Place clickers under amps, mouse only controls

Happy Wednesday evening, Miners!

It's been fantastic watching you all engage with the "Amplify & Commit" system. Seeing your strategies evolve has been incredibly insightful. Today’s update is a direct result of those observations, and it’s a big one. We're introducing a game-changing strategic shift alongside a massive batch of the quality-of-life features you’ve been asking for.

TL;DR:

• GAME-CHANGER: You can now place miners and buildings in empty spaces under an already-placed Amplifier!
• MOUSE CONTROLS: Place buildings & move the camera with just the mouse (no SHIFT or WASD needed anymore).
• AUDIO MENU: A new settings menu to control music & SFX volume independently.
• UI POLISH: Continued improvements to icons, menus, and tooltips for better clarity.

A Strategic Game-Changer: Place Miners Under Amplifiers!

The "Amplify & Commit" system was designed to make Amplifier placement a weighty, permanent decision. But I've seen how it could feel overly punishing and sometimes limit creative, long-term planning. The goal is to create deep strategy, not frustrating dead ends.

Based on that, I'm thrilled to announce a fundamental change: you can now place new miners and buildings in the empty spaces underneath an already-placed Amplifier.

This completely evolves the core strategy. The decision is no longer just about when to commit, but where to claim valuable real estate for future development. You can now place a large Amplifier early to secure a high-value area, then gradually fill it in with your best miners as you unlock them. This adds a new layer of flexibility and long-term spatial planning, rewarding foresight without the harsh penalty.

Plus: The Quality of Life Overhaul

On top of this major strategic shift, this update is packed with features to make the game smoother and more enjoyable to play:

• Total Mouse Control: Your keyboard can now take a break. You can place all buildings with a simple click (no SHIFT key required) and navigate the entire map by clicking and dragging your mouse.
• Audio Controls Are Here!: A frequent request is now a reality. The new settings menu gives you separate volume sliders and mute toggles for both Music and Sound Effects.
• Continued UI Polish: I'm continuing to refine the user interface. This update includes clearer icons and more descriptive tooltips to help you manage your empire and understand the game's mechanics at a glance.

This update is all about adding strategic flexibility and making the game feel great to play. These changes are a direct result of watching you play and listening to your feedback.

Jump in, experiment with the new Amplifier freedom, and enjoy the smoother controls!

Happy Mining!