Computer Tycoon
Please help me with the Tech Tree
I made a discussion about the Tech Tree. Please check it out and help me out with your opinion!
Here it is:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/686680/discussions/0/1744469130481124522/
It's been a long time since I wrote to you. I don't wanna bother you with my personal life/struggle, I will be short, but I know some of you are interested. My father has survived his bile duct surgery, although his condition is still life-threatening. We are afraid that he has pancreas cancer, which we will soon know. But I had some time with him in the countryside, and he doesn't have pains.
My health issue is still not diagnosed, I'm still having tests. My headaches are gone, but still, I have spasms, but it is getting better.
I know that some of you are really disappointed that I didn't show much progress lately. The game was updated ages ago, but I'd like to ensure you again, that I have no other job or work, I'm only working on CT. Also, still I have enough budget to work on it for a long time. The game has a tiny but steady customer base each month which keeps me alive.
I'm very thankful for your support and the kind words you gave so far and I will be the happiest man when I will be able to put out a new update to you!
Update about the Coming Changes #4
Short introduction
I haven't made a news post for a very long time and while I'm still lacking some stuff that I'd like to share with you, I've eventually decided to break the silence. It is better to show less than show nothing - I'm sure we can agree on that!
I'm absolutely here, working on the game in full-time, I haven't started any new projects in the meantime. I really wanted to show you a complete tech three in this announcement, but unfortunately, I failed to deliver it so far.
I had some bad directions with it, also it has been expanded as the new features require it on the roadmap. I will talk about it and show the current state in this article - also I will talk about my progress and the lack of progress, new dilemmas and the nice stuff.
Still I'm following the game's Roadmap:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/686680/announcements/detail/1673520100901557536
How are things going?
Next to the fact that I'm working on really ambitious plans and the tasks I'm working on are not splittable and they cannot be published partially, the second reason why I'm not publishing new stuff is the Employee or Manager system that the game will get.
It is something that won't be in the game for months yet, but it included some new technical challenges which had to be prototyped out and also I had to support my outsourced friend in the graphic/animation creation process, I had to test out everything so that later I will be able to use his work alone when it will be he who won't be able to support me (time management in a single dev company lol). He makes nice 2D art but he has no experience in animation and game dev. (Remember, basically I'm alone developing the game and while I'm creating most of the visuals/graphics I needed more help this time - but this creates management tasks as well).
The third reason is that life made it hard for me to keep my deadlines in the last months. First, my landlord asked us to leave the flat where we live and it was hard to find a new rent, while it was also a great financial load on me. And after the move when I felt I can really dig into the work I got sick. I had several tests (and others are still going on) because of the severe pains I have lately, but doctors still couldn't find out what my problem is. Luckily it seems I don't have liver and heart abnormalities (which were the first danger factors) and now it seems that either I have some kind of infection and/or neurological issues.
I won't abandon the game! I just can't work as much as I'd like to and as I used to. Often full days are off because of that. Possibly one of the reasons I'm ill is that I overwhelmed myself last year. But whenever I feel okay, I'm working - and I'm still in love with it. Don't worry, I will carry this out.
And actually, I put together some nice stuff! I know that some of you are really not interested in all of that, but I really felt I should talk about them. Your support means a lot to me! Also, if you miss updates, follow me on twitter (@Progorion) there you will know everything about me and Computer Tycoon in the meantime!
So what's new around the game?
As you remember, when the Manager System (let's call it like that from now on, because those guys will be managers, not simply "employees") will be added to the game you will start in this garage.
Basically here I will introduce the game features one by one eliminating the "crash course". Well, I will keep it as something like "Civilopedia" in the CIV series,
so those who are really interested still will be able to read it, but it won't be a push into your face. I see how many of you hate reading! (oh, thanks for reading that long article!)
After you made your first computer model, and you sold some copies, you will get into your first real office. And look! Now the character animations are done, my assets are ready to go. From here you will work up into bigger and better offices!
Last time I posted the picture of the mini computers, now we added the tablets as well. Why not? It is totally fine to use tablets on a desktop nowadays.
So as you can see, the Manager System has its assets ready (excluding the faces I'm making paralelly) and the challanges are tested, now I won't have to focus on it for long, so I will fully go back to the tech tree and other features which will be in the very next update.
On this screenshot you can see a new version of the tech list. I've got rid of the big icons, because we had to expand the list with new columns, also I wanted to give you filter options here as well. So it will be easier to find out what you'd like to develop. On this pictures, the empty columns will show the RP and manufacturing values, while
you also can see a column for the new heat/cooling parameter.
And here is the tech tree. Remember it is not finished. Even earlier base lines/connections are not finished as you can see, but we will have some longer, wider links as well.
The tech tree screen will have to show you the "research era"-s as well. Research eras will replace the restriction which made it impossible to research something in the game, that
was not invented in real life -7 years compared to the game's current date. Instead, you will have the possibility to go as far as you can immediately, but you will have to pay
an extra cost for jumping too far from the current tech era - simulating the normal progress of technological development.
Also I'm thinking how I will inform the player about technology compatibilities. Here is an example! If you have a keyboard, but no displays... don't you think you should be not able
to create a computer with a keyboard? While sometimes these inventions can be linked in the tech tree - preventing such unreal situations, sometimes they are not connected, so their
invention is still possible separately. Should I show these here somehow or I should expand the computer design screens? Let me know what you think! One of the promises of the roadmap
is a bit more real design system.
Yet another thing that I will have to care about is the option to buy blueprints from others. I think there will be 4 possible states for techs in your tech tree.
- You just don't have it.
- You invented it yourself (so you can sell the license)
- You bought a specification of a competitor - so you will be able to go forward in the tech tree to other things which need this given bought specification, but still you won't be able to use it in your own products.
- You bought a blueprint/license, so you can actually use it as it was your invention.
I'm trying to figure out a lot of things because all of the other screens are connected to these systems. And well, it is complicated.
What else I have? Well, next to the manager system, new techs and other features, I've made a new company logo, got new songs for the game, but I even made a new loading screen. How do you feel about it? The texts are not finished, but I really wanted to make it happen.
Those of you who used Commodore computers must remember to this or to a similar loading screen. If there is a game where an Easter egg like this is appropriate then it is Computer Tycoon.
So when will we get a new update?
As you probably know every summer we have sales on Steam. I'd love to publish a new version before or at least during it, but I'm afraid it won't be possible due to my health issues and simply the amount of remaining work. But I really hope that on the next anniversary of Steve Jobs ( on October 5th) you will have most of the features of the game. That will be also the end of the first year of the game on Steam - so I'd like to make it big.
Until that, please continue sending your ideas and feedback about the current build on Steam. I got some really nice ideas in the forums (I read all of them, I'm sorry if I didn't reply to any of yours - but be sure I saw it!) And please leave a review if you like the game!
WE NEED *put here your language* LOCALIZATIONS!
Huh, I know, I know! Please understand that I have plenty of things to do and localizations will be possible to include only when the single English version is finished. As I promised earlier the game will have plenty of translations (professional ones and some community based) including:
Chinese, German, Russian, Portuguese, Turkish, Spanish, French, Italian, Hungarian and maybe a couple more.
Update about the Coming Changes #3
I've posted my last announcement a month ago, so it is really time to talk again! Unfortunately (as you can see), I absolutely failed in my original estimates about when I can give you my very next update. I'm really sorry about that, and I just really hope that the coming things will pay off for this as well.
I'm being late because how closely related are my systems in the game. For example, I've already added noise and heat. Heat is generated by hardware elements, while coolers can reduce it. And yeah... coolers often generate noise. But just imagine how many screens must be modified because of these two things? All of the lists, the hardware screens, the computer screens, research screens etc. And of course, techs are touched and the AI algorithms as well.
So, I just can't modify one of them and release it, I have to modify everything and put it out together.
And these are two smaller changes. The research three, the new research system, the new design system is much bigger than that. But I truly believe that with the modifications you will get a much more interesting and more detailed game core - so it does worth it.
I've learned from it. I won't promise new dates, haha! But I really wanna ensure you, that I'm still around and I'm working on Computer Tycoon in full-time. Okay... at least when I'm not moving to a new flat and I don't miss even my internet connection. In the last week I didn't have internet... guys it feels really bad not being able to communicate with ya!
I think most of you are interested in the visual things right now because everything else is laid out in the game's roadmap (feel free to check it out again) here:
The Game's Roadmap
So here are some pics for you! These are not in the game yet, these are only the assets that I and my friend are creating. Lately, he works a lot on Computer Tycoon. His name is Ede László, he made a lot of illustrations about the hardware elements of the game (follow him here: @ede_laszlo).
But here are the pics, they talk instead of me...
So maybe as you remember, you start here in the garage:
Then later you will move to a normal office as you create your first financially successful computers:
That will be the moment when I will open up you the world map as well... and you will be able to hire some more managers.
And the office will improve by time... as you would expect. But you will end up being here:
Hey, I love sci-fi, how about you? :)
The guys you can hire are really not a focus of mine right now, it is much more a chill out activity of mine, but here is some more work in progress:
Maybe you'd like to see your computers in your offices, right? Well, you will (just as you can see it in the second pic of offices), but here they are:
I think these are some of the more interesting pics I can show you (meanwhile I don't wanna show everything of course, but you can see some more offices in my last post). Remember that my main focus is still the design and feature expansion of the game, but showing the new research list (that is just basically longer, has more content - and actually is not final) seems to be boring and uninspirational for now.
The game sold around 8500 copies in its first 6 months. That puts the game into the 1% of indie games on Steam with similar or better results, that is awesome, thank you, guys! Although still, I would highly count on you in spreading the game. Please mention it on your fav. forums and social media sites, because that means a lot for a solo indie dev like myself.
Feel free to text me on the steam forums or on Twitter! Have a very nice day, and love your computers guys!
Your friend,
Andris
Update about the Coming Changes #2
I wanted to show you two new pics to remember you I'm actively working - although I can't release you a new version, yet.
I'm creating the tech three, the balance changes, hardware design changes and so on. I create big excel files nowadays. But when I'm trying to chill out a bit, I'm working on different things. Things that will come only later on.
How do you like these? They aren't final at all, but they give you some feeling about the employee system.
The first pic is a face. I will create as many faces as I can, to give you a lot of possible people to hire from. You will have passive employees and active employees. You will have only 7 active - that will be your personal team. Big corporations such as IBM, Commodore, Apple, Microsoft and so on, all had these kinds of teams, including the CEO and often a partner.
On the second picture, you see where the story of Computer Tycoon will start. Yeah, in a garage, such as it started with Apple or Microsoft for example. You won't have all of the features from the beginning, but I you won't have to wait for too much to get them all. Next, to the fact that this will give a better immersion, I hope that I will be able to build up the gameplay in small steps for the player, that will enable reading less and understanding more.
Guys, don't worry about me, I'm really still here, I just don't wanna rush things out. I hope you like what you see here in this little post.
Thanks for the support, feedback, bug reports and the reviews. They help a lot!
Your friend,
Andris
The roadmap of the game:
http://steamcommunity.com/games/686680/announcements/detail/1673520100901557536
Oh... and some more pics for you. :)
Update about the Coming Changes
This time I don't have a new version for you, but some information about what I'm working on. Earlier I told you that my next bigger update will come in some weeks and after time passing, still, I'm not out with it. So that's why I write now.
Research update
My plan was to give you mostly research updates. As I earlier mentioned, it can happen, that some groups (check out the game's roadmap to understand groups) can affect each other. This is what happens right now.
The new metric called Capacity and the new system of VLSI/CPU and other speeds, the changes around overclocking etc. require changes in the tech side of the game, the hardware/computer design, GUI, and AI as well.
Simply I cannot introduce Capacity and Frequency without changing every single system in the game. The problem isn't around the quantity of the work, but the difficulty to make it in smaller releasable chunks. This is why I didn't put out a new version, yet.
Modding
Another thing that I'd like to share with you, that unfortunately, I failed with something. In the roadmap, I intentionally didn't promise the modding possibility. I'd like to give it to you, but before even starting I thought that it could be extremely hard to make happen. In the first 1.5 weeks, I really tried to implement things in a way so you can mod the techs, but the whole system in the game is just so complicated, and my tools are so not in favor of it, that I failed to deliver it. I'm really sorry about it, but at least I didn't even promise it. I'm just here to tell: I wanted it, and I tried. Maybe in my next game, or maybe after full-release, I will take another look, but the latter is not likely.
Let's talk about marketing!
Another thing, that I'm still thinking about is the marketing part of the game. I had a vision and aims why I've built the system how it is now. But at one point the GUI is kinda broken in telling how it is working exactly.
You know, the game is a Grand Strategy hybrid. Fot those who are unfamiliar with it, just think about Risk and Table games, and you are close. With the marketing tools, my aim was far away from realism. It is much more like a table board game feature, where I wanted really different tools for you with each of the different scenarios to use.
My original thought was that if the billboards, radio, tv etc all have different restrictions, then the player will have to find out when, how is the best to use them. Some actually understood this, but most didn't.
Think about it like this... If the marketing part would be more realistic, you could buy as many ads as you like and it wouldn't even really matter if it is billboards, tv or radio etc. They just would have different power. But now, when you can't use them for everything, and you can't use them everywhere etc. it is more challenging to know how and when you can use them - so the player must make more decisions. More decision in this kind of genre is a good thing in my opinion.
The problem with all of this, that most didn't like this whole stuff. You just would like to use everything & everywhere. Most players feel if they can't start a billboard company in all of his countries, then it is a flaw or a bug.
It makes me wonder if I should just cut out the whole system and replace it with a standard thing, that you are used to from other games.
Although the managers will give you active stuff around marketing (starting campaigns in the way you are used to it), that could result in two separate systems next to each other, that could confuse the player even more.
I'd love to get your opinion on this subject. I'm still far about this, but I'm trying to find out things well before implementation.
So when will we get an update?
I don't wanna promise anything, but I feel like I have to merge the implementation of the first 3 groups. And this will definitely longer the time you must wait for the update. I will try to write you messages like this more often meanwhile. I would say right now, maybe at the end of March you will get something, but that time it will be much bigger than usual.
Also, the update will be released as a beta branch on Steam. You won't get it automatically, you will have to manually update your game.
Please support me with a positive review if you like what's going on, or you already enjoy the game. It means a lot! Also please join the discussions, your help is really important.
The Roadmap Of Computer Tycoon:
http://steamcommunity.com/games/686680/announcements/detail/1673520100901557536
Your friend,
Andris
VERSION 0.9.3.05 - Some GUI style and arrangement modifications
I've been working on the research changes and the tech tree (which means a new screen) while I came up with the idea of polishing the GUI a bit. I'm not done with the actual new version for you with the bigger chunk of updates, but I don't wanna leave you without any updates meanwhile...
So I've decided to put online the new GUI version of the game. You get some shades, strokes, inner shadows, new shapes, and reorganizations.
Maybe the biggest change you will see on the upper side of the main screen. Earlier there was only a single line with a lot of data. It was really not a nice way showing those data. I hope the new GUI there will be easier to read.
The GUI improvement will be an ongoing process. I'd like to customize the GUI even more, but we will have so many new screens, that I think it will be more beneficial to make those changes a bit later.
This time I won't create a list of these small changes, just feel free to see them in-game!
I hope you will like these! Let me know what you think, and if you like the game, please leave a review as well.
Your friend,
Andris
*0.9.3.05h1 - I have adjusted the position of the monopoly victory screen's info tab.
You can check out the game's roadmap here:
http://steamcommunity.com/games/686680/announcements/detail/1673520100901557536
VERSION 0.9.3.04 - Fixes for Video Games and some tech modification
Here are the changes:
0.9.3.04:
- The archive button rewrote the "Home Computer" title on the Computer Design screen to "Archive!!". Fixed
- The videogame marketing screens didn't refresh directly after loading a game, but only after one day has passed. Fixed.
- The videogame screen became unavailable on the last patch. Fixed.
- The order of the "done research" by default is invention time. But from now on newest tech will be on the top of the list, not at the bottom. Let me know please if you liked it more when it was the reverse (every other screen has the opposite direction - should I maybe change those as well?).
- For the Tape Drive: "Removable media from its best!" should be "Removable media at its best!" Fixed
- For Hard Disk Drive: It should say, "Around 5 megabytes of data. Five times as much as a standard floppy disk, yet its no larger than a floppy disk drive! Do you need more?" Fixed
- Adjusted things on the Video Game screen. Such as writing out "CTD" after the price cost and putting more space into the labels on the screen.
- Video Game requirement got a minimum of 10 for every kind of possible parameters. So no more "CPU performance 0" requirement. Also, the algorithm was buggy for CPU and VIDEOCARDS. Fixed.
- When you clicked on the hardware list's "New" button to create a new GPU for a computer coming from the computer design screen, it just closed the window. Fixed.
I'm sorry about the video game screen unavailable bug, that was an ugly one. Thanks for your help guys, without your feedback I would be literally blind! :)
Please leave a review if you like the game so far and be prepared for the bigger changes in the next weeks.
Your friend,
Andris
*****
HOTFIX!
0.9.3.04h1 - Solves the checkbox/toggle issue on the hardware list and hardware design screens.
Check out the game's roadmap here:
http://steamcommunity.com/games/686680/announcements/detail/1673520100901557536
VERSION 0.9.3.03 - Fixes, GUI modifications, Small Changes
0.9.3.03:
- Since Home Computers, Portable Computers and Handheld Computers are generally not modular - you won't be able to use drive bay techs in them.
- You can't invent CLI before having Keyboards.
- With some resolutions the aim labels on the marketing screen didn't appear. Fixed.
- I've re-adjusted the computer name label on the internet marketing screen.
- DRAM and DIMM techs didn't give bonuses to the CPU hardware.
- From now on the orderable lists in the game such as the research list, hardware list, computer list, accessories list have a default invention/creation order on them. So if you often forget what were the techs you've just researched lately then be sure to turn off any orders in the research done list and you will see them.
- On the Load Game screen the scroll button wasn't interactive, you could use only the mouse wheel to move the list. Fixed.
- The hardware list didn't seem to refresh. The problem if the hardware list originally showed a lot of hardware and you went to the bottom of the list THEN you opened up the hardware list from the computer screen where you wanted to add a hardware element - and the given hardware element type has only a few elements. In this case, the scroll view didn't go back to the top to show the elements, you had to manually move your mouse wheel to refresh it (to go to the top). Fixed.
- Hardware design type chooser rewiring. You don't have to choose a hardware type if you are coming from the computer screen where you already selected the design type. Exception if you modify the filters on the hardware list. In that case, the pre-defined hardware design is gone from the computer screen. So let's say you select DISPLAY on the computer screen. In that case, the hardware list will open with an auto-filter for DISPLAY-s. If you now click on new, the game won't ask you to choose hardware type (DISPLAY), but if you turn on other hardware types in the filter section, for example, STORAGE, then when you click on "New" the system will now ask what hardware would you like to create.
- Wall Of Gratitude. As I promised I've created a screen to feature anybody who has added to the game with his feedback or any kind of help.
After these smaller things, I will now focus on the first bigger modification of the game. I will post here later on about the chosen things. I'd like to touch research first as my groups indicate, but I will have to touch the GUI and the hardware designing as well probably.
I'm not sure how long it will be, it depends on the chosen points from the roadmap, but I guess it will be between 1-2.5 weeks. I will try to update the game meanwhile if you find something really bad.
Please let me know if you like the modifications, also reviews are highly appreciated!
Your friend,
Andris
http://steamcommunity.com/games/686680/announcements/detail/1673520100901557536
VERSION 0.9.3.02 - GUI fixes and improvements
Here is a new version for you! As I mentioned I will try to speed up the development, I have so much to do... I hope you will like these - take them as some weekend cookies from the dev!
0.9.3.02:
- I've added the ability to double-click on items of the hardware list to automatically add it to the actual computer design. (So it is an alternative of clicking on the "Add To Computer" button. It was also a point in the Roadmap GUI section.
- I've renamed the "PP Price" label on the computer design screen to "Needed PP" because the word "price" confused the players. The "PP Price" wasn't the amount of CTD you needed to produce a piece of computer, it is only the Production Point amount that is needed to create a Computer. If you have different bonuses on your sites, the CTD production price would vary from site to site, while the needed PP Points remain the same.
- The Voice Actress stopped talking in the last version. Fixed.
- The feedback button had a bad tooltip text. Fixed.
- The Marketing Campaigns didn't show their settings such as name, aim or direction after loading the game. (They loaded up, but the GUI didn't show them accordingly). This also includes the website name. Fixed.
- On the Marketing screen the "Newspaper" Screen's title was "Billboard". Fixed.
Still, I'd like to kindly ask you to write a review if you enjoy the game. It would mean to me a lot, seriously! If you found any bugs or you have any wishes let me know in the discussions, I'd love to know them!
Your friend,
Andris
The roadmap of the game:
http://steamcommunity.com/games/686680/announcements/detail/1673520100901557536
VERSION 0.9.3.01 - Fixes and some preference algorithm modification
It's a long time since I posted an update, but be aware as I mentioned things will speed up. These are still mostly fixes, but I hope you will like them! The only "feature" like modification is that I altered the random map preference generation because it was mostly ease-of-use and feature dominance. From now on it will be absolutely random per country, while in the world as a whole it will be nearly equal. This will give you more space to create your stuff, and at the same time give more replay value.
So here is the list...
0.9.3.01:
- GUI didn't change its volume by the FX settings in the menu (only the bird sounds and other FXs. From now on, it will - so you can really mute the game if you'd like to.
- On the Computer Design Screens the values (such as performance) could flow out from their places. Fixed.
- On the Marketing Screens (Exception is the billboard marketing) the start buttons didn't change color after clicking on them. Fixed.
- The "Create Prototype" button won't be interactable after clicking on it. Before this fix, if somebody had a paused time while clicking and creating his prototype, he could easily think that nothing happened, the button didn't reflect it.
- The hardware type chooser windows won't write out the name of the hardware type (for example GPU) while you actually can't create a GPU. Before that people thought that it's a bug, while they just didn't have the technology needed to create one.
- You won't be able to create hardware anymore that contains only secondary technology. For example, you cannot create a "Memory" module from the "Passive Cooling" tech alone. This will also eliminate having hardware without an illustration (white picture).
- Laptops can't get water cooling anymore!
- You cannot put Modular Computer Design on any computers anymore because its only task is to enable building PCs.
- Some techs ON some hardware type didn't give their bonuses for the hardware after putting them on! For example SIMM, PirectX, CPU OverClocking etc. (Around 10 combination altogether).
- Extra Labels on the marketing screens (such as country and direction) in hope of easier understanding.
- And.. the already explained preference change on the map. No more ease-of-use and feature dominance!
Please write a review if you like the game and join to the discussions! A lot is coming, I will need you! :)
I wish you a happy computer empire building weekend!
Game's RoadMap:
http://steamcommunity.com/games/686680/announcements/detail/1673520100901557536
Your Friend,
Andris