Feedback from a Personal Trainer

[🙐 Ascawien 🙖]

I worked in a gym for over seven years (after completing military service), so this game appeals to me on several levels, however, there are definitely some areas that are more enjoyable than others...

Firstly, a couple of minor bug reports: There's a 'cursed' spot in the refrigerator (the game mistakenly calls it a refrige in the Vitamin Bar tutorial (also, maybe reconsider the name of the bar as we don't sell vitamins), the bottom rack, front left spot as you look at it - when you place an item there, it's stuck forever (also, please lower the height of it so we can properly stack the top shelf).

The other minor bug is with the bench press, after it's been used a couple of times (sometimes even just once) the bar ends up hovering above the bench rather than returning to the correct resting position.

Alright, so that covers bugs, now for feedback:

The current rate of clothes being left in the locker rooms is ridiculous. You could reduce the rate by 50% and it would still be keeping everyone busy. Also, whilst we're on the topic of staff, PLEASE add female workers (and an option for a female player character too would be great). I have both staff employed and despite there being three of us running around trying to keep everything running, there are still 10-15 items in the men's room and and easily 20+ in the female locker room by the time the staff go home (also, why do the staff leave an hour before the gym closes?). Please tone down the discarded clothing some.

The current rate at which male gym members 'misbehave' is way too high. I'm kicking out at least seven to ten men every day and that's just the ones I manage to get to. Honestly, it has me wishing there was an option to refuse memberships and only accept the women right now, please adjust it a little, it's silly right now.

Also, the rate at which tier 3 equipment degrades is way too high. I have multiple copies of every machine and yet, during the course of a day, some machines will break 2-3 times (and that's with me trying to get cheeky little repairs in before they break when I can). Tier 3 equipment should be considerably more durable than it currently is (imo).

Obviously, I can add in x, y and z that I'd like to see added (mirrors and a greater variety of equipment would be a start items-wise) but I'd like to suggest a thing or two that currently aren't on your roadmap:

1. Offering Personal Training to clients. Time set aside each day to work with an individual client, going through various exercises etc etc.

2. A member of staff that works at the 'Vitamin Bar' and maybe one that works at reception. As it stands, checking-in new members just requires us to select the option they tell us they want, there's no negotiation, just give them what they want - that could very easily be handled by a npc, freeing us up to do 'gym stuff'. Or, keep it player controlled and let us try to talk them into a higher membership. Also, whilst on the topic of membership tiers, perhaps have the game explain to us what each tier entitles members to? Surely the VIP's get perks (free sauna/spa perhaps?) that others don't but this isn't explained anywhere

3. Character customisation and perhaps the option to see yourself change over time as you reach certain fitness goals - this could also work for clients too.

4. Adding in animations where clients do the exercise badly (I'm definitely looking at the first two tiers of lat pulldowns with that in mind lol), which if you spot it, you could speak to them, correct them and earn a little experience for your effort.

5. I know you're planning a nutrition element to the game but please, don't neglect the sleep aspect too - exercise and great diet are two parts of the trifecta, but without sufficient rest, your gains will be minimal, so if possible, please factor in 7-9 hours sleep into whatever system you're implementing.

6. Add a section to the gym where members can buy new gym clothes. We see npc's wandering the streets in different clothing (some of it definitely gym attire), as our clients' change their figure and gain confidence, they could purchase new, better looking gym clothes from us.

Thank you for making this game, I've enjoyed it a lot so far and despite being at the end of the current content, I'm excited to see what comes next.