SatisFactorio

[VolteVaris]

Because somebody was inevitably going to make the comparision. So I'll nip that in the bud.
Factorio is dramatically more complex than Satisfactory, but I'm playing both in conjunction at this time.
If you think Factorio was just too much to wrap your head around, then this game is obviously a direct inspiration and, yes, probably more your speed.

[Urban Shaman]

That's not a fair comparison. I mean, yes, Factorio has simpler visuals and offers a lot more complexity in return - I'm not going to deny that at all. But the feel of these games is a wee bit different, even if both approach the same subject matter (i.e. factory building).

Satisfactory is slower. Literally. You can spend as much time planning and building the perfect factory and playing around with small details. Whereas in Factorio there's a time-constraint (at least on the default mode) - go too slow, and your base will be reduced to rubble by the alien bugs or you'll run out of resources. Factorio even has mechanics to "go fast", so to speak; run in one direction, press and hold a combination of buttons and BAM - a whole line of smelters or belts or something else. Things that will probably never find their way into Satisfactory due to the first-person perspective and 3D nature of the game. It's actually quite a smart move on part of Coffee Stain - they do something Factorio-like without it feeling like a rip-off or a clone due to these subtle changes in play-style.

For the record - I think both games are the digital equivalent of crack cocaine, at least for my brain. :P

[DaBa]

There are different complexities here than there are in factorio, it's not that simple. It's not just that one game is more complex than another, that's not true. For example:

- Factorio forces you to build at a larger scale
- You need to deal with finite resource nodes
- You have to deal with defending your base
- Tech trees and production chains are longer

On the other hand, Satisfactory introduces additional complexity in other areas, things that Factorio doesn't have and never asks you to deal with:

1. Three dimension. That's a pretty big point. It sounds like a gimmick until you start playing around with it:

- There are infinitely more ways to build your base thanks to adding the third dimension, you can build things in ways you never could in factorio, which elevates the complexity of base building to a new level. Of course ,you can still just place some foundations and build in 2D, but for maximum efficiency, you have to use the third dimension.

- It's much easier to build and see things on a top down grid, like in Factorio. The lack of that top down perspective in Satisfactory makes base building slower and harder to plan. This is the main reason why they decreased the amount of buildings required to accomplish similar tasks you could in factorio. So, instead of the sheer number of things you have to build in Factorio, here you have more thinking about positioning of everything you place, because you don't have any easy overview to see eveyrthng in relation.

- Terrain traversal is actually interesting and also more complex here. Also, moving resources over uneaven terrain is yet more complexity that you don't have in Factorio. Here, maps aren't just flat terrain with some impassable cliffs.

- There are dozen smaller things, but I feel like those above have the most impact on the gameplay.

2. Alt recipies. I haven't played Factorio in some time, maybe it has alt recipies now or I never discovered them. However, I'll assume it doesn't. have them I think it's pretty obvious how having additional ways to create the sane product will increase the complexity of the game. Especially when you start stacking them together. Especially with the latest update, there are some crazy setups that you can make if you have the required imagination and dedication, that would give you more items for less, or different resources.

3. Fluid management got more complex with the latest update, which is magnified by having to deal with elevation due to 3D. All the recipies involving liquids also got more comlicated, and involve things like having to recycle the byproducts or your production chain gets clogged and stops working. I had some fun with water and oil in Factorio, and in my experience it was much easier to manage and figure out what you have to do.

4. Base building overal. This is more for creative people, but in Satisfactory you can actually build factories that look like factories. There are a lot of elements that you can use to simply build cool stuff for the same of it looking cool. Factorio doesn't have that, the base building is barely a thing, it's more about factory building. You can't even compare the complexity here, because one has it and one doesn't.

So, in the end, both games have different challenges, and chooses to have complexity in different areas. Regardless, I assure you that building big factories in Satisfactory is just as hard, if not harder, than in Factorio., And you can definitely go big if you want to.

[jwinter]

Originally posted by DaBa:

There are different complexities here than there are in factorio, it's not that simple. It's not just that one game is more complex than another, that's not true. For example:

- Factorio forces you to build at a larger scale
- You need to deal with finite resource nodes
- You have to deal with defending your base
- Tech trees and production chains are longer

That is pretty much all tweakable in factorio so you "don't have to" and "don't need to". You can turn off or adjust any part spawning enemies. Resources can be tweaked and even infinite (with mods).
I thought factorio is complex until I tried some highly recommended mods like bob&angels and they add hell lot of complexity and alternaitve recipies.
Also about large scale - there is a mod, that

I am looking for Satisfactory when/if it is eventually released here but I also worry about it being too simple compared to modded factorio. Once you start messing with mods - vannila suddenly looks very simplified.

[Verios44]

Originally posted by jwinter:

Originally posted by DaBa:

There are different complexities here than there are in factorio, it's not that simple. It's not just that one game is more complex than another, that's not true. For example:

- Factorio forces you to build at a larger scale
- You need to deal with finite resource nodes
- You have to deal with defending your base
- Tech trees and production chains are longer

That is pretty much all tweakable in factorio so you "don't have to" and "don't need to". You can turn off or adjust any part spawning enemies. Resources can be tweaked and even infinite (with mods).
I thought factorio is complex until I tried some highly recommended mods like bob&angels and they add hell lot of complexity and alternaitve recipies.
Also about large scale - there is a mod, that

I am looking for Satisfactory when/if it is eventually released here but I also worry about it being too simple compared to modded factorio. Once you start messing with mods - vannila suddenly looks very simplified.

Keep in mind we dont even know what the true endgame for Satisfactory is. The current highest tech tier you can unlock is tier 7, and they plan up to 10, maybe higher.

Here is an example of a current endgame production line, aluminum ingots.

Stage 1, make aluminia solution.

This is made in a refinery and combines bauxite and wster.

Normal recipe is:

IN: 70 bausite/min
IN: 100m3 water/min
OUT: Silica 20/min
OUT: Aluminia solution 80m3/min

There is no alternates for this step at this time

Stage 2, make aluminium scrap

Normal recipe: made in a refinery

IN: aluminia solution 240m3/min
IN: petroleum coke 60/min
OUT: aluminium scrap 360/min
OUT: water 60m3/min

Alternate, electrode aluminium scrap

IN: aluminia solution 90m3/min
IN: coal ore 30/min
OUT: aluminium scrap 150/min
OUT: water 30m3/min

Stage 3, making the ingots itsef

Normal recipe: in a foundary

IN: silica 140/min
IN: aluminium scrap 240/min
OUT: aluminium ingot 80/min

Alternate: Pure Aluminium Infgot in a smelter

IN: aluminium scrap 144/min
OUT: aluminium ingot 36/min

Stage 4, using the ingots

Alclad Aluminium Sheets (building material)

Made in an assembler

IN: alumenium ingot 60/min
IN: copper ingot 22.5/min
OUT: alclad alumenium sheet 30/min

—————

Petroleum coke is an oil byproduct made from heavy oil residue you can only get when making plastics and rubber

The alternates in this case temove extra requirements, or change the ratios and ingredients like in the case of electrode alumenium scrap.

All of that is just to build the items you need to make the final tier conveyor belts, and mining upgrades.



The challenge is to balance all of the input and output ratios so you can make as many as you can without causing bottlenecks anywhere along the line.

Pipes can only move a maximum of 300m3 fluid, so you will need alot of piping.

Belts come in 5 tiers currently and are rated in the amount of material they move per minute

Mk1: 60
Mk2: 120
Mk3: 270
Mk4: 480
Mk5: 780 (alclad sheets requires)

[VolteVaris]

Originally posted by jwinter:

Once you start messing with mods - vannila suddenly looks very simplified.

well yeah, everybody kind of just takes that as the norm

[Jay Smoove]

The game is not too easy if that's what you're afraid of, sir. Also I find Satisfactory has a lot more replay value to it.

[Shane]

i dunno it is pretty easy...

the only issues i have with the game on any level are purely aesthetical, logistical and OCD related..

for example there is no way on earth im making a "lets game it out" world, my OCD just would not allow it too happen. and the transportation in the game is too far one sided towards making the best possible course of action be make a very large base that does not fit into the world design correctly and fetch all resources to that one location...

if you try and make several smaller dedicated factories in dedicated locations you will run into a huge logistical nightmare when these factorys require precise amounts of very specific resources/materials but your only option is to deliver in bulk loads of one type

replay value is next to nothing for me personally (update#3 is only reason im playing again)

[Justincrediballs]

I only played a small amount of Factorio, but the main things I find different (and to edge towards Satisfactory) is:

1. 3D. Building in the third dimension makes things easier and not. I wouldn't say it adds or detracts complexity, it just changes it. Factorio you deal with logistics and space constraints, Satisfactory you deal with terrain/efficiency in design.

2. Pace. If you want a faster paced, must build or you die game, play factorio. I perfer to be a bit more chill... Someone complained about waiting for your stuff to cycle. The second you ditch the biofuel generators, you don't ever need to be idle. Build more generators to power more factories and lines to further your progress. Find/mine a new node, go get some hard drives or slugs... You don't need to act fast, but you never need to be idle after the first Space Elevator gets sent.

3. Visuals and Exploration. I'm 40, I've played enough ugly 2D games. If the gameplay isn't absolutely breathtaking, you need to fall back and wandering around and taking in the sights. I know that's not other people's opinion, but alas, it is mine.

4. Creativity in design. In factorio you only seem to get so far in creativity. Sure you can boost your efficiency with a tweak here or there, maybe visualize the assembly train differently, but when under attack it's a little more difficult. In Satisfactory, you have time and tools to make some highly efficient structures with clean lines, or build with the terrain, or make things as simple as possible.

LetsGameItOut is a testament of why I really like this game, they made some utter monstrosities in their game, but it all worked pretty well in the end with the exception of irradiating the place so much that he couldn't respawn. But oddly enough, even if he couldn't respawn, the factories would still run without him.

As an aside, even though it's not realistic, the infinite resources is really nice because it puts the gameplay endless. I've already researched everything except alternative recipes in this new update and now I can be truly creative. Do I want to utilize every coal, oil, geothermal, and uranium source possible and see how far i can push the power capacity? Do I want to build an ever-expanding turbomotor factory to accrue tons and tons of coupons and line my base with Golden Nut trophies? Search out every Slug and Hard Drive and mine every resource node in the game? The sky's the limit (literally, once you get far enough, you die) and with a little creativity, you can have hundreds of hours of playtime and still be having fun.

[X-SR71]

Didnt spend hundreds of dollars on a PC rig to play 2d games.. Satisfactory is better! But I might be biased :)

[Cake for Mumm-Ra]

It's not a competition lol. I would guess that people who have played both enjoy them both.

Also, it's a sandbox - "easy" is relative to your own effort and expectations.

[VolteVaris]

Originally posted by Cake for Mumm-Ra:

It's not a competition lol. I would guess that people who have played both enjoy them both.

Also, it's a sandbox - "easy" is relative to your own effort and expectations.

Easy has nothing to do with complexity.
It is extremely hard to wrap your head around most of Factorio.
Everything just feels more intuitive in Satisfactory
I play both but lean towards Satisfactory.

[Cake for Mumm-Ra]

I don't agree that Factorio is harder to understand than Satisfactory.

I'm saying the level of complexity that your work towards is entirely up to you. The difficulty in both games is tied to your ability to plan for large efficient factories. Anyone can build a terrible factory that produces 1 computer per minute (or less), but a good strategy imo would hopefully not include running the game while I sleep just to get the the next hub upgrade.

[Urban Shaman]

Originally posted by GBH Jay Smoove:

Also I find Satisfactory has a lot more replay value to it.

This one's a bit odd. Technically the world of Satisfactory is static, unlike Factorio, which is randomly generated. So that should mean Factorio has a better replay-value. But I honestly don't know if I agree or disagree with this statement, because Satisfactory's world is HUGE and the 3D aspect gives a lot of possibilities.

Back on point: Factorio DOES have a much better (and complex) train system... but than again trains in Satisfactory are clearly not yet finished.