GameDevSim is a game development studio simulator where you can experience the challenges and thrills of running your own game studio. Start small, make great games, and grow your studio into a gaming industry powerhouse!

1. Create Your Studio: Choose a unique name and select your preferred game genres. Your genre preferences affect your team's expertise in those areas.
2. Initial Resources: You start with $50,000 in funding and one developer (you, the founder) with balanced skills.
3. Studio Level: Your studio starts at Level 1. Complete games successfully to gain reputation and level up, unlocking new features and opportunities.

In GameDevSim, time flows differently from the real world:

• 8 Real-World Hours = 1 Game Week. Thrice a day, every eight hours, GameDevSim processes one week of in-game time.
• Development Progress: Your games progress weekly, with development tasks advancing each eight hours in real time.
• Sales Updates: For released games, sales numbers and revenue are updated daily, representing a full week of sales in the game world.
• Studio Updates: Your studio's finances, reputation, and other metrics are updated daily to reflect the week's activities.

Pro Tip: Check your games and studio status daily to stay on top of your weekly progress!

Development Stages

1. Pre-production: Planning phase where your team establishes the game's foundation.
2. Production: Main development phase where your team creates the actual game.
3. Testing/QA: Quality assurance phase to find and fix bugs. The duration and effectiveness of this phase depends on your chosen Quality Standards:
   • Normal: Standard QA timeline
   • Demanding: 50% longer QA phase with more thorough testing
   • Perfectionist: QA continues until all bugs are eliminated
4. Completed: Development is finished, ready for release.
5. Released: Game is available to the public, generating sales and reviews.

Game Properties

• Genres: Choose from Action, RPG, Strategy, Simulation, Sports, Casual, Racing, Puzzle, Adventure, and Horror.
• Platforms: Start with PC or Mobile. Higher studio levels unlock console platforms.
• Scope: Begin with Indie or Medium scope. AAA games unlock at higher levels.
• Quality Standards: Choose how much polish and perfection you want in your game:
  • Normal: Standard development timeline with regular quality control.
  • Demanding: Extends QA phase by 50% for more thorough testing.
  • Perfectionist: Development continues until zero bugs remain, ensuring the highest quality.

Quality Standards Impact

Pro Tip: Higher quality games receive better critic scores due to fewer bugs, leading to improved sales and studio reputation. Consider your budget and timeline when choosing quality standards!

Development Tips

• Match your game's genre with your studio's preferred genres for better results.
• Keep an eye on bugs during the Testing phase - they affect review scores.
• Development happens in real-time - check back daily to see your progress!
• Balance development costs with your available funds.
• Quality Strategy: Use "Demanding" or "Perfectionist" quality standards for important games or when you have extra budget. The longer development time pays off with better reviews!
• Budget Planning: Remember that higher quality standards mean higher development costs due to extended team salaries during the longer QA phase.

• Studio Funds: Manage your money carefully. Development costs include platform licenses and team salaries.
• Revenue: Games generate revenue through sales. Better reviews typically lead to better sales.
• Reputation: Successfully released games build your studio's reputation, helping you level up.
• Team Management: As your studio grows, you'll be able to hire additional developers (coming soon).

Your studio's reputation is a crucial metric that reflects your success in the gaming industry. It affects your studio level and unlocks new opportunities.

How Reputation Works

• Base Reputation: All studios start with a base reputation of 10 points.
• Level Bonus: Each studio level above 1 provides additional reputation points.
• Game Success: Releasing successful games increases your reputation over time.
• Quality Matters: Higher quality games with better reviews contribute more to your reputation.

Reputation Calculation

• Starting Value: 10 + (Studio Level - 1) bonus points
• Game Bonuses: Added based on your released games' performance
• Display: Your reputation is rounded up to the nearest whole number for display

Benefits of High Reputation

• 📈 Studio Level Progression: Higher reputation helps you advance to the next studio level
• 🎮 Better Opportunities: Access to larger project scopes and premium platforms
• 💰 Market Recognition: Established studios with good reputation attract more players
• 🏢 Industry Standing: Your reputation reflects your position in the gaming industry

Building Reputation

• 🎯 Focus on Quality: Create well-polished games with minimal bugs
• 📊 Monitor Reviews: Better critic scores contribute positively to your reputation
• 🚀 Complete Projects: Finishing and releasing games is essential for reputation growth
• 💪 Learn and Improve: Each successful release makes your next game potentially better

Pro Tip: Your reputation is displayed on your dashboard and represents your studio's overall success. Aim to steadily build it through consistent quality releases!

As your studio grows and gains levels, new platforms, game scopes, and monetization strategies become available. This progression system ensures that you gradually unlock more advanced options as you prove your studio's capabilities.

🎮 Platform Unlocks

• Level 1: PC & Mobile - Essential platforms for indie developers with broad markets
• Level 2: Console Basic - Entry-level console development
• Level 3: Console Premium - Advanced console platforms with larger audiences
• Level 4: Next-Gen Consoles - Latest console technology
• Level 5: VR Platform - Cutting-edge virtual reality gaming

🎯 Game Scope Progression

• Level 1: Indie Games - Perfect for learning and building experience
• Level 3: Medium Games - More complex projects with higher potential
• Level 5: AAA Games - Industry-leading blockbuster projects

💰 Monetization Strategy Unlocks

• Level 1: Free (Ad Revenue) & Low Cost - Accessible pricing strategies
• Level 2: Medium Cost - Balanced pricing for established studios
• Level 4: Premium Pricing - High-value games for experienced developers

🎨 Genre Experience Benefits

• Initial Experience: New studios start with 50 XP in their primary genre and 25 XP in their secondary genre
• Level Progression: Every 100 XP = 1 level (starting from Level 1)
• Bug Reduction: Each level above 1 reduces bugs by 5% (max 50% at Level 11)
• Experience Gain: Complete games to earn 50-100 XP in their genres

Strategy Tip: Focus on leveling up your studio and gaining genre experience to unlock powerful combinations of platforms, scopes, and pricing that maximize your games' potential!

Running a game studio involves ongoing expenses that must be paid regardless of your development activity.

Fixed Cost Structure

• Base Cost: Every studio pays $500 per week in fixed costs
• Level Scaling: Costs increase by 20% for each studio level above 1
• Automatic Deduction: Fixed costs are automatically deducted during weekly updates

What Fixed Costs Cover

• 🏢 Office Rent: Your studio space and facilities
• ⚡ Utilities: Electricity, internet, and other essential services
• 🔧 Equipment Maintenance: Keeping your development tools in working order
• 📋 Administrative Costs: Legal, accounting, and business operations

Cost Examples by Level

• Level 1: $500/week
• Level 2: $600/week (20% increase)
• Level 3: $720/week (44% increase from base)
• Higher Levels: Costs continue scaling with success

Important: Fixed costs are charged every week, even when you're not actively developing games. Keep sufficient funds to cover these ongoing expenses!