The team at Introversion has been quite productive in their 1 week of work this month. This month’s update brings numerous improvements to the game’s UI and deployment systems, as well as a truly epic prisoner spawning moving toilet.

Grab your copy of Prison Architect on Steam. The game is currently available as a Steam Early Access title.

For your PC Master Race purchasing pleasure, click to add the game to your glorious Steam shopping cart. 

Click to Read: Prison Architect Alpha 28 Changelog

Merry Christmas everyone! It’s been a short month but we’ve managed to cram a lot into the time.

User Interface improvements
We have begun to move various interface elements around, and improve other elements,
in an effort to bring the user interface up to Version 1.0 quality.

– New toolbar top left of screen, incorporating Todo/Research/Grading/Main Menu
– Objectives/todo window improved, incorporated into new toolbar
– Topbar “Bank Balance” tooltip now shows recent transactions
– Search box added to Rooms toolbar, and Objects toolbar. Use this to filter the list of icons.
– Greyed out items in the main toolbar now have a greyed out caption as well
– In the main toolbar, “Contraband” has been renamed to “Intelligence”
– Contraband “supply & demand” report has been moved to the “Intelligence” toolbar
– Informants list interface tweaked, should fill less of the screen

Sector targetting continued
– New toolbar button : Logistics.

Allows the user to control Food distribution and Laundry distribution.
“Jobs” button moved from Deployment to Logistics.

– Laundrettes will target all nearby cell blocks automatically.
Every cell block has at least one Laundry servicing it, and every Laundry services at least one cell block.
The system will do its best to make laundries target other sectors of the same security zone, so that prisoners can do the work.
Can manually override the targetting from the Laundry Distribution screen.

Deployment Scheduling tool
You can now change the schedule of guard deployment, and guard patrols, at any hour of the day.
Use this to place more guards in the canteen at lunch time, for example.

– Requires new unlock : Micromanagement
– Click on the timeline at any hour to cycle the current schedule. White is the base schedule.
– You can drag the current time left and right, and change the schedule at any time of the day.

– Patrol icons for guards/dogs/armed guards now enlarge when selected

Truck drivers
Many large prisons suffer from a blocked delivery lane, with materials/prisoners/food etc trapped and unusable.
To combat this, all delivery trucks now come with a driver, who will helpfully spawn when the truck stops.
He will help unload the deliveries and load garbage and exports.
The truck can’t leave until he returns.
However if he dies or falls unconcious whilst doing his job, or takes too long to return (>1 hour),
the truck will leave without him and he will be forced to walk home.

Mod changes
Direct mapping of WorldObject variables to Lua variables via Lua metatables.
Allows access and assignment of object properties without the need of complicated function calls (GetProperty/SetProperty)
All variables can now be access via object tables in Lua, such as the “this” table for the scripted object.
Eg: this.pos.x = 10
this.damage = 0

– The Needs system of a prisoner can now be accessed in lua: “this.Needs.Bowels = 1″ etc
– The Status Effect systems of a prisoner can also be scripted: “this.StatusEffects.suppressed = 1″

Game Balance
– Escape tunnels now quite a bit less frequent
– Prisoners now more likely to change into a clean uniform, if one is available
– Ironing now takes twice as long

– New research : MicroManagement
Unlocks many of these newly added advanced features:
– Deployment scheduling
– Reform program manual scheduling
– Canteen logistics
– Laundry logistics

Bug fixes
– Fixed : Require at least one informant active to see throw ins determined by phone tap
– Fixed : If there is no infirmary, doctors will now hang out in the delivery area rather than wandering
the prison. This probably isn’t the fix many of you were hoping for, but this is a prison,
not a hospital. Doctors don’t randomly wander the halls searching for people to heal in prison.

– 0000140: [Control & User Interface] Some objects can be built multiple times in the same location (square) (Icepick) – resolved.
– 0007023: [Gameplay] Fridge error (Icepick) – resolved.
– 0006752: [AI & Behaviour] Multiple hearse waiting for bugged prisoner (Chris) – resolved.
– 0001311: [Other] When all laundry baskets leave the laundry, room requirements are no longer met. (Icepick) – resolved.
– 0000251: [AI & Behaviour] Guard set on a patrol route ignore people attempt to escape (Icepick) – resolved.
– 0006964: [Gameplay] All dirty laundry disappears when put into laundry basket. (lim_ak) – resolved.

Quantum tunneling and food delivery do not play well together – that’s what we have learnt from your feedback last month, so we’ve been busting our balls to fix our food system and we’ve finally fixed it (we hope). From now on PA will map prisoners and kitchens onto specific Canteens, but when the AI gets it wrong you can make changes.

We’ve taken the same approach with scheduling reform classes – the AI’ll have a bash at putting the right classes, in the right rooms at the right times – but you can open the scheduler and schedule to your heart’s content.

Finally we’ve added a “flag bio” button – if you find one of the bios grossly offensive, you can hit the button and we’ll get notified about your concern.

Grab your copy of Prison Architect on Steam. The game is currently available as a Steam Early Access title.

For your PC Master Race purchasing pleasure, click to add the game to your glorious Steam shopping cart. 

Prison Architect Alpha 26 is now available on Steam Early Access. This month’s Alpha is another round of bug fixes, tackling 39 in total. In addition to the bug fixes, Introversion has also thrown in a huge, game-altering new feature alongside the already robust update. Players now have access to an optional digital clock that replaces the analog one featured in the top right while playing!

Click the spoiler below to check out the full list of bug fixes.

Click to Read: Prison Architect Alpha 26 bug fixes

• – 0005441: [Gameplay] object_FoodWaste is not being removed properly (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0002141: [Save & Load] Can overwrite save files without warning (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0006069: [Gameplay] Supermax security prisoners are downgraded back to Max security after a murder (lim_ak) – resolved.
• – 0006493: [AI & Behaviour] prisoners use the same seat/phone/shower etc (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0001589: [Control & User Interface] Request – digital clock (elDiablo) – resolved.
• – 0004535: [Control & User Interface] Enumerate cells by security level (elDiablo) – resolved.
• – 0003822: [Gameplay] Always Fog Of War (Chris) – resolved.
• – 0004464: [Gameplay] Cooks and reform programs clash with the new regime system (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0004193: [AI & Behaviour] (Some) Prisoners won’t attend Reform Programs (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0003542: [Graphics] Full-screen image flash when contraband discovered (elDiablo) – resolved.
• – 0004588: [AI & Behaviour] Multiple regimes not working with classroom scheduling (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0004515: [Sound] Riot Music Continues to Play After Loading a Different Prison (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0005846: [Save & Load] Special char in user account name result in the game failing to save (John) – resolved.
• – 0001358: [AI & Behaviour] Dead inmate’s family still come for visitation (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0004720: [AI & Behaviour] Teacher wanders into adjacent rooms while teaching (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0003948: [Control & User Interface] dragging sound may continue playing when it shouldn’t (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0003162: [Sound] Construction sound would not stop (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0006001: [Other] Name in Game ages incorrect (lim_ak) – resolved.
• – 0004048: [Sound] carpenter table sound continues even when no one is working at it (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0002093: [Sound] Sirens do not turn off (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0006208: [Sound] Ringing sound when deploying guard for patrols (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0000450: [Other] Make the introduction video skippable (elDiablo) – resolved.
• – 0004419: [AI & Behaviour] Having Multiple Psychiatrists running Multiple Counseling Programs causes them to jump between.
• (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0004528: [Control & User Interface] non-click mouse input still possible when window is not in focus (John) – resolved.
• – 0005164: [Control & User Interface] Introduction Objectives (lim_ak) – resolved.
• – 0002655: [Save & Load] Incident free timer resets on load (lim_ak) – resolved.
• – 0003969: [AI & Behaviour] visitors may go to the wrong visitation rooms (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0000027: [AI & Behaviour] Garbage is unloaded at Deliveries (elDiablo) – resolved.
• – 0005611: [Control & User Interface] Clone toolbar not visible (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0001061: [Save & Load] Prisoner’s sleep state not saved (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0004784: [Control & User Interface] Policy Tab – Setting punishments to “None” resets after save & load (lim_ak) – resolved.
• – 0006021: [Control & User Interface] too many informants cover the screen (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0002563: [AI & Behaviour] Prisoner released same time as family goes to meet him (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0002611: [Graphics] An Invisible Prisoner (Icepick) – resolved.
• – 0005896: [Save & Load] Cannot save game. So I cannot load it neither. (John) – resolved.
• – 0006020: [Gameplay] Bankruptcy when playing with unlimited funds (lim_ak) – resolved.
• – 0004601: [Sound] [motherbug] Issues regarding Sound which does not stop when it should (Icepick) – closed.
• – 0002461: [Sound] riots music does not stop after a riot (Icepick) – closed.
• – 0004874: [Sound] Lockdown alarm continues to sound after loading a different *.prison (Icepick) – closed.

Grab your copy of Prison Architect on Steam

For your PC Master Race purchasing pleasure, click to add the game to your glorious Steam shopping cart. 

The boys at Introversion have released the latest Alpha update to Prison Architect. This month’s update adds a number of new features and systems, as well as a return of the dreaded escape tunnel!

The highlights of Prison Architect Alpha 25 include:

• Reputation System
• New Prisoner Categories – Supermax and Protective Custody
• Escape Tunnel Overhaul
• Protective Custody Changes
• Tazer System Changes – Tazer Training Program

To read the entire changelog for Prison Architect Alpha 25, visit the Introversion forums

Grab your copy of Prison Architect on Steam

For your PC Master Race purchasing pleasure, click to add the game to your glorious Steam shopping cart. 

The boys at Introversion are back again with the latest Alpha update to Prison Architect. With this month’s update, Prison Architect’s modding system has went through a complete overhaul. Aspiring modders will be able (almost) completely alter the game thanks to Mod System V2.

Mod System V2 
The modding system has been substantially upgraded.

It is now possible to create new versions of just about everything in a mod:
Objects / Entities
Rooms / Zones
Equipment / tools / weapons
Materials
Research / Bureaucracy
Emergency Callouts (eg Riot Police)
Reform Programs
Grants (The only area you could add new content previously)
Jobs (eg tend these vegetables)
Needs, and Need Providers (eg “Bladder” is a need, “Toilet” is a need provider)
Production/Work rules (eg Move sheet metal to the workshop, load it into the Saw, cut it into license plates)

Custom graphics can be provided by data/sprites.png. (Please keep your sprites.png as small/compact as possible – so we can load more mods at once). We currently only support a single graphics patch at a time, however we will upgrade this for next alpha

All objects can use an optional LUA script to drive their behaviour

In addition to Mod System V2, Alpha 24 includes another brand new gameplay system that allows prisoners to be converted into confidential informants.

Confidential Informants 
Prisoners can sometimes be hired as Confidential Informants, and will provide insight into illicit activity within your prison. Prisoners *might* be willing to become CIs in exchange for being released from a long stint in Solitary. In addition, suffering Withdrawal symptoms from drug abuse, or suppressed from heavy handed treatment will help convince them. Once recruited, CIs must be “activated” and will be escorted in cuffs to the nearest security office.

They will then reveal their information in the new “Informants” view under “Contraband”. They will reveal:
– All contraband owned by prisoners
– All contraband being smuggled in (eg by delivery trucks)
– All arranged throw-ins, ie near the outer walls
– All escape tunnels

Prisoners who have been in your prison for longer will have more information for you.
Each time you activate a CI, or act on their information, suspicion in that CI will increase.
If their suspicion rises too high, their life may be in danger.

Along with these 2 major features, Alpha 24 includes additions to last month’s remote access system and changes to the contraband feature.

The boys at Introversion have released their latest Early Access Alpha update to the insanely popular Prison Architect. Along with a number of additions to the contraband and CCTV systems, they’ve also included experimental Logic Circuits that allow players to program advanced functions using the power grid in their prison.

You can keep up to date on the latest news by visiting the official Prison Architect Blog. Prison Architect is currently available on Steam Early Access. Read the full changelog for Alpha 23 at http://forums.introversion.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=49566

The new features for this month include:

• Narcotics
• Advanced Regime Control
• Language Selection
• Prisoner Surrendering

The Narcotics and Advanced Regime Control systems are the big additions for this month. Being able to better manage the daily activities of your prisoners based on their risk level makes a lot of sense and should add a good deal of logical micromanagement to the game in the long run.

It was announced that next month for Alpha 22, instead of the regular feature additions, the team would be focusing on a bug fixing update. With over 4000 reported bugs in the game, the team has their work cut out for them for the month of June.

To read the full changelog for Alpha 21 head over to the official Introversion Software Blog

If you still haven’t purchased Prison Architect, head over to the Prison Architect Steam page

You’ve all had it too easy for too long. Sitting there, building your prisons, not caring about deaths or insolvency. Well NO MORE! We’ve introduced failure conditions and now, if you f**K up it’s game over.

We’ve also graded all prisoners on four scales: Punishment, Reform, Security and Health. You can check these out in the rap sheet and when summed over the whole prison you end up with a score. Lefty-liberal reformist paradise or super-right super-max super bad ass punishment amplifier – you go ahead and max those stats. The Punishment Inspector shall be pleased.

Alpha 20 brings a bunch of pretty awesome changes to the game. Watch towards the end of the video to see the genius fail condition for letting too many prisoners die.

As always, you can buy Prison Architect at http://www.introversion.co.uk/prisonarchitect/

Click the headline to watch the video.

Have a look at some of the cool new features that were added to Prison Architect this week.

If you have any brain at all you’d be highly advised to go buy Prison Architect right now on Steam while the Autumn Sale is going on.