Philo

Hi pack Here are the results of the first community voting The three most rated suggestions are: - Call to attract wild Nichelings, as real animals call to attract mates. - A set of new tail genes: Peacock, scorpion and fin. - Gene changes: The armored body is impervious to leeches, the toxic body kills leeches, spiky body babies can't be picked up by blue birds (we will also add prevention from cactus damage if you have armored body) These 3 suggestions + a day counter will be added to the game, hopefully in the March/April update when we add wings and the whale island

Hi pack We opened the first voting round for new Niche features/improvements! Go cast your vote <3 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nA4KxKfpSD1c5yDlpWYQFY8Oub18rwguWzhCXM0lyaQ/edit#responses

Patchnotes 1.0.6 Hi pack We just pushed a new build with some fixes and improvements to the preview branch Improvements - Improved tutorial - Added new UI tooltips - Updated credits Fixes - Disabled UI key U, when renaming animals - Leeches can no longer move on land We would greatly appreciate feedback for the reworked tutorial here Please note that the new tutorial has not been localized yet. How to switch to the preview branch on Steam: – Open your Steam library – Right click on Niche – Click on properties – Select the Beta tab – Select the release_preview branch from the drop down – Let the game update – Open Niche and play Cheers and Thanks, Stray Fawn Studio

Hi pack We just pushed a new build with some fixes and improvements to the preview branch on Steam Improved... - Add Key to disable UI for screenshots (U) - Reworked tutorial Fixed... - Baby is stuck on nest when a wild female gives birth - Fade in game music after intro sceen - Ice block message on second visit on island "Long Winter" - Added “only in story mode” to Round Ear tooltip - Not saving when closing the game with X - "Eating Nemo" achievement We would greatly appreciate feedback for the reworked tutorial here! Please note that the new tutorial has not been localized yet. How to switch to the preview branch: – Open your Steam library – Right click on Niche – Click on properties – Select the Beta tab – Select the release_preview branch from the drop down – Let the game update – Open Niche and play Cheers and Thanks, Stray Fawn Studio

Hey pack Thanks for your suggestions We will go through all posts and make a list of things that we think would be cool to add to the game. After the list is done you will get to vote which one of the suggestions will be implemented! Stay tuned

Hi pack We just pushed a new build with some fixes to the main branch Fixed... - crashes in burning savanna (finally !) - home island immunity not passing on if restarting with same bloodline - rogue males mixing in their genetics if restarting with same bloodline - hungry predators prefer to attack spiky animals - rogue males mating with your females even after growling at them While we are fixing bugs, don't forget to participate in the first community voting for new features and improvements. Suggestions close next week on November 30th! All infos: http://strayfawnstudio.com/forum/index.php?topic=552.0 Cheers and Thanks, Stray Fawn Studio

Thanks for the valuable tip! We fixed the bug

Noted, thanks! This is indeed a bug. If you end the day the tutorial will jump to the next step. You'll miss nothing important

I'd love to have a mode that focuses more on the family relations of the animals. Animals would live longer, remain children for more days, pregnancies would be longer. Maybe animals could even have relationships with each others. If they spent time together, groom each other, etc the relationship improves. A certain level of relationship could be required to breed.

I totally want this too

Exactly We are fixing that growling bug right now btw ^^

Carnivores, Horny Males, Apes etc react depending on their motivation. They feel fear, hunger, lust, social need etc. It would be helpful to see what motivation they are currently following. Maybe add a motivations display similar to the ability display.

Having a tribe of 30+ animals makes performing tasks quite micromanagement heavy. Automation of animals could help with this problem. How about giving animals roles which allow them to perform interactions by themselves. For example you can assign an animal to be berry gatherer. Then each time when you end the day and the animal still has action points left, it will automatically collect berries when sitting next to a berry bush. Other roles could be hunter, defender, etc. This would make playing with big tribes more fun.

Hey pack As promised we are now opening the first round of community suggestions How long will this run? Suggestions will be open from November 3rd - 30th. How will this work? Phase 1) Everybody can make suggestions on how to improve and further develop Niche. This is the time when we gather aaaaall the crazy ideas, so feel free to be totally creative. Phase 2) Our team will go through the suggestions and make a selection. Please note that some suggestions might not fit into the vision we have for the game (such as excessive base building) or would take forever to implement and therefore can’t be added (such as modding support and multiplayer). Phase 3) Our team posts a voting poll with the selected suggestions and everybody can vote for their favourites. The features with the most votes will be added to the game. Ok what do I do now? Head back to the board and start posting your suggestions for new features, improvements and experiments in a new thread. Please keep it focused! Only one idea per thread. Feel free to add concept images ^^ A maximum of three suggestions per person please. Every thread that does NOT have a clear title of what the idea is about will be ignored. Before posting a new suggestion, please browse through the already existing suggestions. If you find one that is similar to yours, consider adding a comment on the existing one instead of opening a new thread. If you find a suggestion you think is great, please leave a comment that you like the idea and start a discussion focused on the topic if you like Ok, let's get this started !

Thanks Red_The_Hunter The Kickstarter launches next Thursday, November 2nd!

How to get the update: > right click on Niche in your library > click on properties > select the beta tab > select the dropdown and choose “release_preview" > the game will update, please wait (restart Steam if the game is not updating) > play

Hey pack! Things are getting serious. We decided on a launch date: Thursday, September 21st 2017. That is just four weeks from now! Until then all new versions will remain on their separate branches. On launch day they will be pushed on to the main branch. Now we need all the help we can get to make sure the release version runs like a charm, so all new pack members discovering the game on launch have a great time experiencing it for the first time ^^ Please note: If you just want to play and enjoy the game DON'T play this version. This version is for bug testing and feedback. Your game will automatically update itself as soon as the update runs well and is pushed to the main branch. The launch will be an extremly important event for Niche and our studio. We would love to keep adding more features to the game and really hope it will sell well enough to enable us to do so. All infos about Niche’s future here: http://steamcommunity.com/app/440650/discussions/1/1368380934282493056/ -------------------------------------------------- What is new? - Distinction between story and sandbox mode, selectable start islands in sandbox mode - Tutorial (finally!) - Steam achievements - 5 available save slots - Polishing and bug fixes - Ui is completly reworked (It took me a while to get used to it ) - Localisation to French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian (a huge thanks to our translators <3) The tutorial includes a few references to the intro video (which is currently in production) which are probably a but confusing. -------------------------------------------------- How to get the update: > right click on Niche in your library > click on properties > select the beta tab > select the dropdown and choose “release preview" > the game will update, please wait (restart Steam if the game is not updating) > play > report bugs and leave feedback here In case you speak German, French, Spanish, Chinese or Russian, please play the game in your language and report translation issues. Leydaa has very kindly compiled a comprehensive list of all our bugs! Please view to her list here: http://steamcommunity.com/app/440650/discussions/1/1471969431582730908/ before posting your bug. (Unless it's one of those one-time reported glitches, then it would be good to confirm them.) -------------------------------------------------- If you are a Youtuber/Streamer: Please inform your viewers how to access the update and let them know it is a preview version. This update features a lot of new content and we had to rebuild the game quite a bit. Because of this older save files will unfortunately not be compatible with this update. We are really curious to hear if the game runs well on your computers now since we hope to have fixed some of the performance issues. Known issues (currently fixing): - Some animal textures (mainly for right paws) are misplaced - Blue bird fly around weirdly - Title screen not fit for all screen resolutions Thank you all very much for your time and support Cheers, Stray Fawn Studio

Things are getting serious. We decided on a launch date: Thursday, September 21st 2017. That is just four weeks from now! Until then all new versions will remain on their separate branches. On launch day they will be pushed on to the main branch. Now we need all the help we can get to make sure the release version runs like a charm, so all new pack members discovering the game on launch have a great time experiencing it for the first time ^^ Please note: If you just want to play and enjoy the game DON'T play this version. This version is for bug testing and feedback. Your game will automatically update itself as soon as the update runs well and is pushed to the main branch. Please help us test this version and report feedback here:http://steamcommunity.com/app/440650/discussions/1/1471969431578238854/ In case you speak German, French, Spanish, Chinese or Russian, please play the game in your language and report translation issues The launch will be an extremly important event for Niche and our studio. We would love to keep adding more features to the game and really hope it will sell well enough to enable us to do so. All infos about Niche’s future here: http://steamcommunity.com/app/440650/discussions/1/1368380934282493056/ -------------------------------------------------- What is new? - Distinction between story and sandbox mode + selectable start islands in sandbox mode - Tutorial (finally!) - Steam achievements - 5 available save slots - Polishing and bug fixes - Ui is completly reworked (It took me a while to get used to it ) - Localisation to French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian (a huge thanks to our translators <3) The tutorial includes a few references to the intro video (which is currently in production and looks awesome ) which are probably a but confusing. -------------------------------------------------- How to get the update: > right click on Niche in your library > click on properties > select the beta tab > select the dropdown and choose “release_preview" > the game will update, please wait (restart Steam if the game is not updating) > play > report bugs and leave feedback here: http://steamcommunity.com/app/440650/discussions/1/1471969431578238854/ If you are a Youtuber/Streamer: Please inform your viewers how to access the update and let them know it is a preview version. This update features a lot of new content and we had to rebuild the game quite a bit. Because of this older save files will unfortunately not be compatible with this update. We are really curious to hear if the game runs well on your computers now since we hope to have fixed some of the performance issues. Known issues (currently fixing): - Some animal textures (mainly for right paws) are misplaced - Blue bird fly around weirdly - Title screen not fit for all screen resolutions Thank you all very much for your time and support Cheers, Stray Fawn Studio

Hi Fawns Some of you might have already heard of our project Nimbatus - The Space Drone Constructor. I'd like to give you a quick intro what the game is about and what the next development steps are. Nimbatus is a procedurally generated action simulation game. You can build space drones out of hundreds of different parts and explore a galaxy with countless fully destructible planets. On your journey you will face deadly challenges on exotic planets and research new technology. There will be various missions to test your drone engineer skills. We also plan to add a story to the game where you fight an intergalactic evil corporation. Nimbatus was originally designed by my Stray Fawn Studio founding partner, Micha Stettler. Micha worked on Nimbatus during his free time and weekends while having a full time day job for three years. He then decided to quit his (increadibly well payed, we'll probably never earn that much again lol) job and start a game studio to finish Nimbatus which had grown very dear to him. Now we are 5 people, working on both Nimbatus and our other project Niche. We are currently working towards a playable alpha version of Nimbatus. In order to finance the further development we will run a Kickstarter campaign in November. Shortly after the game will be released on Steam Early Access. We'll keep you up to date with all Nimbatus news here If you'd like to receive important project updates (such as Kickstarter or Early Access launch) you can sign up for the newsletter: http://www.nimbatus.ch/ We also recently set up a Steam page, in case you'd like to wishlist Nimbatus: http://store.steampowered.com/app/383840/Nimbatus__The_Space_Drone_Constructor/ We are looking forward to your inputs and comments

Hi fawns We'll be posting some cool Nimbatus gifs in this thread. GIFs that are posted here by their owners might be shared on our social media channels.

Fixed, will be in the next update. Thanks again!

Paps by RCris123

Hi Kittyhawkgo Thanks for reporting, we'll make sure to fix it

I'm really happy to see that many of us love Niche The first prototype was created in early 2014 and I never would have believed that people would care. This game means so much to me. Niche allowed me and my team to become fulltime game developers and found our own studio. This is a dream come true You were with us all this time and helped us achieve our goals over and over. That's why I want to give you a detailed insight about Niche's future. Ok, here goes: We are preparing the full release of Niche, currently planned for September 2017. What will be added until then? - A proper tutorial - A new gene unlocking system (no more epigenetics for now ) - A longterm goal through a story (+ intro animation) - More islands - Translation to multiple languages - Procedural patterns (soo many combinations for breeders) - Steam achievements - Maybe trading cards - UI rework - Maybe a few more genes or small features but not sure - Bug fixes, polishing This is a HUGE todo list, so please forgive us if we are a bit late with regular updates >_< Some (mostly small) features promised in the Kickstarter won't make it into the release version. We are not exactly sure which ones yet, but I want to appologize already. Why did this happen? Some of the blame goes to really slow communication, but for the most part I failed to manage features correctly. This is our first "big" game and it was really overwhelming to add features the team wanted to add, the community wanted and things we promised in the Kickstarter. We usually just priorized whichever features we thought would have the best impact on the game at that time. I want to personally appologize for this and will soon publish a list of all missing Kickstarter features. However! All features we promised will be added in updates over the course of the next months Why release now and not stay in Early Access longer? Niche's development was first started by me. A team started to grow around the game and we called ourselves "Team Niche". We agreed to work together on this game and then go our separate ways again. The lead programmer of "Team Niche" (Micha Stettler) and me however found that we greatly enjoyed working together and decided to start a game studio together. This was the birth of Stray Fawn Studio. Stray Fawn Studio hired the rest of "Team Niche" in order to finish the game. Reason1: Our super loyal team members promised to stay until release. After delaying the release twice! already I'm starting to feel uncomfortable with this situation. It's time that we release the game and enter a new phase where everyone can stay or go without breaking their promise. Reason2: My Stray Fawn Studio business parter and Niche's lead developer Micha has been working on his own game (Nimbatus - The Space Drone Constructor) in the past three years. Micha quit his day job to finish his game Nimbatus. When we founded the studio together we agreed that we would release both game in 2017 (Niche full release and Nimbatus Early Access). Because we delayed Niche's release, Nimbatus may not be released in Early Access this year. However we at least want to finish the Kickstarter for Nimbatus this year which is planned for October. Micha did so so so much for Niche, handling most of the programing work. Now it's my turn to help him run the Nimbatus Kickstarter! Please note that after Niche is released, our studio will have a strong focus on Nimbatus during October/November to run the Kickstarter and prepare the Early Access launch. However one day per week is reserved for Niche Kickstarter fulfillments. Reason3: Niche has sold about 36'000 copies so far. If you take away Steam's share and insurances etc this gives our studio about $360'000 so far. This is really amazing! Since we worked mostly for free or for a veery low payment this gives us quite a bit of profit But, if you calculate how much money Niche really costs to make (note that we live in Switzerland), it has not covered it's development costs yet. The step to becoming a real company with employees, studio rent, software cost etc means you can't calculate with free time or veery low payment anymore. We want to hire great people to make great games and pay them properly! So, how much did Niche actually cost to make calculating with all these costs? About $500'000. Crazy right? I'm not used to such high numbers yet at all @_@ For the future of our studio I have to make sure our games operate at break even at least. If we can't make back the money we invest, our studio will have to close down. This brings me to the final question: What happens after Niche's release: Niche now has to prove it can make back its costs. If we manage to sell at least 14'000 copies until November 2017 (in total 50'000 copies) this counts as a success and means we can keep investing money in updates. If the pack works together and spreads the word this is very much achieveable I think ! I'll post infos about how to support the release soon. Please note: All Kickstarter features will be added anyways, no conditions attached to that. Also, nothing can keep me to mess around with Niche in my free time Again, thank you for all your support! This has become a reeeal wall of text. Let me know if you have any questions

Finally the update is on the preview branch Pretty much the WHOLE dev team was sick during the last weeks, so please excuse the delay! As usual this version is not quite finished and still rather buggy, that's why we uploaded it on a separate branch. Please note: If you just want to play and enjoy the game DON'T play this version. This version is for bug testing and feedback. Your game will automatically update itself as soon as the update runs well and is pushed to the main branch. What is new? - Lots of new island + special challenge islands - More content for swamp and savanna biomes - New dynamic pattern system - New gene unlocking/ mutation system - Interspecies breeding with Bearyenas - New textures - Small adjustments and fixes (Sickness lasts only 2 days, healing plants cures sickness, ...) - Lots of new bugs This update features a lot of new content and we had to rebuild the game quite a bit. Because of this older save files will unfortunately not be compatible with this update. We are really curious to hear if the game runs well on your computers now since we hope to have fixed some of the performance issues. Known issues (currently fixing): - Animals don't have textures currently (noses etc are missing) - Animal patterns sometimes don't match with portrait and family tree image The full release of the game in September is coming closer and closer! This will be the last "update" before release. However we will keep pushing new builds to the preview branch every few weeks until launch. All infos about Niche's future can be found here: http://steamcommunity.com/app/440650/discussions/1/1368380934282493056/ How to get the update on Steam: > open Steam > right click on Niche in your library > click on properties > select the beta tab > select the dropdown and choose “buggy_0.5_preview" > the game will update, please wait (restart Steam if the game is not updating) > play > report bugs and leave feedback here: http://steamcommunity.com/app/440650/discussions/1/1457328927835841598/ Thank you all very much for your time and support