Engine Family Issues with Variations

[AccidentalShelf]

Before I updated the game, I was able to have different variations of engines, whether it was a 450 cubic inch V8 turbo charged, or a 250 V8 without one, and they would not interfere each others settings. However, ever since I updated the game, I can't make any variations of engines in the game, so when I clone the engine and start to change it, it would affect the other one and make them identical. Any advice and or help? Love the game though!

[Killrob]

Hmm, it seems like a few people have experienced that issue and we can't reproduce it on our end. Are you changing the CORRECT bore & stroke settings, i.e. the Variant Bore & Stroke? Because now engine families are unlocked, meaning that you can change the family bore and stroke, which will always affect the whole family of engines.

[AccidentalShelf]

I was changing the sizing for the cubic inches that is in the menus with the engine selection types (V6, Boxer 4, etc), and when I'd go to my higher performance engine after finishing in the same family, it would have all the same settings and sizing as the other engine, and I was startled. It started to happen to me after I last updated the game a few days or so, cause I recently made a supercar lineup, and I had one family for the V8's for the lineup, and they all had their own variations and not combined, so it could be a bug that came with the update. I haven't opened any other engines if this turns out to be a bug so it won't reload and change them. Does that mean that the differences will stay the same for all of the engines, or is it supposed to be that I can have variations in sizing and performance changes for the family? Or would I have to make a family for every engine?

[AccidentalShelf]

I'll provide the steps, I almost forgot

1. Start a new car model

2. make the engine and everything for the car and finish the car

3. Clone the car and variant from the family lineup menu

4. Change the cubic inch sizing in the engine type selection menu in the cloned vehicle

5. Go back to the higher end car and the cubic inches should be whatever you set the other car to

[Killrob]

Yeah, that is expected behaviour because we're giving you the freedom to mess things up haha. :)

When you clone an engine that is cloning the Engine Variant. This new Engine Variant is still part of the Engine Family that the original engine is part of too. So if you now go into the clone and change the FAMILY bore and stroke settings, you change it for both the original and the clone. If you on the other hand go to the Bottom End tab, which is in the Engine Variant section of the engine designer, you find two more sliders for bore and stroke that are limited by the setting in the Engine Family tab. In here (the bottom end tab sliders for bore and stroke) you can change the engine capacity without affecting anything else.

So no, certainly not a bug, but a feature that can lead to a lot of confusion if you are not aware of the differences between a Family and a Variant.

[AccidentalShelf]

Oh, I see now, I'm just a little new to this XD. Thank you for clarifying! I just was confused and I didn't want to cause any issues to myself and thought it would be wise to consult the Automation Gods. Thank you again!

[Killrob]

For the next big update we're adding a feature that has the family page locked by default if you have more than two variants or if the engine is used in other cars - but there will be an unlock button on the family tab that allows you to edit the family with a warning about what will be affected. That should help newcomers understand the system better and safeguard against unwanted mishaps.

[AccidentalShelf]

Ah nice, that'll be a great feature, especially for newcomers. I'm looking forward to the update!