When should I switch over to medium games

[Brune]

When I get into a new office I keep doing small games, I even hire 2 employees to help me make great small games. When I build them up enough they ask to upgrade the office and I eventually do so but even though all that everytime I research medium games I get completely stomped. Any pointers?

[Smig]

Why do you get stomped? Are you trying to publish them on your own? Start by using the publishing contracts. You'll only get a portion of the profits but you'll sell much more, which will hopefully counterbalance that. Plus, you get more fans due to wider distribution, which will allow you to publish your own medium games in the future.

I must say that going all that way with only small games sounds impressive ;)

[Uncensored]

Actually that´s what I try too. Medium games with a huge design/technology numbers for gameling mostly are total fails with a 3,75 rating , so I keep making good small games.

What most of us probably did in the first games...we try to be allrounders. I think it´s all about the game engine and getting your staff specialized. Well that´s what I try in my next game, when it dosn´t freeze again....should be the best way into medium games...don´t research dialogue, when you never need it in your games i.e. (not sure if they were thinking about that when making this game since the review expects graphics even in a text adventure)

[angh]

I have no problem with medium games. you surelly need some points invested in the team and all 4 people hired.
next, you have to decide on matching genre and topic, ie. rpg and fantasy. And in every phase put the engine, AI, sound to zero. Having 4 people you getting more points towards the game and you can manage that noone will do more than 100%, so they wont get tired-> loss of efficiency.
when u move forom the garage make sure to have at least 6-8 milions. When hiring people put small amount to research (100k) and try to repeat it as much as u get only people with one of the skill around 600 AND high research skill. 1 person with high design, 1 with high tech, and 2 balanced for last phase.
put designers for design oriented stuff, techies for tech, and u will get great game.

[Carl94]

You should start medium games soon as you get into the 1st office (out of garage) and have 2 staff members. 3 people is enough to make decent medium games and also enough to stop yourself going over the staff limits if you balance correctly. Make sure to accept the publishing deals untill you have 100k fans and marketing researched, use marketing to build up a little hype. The best hype tho is G3 convention, if you can attent one just before a game releases, its a massive hype boost.

[Avalanche]

Well, your design and technology stat importance are dependent on what genre you focus on, i focus on RPGs, so my main stat is Design, with some importance to Technology because it needs graphics somewhat.

But as Carlford94 says, stick to small games until you get 100k fans or more, then do medium games.

[Carl94]

I said stick to publishing deals untill 100k fans, not stick to small games :)
Publishing deals for medium games usually sell millions, you only get usually around 11% of the money, but your fanbase will expand really fast.

Once you have 100k fans (or wait a little longer if you wish) then go ahead and release a medium game on your own. What I would suggest is you save often at quiet times, like when you have a decent cash amount. That way if your next game is a total flop and looses you allot of fans and cash, you can simply reload the last save.