I HATE the Produce Scale

[roninpawn]

In every way, the scale part of produce is bad.

Is it realistic? No. I've never seen this setup in the real world. IRL, weighing is done at checkout... because of course it is. Who would pay an employee to stand at a scale all day, printing the same 20 produce codes onto costly label sheets? They wouldn't. Because the cashier can just look at what you've got, and code it at the register.

Is it intuitive? No. The first customer I checked out using the scale took 45 seconds, because I first tried typing in EVERY piece of information on the scale's screen - getting more and more frustrated with each failed attempt. "What do you WANT ME TO PUT IN, GAME?!" Only to have to be told by someone who already knew (in my livestream chat) that I was supposed to type in the produce number that was ALREADY PRINTED ON THE brown paper BAG?! That's about as unintuitive as it could possibly be!

And it's another point against the scale, in the 'realism' column!

Is it a fun mechanic? No. It's busy work, tacked on to justify having more types of people to hire. It isn't fun. It isn't fluid. It's a nuisance. And the overhead of buying-in and hiring someone to operate it, means you don't actually make any money on produce for A LONG TIME.

Does it scale/progress with gameplay? idk. But probably not. Most of us have come to produce well passed where it would assert itself in the normal progression of a new player's game. But I simply can't imagine that the multiple purchases it requires, and the additional burden of bouncing back and forth to another station, would do anything but make gameplay and the sense of progression worse. I would imagine losing the sense of being in control and building up your store the way you want; And instead being crushed under the weight of a clumsy and expensive system, that you find out takes up a LOT of floor space, costs more than the revenue it brings in, and that you wish you could just buy back OUT of.

The scale/helper end of produce is just BAD. Full stop.
So how do we fix it?

You do it RIGHT. Add the function of weighing produce to the checkout register. By making weighing produce part of the checkout, you add a new thing to do, to an already familiar process, for the player who's still working their own register. It feels appropriately like a level-up. And it keeps the register experience fresh, for longer. Meanwhile, you can add an additional delay to hired Cashiers, whenever they have to weigh produce -- so that there's an appropriate time cost to it, and additional complications to solve.

I would also imagine you'll want to make Produce a later license than it is. Without starting from scratch to feel how it plays, I'd easily guess that $750 is too early. $1000-$1300 seems more appropriate. It should come in at the moment the player is starting to look around and think, "I've got this!" ...Just before they start to get bored of repetition, but after they feel like they've got everything well under control. It's one more plate to spin. And you don't add it until you've mastered spinning all the other plates.

Additionally, forget about tying this system into 'Customer Helpers...' I think you knew this system was clunky and awkward and bad... But you pushed it anyway, because you're really trying to justify the idea of 'Customer Helpers.' My advice is: Give up. If it were a fit, you wouldn't have to force it. Just get RID of Customer Helpers. (at least for now) They are a forced concept that you'd never see in an owner-operated bodega in Queens, New York. They're either a late-game concept, when the store is massive... or they're not a concept at all.

[Bunky]

I have all the new systems completely under control in my store and I still absolutely agree with this post.

[Vazeyo]

I agree. Handling produce needs to be reworked asap. Customers should weighing themselves.

[Asylum_Jr]

Even with customer helpers being right there it still does a warning like symbol over there head and That bell sound that plays at random also is annoying and loud.

[PlaYa SlaYa]

Originally posted by Asylum_Jr:

Even with customer helpers being right there it still does a warning like symbol over there head and That bell sound that plays at random also is annoying and loud.

amen brother agree

[Virtuous Guard]

Originally posted by Asylum_Jr:

Even with customer helpers being right there it still does a warning like symbol over there head and That bell sound that plays at random also is annoying and loud.

Super 200% this.

[Knottypine]

Originally posted by Bunky:

I have all the new systems completely under control in my store and I still absolutely agree with this post.

Same. And also agree.

[Señorita]

I agree

[pappagaming624829416]

I agree with everything you said! They definitely need to rework that whole update so it makes since because right now, its annoying.

[Shizof]

Originally posted by roninpawn:

In every way, the scale part of produce is bad.

Is it realistic? No. I've never seen this setup in the real world. IRL, weighing is done at checkout... because of course it is. Who would pay an employee to stand at a scale all day, printing the same 20 produce codes onto costly label sheets? They wouldn't. Because the cashier can just look at what you've got, and code it at the register.

I have seen it. It's exactly like that in my country. Although in some supermarkets, it's on the cash register, but those are the exceptions. Dev is from my country as well, that's why they did it that way probably.
I agree that it should be added to the cash register though. Maybe as a different type of cash register that allows it even.

[vega]

do you keep eggs in the fridge as well? eggs go on a shelf in the uk (hot countries of course you would) and no i dont agree they need to update scale system yet, maybe remove the ding if helpers are employed, we are not in a bar in Thailand. devs need to keep pushing forward with their vision of the game. gg by the way.


edit your turkish now i see why eggs in the fridge.!

[Bunky]

I'm British and I keep my eggs in the fridge, and so do my shops. Early access games will also benefit from listening to everyone already playing the game, saying they don't like a mechanic.

[Sp3cial1st]

It should 100% be done at the cash register. Either as a register 2.0 or you buy a screen for it. Then when a bag of produce comes in, the screen should tell you the weight, the cost and the number you need to type. Like 231 for tomatoes or 369 for potatoes. You type it in and press enter and done, next product. Thats how it works in real life anyways, either a physical book with numbers or a app on the screen. That would add an extra difficulty while also not being too annoying or too complex.

[Bunky]

I suppose the checkout counter upgrade could just be a purchasable tool or simply a pricier counter? Would generally like to see everything associated with the customer helpers be made more engaging though.

The produce side of things is just so clunky and forced, that automating it is the only way I care to deal with it. And the self-checkout interaction too, is such a nothing activity. Clicking and holding a button when prompted is neither an entertaining or challenging time-sink.

Perhaps a simple/basic memory game or something, instead? Something to turn your brain on, at least. Assuming for an actual self-checkout issue, like scanning items incorrectly; the customer could say I want X artichoke, Y powdered sugar, and Z book. Then through one of the existing order menus, you could make the noted adjustments for the customer to assist them.

I feel the devs have done a great job turning various store activities into simple, satisfying gameplay loops/mechanics. The stuff being done with the helpers, however, I feel is not in-keeping with everything else.

[UnstableCoffee]

Scales Helper Man is being stuck too often :(

[Rabsonic]

Am getting fed up trying to find best place to put those stupid scales lol