Something fishy about research in v1.22 SP2

[Cerberus23]

Hey Eric,

i just noticed that i'm getting the same "We can use new technology" message for the last 3 years of my gameplay. I was about to design an new engine with said new technology only to find out it's not there. That made me reload the safe and take a closer look.

Picture (look at the years)

I think what's happening is that research points are being reset to the value they had the year before. For example.

Start of 1911 = 31.4. End of 1911 = 35.4.
Start of 1912 = 31.4. End of 1912 = 35.4.
Start of and so on...

That's i think why i'm getting this message and technology over and over again but still don't have it available at a certain point.

Nightmare game, Base City Map, 300 AI.

Savegame attached.

Thanks for looking

[Eric.B]

Thanks for the files, interesting bug, because I don't think I've touched any of this code in a while.

Anyway, I'll take a look at it sometime after I finish the contract rewrite, and hopefully get it fixed for v1.22.1.

[Shepherd]

I experienced about the same, had access to 12 cylinders and then lost it again.

But I thought it had to do with the new code that merges skill points when you take over other company's (which I did).
"-Design skill points now increase or decrease if you buy/merge/or spin off a company."

Maybe OP has taken over or merged with other company's in that time frame that makes it look like his skill points do not go up?

[Eric.B]

I haven't had the chance to look, but that might be it. It'll be in the save game.

[Cerberus23]

That might be it. I took over a bankrupt company at the end of 1911 and another two companies in 1913.

If that's the case - sorry for bothering you

Edit:

Why tho?

*totally made up conversations and situations within the car company following*


Bob is chirpin' it's way along to the research facility, singing: "I'm about to design a fresh and good looking 12 cylinder with DOHC".

Then he got stopped by Jim, saying: "Bob, what the hell are you doing here?"

Bob: "Ehm... 12 cylinder, DOHC - fresh, good looking?"

Jim: "You idiot Bob, we just took over Beta Aroma, you can't do that now!"

Bob: "But the message stating i can is only 1 month old?!"

Jim: "No Bob, just no!!!"

Bob:


---

What happenend to the plans for 12 cylinders and DOHC?

Gosh these folks from Beta Aroma joined and drained our IQ.

They... what? How? They just vanished or what?

*totally made up conversations and situations within the car company ending*

That Sir, is weird

[Shepherd]

I agree that the now you see it, then you don't thing is a bit weird. It will cause some headcratching by a few players.

But I do like that there now is a price to be paid if you aggressively go out and take over ones competition.

It was a very OP strategy until the cost of buying them out was raised a few revisions back, and now that it hurts your research as well it's in check.

Not sure how to solve it, but maybe it's better to get an imaginary -value to the skill points. but not to loose them. Then you would have to research enough skill points to zero out the - skill points before you can start gaining normal skill points again. This will slow you down but avoid the now you see it then you don't thing.

[Cerberus23]

Loosing research points isn't a bad thing actually.

But not beeing able to use technologies you already "unlocked" is.

Maybe we can bring this together somehow... Like if you're loosing 5 research points and the necessary points for unlocked technologies are reduced about the same amount? Something like that?

[Shepherd]

We think the same, we just see different solutions. Just made a little mockup to show what I ment.

PP (Penalty Points) : As long as this value is other than 0 all the points you earn goes to fill this box, once you reach 0 you start to accumulate normal points.

   

Edit: I am sure this first you see it then you don't just happened because of the Law of unintended consequences. Eric surely will come up with a viable fix.

[Eric.B]

I'll probably do what cost the least amount to do time wise. We're getting toward the end (well I'm running out of money again anyway). So I have to get full release out fairly soon.

So I'll probably put a toggle in the components part of the DB for the stuff you (the player) already unlocked. Easy to do, just a bunch of copy and paste code. The only two problems I can think of, 1) not fair to the AI, but that's really no big deal, and 2) If I ever multiplayer the game, I'll have to think of/implement something else.

[Eric.B]

I should have this issue resolved, it'll be in the next patch. May need some testing though.