Hello parking lot enthusiasts, developer here.

First, a big thank you, for your interest, patience and for wishlisting!

This is hugely motivating, and I would've never expected this back when this was a silly hobby project. (Working on it fulltime now thanks to MicroProse!)

The game is in active development and since last devlog the Gameplay Loop has really come together. Systems have been connected, lots of variables been balanced. It is a joy seeing people enjoy the game in playtests.

I hear you ask, "how can I participate in a playtest?". While there is not enough room for everyone to participate (I watch all footage and improve the game based on that!), you can sign up by joining the Discord server[discord.com] and reading the server rules.

On to the updates, there's too much to talk about, but here are some highlights:

So, where do we build parking lots? On top of neighborhoods. Where do the people go to live? Suburbia.

I added an 'Evict tenants-tool' to the game, which allows you to kick out people of apartment blocks after you bought the property. However, these people should get a new place to live. Preferably somewhere without public transport, zero walkability and a lot of big driveways. So, you can now build suburban neighborhoods!

Kent Kercher[linktr.ee] has been working on an original soundtrack for Car Park Capital. He is using actual hardware synthesizers from the 80s, 90s and 2000s! I love the tracks he made, go listen to a preview here, or watch me drive random vehicles in the game while some of the music plays:

Kent also composed the music for the announcement trailer, and has worked on Hollywood projects like Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Justice League, Watchmen and The Grinch.

These are the synths and the studio:

Work has started on adding more maps to the game!

So next to a map that looks like an American city, you'll also be able to play in Egypt. Assets for a map set in Paris are in the works too.

A few new Production chains have been added to the game!

There's one for producing cars, to automate the supply of your 'car vending machines':

Next to that, there is a Plastic Tree factory! Plastic trees can be used to reduce Civil Unrest caused by cutting down trees and trees dying from pollution. This helps in preventing large protests.

Lastly, a Hamburger production chain: You need to satisfy people's hunger. And at some point a Drive Thru with just French Fries won't do anymore. So, you need to build farms, and grow cows until they can be transported to one of your meat grinders. Customers will be served delicious hamburgers in a Hamburger stall:

One of the more important changes has been the introduction of Needs.

As you're making people more dependent on cars, not only do you need to build parking lots, but also other services like food, drinks, gas, amusement (ferris wheels, loops, and more to come) and restrooms. And of course, they should only be accessible by car!

Needs play a very important role in the gameplay loop and progression, because the need satisfaction determines how much people are willing to pay for your services (Parking fees, Drive thrus, gas prices, car prices). If you don't manage the needs well enough, your Car Industry could collapse.

Satisfaction of Needs can be seen over time in the Stat-o-matic:

The restroom Need can be fulfilled by placing small restrooms in your parking garage, or by building a giant Toilet Drive thru:

Selling cars and building parking spaces in high demand areas, will make you level up.

Leveling up will unlock new building options, but will also unlock new Needs to fulfill.

Big box stores and Diners are examples of buildings that you can unlock. Placing them will create more Parking demand, allowing you to level up even further.

• I added sloped hills to the game and a landscaping tool!

  

• You can build Golf Cart shuttle services, this allows you to build larger parking lots as people won't have to walk to their destination.

  

• Buses and busstops were added

• People will start pushing their cars if they are out of gas.

• You can manually drive around in most trucks

• You can add loops to your Drive Thrus!

  

• The construction tools are improved, and include an Undo-button

• I will attend Gamescom, more on that later

That was a lot!

If you have any fun ideas (production chains, Needs/services, drive thrus, etc.) or want to follow development with more frequent updates, consider joining the Discord server[discord.com], or following me on social media[linktr.ee].

Thank you!

- Hilko (hilkojj)

Hello fellow asphalt enthusiasts,

Since the announcement trailer you have all massively wishlisted Car Park Capital (thank you!),

and I have been hard at work adding more features and content to the game.

So, it is time for a Devlog!

Also, thank you for your patience, making a game takes a lot of time!

Gas stations are a thing now! Cars will have a fuel tank, and you will need to satisfy your citizens with enough gas for a good price.

You will need to drill for oil yourself, and set up transport for the oil from the pumpjacks to a refinery, and from the refineries to the gas stations.

I might re-use this goods transportation system for other production chains (car tire factories?).

You will be able to build Drive-thrus in the game. Because, why walk into a restaurant, when you can go to a Drive-thru? It's not lazy, it's convenience.

Now that the system is implemented, I'm planning to add more types of Drive-thrus, please share your ideas if you have them!

Drive thru Safari Park? Coffee Drive thru? Drive Thru ATM? Drive Thru Toilets?

Just so you are aware: there are other means of transportation besides cars, and they can be effective. And so it is in the game.

People will use trains and underground subways to travel, until you convince them to buy a car, from one of your shiny car carousels:

It doesn't stop there though.
You will need to keep people satisfied with a convenient car life: cheap gas, enough parking spots, and lots of drive-thrus. Then actively remind them they're living the dream. Otherwise, people can get vulnerable to dangerous 'walkism' or 'commuterism' ideologies spread by protesters:

Demolishing neighborhoods, cutting down trees, building seas of asphalt and drilling for oil.

These are the simple steps of progress towards an automotive paradise, but it will make some people unhappy. People will protest, block your drive-thrus, and they will influence other people's opinions on cars.

To deal with this, you can send out trucks full of riot police units and confront the protesters until order has been restored.

More work has been done on the simulation of citizens:

A thoughts-system was added, so people will get thoughts from things they see or experience. This has impact on their happiness and how much of a carbrain they are (= their satisfaction with a car dependent life). You can read the thoughts of every NPC.

Also, all these beautiful people now have portraits when you click on them! A friend of mine made these wonderful portraits:

• Some new cars were added, including a hamburger car.
  

• A bank was added, where players can take a loan.
  

• The Stat-o-matic now shows more detailed graphs for your income sources and spendings.
  

• A land buying mode was added. You do not own all land by default anymore.

• You can set out a patrol route for megaphone trucks that blast out pro-car propaganda.

• Cows and UFOs

• A lot of optimizations, allowing for larger maps and more simulated NPCs.

• Scenarios can have objectives now.

• I have been experimenting with adding player controls for driving a car..

While I have tons of ideas for more features and content, I am also actively trying to improve what is already in the game: Making things easier to use, balancing variables in the simulation, etc.

One of those things is protests and demolishing homes. I am considering adding suburban type homes to the game, with big beautiful asphalt driveways, that you can build further away from the city center. Then, when you want to demolish a block of old homes in a city center to make space for parking, you can offer them this new lifestyle to 'ease' the pain: Avoiding protests and better for car business. Win-win.

If you have any ideas or want to follow development with more frequent updates, consider joining the Discord server[discord.com], or following me on social media[linktr.ee].

Thank you!

- Hilko (hilkojj)