Lack of in game money makes the game work

[Mesond]

Honestly, I think part of the reson the game works so well is because too many games focus on money and not enough on how to solve problems if there wasn't money. Also worth pointing out rich pepole (with large companies) learn to solve problems without money first.

This game tosses money aside and makes it about what money gets you in the first place. Money is often used as the "lazy" way to make these kind of games. Frostpunk doesn't do that though. Because it's about the resource itself first. Not the other way around. Money won't keep the fire going, FUEL will. Money won't get you to eat, FOOD does. Whereas most other base building games get it backwards.

Considering most building games rely too much on money/taxes (etc) then this is done a lot better IMO. The real currency has always been reputation. All the money in the world won't help you if you have your own factions turning against you. Another issue with other building games is that this kind of thing isn't done very well. While Frostpunk 2 actually has different factions to concern yourself with.

Money isn't used to magically fix problems without an explanation. You actually have to use your brain. More city building games could do that.

[dixiechow]

If you have never played Banished I recommend it. No money. Just resources.

[Commodus]

Heatstamps are the 'money'....

[Aturchomicz]

And then theres Workers and Resources which does both at the same time :P

[HazardHawk]

What do you mean no money? Money equals accrued value. Doesnt matter ff it is called coal, wood, steel, food, or even lives such as in this game. It is still a form of money.

[Mesond]

Originally posted by Commodus:

Heatstamps are the 'money'....

Your word was "money". "Currency" is not always money. Frostpunk 2 has heatstamps as an option. One that doesn't have to be used. And only in low quantities. Frostpuink 2 does heatstamps differently then how money is used and easily abused in other games. While Frostpunk and Civ games have a form of "money", they do it very differently from each other. Context matters.

The problem is "normal". In more ways then one. An in game mechanic like money is one thing. But then we got bigger issues, like how mods/devs refuse to listen or communicate. Because it's "normal". That lmited normal way of thinking results in worse games, because of course it does when people only try to see their own expectations and what is normal. End result? Games often trying to copy and paste each other. We get so many games like that.

If games like Frostpunk and Rimworld adapt then games like Civilization stagnate. Frankly, people get sick of it. 4x games fell out of trend for a reason. If all games do is copy and paste each other with a reskin then do the math.

Frostpunk know they had to adapt if they wanted their game to even have a chance of working out. It's not using heatstamps to solve everything. Even if it was there's other ways to do things. Same goes for Rimworld. It's not something the player MUST use. It's YOUR empire and HOW you run it is up to you. Kind of the point with running your own empire.

It's all about options. I'm using games like Frostpunk and Rimworld for a reason. Because these are games that have the option but it's never something the player has to do. It's a choice. There are other ways to get to the same goal if you think about it. Where you might see one limited option/outcome, I might see ten. Variation is what keeps players engaged in games.

When a game goes "You must use money just because" then what it's actually stating is "This is the normal way to do things. Let's not consider other ways to reach your goal because we didn't put in the effort to put in different ideas to present different options for this situation." Honestly, if a game fails to come up with something different then at least admit it. Sometimes games can actually do that. Legit. States such things outright. In very amusing ways even. Like in Fabledom. That's a game that doesn't pretend they're the best game. They know what they are. So I don't feel lied too, cheated or scammed. I Value honesty more.

We can be more creative then "let's keep doing the normal thing". Different people, different factions, do things differently. This matters more in frostpunk, because it's a world of people abusing things lie money and coal until they all fell into ruin. This gives reason for people to have concerns about repeating past mistakes on a grand scale. I can imagine people making arguments about moving to solar/wind power as quickly as possbile because of how coal causes so much pollution. Or how greed causes the collapse of entire empires. There's a lot of room for creativity here.

[Mesond]

Originally posted by HazardHawk:

What do you mean no money? Money equals accrued value. Doesnt matter ff it is called coal, wood, steel, food, or even lives such as in this game. It is still a form of money.

Two different things.
Money is paper. Or a coin. It has no real use beyond a made up number being assigend to it. That's money. Money is always currency. Currency however can be anything. It can be items, food, actions, people. etc. Something "substantial".

Currency is real. It physically exists. “Money” is the idea that assigns value to currency.

[HazardHawk]

Originally posted by Mesond:

Originally posted by HazardHawk:

What do you mean no money? Money equals accrued value. Doesnt matter ff it is called coal, wood, steel, food, or even lives such as in this game. It is still a form of money.

Two different things.
Money is paper. Or a coin. It has no real use beyond a made up number being assigend to it. That's money. Money is always currency. Currency however can be anything. It can be items, food, actions, people. etc. Something "substantial".

Currency is real. It physically exists. “Money” is the idea that assigns value to currency.

Sorry, that is "woke" theory rather than reality and woke theory has been debunked