[beaconstudios]

seems interesting and I've just signed up, but am I right in thinking that rent is automatically taken every day but money is not automatically earned? So if I have $100 and a $10/day rent and take 10 days without playing, I'll have $0 when I come back? If that's the case then it's a shame as it's rather offputting, which would be a shame as the concept is very appealing. Just asking for clarity.

[Gluten]

Yes, that's how it works. Making $10 isn't that hard though, just check back a little more often than once every 10 days.

[beaconstudios]

it's not the difficulty that concerns me, it's that your game is arguably punishing me for not playing it every day. I know it's a common practice to try to maximise DAU on games these days but I won't be playing it if I'll be penalised for not being super-active. I still play http://urbandead.com/ because I can drop in every now and then casually.

[AdamSC1]

It's not "punishing you" it's just the mechanics of the game. If you want a more casual game, play a more casual game.

The guy is making a simulation based game, and is free to make it however he wants.

[beaconstudios]

That's a non sequitur, it's not like I'm lobbying politicians to take away his rights to make the game. I'm pointing out something I don't like in a game I otherwise would likely play - or is audience feedback now a bad thing akin to telling someone how to make their game?

[ghthor]

Thank you for defending game mechanics. The goal of mechanics are to generate some type of behavior, it isn't to make everyone happy or everyone a player.

[beaconstudios]

I think the idea of game mechanics is to be fun, "generating behaviour" strikes me as very cynical.

[phillc73]

As game mechanics they seem about right to me. The landlord's going to take the rent whether you're working or not. If you don't work (play the game) you don't earn.

[beaconstudios]

Or for example time could pause on days you don't visit. If I play a browser game it's going to be a very small part of my life and I'm not going to be concerned with making sure I visit daily because the game wants me to.