Patch #23: Optimizations, Optimizations, Optimizations, and Heater Settings

Patch #23

Performance improvements is a constant struggle for us. Every time we improve the performance: players just build bigger islands!

We like that. It is an honour as a game dev to have players push our games to its limits.

Going forward we will continue to work on pushing those performance limits further.

Daniel

Lead Programmer on Whiskerwood

Changelog

v0.6.188 Patch #23

Features

• Add configuration for heater auto-pause temperature
• Add Steam Booster variant with steam socket under track

Gameplay

• Snow is now being removed more aggressively under cover
• Whiskers at minecart station will only board minecart if their destination is in the direction of departure. Only applies to non-looping tracks
• Whiskers are soaked and slowed if walking in heavy rainfall without cover. Terrain and buildings will block rain
• Switch saving to the autosave file when exiting. Instead of the main save file

Optimization

• Optimize long whisker list scrolling by using delayed instantiation
• Optimize rain effect to reduce fps impact at high graphics settings
• Optimize draw cost when viewing lists of hundreds or more Whiskers
• Optimize rendering of large warehouse stockpiles
• Optimize thread synchronization to improve CPU fill rate

UI

• Redesign the Heater UI
• Add toggle to allow overflow on belt filters

Bugs

• Fix light not being updated correctly in some cases when removing light blockers
• Fix snow being displayed underwater
• Fix mine support beams not always being cleaned up properly during local updates.
• Cannonballs can no longer be avoided by saving and loading during firing.
• Fix farmers idle at workplace never leaving to address hunger during the day unlike other workplaces
• Fix incorrect warning icons persisting after copy-pasting settings between warehouses or input hoppers
• Fix dining hall containing ghost light
• Daily report screen now accounts for approval spent during end-of-day pause
• Fix camera rotation bindings not sticking if camera is set to smooth rotation
• Fix missing lamp to small and medium warehouses
• Fix belt animation speed not matching item move speed on belts

Mod API

• Add icons and toolbar tables to modapi
• Add support for scrolling when many decorations have been added by mods
• Fix removing a mod which added a new item, causing the savefile to crash if the the mod is later removed

Acknowledgements

• Thank you to MysticalBacon on Discord for reporting that mine beams weren’t cleaned up correctly
• Thank you to DaXoPsy on the Steam forums for suggesting steam booster variant
• Thank you to Toby on the Discord for reporting the farmer starvation issue
• Thank you to PherretDan on the Discord for reporting erroneous warnings after copy/paste
• Thank you to Phlimmphlam on the Discord for reporting the floating light in the dining hall building
• Thank you to Fret on the Discord for making a resource adding mod, and reporting the crash on removal so we could expand that mod support
• Thank you to NyxAntheia on the Discord for reporting the camera binding bug
• Thank you to Alastor on the Discord for reporting the end of day approval bug
• Thank you to MysticalBacon on Discord for reporting that light values were not correctly updated.
• Thank you to L33cher and iceball12 on the Discord for suggesting the pause menu quit related saves redirect to the autosave instead of main save file
• Thank you to Buckminsterfullerene on the Discord for suggesting we add the icons and toolbar tables to the modapi
• Thank you to veertje on the Steam Forum for reporting how enough mods have added decorations to require scrollbars
• Thank you to Demonocolips on the Steam Forum for reporting the filter should also allow overflowing alongside its default absolute filter mode

Steam Reviews

We'd really appreciate it if you could take a moment to share your thoughts about Whiskerwood in a Steam review. Each review helps us understand what you enjoy, what you'd like to see changed, and what you'd like to see added next. It's a powerful way for you to not only share feedback with us directly but also influence what comes next in a patch. We're carefully reading through all feedback, and your opinion matters!

Official Wiki and Beginner's Guide

We have some fantastic resources to help get you started on your colony building in Whiskerwood. Check out our beginner's guide and our official community wiki page to help get you the answers you need.

We also have a compilation of tips and tricks sourced from the community to help you out right here:

Join the Whiskerwood Community

Become part of the Whiskerwood community. Join us on Discord to chat with other players, share your villages, and see what others are creating. You can also follow updates and discussions on Reddit, stay informed through BlueSky and Twitter.