Automation and the Future

[autofrank]

A while back, maybe 6 months ago I messaged one of the devs here (maybe killrob?) talking about another car-building-tycoon-type game. I mentioned how that game looked to be further along, and what it might mean for Automation. Well, it's on sale on steam and I thought I'd buy it and give it a try....

Big mistake!

The last two hours can be counted among the two most frustrating hours of my life. Automation is so far ahead of that game. So much better developed, in theory and in practice. Automation is so much more polished. The only frustration I've ever had with automation was trying to win all the scenarios, (and waiting for it to be completed!) That's the good kind of frustration. No, this other game is more the "pull-what's-left-of-my-hair-out" frustation. I can't even put my thoughts down better than this because I'm still so angry.

I've removed that game whose name I will never mention, and "hid" it from my steam collection. I wish steam gave refunds. I'm so pissed off and frustrated I had to rant here.

Killrob, Zeussy, other Devs who's names I don't know... you guys have nothing to worry about. Take all the time in the world to finish. At least you're making a grade A+ product.

Honestly right now I feel the pangs of regret over that Voldemort of a game. If I could get my money back I'd send it to you guys just for the good work you've been doing. I wouldn't regret that.

[Daffyflyer]

Ahh yes, that game you refer to does seem to have some pretty big issues preventing it from being much fun.


I'm glad you're enjoying what we are doing, and I hope when we finally finish that it's as good as you hope

[WizzyThaMan]

I didn't need to buy that game to see for myself.. Somehow, somewhere I just know they are taking the right approach on this. It takes time, but it's time well spent.
I don't mind if this game releases in 2017 (wait I do actually, but not giving up on quality ) and being so good for an indiegame, I think they deserve every single buck and every single second of us eagerly waiting.

Oh good, I'm getting so much up theirs right now But all in all they deserve all the credits, not?

[Microwave]

So uh, what game are you talking about?

I've removed that game whose name I will never mention, and "hid" it from my steam collection.

[Killrob]

Thanks man! I myself tried that game too (also for about 2h) and at least I could have the excuse to call that work...
Happy to have your support in our development approach, it's not the fastest, but probably the most enjoyable in the end.

[autofrank]

Thinking about it, there is a lot that can be done in the tycoon part of the game, and I do like the idea of starting from scratch with an office, a factory, a team of RnD, and not much else. Being able to buy engines off another company would be a neat idea since it occurs in the real auto world (chevy small block v8 comes to mind.)

I imagine you devs have looked at other successful tycoon games (RR tycoon series comes to mind) for ideas and inspiration? That's probably one of the best. Things don't have to become over complicated. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Simple, but effective ideas and implementation will probably be the best way to go. I don't know what your approach is, but I'm sure it will be good.

[WizzyThaMan]

You can actually search the forums as there are numerous topics already on the tycoon part of the game that have been answered by the devs before. This will give you a clear indication on the main line running through the tycoon part.

[8bs]

A few months ago i bought a game named (cof) """"clutch town"""" (can i call it like this?) and maaaan...i was desperate!!!!! 2h??? Nah 30 minutes and i was done! Ok...i tried again for more 30 minutes, and give up. The only thing i sort "liked", was the car review they make.

Automation is my religion!

[shawa666]

Thinking about it, there is a lot that can be done in the tycoon part of the game, and I do like the idea of starting from scratch with an office, a factory, a team of RnD, and not much else. Being able to buy engines off another company would be a neat idea since it occurs in the real auto world (chevy small block v8 comes to mind.)

I imagine you devs have looked at other successful tycoon games (RR tycoon series comes to mind) for ideas and inspiration? That's probably one of the best. Things don't have to become over complicated. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Simple, but effective ideas and implementation will probably be the best way to go. I don't know what your approach is, but I'm sure it will be good.

Welp, just downloaded Detroit again.

[freeman]

Don't disregard the "other game" out of hand. It may take some time to get used to and it's not the prettiest either, but it sure has a fair degree of substance. The sales model is quite detailed and the game itself is a lot of fun, if you bother to get acquainted with it. By no definition of the word would I consider it bad.

I'm sure that Automation will have a lovely tycoon part in the end - but it's not available yet. The "other game" is great for those of us who would like to "scratch their economic itch" right now - after all, designing cars in Automation is a lot of fun, no doubt, but there's not much else to do once you've finished the scenarios (which also don't quite "do it" for me). Personally, actually selling the cars and trying to turn a profit on the market is what makes these kinds of games interesting for me. Designing the goods is only half the fun.

In further defense of the "other game", the developer (yes, a single person) is one of the friendliest chaps I have ever been in contact with. His availability on the Steam forums and his official forums approaches a 24/7 standard and bugs that are reported are usually processed within hours. He's open to any and all kinds of suggestions and many of these user-made ones (including my own) have been implemented in past versions already, some with only days of development time. If there's any problem that you have with that "other game", check out the Steam forums as he will surely be glad to sort you out.

In general, it should be said that these two games are not really competing with one another. The "other one" is primarily focused on the economic aspect of things and not visual car design (though "under-the-hood" stuff like engine creation is still fairly detailed, but not at Automation's level either). So if that's what you're after you're going to be disappointed with said "other one". Likewise, if you dislike the idea of having to work with numbers in a game or micro-managing minute details, then that game can also not be recommended to you. It also doesn't have Automation's pretty buttons and superior GUI, though these things do not matter once you have learned to properly play the game - it does take dedication and a bit of time, something that people often cannot be bothered with when it comes to games - and that's fine too. However, if you like the idea of a complex economic simulation of the automotive industry, then this can be a superb way to pass the time until we get more features in Automation. In fact, a combination of the vehicle design aspects of Automation and the economic complexities of the "other one" would be close to perfect. I sincerely hope that Automation will be able to match this level of fidelity.

[Daffyflyer]

Yeah, I know what you mean, it certainly does seem to have a solid base as an economic sim game, I just found that when I last played it, it had some really confusing and micromanagey UI logic that made it kind of frustrating to me. And that it suffered from the same problem that things like Detroit did, in that the car design aspects were generic enough that it didn't feel like a game specifically about the car industry.


But hey, if people enjoy it that's great, I'm glad there are more car company games out there. I just found it too frustrating myself.



Also regarding Automation, I can totally relate that there is a limited amount of gameplay value now without the Tycoon aspects. At it's current stage it's a game for car nerds, but hopefully later it's a game for Tycoon Game nerds too

[vmo]

Talking about the future: if Automation is released in 2015, and in the game, the last tech year is 2020....

[WizzyThaMan]

Dont count on it releasing in 2015 I would expect half way through 2016!

[vmo]

Dont count on it releasing in 2015 I would expect half way through 2016!

Oh! only 4 years left (in 2016) to use the real tech year (matching with the game year and real year)

[Cheeseman]

I don't think it would be that hard to implement a few more years in an update after Automation's release, so I don't see this as an issue