How does making money work?

[Baer]

I recently bought the game, but I am confused on how you get paid during the day shifts.

[Doug_Dimmadome]

I know that you earn money based on how many people you pass through the system.

What I don't know is if that also counts for people you turn away.

[Deon]

You automatically get paid $5 for every correctly processed entrant at the end of each day. Whether you approve or deny them doesn't matter, as long as you handle them appropriately you will get paid for them.

[Tormentoso]

I am proud no one has suggested taking bribes or doing outside favors while on the job as means of attaining further income. You are all respectable citizens of Arstotzka.

[Rocketsatdawn]

Is there any other way to make money in this game or is it that straight forward? I'm having to starve my family every other day at the moment. Really not made it far in the story mode.

[St4rgalaqtic]

Don't take the free money IT'S A TRAP! My son died, couldn't kill the random leeching uncle for nothing. Made one move to a better class apt, and the BUSTED ME. I busted my ass for Arstotzka, took down 2 of the most wanted. And they locked me up, and that freak guard still owes me 10 credits. When I get out of this cell its curtains for Arstotzka!, I only pray they haven't elisted my son in the soul sucking boarder patrol!

[Deon]

Originally posted by Rocketsatdawn:

Is there any other way to make money in this game or is it that straight forward?

At the beginning, no, not really. Later on there are various ways to get bonuses, bribes from certain people in exchange for approval, gifts and extra cash through story events (though think carefully about the huge gifts), etc. but at the beginning it's mostly just through processing people.

You can save money by alternating food and heat each day if necessary, or start with a bigger pool of cash by blitzing through the first few days (you can hit 30+ processed on day 1 by automatically approving all Arstotzkans and denying everyone else).

[Rocketsatdawn]

Thanks. Gonna give that a go then. Hopefully I can make a bunch on day 1. :D

[Auresult]

Unfortunately, it looks like the day 1 duration is specifically decrased so that you cannot earn a lot, but still it makes sense.

[Deon]

Originally posted by Auresult:

Unfortunately, it looks like the day 1 duration is specifically decrased so that you cannot earn a lot, but still it makes sense.

Days with fewer documents are shorter, yes, but for Day 1 you literally don't need to look at anything other than whether they're foreigners or not. On the first day that entry tickets are added (Day 3 I think?) your day length is increased due to the added document even though it takes no time at all to check. You can come away with a few hundred credits after the first few days if you're good enough.

[Proxene]

Be careful of bribes/gifts. Your neighbors sometimes report you and they take everything.