Marques (After takeover)

[Laurent Tommy Flanagann]

Hello there,
I found out kinda problem when takingover other company.
Is it possible to create a new acquired brand model? As an example, I offered myself te Bulgutti brand from france for two reasons: First I am a huge brand fan (The original one, not the VAG brand), and second, I wanted to develop and sell car in Europe (I started and stayed in the US so far)...
I could not find any possiblity to do so... When creating a new model, it automatically goes under the original company name. I even tried to develop a new year model of a Bulgutti car, but it did not become a Bulgutti sadly...
I will try with the "Trim system" I do not really understand... But still, as I can NOT develop any new model, am I condamned to produce the one and only model from Bulgutti I have available for ever?
Not sure if this is bug or undevelop feature...

[Eric.B]

When you get to the "New Car Design: Overview" the place with all the buttons when designing a car, such as format, interior, materials, etc, there is a combobox with brand located on the right. This is where you change the brand/marque.

If that doesn't work, then it's a bug and i'll have to take a look at it.

[Laurent Tommy Flanagann]

Wow, I looked for it for at least 2 hours without finding it anywhere...

But that is GREAT new, many thanks for the quick answer!

Keep going, the game is excellent so far!

[Laurent Tommy Flanagann]

Will post here, in order not to spoil!

First, thanks Eric, it works fine that way! I can now produce Borgotti cars, Yeah!

That is, I noticed something that is truly fastidious...

I used the stock market to buy low prices companies, in order to get the brands! Then, the first thing is, to me, to re-allocate labor or distribution... That is soooooo long and hard...

I have to click on any location on the map where I can find a red point (then, if I do not go to the office again, point are staying red) to close things... It takes me so long to check everywhere, and then to close both branches and factories!

Maybe we should get a short summary along with the bought company that lists all the assets owned by it before buying!
That is, I usually use takeover to quickly get new factories when I expand and I find it like lottery... I know the origin of any brand, but I can not find its assets!

I bought the Deluge brand, and I noticed several turn later that I was producing model and trying to sell them in Brazil... Ok, it is not that bad, but let's say the bought company have 10+ factories, it becomes muuuuuuuch longer and harder!

[Arakash]

Maybe we should get a short summary along with the bought company that lists all the assets owned by it before buying!

This is something i would also like to see eventually.

I think this could be rolled into another few suggestions to make general screen/report/menu where you inspect your competitors. It could show:
Their models
Components
Sales History
Profits
Large Assets (like factories)
(Im sure you could put more on this list)

Currently most of this information is spread out in a few locations and over a few generated reports or not available at all.

[Laurent Tommy Flanagann]

Yeah, that is exactly what was on my mind! Great idea, the Competitors report!

Did you find large assests (or let's say FACTORIES!!!!!!!!) report anywhere?

I could not...

[Arakash]

Yeah, that is exactly what was on my mind! Great idea, the Competitors report!

Did you find large assests (or let's say FACTORIES!!!!!!!!) report anywhere?

I could not...

Afaik, that's in the "not available at all" category.

The information which is available(On your competitors) again afaik is some sales numbers(through a few generated reports and sales screen etc.), market share and models through the compare vehicles screen.
There is also information on the world map under each city as well.
Im missing several here i imagine, but my main point is you have to go to 9 different places to find them at the moment, and Factories are one more piece of useful information that could be in there.

[Eric.B]

I think this could be rolled into another few suggestions to make general screen/report/menu where you inspect your competitors. It could show:
Their models
Components
Sales History
Profits
Large Assets (like factories)
(Im sure you could put more on this list)

Where would you guys like to see such a report? In the stock menu or the sales book reports? Both?
Also brainstorm anything else you'd want to see in such a report. It's easier to knock everything out at once.

[Laurent Tommy Flanagann]

I'd say basically both!

That is, I will try to establish a list of all the suggestions I have in one set!

[Arakash]

I think this could be rolled into another few suggestions to make general screen/report/menu where you inspect your competitors. It could show:
Their models
Components
Sales History
Profits
Large Assets (like factories)
(Im sure you could put more on this list)

Where would you guys like to see such a report? In the stock menu or the sales book reports? Both?
Also brainstorm anything else you'd want to see in such a report. It's easier to knock everything out at once.

As it gives information that is useful to players in general situations(i would probably look at it regularly when playing), think it better fits into reports than sitting in the stock menu.
I was thinking it would have a selection bar to choose what company you want the report about, similar to the selection bars in charts which let you choose a city or model.

On other items that might be relevant to that report, i think it depends on an overall design choice.
Do you want a report that gives you a central view of your competitor, or one that gives information that isnt currently available on your competitor, or one that does both?

For information that i don't think is currently available anywhere:
Components(I dont know if this is useful without specific stats, but knowing they are the biggest component licenser might be good to know.)
Large Assets (like factories)
I dont know the details of them, but some of your new marketing/image things from the next update may be relevant.

If you wanted a report that gave you central view of your competitor, you could take information from:
Compare vehicles area: available vehicle models
Reports: Annual Report
Charts: General Market share
Generated reports(partly): Market share in vehicle category and best selling vehicle
World map: Branch locations and vehicle sales price
Sales: Sales by City and Sales by vehicle

[Laurent Tommy Flanagann]

I think this could be rolled into another few suggestions to make general screen/report/menu where you inspect your competitors. It could show:
Their models
Components
Sales History
Profits
Large Assets (like factories)
(Im sure you could put more on this list)

Where would you guys like to see such a report? In the stock menu or the sales book reports? Both?
Also brainstorm anything else you'd want to see in such a report. It's easier to knock everything out at once.

As it gives information that is useful to players in general situations(i would probably look at it regularly when playing), think it better fits into reports than sitting in the stock menu.
I was thinking it would have a selection bar to choose what company you want the report about, similar to the selection bars in charts which let you choose a city or model.

On other items that might be relevant to that report, i think it depends on an overall design choice.
Do you want a report that gives you a central view of your competitor, or one that gives information that isnt currently available on your competitor, or one that does both?

For information that i don't think is currently available anywhere:
Components(I dont know if this is useful without specific stats, but knowing they are the biggest component licenser might be good to know.)
Large Assets (like factories)
I dont know the details of them, but some of your new marketing/image things from the next update may be relevant.

If you wanted a report that gave you central view of your competitor, you could take information from:
Compare vehicles area: available vehicle models
Reports: Annual Report
Charts: General Market share
Generated reports(partly): Market share in vehicle category and best selling vehicle
World map: Branch locations and vehicle sales price
Sales: Sales by City and Sales by vehicle

I like the Arakash idea!

But let's assume that it should be both into reports and stock, as for me it should stop us from quitting stocks to go to the office reports to check that.

As it should not be that hard (as did once) to edit the stock reports too

---

I also found out a new weird thing with the takeover.

Allstone was nearly dead (that is to say their stock was almost $1 per share, and the company estimation was about $ 50K), so I bought it.

I did nothing, except selling it in UK only (to check the market), but with prices I used before. To clarify it, 3 cars were available from 1923, which is not bad because I bought it on december 1923... Production costs were:
1- Nearly $ 250 (can't remember the generic names)
2- Nearly $ 210
3- Nearly $ 550

So I started to sell them for:
1- $ 1200
2- $ 1000
3- $ 1500

After three months, they were sold respectively $ 2000, $ 1800, and $ 2500.
I set-up production of about 800 (for 1 and 2) and almost 500 for the third.
Well, guess what... The nearly erased company was worth it! With no expenses at all (I mean except for branches and production) I sold a total of 2100-2200 cars/ month within the first 3 months, the total produced... And, once again, ONLY in the UK!

So here is my question, don't you think there may be a lack of balance here?
In my mind, either competitors are selling at prices that are too low or I am with too high prices for the market. Nevertheless, they fail and I sell...
That is to say, maybe the AI needs to be worked on, at the selling price level... Don't know exactly...

Also, I now earn $ 100M+ per month while they get nearly nothing and go bankruptcy. In 1927, my bank account was worth % 4,6 B, and my available cash was nearly $ 2B... So, it takes all the "difficulty pleasure" out as I can go for any expense I want, only producing fully slidered components or cars... I know the game was in easy mode but still... I am not even in 1930 and the game plans to finish about what? 2020? No way I could EVER loose this ongoing game (except if it still crashes...)

[Eric.B]

So here is my question, don't you think there may be a lack of balance here?
In my mind, either competitors are selling at prices that are too low or I am with too high prices for the market. Nevertheless, they fail and I sell...
That is to say, maybe the AI needs to be worked on, at the selling price level... Don't know exactly...

Also, I now earn $ 100M+ per month while they get nearly nothing and go bankruptcy. In 1927, my bank account was worth % 4,6 B, and my available cash was nearly $ 2B... So, it takes all the "difficulty pleasure" out as I can go for any expense I want, only producing fully slidered components or cars... I know the game was in easy mode but still... I am not even in 1930 and the game plans to finish about what? 2020? No way I could EVER loose this ongoing game (except if it still crashes...)

The AI does need some work, I've been addressing it. It's still not finished but it's better in 1.11...

As far as how you got so much money so quickly, I've yet looked at your game files, but it will be addressed. You shouldn't be able to grow that fast.

I believe with a stronger AI, you won't be able to... hopefully!

[Arakash]

So here is my question, don't you think there may be a lack of balance here?
In my mind, either competitors are selling at prices that are too low or I am with too high prices for the market. Nevertheless, they fail and I sell...
That is to say, maybe the AI needs to be worked on, at the selling price level... Don't know exactly...

Also, I now earn $ 100M+ per month while they get nearly nothing and go bankruptcy. In 1927, my bank account was worth % 4,6 B, and my available cash was nearly $ 2B... So, it takes all the "difficulty pleasure" out as I can go for any expense I want, only producing fully slidered components or cars... I know the game was in easy mode but still... I am not even in 1930 and the game plans to finish about what? 2020? No way I could EVER loose this ongoing game (except if it still crashes...)

When you say "Easy mode" Do you actually mean the Easy Difficulty or was that just slang?

I think the discussion on too easy/too much money really needs another thread, as it seems unrelated to this one.
I think its an interesting discussion to have, but it would totally derail the thread.

[Laurent Tommy Flanagann]

Sure, you're right !

I will create a dedicated post tomorrow !

Sorry about that !

And when I say easy mode, of course I mean easy difficulty.

[Arakash]

Sure, you're right !

I will create a dedicated post tomorrow !

Sorry about that !

And when I say easy mode, of course I mean easy difficulty.

That's no problem.
Sorry if i sounded a bit blunt, i know we've had some communication/language problems before so i did want to make sure you meant easy difficulty rather than something else.

I think you should start a new game on Normal, use the same strategy and then see if you still think there are balancing problems and post about them if you find them.
I think if Easy is Easy then its probably doing its job, but if Normal or Hard is Easy then that's probably something that should be addressed.

[Eric.B]

There should be a 30-50% sales figure gap between Easy and Hard. Of course this effects the AI too, so. :|

[Laurent Tommy Flanagann]

That's no problem.
Sorry if i sounded a bit blunt, i know we've had some communication/language problems before so i did want to make sure you meant easy difficulty rather than something else.

I think you should start a new game on Normal, use the same strategy and then see if you still think there are balancing problems and post about them if you find them.
I think if Easy is Easy then its probably doing its job, but if Normal or Hard is Easy then that's probably something that should be addressed.

--» Finally got it, yeaaaaah!!!
No worries, no offense taken!

I will definitely try to start a new game in normal, to check differences, as soon as I get time to do so!

That being said, Eric, do you know the differences between Easy and Normal (about the sales)?

[Eric.B]

That's no problem.
Sorry if i sounded a bit blunt, i know we've had some communication/language problems before so i did want to make sure you meant easy difficulty rather than something else.

I think you should start a new game on Normal, use the same strategy and then see if you still think there are balancing problems and post about them if you find them.
I think if Easy is Easy then its probably doing its job, but if Normal or Hard is Easy then that's probably something that should be addressed.

--» Finally got it, yeaaaaah!!!
No worries, no offense taken!

I will definitely try to start a new game in normal, to check differences, as soon as I get time to do so!

That being said, Eric, do you know the differences between Easy and Normal (about the sales)?

Other than starting money, this is the main difference:

823 //Easy
824 moneyBoostLOW = 1.55;
825 moneyBoost = 1.45;
826 moneyBoostHIGH = 1.55;
827 popBooster = 1.75;


831 //Normal
832 moneyBoostLOW = 1.35;
833 moneyBoost = 1.35;
834 moneyBoostHIGH = 1.25;
835 popBooster = 1.5;

[Laurent Tommy Flanagann]

Thanks!

I'll be trying first in Normal mode, not to burn my wings too quickly!

Then I'll try the hard mode, which should be the most challenging one obviously!