Official mechanics
What each component is for
| Component | Primary role | Failure to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Panels | Contain and guide objects | Gaps, invalid placement, unsupported pieces |
| Fans | Continuous directional force | Opposing force or overshooting the lane |
| Magnets | Gather and move a buffered pile | Physics load and uncontrolled release |
| Pistons | Periodic push or anti-stall action | Bad timing and side-wall ejection |
| Launchers | Fast transfer across a gap | Uncontained landing zone |
Official The component names come from the Steam feature list. Roles and failure modes are engineering interpretations for this guide.
Original schematic
Baseline lane: prove flow before scaling
- Contain.Make the route physically difficult to leave.
- Move.Add the minimum force that clears the whole route.
- Observe.Leave one visible buffer before the Maw.
- Stress-test.Run a larger batch only after ten clean arrivals.
Payout logic
Combos reward controlled bursts, not permanent floor clutter
The official store confirms that chaining combos and increasing throughput improve payouts. Steam also exposes goals at x100, x200, x300, and 400 products per minute.
Continuous lane
Use for stable income and throughput testing. Fix leaks before increasing spawn rate.
Buffered dump
Community guides recommend magnets or a controlled pile for large combo bursts. Cap the pile if frame rate or collision behavior degrades.
Community-reported Magnet-dump layouts are popular launch-day advice, not a verified universal optimum.
Decision tree
Diagnose the first bad handoff
No products leave the source? Check power/unlock state and whether you are standing in the output.
Products leave but spill? Fix containment before adding force.
Products stall inside the lane? Remove opposing force, flatten the path, or add one timed push.
Products reach the edge but miss the Maw? Add a wider final funnel or reduce landing speed.
Everything works but payout is weak? Measure batch size and combo continuity before buying more machines.
Scale safely
A five-step upgrade order
- Reliability:eliminate leaks and stalls.
- Observability:keep the bottleneck visible.
- Recovery:add a way to clear jams without rebuilding.
- Throughput:increase one source or force level.
- Combo control:add buffering only after the lane remains stable.
This is an author-designed troubleshooting order, not an official skill tree.
Sources and limits
Official mechanics: official Steam store. Layout patterns were cross-checked across launch-day community guides. Exact costs, force ranges, machine rates, and combo timeout are intentionally omitted until repeatable testing.