Devlog: Version 0.9.9 - The Pre-Launch Polish!

Hey everyone!

This is a huge one, folks. We're on version 0.9.9, which means this is the final major update before we hit the big 1.0.0 public launch. I've been working like crazy to squash bugs, add new features, and polish every corner of the game to get it ready for prime time.

Here’s a look at everything that’s new!

Visuals & Feel: Making the Game Come Alive

I wanted the game to feel more dynamic and rewarding, so a lot of focus went into the little details that make a big difference.

Taller Lemonade Stand: First things first, our stand was looking a little short! I've given it a growth spurt, making it 150% taller so it's no longer overshadowed by the customer emojis.

Juicy Feedback: You'll now see a satisfying little "hop" and color flash on your money display every time you make a sale. Cha-ching!

End-Game Fireworks: For those of you who successfully complete all 30 days, get ready for a celebration! I've added a fun fireworks display to the final report screen, inspired by the classic Windows Solitaire win animation.

Upgrades Explained: Ever wonder what exactly an upgrade does? Now, a handy clickable ? button next to the "Upgrades" title opens a new help panel with detailed descriptions for each item.

More Achievements, More Bragging Rights

A bunch of you are already achievement hunters, so I've added a whole new set of challenges to test your business skills. I also added a new "Achievements" button to the main menu so you can track your progress!

Here are the new achievements you can now unlock:

Crisis Manager: Survive 3 negative events in a single game.

The People Pleaser: Maintain a Community Sentiment above 80 for 10 consecutive days.

- Recession Proof: Make a profit on three consecutive "Rainy" or "Chilly" days.

- High Roller: Spend over $100 on supplies in a single purchase.

- Perfect Pitcher: Sell out of lemonade on a day when your recipe was considered "Perfect" by customers.

- Ice Cold Capitalist: Sell over 500 total cups with the maximum amount of ice.

- The Long Haul: And of course, one for successfully completing the game!

Gameplay, Events & Balancing

To keep every 30-day run feeling fresh, I've shaken up the daily events.

New Faces: I've added some new, punny names to the pool of social media reviewers. Keep an eye out for reviews from "Jim Shorts" and the instant classic, "Patty O'Furniture"!

New Events Added: Two new positive events ("Local News Story" and "School Half-Day") and two new negative events ("Pesky Wasps" and a "Health Inspector Visit") have been added to the random event pool.

Rival Stand Removed: The "Rival Stand" event felt a bit too punishing, so I've removed it for now to improve game balance.

Bug Fixes & The Road Ahead

Finally, I've addressed some important bugs. The ambient sound effects weren't working as intended, so for now, I've removed all sounds to ensure a smooth experience. I'll be looking into better audio solutions for future updates post-launch. I also fixed a number of small positioning and logic errors that were impacting the game behind the scenes.

This is it! The game is feeling solid, and I'm so excited for you all to play it. Thank you for all your support on this journey. The next stop is Version 1.0.0!

Cheers, mattyflexx