What is so enjoyable about Farming Simulator?

[Ninami]

So I've been laughing about Farming Simulator games because I thought no one would ever play a game like this. But to my surprise people actually do, right now there's 2,300 people in-game (according to steam).

So my question to you who play this game: What makes this game enjoyable?

I tried an old version of the game, I think it was 2007 just to try it out. The tractors went like 5km/h so it was like a 15 minute drive to the actual farm. I would honestly like to know why people are playing this. (no offense to the players that to do of course)

Thanks :)

[RyanGA]

As with any simulator game, to become a virtual business owner trying to make decisions that will expand the business. Empire building more or less. Whether it's a city, a ancient civilization, a train, a household of people, a airline, a farm, or a amusement park the goal is the same: Expand the business until you reach the point where it overwhelms you.

Where this game shines is you can have friends help to keep it from overwhelming you.

[시니론_]

Empire building is a big part of it. The other part is just enjoying simulator games. I personally enjoy it as I can experience things in this game that I wont experience in the real world. I've also learned a fair bit about farming in general due to this game. All of the machines in game (to my knowledge) are mirrors of real world machines. When you google the names of machines in the game you can generally find youtube videos of them in use in the real world.

[Jester]

My guess is guys who never grew tired playing w/ their toy tractors and making engine noise? :p

[Captain Baldy]

Originally posted by Jester:

My guess is guys who never grew tired playing w/ their toy tractors and making engine noise? :p

Okay thats it, I cannot resist any longer - I am buying the game right now, you just sold it to me (vroom vroom) :D

[[ScrN]Dr. Jan Itor]

Originally posted by Jester:

My guess is guys who never grew tired playing w/ their toy tractors and making engine noise? :p

i seen a docu a few weeks ago about games like farming simulator and guess what? famers actually go home after they done and play this.

[Ninami]

Thanks for the answers guys, though I enjoy the empire building aspect, I can't really say this is a game I could enjoy hehe :P

But you that do enjoy it, have fun :D

[k9krow]

Farming Simulator 2013 IS by far the most realistic of the series. I was trying to do too many missions and forgot that my crops would wither lol. So I ended up losing some of them. Plus the machines cost you money everyday and you have to buy all the fields except the one you start with. FS 2011 is easier but less realistic, but FS 2013 is harder but more rewarding in the long run imo. But this game does take some patience, and you probly won't be running around killing people or even getting into accidents (that cause monetary or real damage to anything). But I enjoy it. Cheers! :D

[Wedge80]

Originally posted by The Janitor:

Originally posted by Jester:

My guess is guys who never grew tired playing w/ their toy tractors and making engine noise? :p

i seen a docu a few weeks ago about games like farming simulator and guess what? famers actually go home after they done and play this.

Truth, real farmer right here. Very unrealistic game but well maybe this is what farming will be like in heaven. No tractor break downs, no worry about drought, floods, bugs. Just me, some growing plants to tend to, blue sky, and a shinnie new tractor to ride.

All in all, relaxing game to play in the evening.

[pappy1vg]

1. It's relaxing
2. No one's trying to kill you.
3. Hardly any consequences
4. It's relaxing

[Ninami]

Originally posted by pappy1vg:

2. No one's trying to kill you.

THIS I understand hahahahha :D

[Wardiaper]

For me it has that same minecraft feel of getting your hands on the actual work in a game - not hovering like some spirit in the air and clicking and directing little people to do your work. It has that grind of wanting to earn more money to afford better equipment that will help you earn even more money to afford even better equipement to earn every more money.

It's too bad this gets compared to all the terrible sim games out there. This one is actually very fun and the 2013 edition is the most polished in the series.

If you ever want to try the demo it's only 200 mb - http://www.farming-simulator.com/demo.php?lang=en

[Radarhazard]

Originally posted by pappy1vg:

1. It's relaxing
2. No one's trying to kill you.
3. Hardly any consequences
4. It's relaxing

May I add - "It's relaxing?

I have a case of PTSD (shellshock for the older viewer) that's proving hard to shift. I play Eve mostly, as that's good fun and I like the community aspect. This was suggested by an Eve Online player (irl a Farmer in the Baltic Time Zone - I think he's in Georgia or the Ukraine) and it chills me out better than the Anti-depressants I take! It also has a community, so I get to have a dip into that as and when I want. The Big Selling Point is that unlike Eve I can shut the door and just muck about or try ideas all on my own.
In short - it's the best therapy I have ever had!

[Saintanik]

Wouldnt have thought Eve would be a good relaxation game? ;) I used to play that years ago, and I remember it being pretty stressful hehe.. always in danger of losing your stuff...

[special_snowcat]

I like that I can generally expect equipment to work like I'd expect it to work. Playing with these virtual machines is much more fun knowing that they can actually do something. When I play GTA I get frustrated when I find some heavy machinery and it turns out I can only *drive around in it*.

I can drive on the road and other people nuts like in real life:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=105870801

I can make trains of trailers and pull them around with a tractor:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=105959441

I can stack bales, then push them over with my front loader, then use the stacker to stack them again:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=105959528

[Col.Skipper [DAIR]]

Originally posted by The Janitor:

Originally posted by Jester:

My guess is guys who never grew tired playing w/ their toy tractors and making engine noise? :p

i seen a docu a few weeks ago about games like farming simulator and guess what? famers actually go home after they done and play this.

I can vouch for that... I'm a Beef+Sheep farmer and I play it with my partner (Shes a dairy farmer).. So even farmers play it :D