Hi There,
Playing the game for the first time, I thought it was amazing and exactly what I had been looking for. Given the limited budget, I can understand why some things may have been left out or are too hard to implement. There seem to be a lot of posts on the forums about new features, but they seem pretty complicated and maybe expensive, so I’d like to give a few that would be quite easy to add to the game and maybe sold as a DLC to help fund the next project (which I would really like to see).
1 - Add more context to the time period with a few more consoles and things that were going on at the time. I’m not saying make more consoles which you can release games for (that would probably detract from the game) but maybe little messages like “ninvento has released the virtual kid to a lukewarm response… etc” or “in a bid to prolong the lifespan of the vena oasis, vena have released two add-ons to the console”. Sort of like NPC consoles for nostalgia junkies.
2 - Change the fonts. The serif font used for the game titles and tech/design/research bubbles looks really cheap (sorry).
3 - Add some customisability to the office. Maybe have a catalogue you can order from to add coffee machines, better computers, chairs - which could give a boost to dev speed or prevent staff from getting tired. That would be much more simple than implementing a system where you can place items yourself. This just would just add different items (like when you get the option to add air conditioning) but gives the player more control over when to buy them and gives more choice in items.
4 - Vena Neptune. Seriously. Please. (maybe only on the longer game?)
5 - Upgrade the artwork for the gameling to gameling colour/pocket then gameling advance and SD as time progresses and have a boost to market share each time it happens. Kind of like how the PC artwork is changed and at one point there is a resurgence of the PC market. Keeps the handheld and casual markets more interesting without having to have completely separate consoles (although maybe the SD should be considering the PPS is there).
6 - This one would be a bit more complicated, but awesome. When the time comes that the player has a big game company (first place at game expo),the player could influence the market share of a less successful console by releasing popular games on it (and maybe even shape history a little).
7 - More random events.
8 - Ability to make re-makes/enhancements of old games. This would have a shorter development time and you wouldn’t be able to change development priorities too much.
9 - Company logo (choose from 10 default ones or something)
10 - A release DLC mechanic (you have to add DLC to the game engine first) where you can release a DLC for a game when sales are starting to slump, to revive them. Maybe a simple choice from a list of what kind of DLC (ranging from simple ones like more costumes to more complex ones like extra storylines) and depending on this, it would take longer to develop and make more/less money.
Thanks for the great game!
EDIT: Added a few more.