I don't understand furniture placing... and recycling bins

[.mcalien]

This. I really don't understand the point of furniture placing, mostly because I don't seem to be allowed to place stuff where it makes sense.

I have just started really playing the game and so far I am enjoying the clean up and repair part immensely, while I see the furniture part more of a nuisance. So I wanted to place some benches along the walls of my first station, because that would make sense /and/ looks nice, but apparently I can only place those benches in the center of the room - which does not only look crappy and convoluted, but also would make those benches be completely in the way all the time.

I get it when the dev says that he will keep the same focus on this part of the game, because a lot of people like exactly this part the most. But what I don't get is why one would put such a strong focus on furniture placing and then implement it in such an, no offense, annyoying and lackluster way. A lot of this is of course personal preference, but when a game is forcing me to place furniture, at least is should let me do a good and satisfying job at it.

Also, it would be quite helpful if benches etc would snap to walls or to each other.

About the reycling bins, I don't exactly understand them as well. I guess I have missed something, but I also think that the game is not making the best job in telling you how things work here. So I am supposed to collect bottles etc, those go into those bags and those then go, according to the color code, into the bin? But why can't I put cardboard boxes into the paper bin or those bottle crates made of plastic into the plastic bin?

[Pesky]

Furniture:

Each of the pulsing green circles indicates an area that needs furniture. They each have (hidden) distances from the centre when they will count the furniture as in position. In most cases the distances are big enough but yes, you will occasionally find positions too far away.

I too am one of the people who likes the cleaning but does not care to select and place furniture. I generally buy the cheapest/fastest furniture and put it anywhere convenient to me. I tell myself that the station staff will move it into position when the station opens again. I would like a game mode where you did not have to worry about furniture.

Recycling bin:

Some rubbish can be recycled. If you throw it away in a mixed bin you will still complete the station. But if you recycle it you will get money for it. (But the recycling bin costs more !) This gives you enough money to buy better furniture, and get a Steam achievement.

The rubbish which can be recycled is colour-coded. If you look to the right of the number bar at the bottom of the screen when you are carrying something, you will see an icon in the right colour. Throw that rubbish in the right colour bin, you get money. Throw it in the wrong colour you lose money. Many big items, instead of being thrown directly in the bin, can be broken up with the crowbar or axe. This lets you put more of them in the bin before having to pay for it to be emptied.

[MizMeow1]

Some of the trash that you have to pick up can be broken down. For instance, the cardboard boxes can be broken apart with the ax. There are some items that cannot be broken down into small pieces that go into a trash bag that seem like they should be able to, but many can. You just need to experiment with the ax or crowbar to try and break things down. Then, when you put the recyclable trash in the correct bin, you will get money for doing that. Honestly, though, you get more money that you need without doing that, so if you don't care about achievements, you could probably just throw everything into the non-recyclable trash bin. At least, that is how I remember it.

I never had any issues with placing the furniture anywhere that I wanted. When you say the first station, are you talking about the one that is a tutorial on how the game works? That station may demand that you place the furniture is specific spots, but I never had an issue like that in any of the other stations.

[LMG_Chester]

Originally posted by .mcalien:

This. I really don't understand the point of furniture placing, mostly because I don't seem to be allowed to place stuff where it makes sense.

I have just started really playing the game and so far I am enjoying the clean up and repair part immensely, while I see the furniture part more of a nuisance. So I wanted to place some benches along the walls of my first station, because that would make sense /and/ looks nice, but apparently I can only place those benches in the center of the room - which does not only look crappy and convoluted, but also would make those benches be completely in the way all the time.

I get it when the dev says that he will keep the same focus on this part of the game, because a lot of people like exactly this part the most. But what I don't get is why one would put such a strong focus on furniture placing and then implement it in such an, no offense, annyoying and lackluster way. A lot of this is of course personal preference, but when a game is forcing me to place furniture, at least is should let me do a good and satisfying job at it.

Also, it would be quite helpful if benches etc would snap to walls or to each other.

About the reycling bins, I don't exactly understand them as well. I guess I have missed something, but I also think that the game is not making the best job in telling you how things work here. So I am supposed to collect bottles etc, those go into those bags and those then go, according to the color code, into the bin? But why can't I put cardboard boxes into the paper bin or those bottle crates made of plastic into the plastic bin?

Hi! Did you figured it out, using the tips you got above? ;) Can I help you somehow?

[Ceana of the Crags]

Originally posted by .mcalien:

This. I really don't understand the point of furniture placing, mostly because I don't seem to be allowed to place stuff where it makes sense.

I have just started really playing the game and so far I am enjoying the clean up and repair part immensely, while I see the furniture part more of a nuisance. So I wanted to place some benches along the walls of my first station, because that would make sense /and/ looks nice, but apparently I can only place those benches in the center of the room - which does not only look crappy and convoluted, but also would make those benches be completely in the way all the time.

I get it when the dev says that he will keep the same focus on this part of the game, because a lot of people like exactly this part the most. But what I don't get is why one would put such a strong focus on furniture placing and then implement it in such an, no offense, annyoying and lackluster way. A lot of this is of course personal preference, but when a game is forcing me to place furniture, at least is should let me do a good and satisfying job at it.

Also, it would be quite helpful if benches etc would snap to walls or to each other.

About the reycling bins, I don't exactly understand them as well. I guess I have missed something, but I also think that the game is not making the best job in telling you how things work here. So I am supposed to collect bottles etc, those go into those bags and those then go, according to the color code, into the bin? But why can't I put cardboard boxes into the paper bin or those bottle crates made of plastic into the plastic bin?

I'm not finding furniture placement to be difficult. If you want it near the wall, walk over near the wall. If you are too far away, it will not turn green to be placed. The rotation is a bit of a pain, but I have no suggestion as to how to improve that. Some people think the furniture cannot be lined up. If you are in a room with tiling on the floor, you can see that the furniture can be lined up. Your perspective in the game can trick you.

I love to place furniture and clean. I wish there were a larger variety of furniture, decorations, wall coverings (stone, masonry, etc.), etc. available. It is a small selection. Perhaps the devs will start releasing a larger variety.

By the way, in case it is not written above, some bins can only be placed against walls, as can some other items, like clocks, departure boards, and such.

What I found hilarious is that the expensive coffee machine is like 4 times larger than the most expensive laptop. It is even larger than the desktop fan (ventilator). Personally, my fan is larger than my 17.3" laptop.

[.mcalien]

Originally posted by Ceana of the Crags:

Lots of useful information.

Thanks for the detailed answer and explanation!
The problem is that by now I think, the whole system is inherently broken and I am not talking about the difficulties when placing pieces of furniture. My question now is, what is the point of the whole furniture 'system' anyway.

Basically, I am like you in the regard that I love to have everythink neatly in place. No idea why, but in my senior gamer days, I have suddenly discovered my love for crafting games, to the point where I play games as crafting games that are not exactly meant to be one. I began having fun with Fallout 4, for instance, after I've decided to turn in into a game of 'Build the biggest, most insane, but cozy base at Red Rocket station possible'. Which was one of the reasons why I tried this game, but alas, apart from self-defined goals, there are none.

It is completely unimportant if my station would win prizes for its amazing interior equipment or if I just cram everything into a corner - the game just checks if you have thing A, thing B and thing C somewhere in the station, but not how or if it makes sense. So I just cram everything into a corner and tell myself that the crew manning this station after I am gone will put everything where they need it.

Sorry, must be quite the bummer writing a detailed explanation and then the guy for whome you are writing this just says 'Naa, I'm good, I just throw everything onto one giant heap and call it a day!'. So just let me tell you that A) I am still happy and grateful when someone is nice and does something like this and that B), who knows, maybe the game gets another update that fixes this or I decide to play the game differently and then this info will become quite useful. So thanks again!