motivated by you and your Devlogs and that just makes me so happy. You seem like an amazing person and I think you deserve so much more attention, because your quality is just great and the way you do things just is amazing to me! Good luck with this project and I’m super stoked to see it completed one day!

[@BWDev]

Awesome to hear, thanks for the comment!

[@bitbraindev]

Wow! The re-adjustment of the route is so cool!

[@jordy15322]

Great video as always!! What would be really cool, is if you change the loading of carts so a cart needs to be there, A cart will be created via a building process same as any other item and be stored in a centeral place. Carts will be dispatch to places where they can be loaded and sent to the ship, When arriving to the ship the cart will be unloaded and will need a path back to the entrance of cart storage so it can be reused. This will add another mechanic where the ammount of carts owned needs to be balanced.

[@loaafe]

You’ve gotta make a waterwheel-steamboat ferry-esque boat for the cargo. It’d be perfect man

[@goldone01]

Finally a new devlog! Thanks very much for making these - keeps me motivated every time to work on my own game. The carts look amazing by the way, so smooth around the corners. Would love to see a video on music creation, too!

[@zippywings]

Every time I watch a new Lumbermill video, I keep thinking the conveyor belts should stop whenever the logs stop. Seeing one move without the other is disconcerting.

[@ForestCinema]

It might be more convenient and pretty funny/entertaining if each cart just drives off the end of the dock and splashes down into the water... then when it floats/settles back up to the surface, it’s sitting in a teeny boat. That saves having to generate a boat for each crate.

[@BWDev]

Cool idea!

[@gersomwastaken]

Please go on with this project, It looks so interesting!

[@hhfamily7528]

Well that's sad, I just binged your entire game dev series over my long weekend evenings in NZ. This game is looking great!

[@Skeffles]

Excellent progress! I really like the minecarts, they really remind me of rollercoaster tycoon and those shallows look great.

[@justingolden21]

Oh god this looks so complicated to implement for something so simple... But that's what makes you awesome, you pay attention to every detail, do everything right, and overcome every problem. Keep it up man : )

[@nicozockHDxd]

You can make different islands more or less good with adding mountains where trees can't grow, or maybe only special trees can grow. AND it will make the whole look of the island more interesting

[@TheAlfak]

This video changed my life Also, some thoughts about that user experience Obviously, to reward player it is good to do sound indications for different trading stages How I see it: 1. When cart starts it’s journey to the dock, it would be cool to hear a whistle (like old trains do when they depart from train station) 2. When cart is moving along the rail, play that metal sound (probably quietly then everything else or at normal volume but occasionally) 3. Boat leaving the dock should play some boat related sound. Maybe some seagulls or bow. I’ve visited some docks in my life and I can say that those sounds really add to that mood of industrial cargo docks Obviously, sound design will be a much later stage of development, but there are some ideas that may come in handy Absolutely love the game you are making, good luck!

[@kindafakem1x3l62]

I really liked the devlog, the 2 wheeled carts seem fine to me!

[@Lolboy30]

Nice devlog! Honestly about the way the bout should look like.. i think some rusty, tanker looking thing would really fit in i think :D

[@SuperDutchrutter]

Excited for Lumbermill and enjoying the dev logs, keep it up 💯

[@craftedarrow6105]

Honestly, he is one of the best game dev youtubers on youtube

[@delta927canadien-francais5]

So all along you wrote the background music of the videos?!? I LOVE IT

[@len0i0am]

I really liked the turning animation

[@alephcake]

Hello again! Your dedication to this project is incredible. It's coming together rather nicely, as it is more and more finished :)

[@RealAdd97]

can't wait for this game to come out. Love your devlogs

[@thecoolguy1233]

You should have the boats arrive every couple of minutes and have different sized boats depending on how much cargo is waiting.

[@WS-xd4sd]

every time a new devlog comes out there's another surprise - i so love these and need to drop whatever I'm doing to watch. Seriously? with all this development you also write and record music. what do you do in your spare time?? I also listened to the music and it's as classy as your games development - I love it and have downloaded it and your earlier stuff on spotify. Go Ben - you're an inspirational machine. PS i bet you also did the artwork for your your EP?

[@garrettweil3464]

1:32 "I'm actually really pleased with how this TURNED out" I see whatcha did there.....

[@rebeccarisk1772]

Fantastic update as always! I'm always impressed with how much work you put into details. Looking forward to the next update! I also checked out your music, it's great stuff! Thanks for sharing

[@pallascat6767]

This looks like it's coming along just great! I've wishlist!

[@w4lroo]

Watching these videos is like Christmas morning. It’s exciting to see what you do next and I love this style of game. Keep up the good work!

[@that1wolf]

So ready for this game to come out! Great video as usual

[@DanPos]

Looking great Ben!

[@justingolden21]

Love your song "The Light", also awesome album art

[@jdmozo]

Awesome man, I'd love to watch the audio video!

[@omers495]

its always hard to watch your devlog because i cant wait to play your amazing game!

[@talkativeharpy4121]

As what the boat will look like? Well, where do you go when you reached the top?

[@anonymouspenguin7118]

Keep up the great work! Really enjoying watching these de logs; super well made!

[@kalendergulbudak7216]

It would be so interesting to see how you write music for the game. Please make some videos on that.

[@frankdev2988]

I can't wait for it to come out

[@bigboibob2568]

Said that about my dog

[@MrWoofWoof03]

I cant wait to try it out if and when it's available

[@littleshorts5976]

I love your pation to make this beautiful game

[@thedaranesianconfederation7221]

Hi Ben, I absolutely love this game already (I've been searching every day to know if a new devlog has been out seriously). I may have a small idea: maybe it might be a good idea to have some endgame stuff that players would look out for as a goal to complete. I also suggest skill levels for the lumberjacks as well as axe upgrades.

[@servitorhosted]

I'd love to see the videos on how you're making music for the game! :)

[@rajakaz4075]

Subscribed and wishlisted:) Great work, mister!

[@ThatNerdGuy0]

your songs are SO GOOD

[@SamuelT18]

Have you thought about having different types of docks and boats for holding more rail cars and cargo, for example a stone dock with a switch point to allow two rows of rail cars and a large container ship.

[@Steveplays28]

Very awesome as always, Ben!

[@kilagen0001]

Would love to see how you make the music for the game!

[@unknownfusion4165]

You should if you havent before play a game called Open TTD its a transportation tycoon game, but the audio design in that is super satisfying

[@sgtcuddlekins5171]

Hey man I love these videos! Would love to see your process for creating the music for your game as it’s something I’d love to do for my own project but I’ve never actually recorded my music before. Keep up the great work!

[@omersatran6700]

You can add day and night to the game maybe even seasons just putting it out there

[@bradleyr8459]

Gives openttd vibes and I love it

[@noam5153]

I just love the art style of the game so far

[@ccoodduu]

Ayy awesome :D

[@fuggman5955]

Please i beg you, make this available for Mac as i can see myself spending a lifetime on this, great work.

[@LiatheTree]

i feel like the workers wouldnt like hearing machines in there sleep

[@peri1539]

just an idea but I think it would be really cool to have watering carts to grow trees faster and/or rainy weather sometimes (possibly to be collected and put in the watering carts, sprinklers or other things)

[@adrianadamane2571]

I really want to see you compose music! I really like the background music in your Videos!

[@giuca0023]

I can see the boat being dependent of what company you chose for example a old shady boat or a fancy new boat

[@Tails2020]

You should look into sprite stacking. It seems like it would work perfect for creating convincing looking 3d carts

[@justingolden21]

A few questions / comments on the game: - I think having 4 wheels on the cart would be best (but do whatever you think best suits the aesthetic/style you're going for!) - What if the carts had to be crafted (not to make the game needlessly complicated), I just think it might be interesting if they cost a lot and it was a big deal to get another cart to be able to export faster - How do the trees work as a resource? Are trees infinite? Do they grow back? What if you could plant trees from saplings and have "planter" employees that plant them in a designated area? Would that be too complex? Just an idea...

[@BWDev]

I’ll likely experiment with crafting the boxes for transportation, but probably not the entire cart - that would be later in development though. Trees will die off when they get too old and new saplings will grow close to mature trees, so there is essentially a lifecycle going on - you’ll just need to be careful not to cut everything down too quickly or new trees won’t grow without being manually planted. There’s a planter tool at the moment, decided against an employee originally but I’m considering that again now 🤔

[@justingolden21]

@@BWDev Interesting. Yeah I think that's for the best. Of course the minimum is to have theoretically infinite trees, but also have to maintain some sort of balance in not chopping everything down. Love the progress and thanks for the reply : )

[@michid8188]

Hey, great progress. Keep it up!

[@guidev7695]

Always a pleasure to watch one of your devlogs! It's really interesting to follow the game evolution with the decisions you have made and the steps you went through! Really motivating for game dev beginners like me, thanks! Would you have any tips for the art part? I really love the style of your game and I would love to make a 2D-isometric style for mine but I can't get any art right. How did you first start with it? Thanks again!

[@echoes6092]

I'd love to see how you write music for a game. I've been taught classical music theory and although that helps with understanding the structure of old dead white guy music, it doesn't help a whole lot with composing videogame music-especially that more based on chord loops-and being able to read sheet music certainly doesn't help me understand how to use a DAW.

[@kebstrr]

I'd love to know more about how you created the music for Lumbermill :)

[@Chadderbox]

This is looking really good. I loved playing to original zoo tycoon when I grew up and this looks like it has the same vibe. Very nice.

[@TylerF]

Ever consider a custom cursor for the game? I love your artstyle and I love when games make custom cursors 😁

[@RugbugRedfern]

Looks awesome! I'll admit I'm a little confused on how the cart doesn't fall over with only two wheels lol

[@theoldkitbag]

You need warehousing. Warehouses divorce the production of goods from the trasportation of goods and the final pickup/delivery of goods. You could even hire staff for the warehouse who would affect the speed of transportation, pickup, etc.

[@lukaz078]

Once again a great video!

[@lowerthird]

Instant sub, wish I could make progress this fast

[@chapno4255]

Great work man

[@arnavpvpkumar5591]

I would really love seeing how you make your music, especially because I'm still not very good at it, nor how exactly to do it

[@בןניומן]

Did you have any plans for transporting logs using water? Like how in old logging mills they transported logs downstream by just having them float downstream. Seems like that could be both a fun and useful system

[@therustybiscuit6482]

"video or two about how I've been writing music for the game." That'd be awesome.

[@gurkenburg.]

Nice Vid, like always 👍

[@mrragge7986]

Maybe the rails could break and the mechanic has to fix them And also the boat should be a small fishing boat with a little hut on i think

[@tauheedgamedev2388]

Love the boat sprite, so simple

[@thaias9654]

I would like to see the boat for a little longer during the animation. It disappoints me how soon it fades away after picking up the cart.

[@BWDev]

That's all placeholder, only spent ~15 minutes on those animations. The final animation will be polished properly 🙂

[@cosmogally1964]

you are so underrated!!

[@henrystickmin8812]

I love indie games!

[@casperdh]

You can have carts with 4 whees if they are allowed to turn

[@torvin8053]

Great work

[@abberant3112]

Would love a video about how you make your games music. I love making music for games so to see how you do it would be really cool.

[@seanpenalber5554]

Perhaps logs or items should fall off the conveyors in small increments when backed up?

[@SaadTheGlad]

How can I learnt to gamedev like you? This is awesome!

[@Rufiowascool]

Would love to see the music video!

[@vam36cllop95]

Do you know what is the hardest thing about Factory game development? It is very difficult to make a factory toy. It's software complexity, as there are many problems and many things that you have to solve, such as the build system. Sometimes errors occur that are difficult to solve, because you are still programming a game with a factory system, which is the most difficult thing.

[@ics_de]

With all due respect, I feel like the game doesn't offer much challenge at its current state. A management game requires some sort of catch/challenge that transforms the game into a puzzle, because right now, Lumbermill is only about connecting belts and train tracks. A few examples of these sort of catches are: aliens + pollution in Factorio, traffic jams/running low on money in City Builders, prisoners escaping in Prison Architect... Maybe you could add some sort of eventual fires/storms so that you aren't only taking care of the factory mut also the forest. The mechanics you added a while back are good idea, maybe you could expand that system to deepen gameplay. Also unlocking things slowly would help a lot with the lifetime of the game: if at the beginning you need your workers to transport materials and then go on to unlock conveyor belts in some sort of lab, there will be a better feeling of progression. Good video btw!

[@BWDev]

The game isn't finished yet, the core "challenge" hasn't been implemented _yet_ but I've had a plan for how it will work for a while.