🛠 Scrapping Simulator v0.39 — Major Update! 🚀

One of the biggest updates yet — with major refinements to tutorials, disassembly, time management, a complete overhaul of the Chemical Refining Station, and lots of QoL fixes. Let’s dig in 👇

📚 Tutorial & New Player Experience

• 🖥 Fixed DVD player being shoved under the desk by tutorial popups.
  
• ✍️ Tutorial prompts reworked — clearer but also compact.
  
• 🎮 Controls now introduced gradually (e.g., rotation after picking up the DVD Player).
  
• 📘 First tutorial screen updated to explain how Scrapping Simulator works + highlight underused systems.
  
• 🎁 First-day item spawns now predetermined:
  - Guarantees ~$250 in value to help with the first bill.
  - Balanced, diverse items placed across bins to encourage exploration.
  

⚙️ Gameplay & Mechanics

🔧 Disassembly Rework:

• Cooldown tightened (0.1s → 0.03s).
  
• Tips moved to unified Tip System.
  
• Queue limit raised 4 → 6, with UI counter added.
  
• 🖱 New Pickup Option in Settings:
  - Choose Click/Hold to Pickup, Release to Drop OR Click to Pickup, Click to Drop.
  

⏰ Timing & Energy Tweaks:

• Day length extended by 75% → less pressure.
  
• Sleep available earlier (~5:30pm).
  
• Wake-up moved to 6am for +1 daylight hour.
  
• 🔥 Furnace Buff: Cooling time halved (240s → 120s).
  

🖥 UI & QoL Improvements:

• 💰 Scrap Yard hover info redesigned — easier to read, clearer price calcs.
  
• Button weights updated: [1g] [100g] [1kg] [All].
  
• 📦 E-Waste item hitboxes improved for better stacking.
  
• ⚠️ Added warning when trying to sleep with active power sources, showing wasted energy cost.
  

🎵 Main Menu & Loading Screen:

• Auto Save info added.
  
• Hints + Real-World E-Waste facts now show separately.
  
• Music balanced, outdated backdrops refreshed.
  

🏪 Shops & Systems:

• 🏬 Hardware Store bug fixed (no more getting stuck).
  
• 🪙 Pawn Shop & Materials UI improved for clearer interactions.
  
• ❌ Ingot duplication exploit patched (blockers added between rack colliders).
  
• Reduced upper threshold of NPC Scrappers - They will now reach maximum aggro at 100 Active Items rather than 175 - with now a full lockout of New E-Waste Spawns at 175 to encourage Scrapping/Selling large Item Stacks.
  

💻 PC & Apps Overhaul:

• ⚡ PC core rebuilt — smoother performance, simplified code.
  
• 🖥 OS upgraded: Windox 7 → ScrapOS.
  
• 🌐 Browser App returns (with fixed Material Price Checker).
  
• 📦 Deliveries + Emails merged into Browser for cleaner flow.
  
• 🎮 Minigames moved to Desktop.
  
• Added ‘21’ Card Game with Scrapper Tokens (separate from money).
  
• 📊 Stats App removed (redundant with other features).
  

🔬 Big Overhauls:

🧪 Chemical Refining Station Rebuilt:

• Entirely rebuilt for stability + efficiency.
  
• 🔥 Blowtorch now requires fuel, costs if left running.
  
• Adjusted Timings for more Passive style.
  
• New central handler for safer saving/loading.
  

☀️ Solar Panels Buffed:

• Power per panel boosted 1.2kWh → 7.85kWh.
  
• Max output raised 26.4 → 172.7kWh in peak sun.
  
• Weather % indicator added for clear tracking.
  

🎉 Extra Additions & Fixes

• 🏎 New RC Race Track Minigame added to the forest — fun side activity + tech test for future vehicles.
  
• 💾 Save/Load system clean-up (removed 1200+ lines of band aid fixes). Faster + more stable!
  
• 🏆 Steam Achievements restructured → less frame load.
  
• 💡 Removed bugged light flicker in Joe’s house + shadows from desk light.
  

📢 Final Notes

This update focuses heavily on new player experience, reliability, and QoL improvements, while also introducing fresh extras like the RC Minigame and laying down key systems for v1.0.

✨ Happy Scrapping, All!