I finished one play through and got 1.5 billion, 2 game of the year awards, max sales of 43 million copies, without knowing what I was doing that well and without trying for money after year 14-15 or so. I understand 4 billion to be possible, and have read various posts here and elsewhere on the net with tips. Not sure I'm motivated to try that though!
I really can't work out how to make money and then what to spend it on. I hovver around 150k but that's it; my review scores never get above 5 and I'm generally stuck.
How many game years have you been playing (the games lasts 20 of it's years)? Early on it can seem challenging but later on things rapidly turn around if you just keep playing and developing games.
Quickstart Guide: 1. Start a contract assignment as soon as you come in game. 2. Immediately thereafter, spend 120 on recruiting new employees. Look for better stats, longer energy bars and lastly job diversity. Hire 2 with cheap signing fees first, and if there is a third good one to hire (likely) take the one with the highest fee last -- they are free, no signing fee (because you have full staff and have to fire someone) (possibly a glitch if that bothers you.) 3. Once the contract is done, use the research points to level up your best employee, preferably a director/producer/coder/writer, since sound and graphics dont seem to have as much impact on sales. 4. Make a cheap(ish) game with a good combination and as high letter ratings as possible for the cost. Use the setting "normal". Action/Ninja is one possible choice. 5. Do more contract work, good source of research points and money. 6. Level someone else. 7. Do another game 8. Another contract 9. Level someone 10. Do a third game. By this point, my third game made me a million dollars. Lots more to it obviously, but this should get your money flowing a bit.
An interesting alternative strategy would be to do ALL contract work until year 3, month 7, make 1 game, advertise some (to start gaining fans at the cheap rate for advertising while the cheap methods still work), never upgrade anyone. Then at year 4, buy the bigger office, get the gameboy console, hire new people and use your research points to upgrade one or more of your new people and start making games. I am not sure its possible to beat the dollars and research points of this strategy, particularly on your first play through. It is necessary to make 1 game or you will not be offered the bigger office and will not be permitted to get a license for the gameboy. It might be possible to somewhat beat the dollars of this strategy with conventional game making on your second or third play through. However, you will likely not make as many research points (will need to check.)
Just wanted to say how much how love this game. Probably my all time favorite on iPhone right before Osmos. It made the same impression on me that my dear Railroad Tyccoon on Amiga. It has the same great simplicity in design and powerful fantasy. Love it!
Game Dev Story is now only $.99! A no brainer if you don't have it yet. One of the most addictive games out there.
Woohoo for another 99 cent sale! I missed it last time, having only tried the demo just after that sale had ended. I'm very happy to be able to pick it up now.
They already have a couple more games released on the Japan App Store, so it shouldn't be too long from now.
Yeah, it's just 8-bit pixel art...I can't imagine it being too much different on the ipad then on the ipod. It's a great game....buy it!
oh wow game center support... if achievements aren't backwards compatible there goes another week of my life
