Business Upgrades a Lie?

[Cody~]

I've been playing a game for around 12 years now and had several small businesses in that time. I've gotten the best possible educations for each, learned all the possible business management things, gotten communications level three, etc, yet they never improve to a medium business. In fact, in every game i've ever played this does not happen.

They remain a small business forever, as far as I can tell. They don't improve. Is this feature a lie? It was stated to occur if you "had all the requirements," but even with connections to all relevant individuals, plenty of time, education, etc, it simply does NOT happen.

[timeflow]

Businesses will upgrade in a passive mode on their own once you get the required skills or events. Upgrades increase revenue, decrease the required time, or both.

Business development is a different mechanic, it requires the player's actions.

In order to develop a business from small to medium, you have to:

1) Have the small business owned
2) Land on a green opportunity square
3) Choose medium business
4) Find a desired medium business card which is a developed version of 1)

The same for developing medium businesses to large businesses.

Please note that you can only develop a small business to a medium and that developed medium business to a large one. Here is the roadmap for all game businesses:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1642076322

[Hermen]

When "upgrading" the business from small to medium (or medium to large), the original business is not replaced but the new (larger) business is simply added. Is this intentional? It is very unintuitive and makes the time requirements a pain to manage because you need to have enough time for both businesses before you manage to sell the smaller one.

[timeflow]

Originally posted by Hermen:

When "upgrading" the business from small to medium (or medium to large), the original business is not replaced but the new (larger) business is simply added. Is this intentional? It is very unintuitive and makes the time requirements a pain to manage because you need to have enough time for both businesses before you manage to sell the smaller one.

That’s correct, the old (smaller) business is not being replaced. I personally don’t see a contradictory here, say an ad agency owner can still take his own writing gigs if he wants, don’t you think?

[Hermen]

Sure. It's just not what I think of when the word "upgrade" is used and I was surprised the first time.

[timeflow]

I see. What word to you think we should use instead to avoid confusion? Thanks

[Hermen]

Maybe something along the lines of: "You can take advantage of your experience with (small business X) and start a (medium business Y) company."
Something that makes it clear it's a new thing.

[timeflow]

I just checked the language. The word "upgrade" is never used in business descriptions. Here are the examples:

"Your Computer Service business can be expanded."
"You can expand your Copywriting business using your marketing skills."
"Use your Taxi work experience and patronage of a fellow security officer."
"You can expand your Nail Salon business into a new project."
"Unite your Handmade business experience and your fellow designer's skills into a new project."
"Use the support of your fellow doctor and your Massage Therapy business experience to start a new project."
"The Spa Salon experience you've got can help you build a health resort."
"You can start a whole new Decor Line based on your Decor Company."