Info about Idle Research: Official game description: Join the Discord! ================= Join the Discord to discuss the game with thousands of other players!! About the Game ============== Idle Research is an addictive, resource management, incremental game with both idle and active playstyles. Research and Craft items (Flasks, Tubes, and Cylinders (in the future)) to earn as much of the 3 types of Energy as possible! The game can be played anywhere at anytime, no internet or constant attention is required (though it would speed up progress :D). Supports different platforms from Mobile and the Web version! Features -------- We all love numbers right? How about big ones? That’s what this game is about! I designed the game to be a fun and addicting incremental. Fans of basic and complex incrementals will love this game. Research, the most important feature of the game, can unlock up to 18 different and colorful vital items! Craft researched items that will make you even more Energy and can be used in different features of the game! Progress through the game and complete 148 achievements! Currently there are 100 Steam achievements for you to collect :) Reset some progress, gain Golden items, and come back even faster! There are lots of different types of prestiges for you to unlock Fight enemy Tubes and steal their Energy! Explore through 7 different zones with a maximum of 500 stages each! Steal precious Skill Shards and level up 70 different skills! Become an alchemist and brew various types of potions! There's much more content for you to unlock, no more spoilers :^). 100s of hours guaranteed! The game can be speedruned for you speedrun addicts. The game is currently in Early Access, as you might have noticed from the tags and the banner at the top. Currently, there are two layers of content: Flasks and Tubes. My goal is to add a third and final layer of content, and add some holiday events! If you're curious, the third content layer will be larger than Flasks and Tubes, combined! There will be some form of educational material related to chemistry, physics, and math. Additionally, there will be some form of story or dialogue, if that's your kind of thing. If you want more previews and details, join the discord! I love to keep the community updated with what I am working on :) Future Development ------------------ As a sole indie developer, this is my passion and hobby. Making games is one of my favorite hobbies, and I don't expect that to change anytime soon. I always seek suggestions, fix bugs, and find ways to add new content that will make the game even better. My goal is to satisfy as many players as possible and to create a fun experience. Community --------- One of my major goals is to create a community of players and indie developers that are friendly and helpful towards one another. Want to come along with the crew? Join the discord! Meet the Developer ------------------ Hi everyone! My name is Zach. I am the only developer for CryptoGrounds. Everything in Idle Research was made from scratch, this includes: game design, art, music, marketing, etc. I am a sophomore college student, majoring in Computer Science with a focus in Data Science and Space. My goal is to focus on college and allocate as much as into game development as possible, while trying to balance other hobbies and social life :^) Other hobbies include: making YouTube videos, rock climbing, videogames, drawing, friends, and programming random side-projects. I'm a huge music person. I'm always open to discuss these on Discord! I hope you enjoy the game! It's been in the making since October 2020, all started with a simple shower thought! Release date: Jul 31, 2022 Categories: Idle Game, Incremental, Resource Management, Clicker Game, Achievement System, Early Access, Free-to-Play, Microtransactions Feature scans: - MTX: score 90; verdict: Predatory Monetization; summary: The game is heavily criticized for its predatory monetization practices, with many reviews describing it as a 'cash scam' and a 'predatory mobile app cash shop.' The developers are accused of prioritizing the cash shop over completing the game, which is seen as unethical. While some reviews mention that the cash shop is optional and not necessary to enjoy the game, others highlight the difficulty in progressing without spending money, indicating potential pay-to-win mechanics. The game provides premium currency through gameplay, but the cost of additional currency packs is seen as unacceptable by some players. - Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Mixed Experiences; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals a mix of experiences with the game on Linux. While some users have encountered issues with anti-cheat mechanisms, others have reported a seamless and positive experience. The anti-cheat issues are particularly notable as they are deemed unnecessary for this type of game and cause additional problems. On the other hand, the positive feedback highlights that the game works well on Linux without any issues. - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: No data - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 120.0h - Story completion: 7.0h - Session length: N/A - Endgame: 550.0h - Reasoning: The evidence provides several direct references to playtime metrics for Idle Research. The first quote mentions 120 hours of idle time, which can be interpreted as a typical total time to finish the game. The second quote suggests that the game can be completed in less than 200 hours. The third quote indicates that players can get up to 500-600 hours of gameplay, which supports the endgame metric. The fourth quote mentions a most efficient game completion time of 7 hours, which can be interpreted as the time to finish the main story/campaign. There is no direct evidence for typical single-session length. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: The game starts fun with fast and satisfying progression but becomes grindy and complicated in the late stages, particularly when approaching the Black Ice upgrade. - Stance: Fun then drops - Anchor: Unlocking the black ice upgrade - Time to anchor: 20h 0m - Friction: Grindy gameplay; Complicated mechanics; Content wall in late game - Unlock drivers: Early game progression; Smooth and natural progression initially - Conditions: Casual play; Managing different upgrades; Steady flow of upgrades - Player Archetypes: - Progression Enthusiast (buy) - Motivation: The rush of progression and unlocking new content. - Playstyle: Frequent play sessions to experience the thrill of advancement. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: Idle game fans; Completionists - Reference games: Leaf Blower Revolution; Revolution Idle - Critical Veteran (no buy) - Motivation: Seeking a complete and satisfying gaming experience. - Playstyle: Dedicated play with high expectations for game updates and achievements. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: no buy - Labels: Veteran players; Completionists - Reference games: N/A - Optimistic Incrementalist (sale) - Motivation: Enjoyment of incremental progression and optimism for future updates. - Playstyle: Casual play with an eye on future developments. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: Idle game enthusiasts; Free-to-play supporters - Reference games: N/A Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Smooth and satisfying progression (weight 0.36): The game features a well-paced and incremental progression system that players find smooth and satisfying. - Enjoyable gameplay experience (weight 0.27): Players find the game fun and engaging, with enjoyable gameplay that keeps them entertained. - Free-to-play friendly (weight 0.26): The game is free-to-play with optional microtransactions, allowing players to enjoy it without spending real money. - Diverse and addictive gameplay (weight 0.23): The game offers a variety of content and addictive gameplay mechanics that keep players engaged. - Well-designed mechanics (weight 0.16): Players appreciate the well-designed and addictive mechanics that enhance the overall gaming experience. - Daily solitaire feature (weight 0.16): The game includes a daily solitaire feature with rewards, recommended for those who enjoy daily challenges. - Intuitive interface (weight 0.13): The game has a simple and intuitive interface, making it easy for players to navigate and enjoy. - Initial excitement (weight 0.12): The game is fun and exciting at the beginning, capturing players' interest early on. - Enjoyable automation system (weight 0.12): The automation system in the game is deep and enjoyable, adding another layer of engagement. - Well-rounded idle game (weight 0.12): The game is praised as a well-rounded and favorite idle game, offering a good incremental experience. - Big numbers progression (weight 0.11): Players enjoy watching big numbers increase, which is a satisfying aspect of the game. - Relaxing and rewarding atmosphere (weight 0.11): The game offers a relaxing and rewarding atmosphere, making it a chill and satisfying experience. - Engaging timekiller (weight 0.11): The game is an engaging experience that keeps players engaged, serving as a good timekiller. - Exciting sequel anticipation (weight 0.11): Players are looking forward to the sequel, which is seen as promising and highly anticipated. - AFK mode availability (weight 0.11): The game includes an AFK mode, allowing players to progress even when not actively playing. - Simplistic nature (weight 0.1): The game is simplistic in nature, with no excessive complexity, making it easy to pick up and play. - Offline progress (weight 0.07): Players can make progress while the game is closed, adding convenience to the gaming experience. - Gradual unlocking of content (weight 0.07): The game features a gradual unlocking of new areas of science and technology, keeping players engaged. - Clear visual indicators (weight 0.07): The game provides clear visual indicators, enhancing the overall user experience. - Future updates anticipation (weight 0.07): Players are excited to see how the game continues to develop with future updates. - Short but satisfying gameplay (weight 0.07): The game offers short but sweet and satisfying gameplay sessions. - Incremental mechanics (weight 0.07): The game features incremental mechanics, adding to the overall enjoyment and progression. - Dedicated developer (weight 0.07): The developer is open and dedicated, showing commitment to the game's development and community. - Progress without active play (weight 0.07): Players can progress without keeping the game open, adding convenience and flexibility. - Potential for greatness (weight 0.07): The game has the potential to be great if finished, with players recognizing its promising aspects. - Easy achievements (weight 0.07): Achievements in the game are easy to obtain, with players able to get 100% completion without much difficulty. - Plenty of tutorials (weight 0.07): The game offers plenty of tutorials, helping players understand the mechanics and features. - Good for background play (weight 0.07): The game is fun to leave in the background, making it a good option for background play. - No pressure to spend (weight 0.07): Players never feel pressured into buying anything, making the game's monetization player-friendly. - Always something to do (weight 0.07): The game always offers a next goal or something to do, keeping players engaged and motivated. - Changes gameplay focus (weight 0.07): The game changes how and what players should focus on, adding variety and depth to the experience. Common complaints: - Game Abandoned and Incomplete (weight 0.46): Many players report that the game feels abandoned and incomplete. There are numerous comments indicating that development has been halted and the game is unfinished. - Repetitive and Boring Gameplay (weight 0.28): The gameplay is often described as repetitive and monotonous, leading to boredom, especially for those who dislike repetitive tasks. - Save File Issues (weight 0.21): Players frequently encounter issues with save files, including corruption and game-breaking bugs that wipe progress. This significantly impacts the gaming experience. - Confusing and Unexplained Mechanics (weight 0.19): Game mechanics are reported as confusing and obtuse, with a lack of explanation, making it difficult for players to understand and enjoy the game. - Slow and Lacking Endgame (weight 0.16): The endgame content is reported as slow and lacking, with players finding it unengaging and time-consuming. - Progress Stall and Bugs (weight 0.16): Players experience stalled progress due to bugs that hinder their advancement in the game. - Grindy Gameplay (weight 0.16): The game becomes excessively grindy, particularly in the later stages, which can be frustrating for players. - Lack of Updates (weight 0.14): Players note that there have been no updates for a long time, with some mentioning a lack of updates for years, indicating stagnant development. - Poor User Interface (weight 0.13): The user interface is criticized for being cluttered and poorly designed, which detracts from the overall user experience. - Unachievable Achievements (weight 0.09): Some achievements are reported as unachievable, making it impossible for players to reach the final goals. - Lack of Multilingual Support (weight 0.08): The game lacks support for multiple languages, including Chinese, which limits its accessibility to non-English speaking players. Gameplay feedback: - Game mechanics and progression (weight 0.49): The game features a variety of mechanics including incremental, unlocking, and clicker elements. The progression system is robust, with achievements and late-game content. - Progression and big numbers (weight 0.34): A core part of the game is seeing big numbers increase, which is a common theme in incremental games. This is tied to the overall progression and achievement systems. - Idle gameplay elements (weight 0.27): The game includes idle simulation aspects, allowing players to progress even when not actively playing. This includes AFK gameplay and automation features. - Unlocking mechanics (weight 0.22): Players can unlock various elements such as map objectives, new items, and technologies. This includes specific mechanics like unlocking jars in rainbow order. - Research and crafting (weight 0.22): Managing scientific research and crafting is a significant part of the game. This includes planning research and unlocking new research directions. - Variety in gameplay (weight 0.2): The game offers a variety of gameplay styles, including different modes and phases that require interaction. This adds depth and keeps the gameplay engaging. - Combat and mini-games (weight 0.18): The game features combat mini-games and solitaire games for progression. These elements add variety and additional ways to earn rewards. - Production and balance (weight 0.18): Balancing production and consumption rates is crucial. This includes managing resources like flask and tube production and energy production. - Microtransactions and rewards (weight 0.17): The game includes a micro-transaction store and daily rewards. While purchases are available, they are not necessary for progression. - Unique and complex mechanics (weight 0.15): The game offers unique ideas and complex mechanics, including different game modes and phases. This adds depth and variety to the gameplay. - Early Access and updates (weight 0.08): The game is in Early Access, with updates adding new content like the cylinders update. This indicates ongoing development and improvements. Performance notes: - Performance issues reported (weight 0.11): Players have reported that the game suffers from lack of optimization and high memory usage, leading to performance problems. - Game crashes frequently (weight 0.06): Several players have experienced frequent game crashes, which significantly impacts the gameplay experience. - Bug report section closed (weight 0.06): Players are frustrated because the bug report section is closed, making it difficult to report issues and get them fixed. Recommendations: - Recommended for idle game fans (weight 0.17): The game is highly recommended for fans of the idle and incremental genres. Players who enjoy these types of games will likely find this game appealing. - Worth the investment (weight 0.09): Players find the game to be worth the investment, suggesting that it offers good value for the time or money spent. - Complex and varied gameplay (weight 0.06): The game is recommended due to its complexity and variety, suggesting that it offers a rich and engaging experience. - Good for those with free time (weight 0.05): The game is suggested for those who have a lot of free time, indicating that it might require a significant time investment. - Nice side experience (weight 0.05): The game is seen as a nice side experience, indicating that it can be enjoyed alongside other games or activities. - Consider playing Melvor Idle (weight 0.05): Some players suggest trying out Melvor Idle instead, possibly indicating a preference for that game over this one. Other player notes: No miscpoints Emotions: - Frustration (weight 0.22): Players are frustrated due to a variety of technical and gameplay issues. Save file problems, including corruption and loss of progress, are a major concern. Additionally, slow gameplay, poor UI design, and bugs contribute to the frustration. The inclusion of pay-to-win mechanics, artificially inflated difficulty, and repetitive tasks also detract from the overall experience. - Enjoyment (weight 0.18): Players enjoy the game for its engaging and varied gameplay mechanics. The progression system, automation features, and different game modes provide a satisfying experience. Many appreciate the idle game aspects, such as watching numbers increase and the daily solitaire feature. - Disappointment (weight 0.15): Disappointment stems from the game's perceived abandonment and lack of updates. Players feel let down by the unfinished state of the game and the lack of clear vision from the developers. Monotonous gameplay and poor UI design also contribute to this sentiment. - Satisfaction (weight 0.13): Players find satisfaction in the game's smooth progression and rewarding gameplay. The achievement system and unlockable upgrades are particularly well-received. The lack of pressure to buy items and the noticeable progression contribute to a positive experience. - Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom is primarily caused by the repetitive nature of the gameplay loop. Players find the grind monotonous and lack engaging activities to keep them interested over time. - Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from a lack of clear direction and explanations within the game. Players feel lost and unsure of what to do next, leading to a frustrating experience.}