Game Dev Tycoon - Review

17.00.00


This time we are back with a review of this indie game by Greenheart Games. The game is Game Dev Tycoon, and is a game developer simulator. You might have heard about it, as there have been much talking about the stunt they did, where if you pirated the game, people would begin to pirate you in-game games.
This did get really much publicity, and here at theKingan we think it was a great idea, even though it was simple!

Gameplay

The game is quite simple, you start in the 1980's in your garage with a budget on 70k and your computer. From then you just have to make games, and now you're probably wondering why we use the word "just", and that is because it is easy. First you have to choose topic, theme, platform, (later in the game, also engine) Next you'll be taken through three steps, where you adjust some settings within;

  • Engine
  • Gameplay
  • Stories & Quests
  • Dialogues
  • Level design
  • A.I (Artificial Interlligence)
  • World design
  • Graphics
  • Sounds

You can adjust everything as you want, but of course you want to focus on the important things so it matches your topic/theme. For example in a RPG game you want to focus on the Stories & Quests, the Dialogues and a bit on your A.I, too. Sounds and World Design will also be things to focus on. 
Another thing, you have to think about is the time you are in. For example will it not be smart to maximise the graphics if you are still in the 1980's, where in 2010, you'll not be able to sell good with horrible graphics. 

After you have released your games, you'll get reviews and grades from 4 different game-magazines.
Those reviews will inflect your sales much, so it's better to use some time and be sure to get good reviews, than rush through the making, as it will, most of the time, earn you less money.

You start out in a garage where you create games on a PC from the 80's. The better your company gets, the more money you'll earn, and your company grows, as you get more fans, that you gain from your games.
When you get 150k in money, you're able to move into a bigger office where you can get a laboratory, and so, you'll be able to research MMO, and amazing graphics, and a lot more.
When you start a MMO, remember to have the best engines as possible,  cause they can cost you a lot to drive, mostly because of the servers.

We decided to not make a section about the graphics, as there really isn't much to them, instead you can take a look at this picture, and you have a quite good idea about how the graphics are.

Advantages/Disadvantages

Advantages

  • It's a simple game, but at the same time very unique
  • You can manage your own game company
  • You almost feel like being in a real game company
  • Great game to simulate entrepreneurship
  • Greenheart Games continues to work on Game Dev Tycoon

Disadvantages

  • There should be more options to design your game
  • For some people this game wíll get boring really quickly

Final Comment

Now to the end. I personally love this game cause I can play it whenever I feel like wanting to become famous in the game industry. This game is something you can compete in together with your friends, here at theKingan we used a lot of time competing with our mates. The game is also very simple, so you never get lost in it.
Game Dev Tycoon is probably one of the best simulation/indie games we ever tried.

Rating: 8/10
Price: 8€
Release: Out now
Developer: Greenheart Games
Publisher: Greenheart games
Buy it: Greenheart Games

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Joachim Skovgaard

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