Post by Vault on Jul 22, 2018 16:47:59 GMT -5
This will serve as the living FAQ and will be updated as Game Sim goes on. First, let's deal with why Game Sim is back, and what's changed.
Behind The Scenes/About Game Sim
What Is Game Sim?
Game Sim is a forum-based game where you control a fictional game development studio. It is entirely text based, and the actions of the players are posted on this forum. Role playing is heavily recommended as it helps immerse you into the world, but it's not required. Game Sim was an idea I had in 2009, I tried (and failed) to launch many times on different forums, and now I am reviving.
Why Are You Bringing It Back If It Failed?
Game Sim is something I often thought about even after each iteration failed. Sometimes there were forum and website issues, sometimes personal things got in the way, but I've wanted to bring it back for a while. I believe the game is worth the full time and dedication I can provide, and I want people to be able to enjoy it. The community aren't just players, I often hold polls asking about features and improvements I can implement.
How Do We Know It Won't Fail Again?
I've chosen the most reliable forum to host the game. As for the personal time, immediately upon relaunch, I'm going to build a team. That way, if someone will be away or needs a break, the game doesn't suffer. If you're interested in helping, please go here.
Will any information/games from the old Game Sim be carried over?
Game Sim is being soft rebooted. Those games on the wiki exist, but they won't be impacting sales or appearing on charts. If you'd like to develop a sequel to one of those games, PM Vault and explain what you want to do to be quoted a price.
How To Play
How Do I Get Started?
So you're interested in playing, fantastic! First you'll want to have a look around the forum. Get a feel for what you can do and where to go for certain things. Almost every forum has a sticky explaining the function of its existence. Go ahead and register for an account on this forum, then go here and sign up your studio.
All database info is kept on our wiki. After you sign up, within a few days you'll have your own entry at our Game Sim wiki, which is kept here. Check it out! You don't have to wait until you're in the wiki to start playing, though!
After you've made your initial sign-up post, it's really up to you! You can roleplay in the press forum and react to announcements and news from other companies, submit a game form so you start development, or create a boxart for your game (which nets you a bonus!) Alternatively, meet our amazing members in the off-topic area.
Game Sim is not ran in real time, but instead in turns. Each turn is simmed, and another is began. There isn't a strict interval, but we recommend checking the forum at least once or twice a week to minimize risk for missing a turn. This gives both the players and staff time to update everything without making everyone feel like they have to check the forum daily (though if you'd like, please do!)
Please make sure you announce your turn activities in the turn forum, or you'll receive a small penalty to development!
Whoa now, what's a turn forum, and why do I post what I'm doing? Can't I just fill out my game forum, sit back, and develop?
Sure, but you'll be missing out. Posting in the turn activity forum will both allow you to maximize your turn development by actively participating, and also, you can perform multiple activities! If you've submitted a game for development but you want to start the hype train now, post that in the turn forum and your resources will be split to both activities. If you just submit a form and never post in the turn forum, development will continue, but you'll receive a small penalty.
The turn announcement forum helps the staff here keep track of what every company is doing. So if you want to keep working on your game only, a small post there really helps us out.
So I fill my form out, post in the turn forum, and just wait?
Not quite. One of the things that helps keep Game Sim dynamic is the events. You'll see events posted in our event forum, but you also might have events affecting your studio only PM'ed to you, with a series of options to respond from. This could be anything from a delay causing you to choose between releasing a bug-filled game or suffering a delay, to overworked employees going on strike. Anything can happen, and because it's led by the staff, it helps keep things dynamic!
While you're developing a game, check out the other forums, read our wiki, review other people's games, or role play on the forum. More on these options below.
Is There Money, Or Currency? How Do I Know How I'm Doing?
There is money, and in the turn results threads you'll be able to see how your game is selling, etc. Your money will appear on the wiki and be updated with every turn. Sometimes large projects can put you in debt, so remember that as a young studio, especially if you're self-publishing, don't go overboard with features and options in-game or the development cost will drown you before release.
You will be paid money for reviewing other player's games, doing freelance boxart work, and for sales of your games.
What Are These Reviews? How Can I Review Another Player's Game?
It may seem strange, posting a review for a fictional game inside a simulation game, but it definitely helps! First, check the turn results page for any new games you might want to review (note: you don't have to review a new game, but they pay the most.) Then, head over to the wiki and search for the game. Every game in Game Sim has a wiki page and you can read about the details of the game there.
Then, write your review and post it in the review forum. Your review can be positive or negative, on a scale of 5, 10, anything you want, just be detailed. Some players will prefer to review games in a character persona for entertainment purposes, that's fine too. The one major thing is that we ask you don't hand out low scores and write only a few sentences. That harms the game and won't be tolerated.
Reviewing other player's games is a surefire way to make money.
Why Is There A Wiki?
The wiki is our database. It's collaborative and represents the data of Game Sim. The wiki is unique in that every player is encouraged to flesh out their company pages and game pages. The details from your game form will be automatically input upon release, but the fun only starts there. Go onto one of your game's pages and detail the plot, or keep a section for detailing patch changes, or post alternative boxart! The more you add the better it gets!
So I Have To Add All My Own Info?
Not if you don't want to. Your games and company will still be added, but it will just be with the info you put in your form.
Is There A Website?
There will be soon! Stay tuned!
What Systems Can I Develop For? What's The Cost?
All that info is in the Make Your Games forum, but here it is:
Why Is (console) x Amount Of Money To Develop For? Why Isn't It Cheaper/More Expensive?[/u]
The costs of development are scaled based on a number of factors, including but not limited to:
Real-Life Market Share
Company Performance
Relevancy In 2018
Game Sim Economy
Why Is Mobile So Expensive?
Mobile represents the biggest opportunity to make money, therefore the cost is adjusted to reflect that.
Can I Release DLC, Expansions, etc?
Yes, simply select the most appropriate form in the Make Your Games forum.
How Do Patches Work?
Once a game is out, it doesn't necessarily mean the end of development! Releasing a patch is a turn activity, so it will take some/all of your resources when you do it, but it can help fix issues with a game and build player retention. In extreme cases, a bad game can be patched significantly to make it a good one, which can result in a post-release sales spike or player count spike (if multiplayer.)
You don't need to submit a form to release a patch, just post it under the turn activities.
I Keep Seeing Mention Of Company Resources. How Do They Work?
Resources is a term referring to your team at your company. Say you develop a game and that's the only activity you elect in the turn post Then 100% of your resources are on development. However, if you're developing a game and hyping a game in the same turn, 50% of your resources will be focused on development and 50% will be focused on hyping, meaning neither activity gets 100% of the focus. This can harm either or both activities, and development time can potentially suffer if not shown the proper amount of time. You want to try and strike a balance.
How Are Sales Numbers And Reviews Calculated?
For sales:
Game Sim trends are looked at, as is any competing games also released in a similar time frame. Genre popularity and, conversely, genre saturation are both heavily considered as well. More on those two items in the trends forum. Hype is also important. You can have the best game ever made, but if you don't post about it in the press forum or take a turn to hype it, nobody knows and sales will be affected.
For reviews:
For every game, it will automatically receive 3 review scores on the wiki. Reviews can impact sales, though not as much as the aforementioned items under 'sales.' IGN, Gamespot, and Metacritic User Reviews will all have a brief summary of their thoughts. Each has their own personality, and Metacritic User Reviews will be a compilation of player feedback. They won't always be consistent with each other, similar to real life.
Will Companies Ever Offer/Approach Me With Development Contracts?
Yes! Keep an eye on your PM and also the events forum as some companies will make listings public. For instance, as a new developer, developing for an existing franchise might be very expensive, but if there's an open posting for the franchise from the owner looking to have a game developed, you can apply and, if chosen, get an opportunity to make your name known when you wouldn't have otherwise.
Will There Be AI Companies?
In a major change from the old Game Sim, AI companies based off of both real and fictional studios will occasionally interact with players and release games to keep the game interesting.
This Is A Lot Of Information!
Yes it is! Believe me, I know. And I don't want to overwhelm you or scare players off. This FAQ is exhaustive, but I know I can't cover everything. If you need any additional help, PM me (VAult) or a staff member. We're always glad to help.
Additional Info
Is Game Sim Free?
Yes, I do not get paid to run this game, nor do the staff members. Once the website is up, we will accept donations but it won't be required.
What Features Will Be Coming Down The Line?
I'm looking to reintroduce:
Peripheral Development
Full Publishers
And down the road I want to introduce:
Software Development
Player-Controlled Publishing
PC Game Hosting Choices (Steam, Blizzard, etc)
DRM
Smartphone Apps
Smartphpone Development
How Often Will Game Sim Be Updated?
As often as we can! And we respond to player feedback. If the game isn't doing something right, we'll look into it.
Behind The Scenes/About Game Sim
What Is Game Sim?
Game Sim is a forum-based game where you control a fictional game development studio. It is entirely text based, and the actions of the players are posted on this forum. Role playing is heavily recommended as it helps immerse you into the world, but it's not required. Game Sim was an idea I had in 2009, I tried (and failed) to launch many times on different forums, and now I am reviving.
Why Are You Bringing It Back If It Failed?
Game Sim is something I often thought about even after each iteration failed. Sometimes there were forum and website issues, sometimes personal things got in the way, but I've wanted to bring it back for a while. I believe the game is worth the full time and dedication I can provide, and I want people to be able to enjoy it. The community aren't just players, I often hold polls asking about features and improvements I can implement.
How Do We Know It Won't Fail Again?
I've chosen the most reliable forum to host the game. As for the personal time, immediately upon relaunch, I'm going to build a team. That way, if someone will be away or needs a break, the game doesn't suffer. If you're interested in helping, please go here.
Will any information/games from the old Game Sim be carried over?
Game Sim is being soft rebooted. Those games on the wiki exist, but they won't be impacting sales or appearing on charts. If you'd like to develop a sequel to one of those games, PM Vault and explain what you want to do to be quoted a price.
How To Play
How Do I Get Started?
So you're interested in playing, fantastic! First you'll want to have a look around the forum. Get a feel for what you can do and where to go for certain things. Almost every forum has a sticky explaining the function of its existence. Go ahead and register for an account on this forum, then go here and sign up your studio.
All database info is kept on our wiki. After you sign up, within a few days you'll have your own entry at our Game Sim wiki, which is kept here. Check it out! You don't have to wait until you're in the wiki to start playing, though!
After you've made your initial sign-up post, it's really up to you! You can roleplay in the press forum and react to announcements and news from other companies, submit a game form so you start development, or create a boxart for your game (which nets you a bonus!) Alternatively, meet our amazing members in the off-topic area.
Game Sim is not ran in real time, but instead in turns. Each turn is simmed, and another is began. There isn't a strict interval, but we recommend checking the forum at least once or twice a week to minimize risk for missing a turn. This gives both the players and staff time to update everything without making everyone feel like they have to check the forum daily (though if you'd like, please do!)
Please make sure you announce your turn activities in the turn forum, or you'll receive a small penalty to development!
Whoa now, what's a turn forum, and why do I post what I'm doing? Can't I just fill out my game forum, sit back, and develop?
Sure, but you'll be missing out. Posting in the turn activity forum will both allow you to maximize your turn development by actively participating, and also, you can perform multiple activities! If you've submitted a game for development but you want to start the hype train now, post that in the turn forum and your resources will be split to both activities. If you just submit a form and never post in the turn forum, development will continue, but you'll receive a small penalty.
The turn announcement forum helps the staff here keep track of what every company is doing. So if you want to keep working on your game only, a small post there really helps us out.
So I fill my form out, post in the turn forum, and just wait?
Not quite. One of the things that helps keep Game Sim dynamic is the events. You'll see events posted in our event forum, but you also might have events affecting your studio only PM'ed to you, with a series of options to respond from. This could be anything from a delay causing you to choose between releasing a bug-filled game or suffering a delay, to overworked employees going on strike. Anything can happen, and because it's led by the staff, it helps keep things dynamic!
While you're developing a game, check out the other forums, read our wiki, review other people's games, or role play on the forum. More on these options below.
Is There Money, Or Currency? How Do I Know How I'm Doing?
There is money, and in the turn results threads you'll be able to see how your game is selling, etc. Your money will appear on the wiki and be updated with every turn. Sometimes large projects can put you in debt, so remember that as a young studio, especially if you're self-publishing, don't go overboard with features and options in-game or the development cost will drown you before release.
You will be paid money for reviewing other player's games, doing freelance boxart work, and for sales of your games.
What Are These Reviews? How Can I Review Another Player's Game?
It may seem strange, posting a review for a fictional game inside a simulation game, but it definitely helps! First, check the turn results page for any new games you might want to review (note: you don't have to review a new game, but they pay the most.) Then, head over to the wiki and search for the game. Every game in Game Sim has a wiki page and you can read about the details of the game there.
Then, write your review and post it in the review forum. Your review can be positive or negative, on a scale of 5, 10, anything you want, just be detailed. Some players will prefer to review games in a character persona for entertainment purposes, that's fine too. The one major thing is that we ask you don't hand out low scores and write only a few sentences. That harms the game and won't be tolerated.
Reviewing other player's games is a surefire way to make money.
Why Is There A Wiki?
The wiki is our database. It's collaborative and represents the data of Game Sim. The wiki is unique in that every player is encouraged to flesh out their company pages and game pages. The details from your game form will be automatically input upon release, but the fun only starts there. Go onto one of your game's pages and detail the plot, or keep a section for detailing patch changes, or post alternative boxart! The more you add the better it gets!
So I Have To Add All My Own Info?
Not if you don't want to. Your games and company will still be added, but it will just be with the info you put in your form.
Is There A Website?
There will be soon! Stay tuned!
What Systems Can I Develop For? What's The Cost?
All that info is in the Make Your Games forum, but here it is:
Consoles:
Playstation 4 - $600,000
Xbox One - $450,000
Nintendo Switch - $700,000
PC:
PC - $200,000
Mac - $400,000
Handheld -
Playstation Vita - $200,000
Nintendo 3DS - $350,000
New Nintendo 3DS* - $150,000
Mobile
iOS - $800,000
Android - $300,000
* = Requires New 3DS Hardware. Regular 3DS owners won't be able to play the game.
PLEASE NOTE: These are base costs. If you develop exclusively for one family of systems (ex. PS4 & Vita or 3DS & Switch) development costs will be halved for the secondary console. If a game is released on console and handheld, the console is always considered the primary.
If any game is developed for PC and for Console the console cost is reduced 30%.Why Is (console) x Amount Of Money To Develop For? Why Isn't It Cheaper/More Expensive?[/u]
The costs of development are scaled based on a number of factors, including but not limited to:
Real-Life Market Share
Company Performance
Relevancy In 2018
Game Sim Economy
Why Is Mobile So Expensive?
Mobile represents the biggest opportunity to make money, therefore the cost is adjusted to reflect that.
Can I Release DLC, Expansions, etc?
Yes, simply select the most appropriate form in the Make Your Games forum.
How Do Patches Work?
Once a game is out, it doesn't necessarily mean the end of development! Releasing a patch is a turn activity, so it will take some/all of your resources when you do it, but it can help fix issues with a game and build player retention. In extreme cases, a bad game can be patched significantly to make it a good one, which can result in a post-release sales spike or player count spike (if multiplayer.)
You don't need to submit a form to release a patch, just post it under the turn activities.
I Keep Seeing Mention Of Company Resources. How Do They Work?
Resources is a term referring to your team at your company. Say you develop a game and that's the only activity you elect in the turn post Then 100% of your resources are on development. However, if you're developing a game and hyping a game in the same turn, 50% of your resources will be focused on development and 50% will be focused on hyping, meaning neither activity gets 100% of the focus. This can harm either or both activities, and development time can potentially suffer if not shown the proper amount of time. You want to try and strike a balance.
How Are Sales Numbers And Reviews Calculated?
For sales:
Game Sim trends are looked at, as is any competing games also released in a similar time frame. Genre popularity and, conversely, genre saturation are both heavily considered as well. More on those two items in the trends forum. Hype is also important. You can have the best game ever made, but if you don't post about it in the press forum or take a turn to hype it, nobody knows and sales will be affected.
For reviews:
For every game, it will automatically receive 3 review scores on the wiki. Reviews can impact sales, though not as much as the aforementioned items under 'sales.' IGN, Gamespot, and Metacritic User Reviews will all have a brief summary of their thoughts. Each has their own personality, and Metacritic User Reviews will be a compilation of player feedback. They won't always be consistent with each other, similar to real life.
Will Companies Ever Offer/Approach Me With Development Contracts?
Yes! Keep an eye on your PM and also the events forum as some companies will make listings public. For instance, as a new developer, developing for an existing franchise might be very expensive, but if there's an open posting for the franchise from the owner looking to have a game developed, you can apply and, if chosen, get an opportunity to make your name known when you wouldn't have otherwise.
Will There Be AI Companies?
In a major change from the old Game Sim, AI companies based off of both real and fictional studios will occasionally interact with players and release games to keep the game interesting.
This Is A Lot Of Information!
Yes it is! Believe me, I know. And I don't want to overwhelm you or scare players off. This FAQ is exhaustive, but I know I can't cover everything. If you need any additional help, PM me (VAult) or a staff member. We're always glad to help.
Additional Info
Is Game Sim Free?
Yes, I do not get paid to run this game, nor do the staff members. Once the website is up, we will accept donations but it won't be required.
What Features Will Be Coming Down The Line?
I'm looking to reintroduce:
Peripheral Development
Full Publishers
And down the road I want to introduce:
Software Development
Player-Controlled Publishing
PC Game Hosting Choices (Steam, Blizzard, etc)
DRM
Smartphone Apps
Smartphpone Development
How Often Will Game Sim Be Updated?
As often as we can! And we respond to player feedback. If the game isn't doing something right, we'll look into it.