Devs, I'm curious why you went the 'money grind' route for progression

[SkyDriver]

For a game like OUTBRK, it would have made more sense and also been a great opportunity to try something different in terms of progression imo.

Hear me out. So starting out we could just be on our own as an independent storm chaser. Selling our footage and data for typical set prices to cover things like gas, repair to our starter vehicle and cosmetics. Then separately, how good our photos and weather data is, plus how early we're able to give warnings and things like that could determine our 'storm chaser rating'. There could be tiers for sponsorships with various made up (or real if you get permission) research institutes, universities, government organizations etc.

Each tier we reach would come with perks. Like each sponsor group has their own vehicle and different tier level equipment. So instead of grinding to get $250,000 to buy a Jeep Wrangler (which just shows how silly the current progression system is) we work to earn sponsorships instead. There could still be variation within each sponsor tier for our loadout, so everyone in that tier doesn't have to drive the exact same vehicle with the exact same equipment.

Just my thoughts.

[Thundercracker]

Originally posted by SkyDriver:

Each tier we reach would come with perks.

nah. level grind is worse than money grind, especially with functionality (perks) locked behind levels.

for example, now, once i have the money, i can buy an antenna to get warning updates, i can buy a laptop to have a minimap in the car, i can buy a bumper to reduce damage penalties, or a weather station to get wind information in the car.

if we go by "perks," instead of taking these in any order or combination i choose, i'll be locked into one progression path for the sponsor group.

i like the sponsorship idea as a way to make money, though. you might even include things like research grants in the "sponsorship."

i guess functionally a sponsorship would be a list of "quests," in this system. these would award extra money, of course, but could include progression tiers to unlock unique cosmetics. perhaps the top tier could include a unique vehicle with a "locked in" customization and upgrade scheme.

[MOARNial (David)]

Money grid is more scalable as we add more items during early access.
Also implementing the idea you're describing needs a lot more design and is a lot more risky to do correctly for early access.

[SkyDriver]

Originally posted by Thundercracker:

Originally posted by SkyDriver:

Each tier we reach would come with perks.

nah. level grind is worse than money grind, especially with functionality (perks) locked behind levels.

for example, now, once i have the money, i can buy an antenna to get warning updates, i can buy a laptop to have a minimap in the car, i can buy a bumper to reduce damage penalties, or a weather station to get wind information in the car.

if we go by "perks," instead of taking these in any order or combination i choose, i'll be locked into one progression path for the sponsor group.

i like the sponsorship idea as a way to make money, though. you might even include things like research grants in the "sponsorship."

i guess functionally a sponsorship would be a list of "quests," in this system. these would award extra money, of course, but could include progression tiers to unlock unique cosmetics. perhaps the top tier could include a unique vehicle with a "locked in" customization and upgrade scheme.

I wouldn't lock all things behind tier/level unlocks. You don't need a sponsor to buy an antenna or laptop. I'm talking higher level research equipment. Things you're not going to be affording yourself on an independent storm chaser income, like expensive vehicles, probes, etc. Things you're absolutely not going to have without sponsors. Could just mainly be for custom vehicles with different research team logos and their tech equipment, while regular things like laptops, camera equipment, antennas are still available with all progression paths.

[SkyDriver]

Originally posted by MOARNial (David):

Money grid is more scalable as we add more items during early access.
Also implementing the idea you're describing needs a lot more design and is a lot more risky to do correctly for early access.

well it's pretty ridiculous scaling to have a quarter of $1Million dollar jeep wrangler. Why don't you use more realistic prices on items, and scale the pay according to that? It would be more realistic if we were earning $500-$1000 starting out with good chases, and have a the Jeep Wrangler at $30,000. With your money grind scaling, a can of Pepsi to enjoy during the chase would cost $42 bucks.

[Thundercracker]

Originally posted by SkyDriver:

I wouldn't lock all things behind tier/level unlocks. You don't need a sponsor to buy an antenna or laptop. I'm talking higher level research equipment. Things you're not going to be affording yourself on an independent storm chaser income, like expensive vehicles, probes, etc. Things you're absolutely not going to have without sponsors. Could just mainly be for custom vehicles with different research team logos and their tech equipment, while regular things like laptops, camera equipment, antennas are still available with all progression paths.

except i see a nonzero number of stormchasers with "higher level research equipment." independent chasers, not affiliated with any company or university.

many chasers can actually afford "expensive vehicles," because they rent, not own them. and manufacturing a probe is not expensive. give me a few cut bits of plate steel, some pannels of plexiglass, some tent pegs, access to a wielding machine, and some gopros, and you get a probe very much like the little pyramid model in this game.

you can even add a whole bluetooth sensor package on the cheap. especially if you do not mind some basic wiring.

this is not a hobby people get into unless they are already independently wealthy. those that cannot afford it do not get "sponsors" but instead go to school and join a research project.

pretty sure you'll find that "sponsorships" are chaser owned companies, and they use their chasing to advertise their services and seek investment. for example, the guy who made the TIV is a film director, and the TIV was a (successful) investment ploy.

and to be clear, i do not mean anything negative by "investment ploy." dude wanted to make documentaries about tornadoes. building the TIV got people to invest in his films.

[Valak666]

Love the game but have to say, I think everything in the game is stupidly overpriced. Be prepared to be playing this till your 80 years old. Trying to get close to a twister with a starting vehicle to place a probe is a nightmare as you can almost say your dead and all points lost.

[Thundercracker]

Originally posted by Valak666:

Love the game but have to say, I think everything in the game is stupidly overpriced. Be prepared to be playing this till your 80 years old. Trying to get close to a twister with a starting vehicle to place a probe is a nightmare as you can almost say your dead and all points lost.

nah.

my first chase, somehow i got a "legendary" interception.

it took me maybe 3 weeks of playing one chase a day to get (one of) all cutomizations besides a new car.

at no point have i /ever/ died in a chase. surprisingly, not even driving directly into a F1, and getting thrown in my car a good 50-60 feet.

[BuhMann]

The overpriced vehicles is the only thing I don't like about this game. 250k for the stock SUV or van is way too much. I could probably understand that if it were the custom pre-made ones for that much, but for some reason those ones are cheaper? I just don't understand this pricing. I don't play it very often, but when I do, it'd be nice to be able to use something other than the starter car with only the basic stuff.

[DennyFrontier]

I cant stand games that are grind to unlock. Completely kills the fun. By the time you actually unlock what you were after you are fking sick of the game