Game Dev Tycoon is a Tycoon game that is based around running your own game development company. Starting from being a lone developer in your garage in a period that is highly reminiscent of the 1980’s through to the modern day. Complete with various technology and offices to represent each generation that arrives. There are plenty of references to historical events in the industry at time in game. Such as companies coming and going or new technological advances that have arrived.
Whilst the idea of a tycoon game based around game developments sounds like a good idea. The concept of this game is easy enough to design a game around. As well as there hasn’t been any that are based around game development. Sadly this game isn’t as great as to what it could have been potentially. I feel that this game does lack a lot in the design of this game. Mainly this is because of the amount of issues with the design. Whether it is intentional or not I feel that the game is lacking in various aspects.
As a business simulation I feel that when it comes to managing your resources there is plenty I don’t like. Financially there is a restriction when it comes to taking a loan out. Since you are only allowed to take out loans when the game dictates to you that you need the loans financially. That time being if you are in you’re in the red financially.
This is limiting in some instances as you cannot have a loan for business purposes. For example to develop a new engine which would make your games more successful. However for some reason you can spend as much as you want on game development until you need to take a loan. Another thing I don’t like is that if you wind up taking on a loan in game. You can’t pay back the loan early. This I think is strange even if you have the cash to pay the loan back in full.
When it comes to physical resources I don’t like how it is only 1 studio you own. There is no option of owning more than one.  I would have liked the idea of having multiple studios later on. This would have been beneficial as I could have a few different studios making different games. I also would have liked the ability to buy out studios that have failed. Mainly so I could use their entities to make games or to manage them under my control.
I also feel that another aspect that does lack features is how you can manage your human resources. This is because you cannot have more than one person working on one aspect on a game. This is most noticeable when you get larger teams in your development studio. Being able to have many people working on one aspect of a game would be beneficial. Especially as you could get them into teams to help speed up development and reduce workloads.
I have mixed feelings about the game development. When you are starting a game I like how in the menus for selecting the console to develop on it will show a picture of the console. The same with development as it will show you a picture representing what topic your game is about. This makes it visually more appealing. It does also make it more accessible to those who want to learn another language or are unable to read. Another feature I like is the management of resources in development. Since rather than just letting the game decide how you want your game to be produced. You can decide on if it is biased towards graphics, game play and other factors.
I also think that the consoles that you can develop for in game needs changing. The first thing that irritates me is how the game doesn’t allow you to develop a game for a console that isn’t yet available for release to the public. I would have liked the opportunity to have had to develop a game on release for a console on release day. Since the game could be a disaster or a great success. Particularly if you have one of the few games that are available on a console the day it is released. I think that console manufacturers should be able to make a binding contract in game. In particular a contract that provides you with a financial bonus but only if you develop games exclusively on their platforms for one generation. This could be either an added challenge or for financial rewards.
Overall I don’t recommend Game Dev Tycoon as it is lacking in content. However, if this game is on sale for £2 or less. Game Dev Tycoon may be worth a looking at especially if it gets updated and is improved upon.
