Banking Beta issues

[megapolis]

Just wanted to give you an update that the dev team is still working on the fixes and improvements. They expect to release an updated version in the coming week.

Thanks for the update. I was already thinking that my last reports were overwhelming.
I have a hope that it will be save compatible but looks like a couple of minutes ago I bumped into a game-breaking bug.

[megapolis]

Here's a bug. Looks like companies are swapped again.
On this screenshot a large company Tricubic Space merged with small Sage Bloom. As a result game forced me to sell 20% of Tricubic Space instead of paying me money for my Sage Bloom stock.

Caplab stock bug.PNG (34.23 KiB) Viewed 2924 times

Correction: I did not have any Sage Bloom stock. CEO of Sage Bloom received a proper compensation for his stock.

[megapolis]

From simulation perspective Transportation DLC is probably a better idea than Energy DLC.
From gameplay perspective I think that Energy DLC has more content that Transportation DLC

Your statements precisely describe the current dilemma when it comes to potential new DLC development.

So do you suggest that the dev team should focus on improving the base game instead of embarking on a new DLC development, after the completion of the Banking DLC?

If so, which aspects of the game need improvements the most, in your opinion?

First I double the suggestion of my fellow forum user about code refactoring.
There are parts of the game that the players cannot check and find bugs in them. For example I suspect that some money in citizens mechanic comes from the thin air and disappear somewhere. Or maybe some city profits/expenses go into wrong pocket. I don't know. But there are tons of decade-old bugs in the game.
I really mean that consistency of gameplay experience is essential. And understanding that everything goes right is the key. Now I don't have this understanding. I even understand the opposite.

Second - AI. It should be improved or dramatically changed. Some aspects of current AI are outright annoying like the one below, some are puzzling like sitting on billions of money without any idea of spending them.

Caplab stock bug2.PNG (47.15 KiB) Viewed 2921 times

Third - interface in general. Replacing grid with something more useful or adding some QoL changes. Custom views, custom shortcuts, some dynamic lists. Ability to resize lists windows. Manual entering the numbers. Remembering positions where you left the dialogue or on the contrary ability to revert changes in other dialogues. Sorting options where they are not present. Automation of routine tasks or even ability to customize automation.

Oh, by the way, talking about lists. It is really annoying that I have to scroll through lists because they are created with smaller resolutions in mind. Here's the typical example. I scroll this list all the time because five last items don't fit in.

Caplab list.PNG (53.34 KiB) Viewed 2921 times

[megapolis]

As for analysis mode, I think that in theory it is a good idea. Classic 3x3 grid is outdated and has to be replaced with better views and/or mechanics. Unfortunately currently analysis view is rather hollow. I still use 3x3 view almost all the time. Not because it is the future, but because it is still more useful.

Please explain what you meant by "rather hollow" and how it can be possibly improved.

I think that you should continue to make experiments with analysis view and advertise it among the players. One day it will lead to a new view that will effectively replace grid.

Currently there are little boxes representing stocks of products being animated in units in the 3X3 grid. When the 3x3 grid is gone, would you imagine that the game will become more static and actually less interesting to play? Also, it will reduce the amount of user interaction required for setting up and running firms, will that make the game less fun? In the majority of time, the player will be just analyzing tons of data. Once decisions are made, it will actually take only a few clicks to execute, if the 3x3 grid is replaced with something simpler.

By hollow I mean empty, desolated and useless. A full screen for just two numbers? It looks awful even in 1024x768. I'll do some MS Paint mad skills now (I have an hour before going out).

[megapolis]

Ok. Let's start with screen real estate. (oh, by the way, all screenshots are intentionally made in 1024x768. I don't know why you still support it. I can understand 1366x768 but nothing less)
We have two unused places. We have only one product per factory and some space below the window.

Caplab Window001 outlined.png (585.81 KiB) Viewed 2916 times

Now I will try to pack all the data from 6 different views into one screen to make a living place out of desert.
Here are 6 screenshots:

[megapolis]

First moving buttons to the left and removing alternative view buttons (this view is dead anyway but 20 years ago as I remember there was a picture of factory interior)

Caplab Window005 Product in process 001.png (505.56 KiB) Viewed 2915 times

[megapolis]

Let's find some empty space.
I intentionally did not resize elements. I am pretty sure that parts of this picture can be re-arranged but now let's leave it as is

And... I forgot e-commerce. Added for great justice

Caplab Window005 Product in process 002.png (435.67 KiB) Viewed 2914 times

[megapolis]

found out what to do with product graph.
oops. that's a lot of empty space!

Caplab Window005 Product in process 003.png (425.72 KiB) Viewed 2913 times

[megapolis]

adding items from other views. I think I will take purchase information from analysis view

Caplab Window005 Product in process 004.png (453.97 KiB) Viewed 2912 times

[megapolis]

Try to take supply from analysis view... not a good idea because I need three of these. Scrapping.

Caplab Window005 Product in process 005.png (471.36 KiB) Viewed 2912 times