Game Dev Story (iOS)

I searched the forum for "Game Dev Story," and it does not appear there is already a thread about this game. So I apologize if one exists and I did not see it.

That said, Game Dev Story is a business simulation available on the iTunes store for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. It costs $4 US. The premise is simple: you are starting a company that will develop and publish video games. Your primary goal is to remain financially stable, and your lesser goals are to create your own console, and dominate the business within twenty years. The simulation gameplay is fairly complex, including...

- Who to hire, and how to improve employee skills - What platforms to publish games on - How to develop a game - Timing of releases (such as around winter holidays, and with or without bugs...) - How to advertise

I found Game Dev Story pretty compelling. There's lots of stats to manage, and plenty of variables to consider.

The gameplay can get a little easy as it goes on... once the fictional company starts publishing games that top the sales chart, it seems difficult to fail. Of course, that's also a good time to take risks (publish games at the end of a console's lifecycle, publish experimental games...) and challenge yourself.

Game Dev Story was created by a Japanese company called Kairosoft. Its English localization is impressive, with a lot of humor, and just a few grammar errors. The fictional game industry is based on Japan from about 1982 through 2006, and thus some aspects of the Japanese game market are presented in the game (consoles never released in the west, and a fanbase that's interested in niche content such as romance games and sound novels). Kairosoft does not currently have any other games in English. If you browse their site at kairosoft.net, you'll see the company has created a number of freeware life/business simulations for Windows.

It's now available for 99 cents on iTunes for a limited time.

Can't... stop... playing.

Some of it is Fridge Logic - Mystery + Puzzle = Not a good fit?

Someone tell Professor Layton.

Table + Pirate = Not Good. Wah.

Puzzle + Robot = Not Good. Well then.

Adventure + Mystery = Haven't started development yet, but my staff shat their pants in excitement.

EDIT: You just did a proposal and you're not sure if you can do another good one? WELL HOW ABOUT LETTING ME CHANGE MY MIND

edited 1st Jan '11 11:55:52 AM by ColorPrinter

Jesus Christ I have been playing this game ALL FUCKING DAY!

Doing it properly this time. I am going to try in a later playthrough doing really stupid shit and seeing if it works.

So... addicting... must... get... console...

So how do you get games with more than 9s in every stat? The bestest game I've managed was a Sim RPG + Dating (fun and creativity in the 150s, music and graphics in the 110s - a sudden morale boost helped a lot) and its cumulative review score was 34 and I still didn't get the Best Game Award at the expo =(

Also, where do we get the Hardware Engineers needed to make our own consoles? Didn't ever see them on the hireable list, and I apparently can't multiclass my existing crew into it like into Producers and Directors (which are, apparently, GODS as far as stats are concerned, I've managed to level one into having 200 in graphics and ~150 in everything else without using Training at all!)

Also, what's the longest sequel chain anyone's gotten? Best I managed was a Racing + Sports for the DS Expy series three games strong, the third only got a score of 31 and failed to get into the Hall of Fame.

edited 17th Jan '11 11:09:47 PM by Noelemahc

I've never got a 10 and I've got way better stats than those. Best score I've got is for a 35.

I haven't figured out how to get a Hardware Engineer either. Even better than Producers and Directors are Hackers. You can't get those unless you shell out the money for a Hollywood agent. I'm figuring that if I bring one of those up to Level 5, then use a class change book I can get one.

I fully expect the game will be a total bastard and wipe away their God-tier stats as the price to pay.

I've got an insane amount of cash at this point, like about 200M now. I have no idea if that's meant to be difficult or what.

EDIT: As of this morning, I got a perfect 10. Booyah! Had to throw some level 3 hackers at damn near everything. STILL did not win game of the year. Continuing to make money hand over fist, though.

Also, as a rule of thumb, once you unlock the "Life", "RPG", "Simulation", "Action-RPG" or "Sim RPG" genres you have pretty much got it made. Those genres work with pretty much any theme.

edited 18th Jan '11 11:17:33 AM by TibetanFox

To get a hardware engineer, you need to be level five in all six careers, then switch to hardware engineer via a job change thingy.

Which is to say, be damn good friends with that travelling salesman. Given the huge amount of pain in the ass and expense involved in making one's own console, I can't help but wonder if it's worth it unless one plans for it from the very beginning.

I want to try for my next playthrough to only develop for the PC and see how well I can do.

EDIT: So, my score after my first playthrough is $396,543K. Not too shabby, IMO. How'd you guys do on that front? I must admit I turned into a total sequel whore near the end since damn near anything I pumped out with my dream team and a big budget just became a hall of fame entrant. Although occasionally some games in the more expensive genres can have dubious profitability. Keep a watch on that!

edited 19th Jan '11 3:53:29 AM by TibetanFox