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IDProjectCategoryLast Update
0028215Heart Of The MachineSuggestionMay 22, 2024 12:21 am
Reporterptarth Assigned ToChris_McElligottPark  
Status resolvedResolutionfixed 
Product Version0.506 More Fixes 
Fixed in Version0.513 Electric Handbook 
Summary0028215: Explain More: Buildings, Installations, Basements
DescriptionIt was unclear at the start what was going on with building construction, basement digging, and installation construction. Ultimately it made sense, but took a while. It was also unclear that you can change the installation in a building of the same type.
TagsNo tags attached.

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Chris_McElligottPark

May 19, 2024 4:39 pm

administrator   ~0068323

Serious question, not snark: is there anything relevant that would have changed how you played?

Overall, seeing how things work over time and coming to an understanding what is up is the general goal for a game like this.

The in-game information popups are meant to be enough to let you make good decisions and actually play. Full wiki-style explanations of every mechanic have some value in some cases, but when it's done for mechanics that are ultimately fairly trivial in their impact, then the player is just overwhelmed with info.

Most players are going to be playing about 2x faster than what you did, and I really have serious concerns about over-explaining things to them. That kills any sense of mystery or immersion for a lot of people, and it creates information fatigue in general, and so on.

ptarth

May 19, 2024 5:00 pm

reporter   ~0068333

It wouldn't have changed the actions I took in game. It did slow me down because of all the unfamiliar information. Partly its because I've been following the development and had the vague memory that the player added additional modules to existing buildings. So I was trying to figure out how to add buildings to existing buildings. The "Installed" term didn't help here, I took it as (somehow) I have installed X out of Y in the building (instead of it being the cap for that class of building). But I couldn't figure out how that happened.

If the current system is going to be kept, then I'd vote for removing a large portion of the non-relevant information.
The current display shows (in detail mode, a bit less in non-detail mode)

Construction Turns - Convert to total time until building is active. Perhaps due away with partial activation completely?
Basement Construction Turns - Perhaps drop basements completely?
Job Installation Turns - Fold into Construction Turns.
Floor Area - Remove?
Total Volume - Remove?
Installed - The language is strange to me. I have a hard time reading that as building limits.

For a help tip the following would have helped:
You build multipurpose building structures. Those structures have a limit (install). Your buildings can be reconfigured to run different jobs. Job changes take time.

Chris_McElligottPark

May 22, 2024 12:21 am

administrator   ~0068484

Okay, between the two of us I think we got this.

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
May 18, 2024 7:34 pm ptarth New Issue
May 18, 2024 10:39 pm Michael Status new => considering
May 19, 2024 4:39 pm Chris_McElligottPark Assigned To => Chris_McElligottPark
May 19, 2024 4:39 pm Chris_McElligottPark Status considering => feedback
May 19, 2024 4:39 pm Chris_McElligottPark Note Added: 0068323
May 19, 2024 5:00 pm ptarth Note Added: 0068333
May 22, 2024 12:21 am Chris_McElligottPark Status feedback => resolved
May 22, 2024 12:21 am Chris_McElligottPark Resolution open => fixed
May 22, 2024 12:21 am Chris_McElligottPark Fixed in Version => 0.513 Electric Handbook
May 22, 2024 12:21 am Chris_McElligottPark Note Added: 0068484