Prison Architect

[Ruvaldt]

Yeah, I actually prefer the tilesets/ascii graphics of Dwarf Fortress to that.  I'm sure the ui will be better than Dwarf Fortress' because...well, how could it be worse?  But the visuals are really lacking and I don't see how they'll convey the sense of scale and possible mega-projects that makes Dwarf Fortress fun for a lot of its players (read: me).  Part of the reason Dwarf Fortress works so well is that preposterous things happen all over the place, such as crazed elephants/carp and shores littered with undead crabs, but there aren't any visual representations of them.  I think that if there were it would detract from the game's charm.

[luckton]

New preview.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-09-prison-architect-preview-the-key-to-success

[Samwise]

Sounds like they're going to do a public beta to try to shake the worst bugs out before their GA release this time?  Good plan.   

I think this is the only upcoming title I'm really excited for.  Shame it's a year out.

[tgr]

I wonder if we could convince them to do a dwarf fortress clone.

[Samwise]

I wonder if we could convince them to do a dwarf fortress clone.

[tgr]

I bloodworthed myself, most likely.

[Samwise]

The majority of this thread has already been a long Dwarf Fortress derail.  (Which I am guilty of having started the first time around.)  

[tazelbain]

Can't clone crazy.

[Furiously]

Can't clone crazy.

Apparently you can....http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/crazy-ants-cloning/

[Ironwood]

The majority of this thread has already been a long Dwarf Fortress derail.  (Which I am guilty of having started the first time around.)  

But be fair, the tech is perfect for that.

[Sky]

Just make solid mod tools. If a mod team opens up for DF, you'll sell a bunch more units (see Lazarus, FFH2, etc).

Game looks interesting, but if there were a solid mod community around it....people are dying for better interface and graphics for these kind of games. DCSS is the bare minimum I can tolerate, and even then the webtiles are annoying after playing the local version (that has more QoL features).

[luckton]

Rock, Paper, Shotgun with a second hands-on impression of the game.

 

[tgr]

Love the art direction, it strikes me as just right for these types of games.

[luckton]

Updated PC Gamer preview.

Looks like they're going all out with diving deep into the details of building and managing an institute, right down to the wiring and plumbing for the cells.  Which makes sense, considering that boosting and/or clogging a toilet to cause a flood in a cell block is one of the many attention getters/distractors.  So looking forward to this   

[tmp]

So if you’re building a new wing, you might find the workers can’t get there – or that they’ve bricked themselves in when they’re done.

Sounds like prayers for DF clone were answered

[cironian]

If you have 40 minutes to spare, they gave a really interesting presentation on how the game came to be here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UyKtNERXtdU

[bhodi]

That was a good and interesting presentation. They did leave out how their steam sale basically saved the company after multiwinia and subversion emptied the bank, though.

[Yoru]

Pre-order is up, $30. Includes alpha access, and there's premium tiers if you like artbooks or have more money than sense possess an inflated sense of generosity towards indie developers want your name in the game.

[Thrawn]

Maybe I'm just a cheap bastard spoiled by Steam sales but $30 is just a bit steeper than I'd be willing to pay.

[Samwise]

Not gonna lie, I'm kinda tempted to name a prisoner after myself.  I like Introversion, I don't mind throwing cash at them.

[Yoru]

Not gonna lie, I'm kinda tempted to name a prisoner after myself.  I like Introversion, I don't mind throwing cash at them.

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I'm in the same boat myself.

[Ruvaldt]

I plan to.  They got the price point right.  Any more expensive and I probably wouldn't do it, but I like Introversion and I've paid more than $50 for games that I disliked.  I'm looking at you, Diablo 3.

[schild]

Tempted to submit f13 dot net as a prisoner. Or if we don't hit 750 in the kickstarter thing, digitize Hunter S Thompson at $250.

[Malakili]

My first post-tutorial prison currently has 5 bloodied, unconcious prisoners in the holding cell, and an injured guard lying in the yard...

I'm a terrible prison architect.

[Samwise]

I'm having trouble just getting the basics set up without blowing my starting budget.     Each time I get a little bit closer though.

[Yoru]

I'm having trouble just getting the basics set up without blowing my starting budget.     Each time I get a little bit closer though.

Have you discovered the grants tab yet? That saved my first prison. Then a truckload of 24 prisoners got dumped on my lawn, doubling my population when already above capacity. 

[Ironwood]

Is there a demo then ?

[Yoru]

Is there a demo then ?

Preorder alpha only, at the moment. The game's still in very early days, so I'd be surprised if a demo appeared before 2013.

[Ironwood]

Fair Nuff.

[Malakili]

I'm having trouble just getting the basics set up without blowing my starting budget.     Each time I get a little bit closer though.

Have you discovered the grants tab yet? That saved my first prison. Then a truckload of 24 prisoners got dumped on my lawn, doubling my population when already above capacity. 

Yeah, the grants tab is pretty necessary to get things up and running.  I finally managed to get a reasonable prison up and running on about my 10th try.  Hiring lots of guards and the beginning seems to keep the violence at bay long enough for me to get up a real cell block (instead of just a holding cell), which also helps with the violence. 

[Samwise]

Extra money would definitely make things easier.  On my last try I managed to get everything set up and then after the prisoners arrived I realized I didn't have any money left to hire guards.  

(edit) Oh, while I'm posting.  What's up with large pipes not being able to pass through walls?  Am I not supposed to have my pumping station inside a building?  I've been building a "utility shed" to keep my generator and pump in, but I'm wondering now if that's even necessary.

[Malakili]

Extra money would definitely make things easier.  On my last try I managed to get everything set up and then after the prisoners arrived I realized I didn't have any money left to hire guards.  

(edit) Oh, while I'm posting.  What's up with large pipes not being able to pass through walls?  Am I not supposed to have my pumping station inside a building?  I've been building a "utility shed" to keep my generator and pump in, but I'm wondering now if that's even necessary.

I don't think it isrequired, but I have been building them indoors (and doubling up with the "Storage" room to store extra materials in there until they are needed).  It does make it a bit extra annoying to run the large water pipes though.  They aren't too expensive though ($10/meter) so although it is a bit inconvenient, it isn't a huge problem.

[Samwise]

So how do you get the large pipe to go from the pump inside the building to the other buildings?  Do you have to build the pipe first and then put up the building around it?  I experimented briefly with that last night and it looked like you were allowed to have a wall go through a pipe as long as the pipe was built first.  (Which makes some sense logically, but other underground utilities don't work that way...)

[taleril]

I was flailing around with this earlier.  I think you have the right idea.  Either lay the building first and the large pipe out through a doorway or the pipe first and then building after.

I had a lot of trouble constructing non-square buildings and adding extensions onto said non-square buildings.  I think making a large building and cutting it up into rooms later is probably a better idea.  Like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZMajvLXMOY.

And there should be a giant glowing sign telling you about the grants.  Playing without grants was painful and doomed to failure.

[Malakili]

I've just been running big pipes through doors when I absolutely must, but otherwise just running them upto the outside wall and then laying small pipe in the actual building