Info about Automation - The Car Company Tycoon Game:

Official game description:
Design the cars of your dreams, and build an automotive business empire with them! Choose to make cars that evoke excitement and set the imagination alight, or cars that are the literal wheels the world’s economy rolls upon; with Automation, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination!  
Automation is an automotive design simulator, featuring vehicles and technologies from 1946 to 2020. Use Automation’s unparalleled engine and car design tools to create your perfect car, then build and market them to a car-hungry public in the Campaign Mode! Export your creations to BeamNG.drive (sold separately) with the one-click export tool and share them with others, or experience them for yourself on the road and on track!
**Realise your dreams with one-of-a-kind car design tools.**
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In Automation, players use the comprehensive engine and car design tools to turn their ideas into reality; shape, cut, re-shape and adorn thousands of car bodies with a wide variety of lights, mouldings and other parts to achieve the style you want. Design the perfect engine to go in your car; whether it is a large, powerful V12 or a small, efficient inline-3, nearly all common engine layouts are possible!
**Test your business skills by selling your designs in Campaign Mode.**
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Automation’s Campaign Mode starts in 1946, where players test their design skills in a deep simulation of the automotive industry. Build factories and equip them with the facilities and equipment they need, and research cutting-edge technologies to turn your fledgling company into a titan of the industry, by catering to the needs and desires of dynamically-simulated market demographics.
**Export your cars to BeamNG.drive.**
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Export your creations to BeamNG.drive (sold separately) with Automation’s easy-to-use car exporter to drive, race and crash them yourself!  
Compare your lap times against Automation's AI and your friends in BeamNG.drive with the co-developed Automation Test Track featured in both games, and share your creations in the BeamNG.drive Mod Repository.
**Participate in Automation’s passionate and active community.**
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Automation has a large community of 3D modellers creating mod content for the game, with hundreds of free mods available on the Steam Workshop, and more being added every day. Additionally, the Automation community runs a wide variety of exciting, community-designed and led competitions, where cars are evaluated on styling, performance and other traits. Build a car and join the community today, to see how your creations measure up against your new friends!

Release date: Mar 12, 2015

Categories: Vehicle Customization, Simulation, Sandbox Creation, Business Simulation, Economic Simulation, Custom Asset Support, Mod Support, Educational Game

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 75; verdict: Aggressive Monetization; summary: The game has received mixed reviews regarding its monetization practices. A significant number of users feel that the game and its DLC are overpriced, with particular dissatisfaction directed at the V16 engines being locked behind a separate paid DLC. This has led to accusations of the game being a cash grab. However, there are also users who find the game enjoyable and are willing to pay for additional content, indicating a divided user base.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement in Instructional Data; summary: The primary user complaints revolve around the complexity of the game's mechanics, which often require external research to understand fully. Additionally, there is a notable comparison to spreadsheet management, suggesting that users feel the need to use external tools to manage in-game tasks effectively.
- Steam Deck: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game requires Proton Experimental to run on Linux, which significantly impacts the user experience. Additionally, there are performance issues and compatibility problems on certain hardware and platforms. Mod exporting also presents challenges for users.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


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:
- Enjoyable and detailed car customization (weight 0.97): The game offers a highly enjoyable and detailed car customization experience. Players appreciate the extensive options for designing and modifying cars, including realistic engine components and a variety of car bodies.
- Realistic and detailed gameplay (weight 0.83): The game is praised for its realistic and detailed gameplay, including realistic engineering aspects and business management. The attention to detail in engine parameters and car design is highly appreciated.
- Highly addictive and fun (weight 0.8): The game is described as highly addictive and fun, with players enjoying the process of creating and testing cars. The gameplay is engaging and offers a rewarding learning curve.
- Sandbox and campaign modes (weight 0.78): The game offers both sandbox and campaign modes, providing players with creative freedom and a structured experience. The sandbox mode is particularly praised for its depth and endless possibilities.
- Educational and realistic engine design (weight 0.26): The game provides an educational and realistic engine design experience. Players can learn about engine mechanics and create highly detailed and realistic engines, which is both fun and therapeutic.
- Integration with BeamNG.drive (weight 0.2): The game's integration with BeamNG.drive is a standout feature. Players can export their custom cars to BeamNG.drive for testing and driving, enhancing the overall experience and adding more hours of fun.
- Active development and community (weight 0.09): The game has an active development team that continuously improves the game based on community feedback. The community is supportive and enhances the gameplay experience with mods and shared creations.
- Photo mode and sharing creations (weight 0.05): The game includes a photo mode that allows players to take and share photos of their creations. This feature is appreciated for its visual customization and the ability to showcase unique vehicle designs.
- Tutorials and learning experience (weight 0.03): The game offers tutorials and a learning experience that helps players understand engine and vehicle concepts. This makes the game accessible to both novices and experienced players.

Common complaints:
- Complex and confusing UI (weight 0.32): The user interface is described as complex, unintuitive, and overwhelming, especially for new players. This complexity makes the game difficult to navigate and enjoy.
- Interior design difficulties (weight 0.28): Players find it extremely challenging to design and customize car interiors due to camera issues, poor controls, and lack of tutorials. This process is described as frustrating and time-consuming.
- Limited engine options (weight 0.28): The game lacks a variety of engine types such as diesel, hybrid, electric, and rotary engines. This limitation restricts the creativity and realism of car designs.
- Campaign mode issues (weight 0.2): The campaign mode is criticized for being complicated, difficult to understand, and lacking tutorials. It is seen as tedious and not appealing to many players.
- Fixture and design issues (weight 0.11): The game has issues with fixture designing, including buggy behavior and lack of improvements. This affects the overall design and customization experience.
- Exterior design challenges (weight 0.1): Designing car exteriors is time-consuming and buggy. The game lacks basic features like grid snapping and has unintuitive workflows.
- Technical and performance issues (weight 0.09): The game suffers from various technical issues including crashes, lag, and hardware compatibility problems. These issues affect the overall gameplay experience.
- Dependence on BeamNG.drive (weight 0.09): The game's full potential is only realized when used in conjunction with BeamNG.drive. However, exporting cars to BeamNG.drive often results in crashes and other issues.
- Export and compatibility problems (weight 0.07): Exporting cars to BeamNG.drive often results in crashes, texture issues, and poor damage meshes. This affects the overall gameplay experience and limits the game's potential.
- Slow development and updates (weight 0.06): The game has been in development for a long time with slow and minimal updates. Players feel that the development team disregards community feedback and makes useless updates.
- Economic and market complexity (weight 0.05): The economic system and market share understanding are overly complex and confusing. This complexity can lead to frustration and a lack of enjoyment.
- Career mode difficulties (weight 0.04): The career mode is criticized for being extremely hard and overwhelming. It lacks depth and is not enjoyable for many players.

Gameplay feedback:
- Multiple gameplay modes (weight 0.53): The game includes various modes such as Sandbox, Multiplayer, and Campaign, each offering unique experiences like company management, car design, and market strategy.
- Comprehensive car and engine customization (weight 0.5): The game offers extensive options for car and engine customization, including detailed design mechanics for both interior and exterior components. Players can also export their creations to BeamNG for further testing and driving.
- Community and modding support (weight 0.46): The game supports a vibrant modding community and Workshop support, allowing players to share their creations and enhance gameplay with additional parts and features.
- Educational and complex gameplay (weight 0.13): The game provides educational value through its detailed engineering and mechanical complexity. It features a steep learning curve but is rewarding for those who invest time in learning the intricacies.
- Integration with BeamNG (weight 0.1): A significant feature is the ability to export cars to BeamNG.drive, allowing players to test their creations in a realistic driving simulation environment.
- Challenging and rewarding difficulty (weight 0.04): The game is designed to be easy to learn but hard to master, with a steep learning curve in Campaign mode, offering a challenging experience similar to difficult games like Dark Souls.
- Creative freedom and photo mode (weight 0.03): Players have creative freedom in designing and showcasing their car designs, with features like photo mode to capture and share their creations.
- Frequent updates and new features (weight 0.02): The game receives continuous development and frequent updates, introducing new features and improvements based on player feedback.

Performance notes:
- Performance and Crash Issues (weight 0.16): The game experiences frequent crashes, freezes, and performance issues across various platforms, particularly on Linux and AMD systems. Players report that the game is unplayable on lower-end devices and has significant optimization problems.
- High System Requirements (weight 0.16): The game requires a powerful computer with a good graphics card and decent CPU. It is surprisingly taxing on computers and has average to high system requirements.
- Audio Issues (weight 0.11): There are reports of annoying supercharger whine and engines sounding similar, which can affect the overall gaming experience.
- Mod Compatibility (weight 0.02): Exported models can crash BeamNG Drive, but the game remains responsive with many mods installed. This indicates a mixed experience with mods.
- Design and Visual Issues (weight 0.01): The exterior design process is reported to be extremely time-consuming and buggy. Additionally, visuals haven't improved in years, which is a point of contention for some players.
- Update Problems (weight 0.01): Major updates can brick saved cars and engines, and there are bugs reported in specific updates like the Al Rilma update.

Recommendations:
- Add more engine and car body options (weight 0.26): Several reviews mention the desire for additional engine types such as diesel, electric, V4, I2, and rotary engines, as well as more car bodies and fixtures. These additions would enhance the game's variety and appeal to a broader range of car enthusiasts.
- Worth buying with BeamNG.drive (weight 0.25): Many reviewers suggest that the game is best enjoyed in conjunction with BeamNG.drive, as it allows players to export their car designs and enhances the overall experience. This integration makes the game more worthwhile for those who own BeamNG.drive.
- Highly recommended for car enthusiasts (weight 0.25): The game is frequently recommended for car lovers, engineering geeks, and those interested in detailed car design and mechanics. It is praised for its extensive features, mod support, and realistic engine building, making it a must-play for those interested in cars and engineering.
- Worth the price, especially on sale (weight 0.24): The game is considered worth buying, particularly when on sale. Reviewers mention that the game's price is justified by its features and enjoyment, but it is even more appealing when purchased at a discounted price.
- Steep learning curve (weight 0.21): The game has a challenging learning curve, which can be rewarding for those who enjoy detailed and complex gameplay. However, it might be difficult for beginners or those looking for a simpler experience.
- Improve controls and translations (weight 0.02): Suggestions include making controls more user-friendly and improving Spanish translations. These changes would make the game more accessible and enjoyable for a wider audience.
- Join the community for support (weight 0.01): Reviewers recommend joining the official Discord and community for support, competitions, and learning resources. This can enhance the gaming experience and provide additional help and engagement.
- Niche recommendations (weight 0.01): Some reviewers mention specific niche recommendations such as adding racing events in the campaign, implementing a 'simple' campaign, and allowing tuning items to be locked. These suggestions are less frequent but could enhance the game for specific players.
- Check out learning resources (weight 0.01): Reviewers suggest checking out YouTube creators like GROG TV for learning the game. These resources can help players understand the game mechanics and improve their skills.

Other player notes:
- Early Access Release (weight 0.01): The game is currently in the Early Access phase, meaning it is still under development and may have unfinished features or bugs.
- BeamNG Compatibility (weight 0.01): The game is compatible with BeamNG, which could imply potential for modding or integration with other software.
- Linux Setup Instructions (weight 0.01): There are specific setup instructions available for Linux users, indicating support for this operating system.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.25): Players are frustrated with various aspects of the game, including performance issues on Linux and Steam Deck, frequent crashes, and bugs that hinder progress. The complex and unintuitive UI, along with the steep learning curve and lack of tutorials, add to the frustration. Additionally, the game's mechanics, such as engine design and vehicle customization, are reported as difficult and not functioning as expected.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.16): Players find satisfaction in the game's depth and the ability to create and customize cars and engines. The integration with BeamNG.drive and the realistic engine building process are particularly appreciated. The game's educational value and the sense of achievement from completing projects also contribute to player satisfaction.
- Excitement (weight 0.14): Players are excited about the game's features, particularly the ability to see their car designs in 3D and test them in BeamNG. The freedom to create and customize cars, along with the endless possibilities in building engines, generates a lot of excitement. The integration with BeamNG.drive and the potential for future updates also contribute to this emotion.
- Joy (weight 0.09): Players experience joy from the creative freedom in designing and building cars and engines. The fun gameplay, the ability to create high-performance engines, and the overall enjoyment of the game contribute to this positive emotion. The integration with BeamNG.drive and the ability to drive custom cars add to the joy.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.05): Players enjoy the fun gameplay and the many possibilities for building and customizing cars. The integration with BeamNG.drive, the variety of toggles, and the attention to detail in the game are particularly appreciated. The overall gameplay experience, including the campaign mode and the ability to export cars to BeamNG, contributes to the enjoyment.
- Disappointment (weight 0.05): Players feel disappointed due to the game's crashes, lack of updates, and uninteresting gameplay after the first car. The limited use without BeamNG, the lack of certain engine types, and the game feeling outdated contribute to this disappointment. False promises and updates that make the game worse also add to the negative experience.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.05): Players are enthusiastic about the game's extensive features, mod support, and the ability to create and export custom cars. The detailed car and engine design mechanics, along with the high levels of customizability, generate a lot of enthusiasm. The integration with BeamNG and the creative possibilities also contribute to this positive emotion.
- Happy (weight 0.04): Players are happy with the positive reviews, high ratings, and the overall fun and educational gameplay. The variety of options, the ability to create and learn about cars, and the team's long-term work on the project contribute to this happiness. The game's balance of genres and the enjoyable car creation process also add to the positive experience.
- Hope (weight 0.02): Players express hope for future updates, improvements, and new features. The promise of more content, such as engine types and frequent updates, generates hope. The active development and the potential for the game to leave Early Access also contribute to this emotion.
- Frustrated (weight 0.02): Players feel frustrated due to the confusing UI, limitations in design, and lack of specific options for engine internals. The difficulty and lack of enjoyment in the gameplay, along with the inaccuracies in turbo dimensions calculations, contribute to this frustration. The annoying interior design also adds to the negative experience.
- Happiness (weight 0.02): Players feel happiness from the positive overall experience, the unique and integrated gameplay, and the positive community. The feeling of being a genius after mastering the game mechanics and the creative freedom in building cars contribute to this happiness. The enjoyable gameplay experience also adds to the positive emotion.
- Pride (weight 0.01): Players feel pride in their high skills in body and engine design, and the ability to create and share car designs. The ability to make decent interiors after a week and the creation and driving of custom cars contribute to this pride. The sense of achievement from mastering the game mechanics also adds to this positive emotion.
- Addiction (weight 0.01): Players feel addicted to the game due to the freedom of designing cars and engines, and the ability to make cars and drive them in BeamNG.drive. The high addictive potential and the creative designing aspects of the game contribute to this addiction. The enjoyable gameplay experience also adds to this emotion.
- Hopeful (weight 0.01): Players feel hopeful for more content when the game leaves Early Access, and the promise of new features such as superchargers. The ongoing updates and the game's continued fun and creativity contribute to this hope. The potential for the addition of diesel fuel and electric motors in future updates also adds to this emotion.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players feel excited about exporting creations to BeamNG, which adds more hours of fun. The enjoyment of the gameplay and the possibilities, along with the looking forward to further development of the project, contribute to this excitement. The integration with BeamNG and the creative possibilities also add to this positive emotion.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players express love for the game and its engine design aspects. The enjoyment of the game's concept and attention to detail, along with the overall positive experience, contribute to this love. The game's unique features and the ability to create and customize cars also add to this emotion.
- Angry (weight 0.01): Players feel angry due to game crashes and the inability to refund. The need to pay for a V16 Engine also contributes to this anger. The frustration with the game's performance and the lack of certain features add to the negative experience.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Players feel amused by the humorous and enjoyable experience of making a big turbo on a van with low horsepower. The fun and creative aspects of the game, along with the enjoyable gameplay experience, contribute to this amusement. The ability to create and customize cars in a fun way also adds to this positive emotion.
- Hopefulness (weight 0.01): Players feel hopeful that the car deformation issue will be fixed and the possibility of Automation 2 with additional features. The promise of future updates and improvements, along with the active development, contribute to this hopefulness. The potential for the game to leave Early Access and the addition of new features also add to this emotion.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Players feel sadness due to cars falling to pieces in another game and the dwindling mod-making community. The lack of support for mod-makers and the game's limitations contribute to this sadness. The negative experiences and the lack of certain features also add to this emotion.}