Progress Report Fall'19
What are we doing now and why aren't there any updates?
We've decided to change the way we release updates. Instead of many small patches, there's going to be a few major updates with multiple new features. So, here's what to expect:
1. Multiplayer
Through trial and error, we've finally found an appropriate solution for an online multiplayer.
The server's almost done, now we're working on the game client. Online gaming is a whole other world where you have to foresee millions of different scenarios while trying to eliminate cheaters.
Shoutout to game developers, these guys work HARD.
2. Character Creator
You will be able to customize your character. Each player will be granted a certain number of Starting Points they can spend on education, career level, starting capital, or many other useful things.
If you don't have enough points, you can get more by willing to accept some responsibilities: having family and kids, helping out your parents. Bad habits and being older at the start will also rack up some points. We don't want to restrict you too much: if you want to create a character with a great career, loads of money, and all kinds of connections -- then so be it, but the difficulty will be considered as "Easy".
3. Aging
One of the key changes. You have to win before you retire, and the older your character is, the less time you have. Besides, as your character grows older, you will have less free time at your disposal. The avatar won't be changing though, the current avatar style isn't so affordable and flexible for such a feature.
4. The age of family members (and more)
At some point, children grow older and start to live on their own, so we're allowing you to cancel out your lack of free time as you age with reduced spendings on your children. Maybe they'll even start to help you out. This might work in some other cases, too, -- although, say, if you're a dog lover and your doggo goes to doggo heaven, you'll probably going to get another one at some point.
5. Tutorial and tips
An interactive tutorial is a great way to attract new players. This idea sounds so simple, but somehow it's hard to implement and has eaten up a lot of our resources already (but we're not giving up just yet!).
6. Really working stock market
So that you can buy or sell any stocks you want, and not just the ones you got randomly. Plus a portfolio to collect a large number of assets. We're not going to add options, bonds, or dividends yet, but will add cryptocurrency. The interface is done, next is the code.
7. Unforeseen expenses
Many of you have expressed how ill-conceived it is to buy a cow you can't afford, figuratively speaking. Well, it's "a cow or major depression" type of situation. If your character is consistently sad, he or she may get depressed and will have to seek professional help. So it's either crying or paying, whichever one you like. Right now it's just a general idea, which we will test out and make sure that it doesn't lead to a generation of depressed millionaires who live on ramen noodles for 15 years to make it and get help later. Real life doesn't work like that, you're gonna end up either crazy or dead.
8. Achievements
These are just for fun. Some will be visible, some hidden, depending on which ones will be easier to employ without spending too much. We're also working on achievements for Steam, Play Store, and App Store.
9. Final cutscenes
To be honest, the Dream Fulfilled cutscenes have been ready for almost a year. We just haven't gotten around to actually adding them to the game. Also, we're not really sure, do we have to show them right after the purchase or in the end? If right away then you can see them without actually winning the game. Not cool. If in the end, that's just weird: you landed on the Moon at thirty, but saw it at sixty-five? Or made enough money for the space travel by thirty and waited for another thirty-five years to go? Weird. Surprisingly complicated game design issue.
10. Business quests
We also really want to make business and real estate much more unpredictable than they are now. We've already scripted and added the chance cards, which present two new events, 2 to 3 choices, and two potential outcomes (so, 500! unique events overall).
The main difference between already existing events is that there are different potential outcomes. We also want to add variable return on business, from losses to breaking even to profit. But to do that properly, we would have to rethink the whole system, which we obviously don't want to do. So, another game design issue.
11. Major changes
There's the problem: the more features the game has, the sooner it starts to crumble under its own weight. This is why, after a certain amount of time, TF starts to lag on Android, and we have little idea how to fix it.
We need to change the whole game engine, really. Although we want to do everything properly, we still can't change all at once. There are some ideas concerning TF 2.0. where we will use all our experience and all your suggestions. We'll think more about it as soon as we solve issues 1 to 10 :)
All the best,
Roman
