Suggestions for Improving the CapLab Launcher

[XAPDKOP]

Hello, CapLab players!

I would like to share some ideas for improving the game launcher and get your feedback on them. Here's what I suggest:

1. Combine the application window and password input. Simplify the login process by merging these windows into one.

2. Introduce a news block about the game. Currently, the browser window in the launcher seems ineffective as it doesn't display the latest patches, updates, and news. I think this block would add value and keep players informed.

3. Add the ability to update the game directly from the launcher. Currently, we have to work with ZIP files, which isn't very convenient. A direct update feature would make life easier for many players.

4. Create a player ranking system. Would you be interested in such a system? How do you think it should look and what features should it include?

5. Enable opening and downloading mods directly through the launcher. This would simplify access to mods and allow players to install or update them without exiting the launcher.

6. Integrate the forum into the launcher. Or at least display the most active threads directly in the launcher for easy access to discussions.

7. Add a technical support chat. This would help resolve many issues quickly, often in 2-5 minutes, which is faster than writing emails.

I believe these changes would make the launcher more functional and convenient for everyone.

Additionally, I think it would be a good idea to implement cloud saving. This would allow players to play on different devices with a single account and could also help the development team receive bugged saves more quickly, potentially even before the player contacts support.

I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on these improvements!

Thank you for your attention!

[cantdownloadit]

1 - not bothered, im happy as it is
2 - no real interest
3 - dont know how it works but it can auto update, i have specifically set my game to not auto update.
4 - no, i dont care how other people are playing it and i certainly do want anyone viewing how i "rank" at it - this would make me quit playing without an opt out.
5 - can auto download the "popular" mods in game already, not sure what the benefit would be ?
6 - happy as is, i hate games that bombard me with news about new dlc/updates when i just want to open the game and play it
7 - is there team big enough for this ? people are pretty quick to respond on forums and i imagine discord/reddit etc anyway

cloud saves would need online storage, i always turn cloud saves off in all games, i hate it, and it would require storage space which costs money, who foots the bill ? would you pay extra for cloud saves ? i also wouldn't want anyone to have access to my saves/data without my consent.

[Stylesjl]

I have some commentary on these:

1. Combine the application window and password input. Simplify the login process by merging these windows into one.

I think this is already how it works - anytime I open the launcher the username/password interface is already there with the credentials already saved.

2. Introduce a news block about the game. Currently, the browser window in the launcher seems ineffective as it doesn't display the latest patches, updates, and news. I think this block would add value and keep players informed.

I think there is merit to better displaying the latest news before opening the launcher - right now the username/password blocks it. Also the news does not seem to be often updated, the latest is the Banking and Finance DLC which came out years ago.

3. Add the ability to update the game directly from the launcher. Currently, we have to work with ZIP files, which isn't very convenient. A direct update feature would make life easier for many players.

Yes, I think for newer players that don't often visit the forum this would be a hugely beneficial thing to have an auto-updater so that players can get the latest stable release.

4. Create a player ranking system. Would you be interested in such a system? How do you think it should look and what features should it include?

Not really interested in this one all that much. How would players even be ranked anyway? Challenge Games maybe, though we already have a page for those that want to see their challenge rankings.

5. Enable opening and downloading mods directly through the launcher. This would simplify access to mods and allow players to install or update them without exiting the launcher.

I think the current interface is good enough. As soon as you load the game you can select mods right from the start and there is already an auto-updater there (or at least since the most recent version).

6. Integrate the forum into the launcher. Or at least display the most active threads directly in the launcher for easy access to discussions.

This might be a bit interesting, just having a summary of all the latest or most important forum threads.

7. Add a technical support chat. This would help resolve many issues quickly, often in 2-5 minutes, which is faster than writing emails.

I think Enlight already has a Discord server. Although they don't really advertise it on the main page, but it could still provide some quick support if it was used more widely (although staffing might be an issue).

[XAPDKOP]

1 - not bothered, im happy as it is
2 - no real interest
3 - dont know how it works but it can auto update, i have specifically set my game to not auto update.
4 - no, i dont care how other people are playing it and i certainly do want anyone viewing how i "rank" at it - this would make me quit playing without an opt out.
5 - can auto download the "popular" mods in game already, not sure what the benefit would be ?
6 - happy as is, i hate games that bombard me with news about new dlc/updates when i just want to open the game and play it
7 - is there team big enough for this ? people are pretty quick to respond on forums and i imagine discord/reddit etc anyway

cloud saves would need online storage, i always turn cloud saves off in all games, i hate it, and it would require storage space which costs money, who foots the bill ? would you pay extra for cloud saves ? i also wouldn't want anyone to have access to my saves/data without my consent.

It's only about voluntary participation in the rating and using cloud storage. No one will monitor you and your data without your consent.

Maybe I'm not expressing my thoughts correctly, sorry, language barrier. I use a translator, English is not my native language.

[cantdownloadit]

Yes that's ok, but as Styles said there are already challenge games with ratings, because capitalism lab has so many possible settings I do not see any real way they could be ranked against each other.

as for the auto updating, I thought it did that now anyway - I followed the guidance in https://www.capitalismlab.com/support-faq/ to stop it auto updating.

I admit I was a little unsure over number 1, the way I read it was that you were suggesting merging the launcher into the main capitalism application, in which case that would render option 2 void as there would no longer need to be a launcher

[Stylesjl]

Yes that's ok, but as Styles said there are already challenge games with ratings, because capitalism lab has so many possible settings I do not see any real way they could be ranked against each other.

as for the auto updating, I thought it did that now anyway - I followed the guidance in https://www.capitalismlab.com/support-faq/ to stop it auto updating.

I admit I was a little unsure over number 1, the way I read it was that you were suggesting merging the launcher into the main capitalism application, in which case that would render option 2 void as there would no longer need to be a launcher

Yeah I think it auto-patches, but not always. I have only seen it happen a few times.

[XAPDKOP]

Yes that's ok, but as Styles said there are already challenge games with ratings, because capitalism lab has so many possible settings I do not see any real way they could be ranked against each other.

as for the auto updating, I thought it did that now anyway - I followed the guidance in https://www.capitalismlab.com/support-faq/ to stop it auto updating.

I admit I was a little unsure over number 1, the way I read it was that you were suggesting merging the launcher into the main capitalism application, in which case that would render option 2 void as there would no longer need to be a launcher

I don't have auto-updates working out of the box and I use ZIP archives for updates. When I launch CapStart, two windows appear: one for entering the password and one for the browser. The problem is that the browser cannot be used until you close the password window, and then you have to restart CapStart to enter the game.

I suggest combining these functions into one window to make it more functional and informative. This will improve the user experience and simplify the process of entering the game.

[XAPDKOP]

I would like to see a launcher at least as good as this site: https://tlauncher.org/en/. This launcher looks more modern and functional, which will improve the overall user experience and help attract more players. In addition, it does not give the impression of being the most modern launcher, which will help avoid dissonance between the visual style of the launcher, the site and the game itself.

[cantdownloadit]

I know its personal opinion but to me that is far too cluttered.

Personally i would rather just have an auto login option so I never even see the launcher.

I do not remember seeing the launcher before I bought the game and installed it, so I cant see it would have affected my purchasing the game - I bought the game based on the old games.