Dev Diary 21/2024: Endless Studio 2024.3 is Here

We’ve successfully completed all development for the third major update of Endless Studio this year. Version 2024.3 is now available for download! 🥳

This update marks the final preparatory step for the eagerly awaited Manage Your Own Network feature, chosen by our fans. With this groundwork laid, we can now focus on developing all the network management elements for the next update, 2024.4! Almost there! 🤗

So What’s New in This Update? 🚀

New Early Access Features

For our Level 2 Supporter Subscribers, we’re introducing the following features, which will be available to everyone in the next feature update:

• Scheduling Overhaul: Schedules now update weekly for Broadcast & Cable networks, instead of having the same schedule for a whole TV season (Fall, Spring, Summer), allowing for dynamic programming changes. Some Streaming networks now release episodes weekly, instead of airing the whole season at once.
• Renewal & Cancellation Overhaul: As a much requested feature, network renewal and cancellation decisions now occur on a weekly basis, providing a more realistic and responsive experience.
• Scheduling Office: The new Scheduling Office, replacing the old Schedules screens, offers a modern design and improved navigation. Easily step forward or backward by a week, search for specific shows, and view competing shows for every time slot. In the next update, manage your own network’s programming here.
• Revamped Networks Screen: Enjoy a fresh layout with new network logos and user-friendly filters and sorting options, including the practical "by pitching chance."

New Features for All Players

• Starting Rooms: The Management Office and the Library are now instantly available when launching a new studio, alongside the Briefing Room.
• Enhanced Management Office: Discover new icons and a reorganized layout for a better user experience.
• Ad Frequency Changes: Ads now appear randomly for each of our players without a subscription every 30, 20, or 10 turns. We're testing this to optimize subscription rates and improve our development funding.
• Tutorial and Knowledge Base Refresh: Updated to reflect the new Scheduling Office and game flow changes.
• Game Menu Change: "Studio Management" is now "Saved Games" for clearer navigation.
• Compatibility Check: Preparing Endless Studio for iOS 18.
• Enhancements and Bug Fixes: Fixed a bug with the start production button and addressed other minor issues.

Check out the screen recording on our Instagram to see the Enhanced Management Office and the Revamped Networks Screen!

Previous Early Access Features

The following features, previously exclusive to Level 2 Supporter Subscribers, are now available to everyone:

• Introducing the Library: Replacing the Shows screen, the Library in the Management Room offers comprehensive show management.
• Show List Screen: Enhanced with detailed information about your own shows and those from competing studios, featuring extensive filtering and sorting options for deeper insights.
• Show Detail Screen: Now includes new functionalities and information such as studio name, show status, logline editing, release dates, total viewership, average episode scores, and management options.
• Episode List Screen: Detailed information for seasons and episodes.
• Episode Detail Screen: Updated to include viewership numbers and release dates, even for scheduled episodes.
• Promo Images for Your Shows: Over 1500 distinct, genre-aligned promotional images to enhance the uniqueness and fun of each show. While some or all images are exclusive to Level 2 Supporters, when choosing them for a show, all players can view images for every show.

Update the game to access all these exciting new features! 📲

Next Time on Endless Studio…

We will be monitoring any issues arising from the significant changes made in update 2024.3 and begin preparations and planning for the biggest update of this year, 2024.4, which will introduce the Manage Your Own Network feature set. Stay tuned for more details!

Supporting Endless Studio

Endless Studio is a niche game with a dedicated but small community. Traditional pricing models, like one-time purchases, are impractical since they would provide very little income. Third-party ads wouldn’t generate much revenue either, given our small player base.

To ensure ongoing development, we offer Supporter Subscriptions. This allows our dedicated fans to support our tiny, two-man game studio. While we’re still far from covering our development costs, we’re hopeful we’ll get there eventually. If you haven’t already, and if you can, please consider subscribing under Game Menu / Supporter Subscription! With a Level 1 Supporter Subscription, you’ll speed up development and enjoy the game ad-free. With Level 2, you’ll also get Early Access to new features, participate in Feature Voting, and be included in the Hall of Fame!

We are grateful for your support and strive to deliver as much value to you as possible! 😘

Feature Voting Status Report

Our Level 2 Supporter Subscribers greatly influence what we develop next through their monthly votes on the Feature Voting screen. We’re currently in Voting Season 3, which will conclude when the winner of the previous season, the Manage Your Own Network feature set, is released with update 2024.4. Here are the current Top 5 features:

• Planned Show Ending: 2387 votes
• Critics & Awards: 1941 votes
• Feature Movies: 795 votes
• Producing Whole Seasons: 592 votes
• More Talent Variety: 382 votes

That's all folks! 🐷 Happy studio building! Stay tuned for more updates from Endless Studio. 📺