Game Length

[bear_1]

I really like this game but I think it's quite difficult (a difficulty slider would be nice) and way too fast-paced on the default game length (35 years). Does setting it to 42 years make the game any easier?

[Reese]

Gives you more time to do things, but if you make bad games, you'll end up the same way.

[bear_1]

Originally posted by Reese's Cup:

Gives you more time to do things, but if you make bad games, you'll end up the same way.

I can manage to make good games in the beginning, but after I make the big hit that lets me move to a new office, I start bleeding money, and the only way for my company to stay afloat is by constantly releasing games, which decreases their quality as I have no time to do any research and no money to make a new engine. When I do manage to make a good game it just seems completely random; sometimes a game with a ton of effort and money put into it, with combinations that have proven to be effective through game reports does horribly, while sometimes a game made with an old engine, no marketing and a seemingly bad topic-genre combination sells millions of copies. I just have no idea how it works.

[Alan Dracula]

Originally posted by aggserp4:

Originally posted by Reese's Cup:

Gives you more time to do things, but if you make bad games, you'll end up the same way.

I can manage to make good games in the beginning, but after I make the big hit that lets me move to a new office, I start bleeding money, and the only way for my company to stay afloat is by constantly releasing games, which decreases their quality as I have no time to do any research and no money to make a new engine. When I do manage to make a good game it just seems completely random; sometimes a game with a ton of effort and money put into it, with combinations that have proven to be effective through game reports does horribly, while sometimes a game made with an old engine, no marketing and a seemingly bad topic-genre combination sells millions of copies. I just have no idea how it works.

It's not random. However it is difficult. Learning console and genre combinations is essential to get to the endgame. The game doesn't hold your hand through it either. It really in my mind shows how treacherous indie game development can be.

[Reese]

It's not random, but the effectiveness of combinations does change from each playthrough. Even doing the exact same thing every time through gets you different results. It really throws people off. Some combinations will show up as complete trash, so players mark it as not a good combo ever. But then another playthrough will show a different result for that combo, sometimes even scores up by several points.

[Emergent]

It's all because you're always judged by your best game ever thus far. Let's say you release an amazing game. If you then release another equally amazing game (different genre and combination, but everything is correct and great), it will only be average. That's the key to understanding how the game works. So the only way you can ever release another "amazing" game, is by still doing really well, but now with more technology and design points thanks to your leveled up staff.

Because of this, player guides emphasize consistency over quality. If you keep releasing bad games, a good game will then get you all 10s, while a great game would still just get you all 10s and set the bar higher.

It's not the fact that the effectiveness of combinations change. It's the fact that what you're being graded against changes.

[funewchie]

Originally posted by aggserp4:

I can manage to make good games in the beginning, but after I make the big hit that lets me move to a new office, I start bleeding money, and the only way for my company to stay afloat is by constantly releasing games, which decreases their quality as I have no time to do any research and no money to make a new engine. When I do manage to make a good game it just seems completely random; sometimes a game with a ton of effort and money put into it, with combinations that have proven to be effective through game reports does horribly, while sometimes a game made with an old engine, no marketing and a seemingly bad topic-genre combination sells millions of copies. I just have no idea how it works.

Sounds like you upgraded offices too soon.

While in the garage, your expenses are low. So that's a good time to build up a good reserve of money, and get some good research done.

When they prompt you to upgrade, you should decline, until you have around 5M. Then you'll be ready for the upgrade and the added expenses.
----

With topic/genre, it's mostly trial-and-error (unless you look at a guide). But you generally don't want to repeat a topic for quite some time (and certainly not on the same engine).

And remember: there's no point making a Medium game outside of a Publishing Deal until you have 100K fans.
Until you have 100K fans, you NEED publishing deals to make Medium games. And about 4 people (counting yourself) to make them efficiently.

Until then, remember: Once you've upgraded, there's no shame in making a Small game once in a while, for a quick buck.
Just remember what genre/age works on what system. And what topic goes well with that genre/age.

(For instance, I, every now and then, made up some of my expenses by making small Young-age Casual games on the Gameling, even after I upgraded to the first office. It was a quick buck, and helped while I waited for a good publishing deal to come by. But when it does finally come, strike fast!)

[bear_1]

Yeah, I think the trick is to upgrade offices later and hire a big crew when you do so that you can make medium and later large games. I did that and I have almost finished the game at year 33 with 800M Credits and 2M fans.

Edit: Forgot to meantion to only self-publish Medium Games after I have 100K fans and Large games after 250K. I made that mistake the first time, game told me about it, now I know.