Tideward Dev Log
⚙️ The Conveyor Belt: Satisfactory hotfix lands, DSP turns five
Plus a Dyson Sphere Program anniversary patch, a Factorio module-swap trick most players never learn, and this week's confessional poll.
Seth Tideward
Indie dev behind Tideward and lifelong factory game fan. Covering Factorio, Satisfactory, and the best automation and idle games twice a week.
The Deep Dive
Shapez 2 Manufacture Mode: A Beginner's Guide to Your First Trade Station
What to build first in Shapez 2 1.0's new progression mode — and the copy-paste mistake that wrecks beginner factories.
Patch Notes Roundup
⚙️ The Conveyor Belt: Belts of Iron rolls in May 28
A new procedurally-generated factory game lands later this month, plus today's Satisfactory hotfix and a Factorio filter trick most players miss.
The Deep Dive
Captain of Industry Train Networks: How to Set Up Update 4.1's Auto-Dispatch System
Update 4.1's auto-dispatch turns rail logistics from a manual scheduling chore into a job board that mostly runs itself. Here's how to build your first network — and the five rookie mistakes that'll cost you hours.
The Deep Dive
Satisfactory 1.2's Fluid Overhaul Is the Factory Fix We Didn't Know We Needed
Tanker Trucks and Fluid Truck Stations finally fix the pipe physics Satisfactory's been fighting since launch. Here's how the system works, what it breaks, and when it hits stable.
Patch Notes Roundup
⚙️ The Conveyor Belt: Shapez 2 Goes 1.0 and the Belt Never Stops
Shapez 2 hits 1.0 next week + a belt-routing tip that'll save you an embarrassing rebuild
The Deep Dive
Shapez 2 Goes Gold: 1.0 Drops April 23rd
Plus: Foundry Update 4, Captain of Industry trains, Melvor Idle 2 incoming, and a sad farewell to Techtonica.
Welcome to The Assembly Line
Your weekly dispatch from the world of factory games, idle games, and everything in between.