Info about Lobotomy Corporation | Monster Management Simulation:

Official game description:
**Monsters beyond your imagination, and you: The Manager.**
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Monsters beyond your imagination, and you: The Manager. Monsters beyond your imagination, and you: The Manager. A roguelite monster-management simulation inspired by the likes of the SCP Foundation, Cabin in the Woods, and Warehouse 13. Order your employees to perform work with the creatures and watch as it unfolds; harness greater energy, and expand the facility. One disaster will lead to another, until everything has fallen into chaos. “I give you a warm welcome to Lobotomy Corporation.”  
**Lobotomy Corporation is a roguelite monster-management simulation.**  
Our game was inspired by the monsters birthed of various inspirations featured in games, film, and series, such as the SCP Foundation, Cabin in the Woods, and Warehouse 13. Going further, it was developed with this thought: _“What if those monsters were real, and your job were to manage them?”_  
You will be playing as the Manager of Lobotomy Corporation, a company in which such creatures are contained and managed. Order your employees to perform work with and on the creatures and watch the results expectantly. Gather energy produced by the monsters and fulfill the quota each day, expand the facility, and manage even more strange beings. In this game, the player will face an ever-present sense of tension and dread as they progress through each day.  
**“Our new technology will bring salvation to humanity.”**
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**Lobotomy Corporation is a newly established energy company that isolates Abnormalities and extracts an infinite amount of energy from them by using independently developed technology**, or so it seems on the outside. Join the corporation, and witness the true reality with your own eyes.  
**Lobotomy Corp. consists of several departments, much like any other company.** You will have access to various departments as you harness more energy. The more departments you have unlocked, the more efficient the management of Abnormalities will become.  
Furthermore, AIs such as Angela and the ‘Sephirot’ will be at your side to provide all the assistance you need for smooth progression.  
**Beings that you must constantly research and observe.**
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**We dubbed the creatures that reside in Lobotomy Corporation, ‘Abnormalities’.**  
You will have to try your best to keep your employees out of danger while extracting as much energy as possible from the Abnormalities. However, you must learn what types of work you should and shouldn’t perform via trial and error.  
**You start with zero information on the Abnormalities.** At first, your eyes, ears, and the in-game manual will be your only hints. Let your intuition pick the work type that might suit the Abnormality best. After that, order the employee who is best suited for the job to work on the Abnormality, and wait for the results. In the process of managing Abnormalities, you will gain the power of information.  
The amount of energy you can acquire from Abnormalities will depend heavily on the type of work your employees perform.  
**This is NOT a tycoon.**
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As mentioned before, Abnormalities are beings that need to be treated with great care. Some might dislike the idea of being locked inside a Containment Unit, and **may sometimes attempt to breach containment.**  
**A breaching Abnormality will attack every employee in sight and disrupt the facility’s systems.** Worse still, it could open up other units and cause more Abnormalities to escape. Furthermore, employees eroded or corrupted by certain Abnormalities will have a greatly adverse influence on other employees. Employees brainwashed by Abnormalities might randomly attack those around them, wholly oblivious to what they are doing. In addition, employees may go insane from serious psychic trauma, disobeying your orders and damaging the psyche of other employees around them.  
**One disaster leads to another, until everything has fallen into chaos.**
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If you fail to resolve a situation immediately, it will ultimately spiral out of control and throw the whole facility into chaos. When such a situation does occur, you will have to gather employees to suppress any threat and regain control of the situation, or give up parts of the facility to ensure the company’s safety.  
**“Tell me, manager. Do you have any wishes?”**
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The game consists of two main portions: Monster Management and visual Story Segments.  
Once a day of managing Abnormalities and producing energy ends, the story segment will follow right afterward.  
**In the Story Segments, dialogue with Angela (the AI you’ll also be seeing occasionally in the management portion of the game) and the Sephirot will play.** As you progress through the missions they give, you will come closer to the truth hidden deep in the company. You may have to ask questions, or answer questions from others. Here, you will uncover the secrets surrounding the company and yourself, and mayhaps even more.  
“Hello, X.”  
“I give you a warm welcome to Lobotomy Corporation.”

Release date: Apr 9, 2018

Categories: Monster Management, Management Simulation, Roguelite, Story-driven Gameplay, Resource Management, Character Progression, Multiple Endings, Horror

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair; summary: Reviews explicitly mention no microtransactions.
- Mods: score 40; verdict: Buggy but Playable; summary: The game Lobotomy Corporation has received mixed reviews regarding its reliance on community fixes. While many users appreciate the story and gameplay, there is a consensus that mods significantly improve the experience by addressing quality of life and performance issues. Several users report severe performance problems, including memory leaks and crashes, which are mitigated by optimization mods. There is also criticism directed at the developers for not incorporating these fan-made fixes into the official game.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Significant Improvement; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with the game's complexity, instructional data, and trial-and-error mechanics. Players frequently express frustration with the need to use external resources like wikis to understand game mechanics, story elements, and to avoid severe penalties. This reliance on external data sources highlights major barriers to enjoying the game and suggests that the game's design may be overly punitive and opaque.
- Steam Deck: score 85; verdict: Broken; summary: The Steam Deck experience for this game is marred by frequent crashes, significant performance issues, and a lack of customization options in the user interface. While some users find the controls manageable, others struggle with the precision required, leading to a frustrating experience. The game's stability and performance are major concerns that need to be addressed to improve the overall user experience.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game generally performs well across most hardware cohorts, with only the low VRAM Windows configurations experiencing significant issues.
  - Sample size: 64 (1% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (positive, 43 reports): Reports good optimization and performance.
  - Caveats: 64 of 10915 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $12.50 - $25.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that while the game is considered worth its price, many users find the base price of $25 to be a bit steep and prefer purchasing it at a discount. Several reviews mention that the game is worth the price, but also highlight that buying it on sale is a better value. The general sentiment is that the game provides significant enjoyment and content, but the ideal price point seems to be around 50% off the base price, which would place it around $12.50. However, some users still find it worth the full price, indicating a range that spans from the discounted price to the full price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 90.0h
  - Story completion: 50.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides several direct mentions of playtime hours. The first quote mentions 'way over 200 hours,' indicating a high level of engagement and suggesting that the game completion time is substantial. The second quote specifies 'a little under 90 hours' to achieve 100% completion, which aligns with the idea of a lengthy game completion time. The third quote mentions '50+ hours,' which, while not as high as the other figures, still supports the notion of significant playtime. The fourth quote, 'I'm only 11 hours in,' suggests that the user is still in the early stages of the game, implying that the total playtime will be much longer. These quotes collectively support the conclusion that the game requires a considerable time investment to complete, with a typical game completion time likely falling around 90 hours. The story completion time is less explicitly stated but can be inferred to be slightly less than the full completion time. Session lengths and endgame hours are not explicitly mentioned, hence they are marked as null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players generally find the game enjoyable and engaging after overcoming the initial learning curve and repetitive tasks, with the fun anchoring around understanding the game mechanics and progressing through the story.
  - Stance: Fun after initial grind
  - Anchor: Understanding the game mechanics and progressing through the story
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: steep learning curve; repetitive early tasks; high penalty costs for mistakes
  - Unlock drivers: mastering game mechanics; progressing through the story; discovering unique abnormalities
  - Conditions: enjoying narrative and characters; appreciating the game's unique world; using mods to reduce difficulty
- Player Archetypes:
  - Lore-Driven Masochist (buy)
    - Motivation: Story and challenge
    - Playstyle: Uses mods for quality of life improvements but enjoys the core difficulty.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Project Moon fan; Management sim enthusiast
    - Reference games: Library Of Ruina; Limbus Company
  - Frustrated Newcomer (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking enjoyable gameplay
    - Playstyle: Prefers games with clear instructions and lower difficulty.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: Casual gamer
    - Reference games: SCP - Containment Breach
  - Modding Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of the game's depth with reduced frustration
    - Playstyle: Uses mods to enhance gameplay experience.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Modding community member
    - Reference games: SCP - Containment Breach; Library Of Ruina


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:
- Positive gameplay feedback (weight 0.2): Players consistently praise the gameplay, describing it as enjoyable, fun, and engaging. Many reviews highlight the game as a masterpiece with a high rating.
- Challenging and rewarding gameplay (weight 0.18): The game is noted for its challenging and punishing gameplay, but players find it rewarding and engaging.
- Addictive and interesting storyline (weight 0.16): The game is noted for its addictive nature and interesting plot. Players find the storyline fascinating and well-written, contributing to an engaging experience.
- Highly rated management game (weight 0.15): The game is highly rated and considered one of the best management games. Players who enjoy management and simulation aspects find it incredible.
- Unique gameplay experience (weight 0.13): The game offers a unique and memorable gameplay experience. Players appreciate the unique style and engaging scenarios.
- Variety of interesting abnormalities (weight 0.12): The game features a variety of interesting and challenging abnormalities. Players enjoy the lore and creative use of these abnormalities.
- Well-written and engaging story (weight 0.11): The story is praised for being well-written, gripping, and engaging. Players appreciate the dark and intriguing storyline.
- Engaging gameplay loop (weight 0.11): The gameplay loop is described as fun, entertaining, and one of the best. Players find it engaging and satisfying.
- Deep and engaging story (weight 0.11): The game offers a deep and engaging storyline with rich character development. Players enjoy the detailed and engaging story.
- Unique and engaging atmosphere (weight 0.1): The game has a unique and engaging atmosphere with a distinct aesthetic. Players enjoy the atmospheric music and the overall vibe.
- High replay value (weight 0.07): The game has high replay value, offering hours of enjoyment. Players find it replayable multiple times.
- Beautiful graphics (weight 0.07): The graphics are described as decent to very beautiful. Players appreciate the pleasant and warm graphics.
- Encourages learning and perseverance (weight 0.07): The game encourages exploration, learning, and perseverance. Players appreciate the discovery process and mental preparation.
- Comprehensive tutorial (weight 0.06): The tutorial is described as comprehensive, in-depth, and clear. Players suggest doing the tutorial as it helps.
- Emotional character attachment (weight 0.06): Players develop an emotional connection to the characters. The game features character development and attachment.

Common complaints:
- High difficulty and frustration (weight 0.51): The game is noted for its extreme difficulty, which can lead to significant frustration and stress among players. The challenging nature of the gameplay can be mentally taxing and time-consuming.
- Frustrating gameplay mechanics (weight 0.2): Certain gameplay mechanics can be frustrating and difficult to manage, leading to a less enjoyable experience. This includes issues with employee management and the consequences of losing agents.
- Presence of bugs (weight 0.16): Players have reported encountering various bugs and performance issues, including memory leaks and stuttering. These technical problems can detract from the overall gaming experience.
- Repetitive and grindy gameplay (weight 0.11): The gameplay can be repetitive and monotonous, requiring a lot of grinding. This can make the game feel tedious and time-consuming.
- Abnormalities and setbacks (weight 0.08): Abnormalities in the game can cause significant setbacks and are noted for their high failure rates. This can lead to frustration and a sense of unfairness among players.
- Steep learning curve (weight 0.06): The game has a steep learning curve, which can be challenging for new players. The lack of initial guidance and poor tutorials exacerbate this issue.
- Abrupt difficulty spikes (weight 0.05): The game features sudden and steep difficulty spikes, which can be jarring and frustrating for players. These spikes can make the game feel unfair and overly challenging.
- Poor user interface (weight 0.04): The game's user interface is criticized for being far from ideal, with some players describing it as terrible or horrible. This can negatively impact the overall user experience.
- Negative player sentiment (weight 0.04): Some players express strong negative sentiments towards the game, including frustration and anger. This can be attributed to various challenging and frustrating aspects of the gameplay.
- Unfair gameplay elements (weight 0.04): Certain gameplay elements can feel obscure or unfair, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction among players. This includes issues with combat and other mechanics.

Gameplay feedback:
- Abnormality management central (weight 0.29): The game primarily revolves around managing abnormalities, which includes containment, interactions, and understanding their unique traits and behaviors. Players must deal with various rankings and the consequences of high failure rates.
- High difficulty and strategy (weight 0.28): The game is noted for its high difficulty level, which requires significant strategy and multitasking. Players need to concentrate and make strategic decisions to progress, often facing challenging and complex scenarios.
- Management simulation focus (weight 0.22): The game is a management simulation that involves overseeing employees, tasks, and resources. It combines elements of simulation and strategy, with a focus on workplace dynamics and decision-making.
- Unique mechanics and progression (weight 0.14): The game features unique mechanics, including day resets and a progression system based on days. Players must understand and utilize these mechanics to advance through the game's stages and challenges.
- Repetitive yet engaging gameplay (weight 0.11): While the gameplay can be repetitive, it remains engaging due to its depth and challenge. Players may need to replay sections and learn from trial and error to succeed.
- Rich lore and storytelling (weight 0.1): The game offers a deep and engaging storyline with rich lore and world-building. Players can immerse themselves in the narrative and explore the game's therapeutic and mission-based gameplay.
- True ending requires effort (weight 0.05): Achieving the true ending of the game requires multiple playthroughs and completing all abnormalities. This adds to the game's replayability and long-term engagement.
- Energy management through abnormalities (weight 0.05): Players manage abnormalities to generate energy, which is a core mechanic of the game. Researching and understanding these abnormalities is crucial for efficient energy production.
- Character customization and attachment (weight 0.05): The game allows for character customization and development, fostering a sense of attachment to the characters. Players can tailor their agents and employees to fit their strategic needs.
- High presentation quality (weight 0.05): The game is praised for its high-quality graphics and presentation, which enhance the overall gaming experience. The music also contributes positively to the atmosphere.

Performance notes:
- Optimization and performance issues (weight 0.14): The game suffers from significant optimization problems, including poor performance, memory leaks, and crashes. These issues are widespread and affect the overall gameplay experience.
- Bugs and general jank (weight 0.08): Players report various bugs and general jankiness that affect gameplay. These include weird bugs, control issues, and overall poor programming.
- Mixed PC requirements (weight 0.04): The game has decent PC requirements but also recommends high specs for better performance. It can run on low-end systems but may face performance issues.
- Mods for optimization (weight 0.04): Many players recommend using mods to optimize the game and fix bugs, indicating that the base game may not be well-optimized.
- Platform-specific issues (weight 0.03): There are specific issues reported for different platforms, such as crashing on Linux and control issues on Steam Deck.
- Text readability problems (weight 0.02): Some players have reported issues with text readability, which can affect the overall user experience.
- Comparison with other games (weight 0.02): Some players mention that the game runs better than other specific games, providing a point of comparison for performance.

Recommendations:
- General recommendations (weight 0.11): Many players recommend this game for its overall quality and therapeutic benefits. It is suggested as a worthwhile experience for a broad audience.
- Unique story and gameplay (weight 0.1): The game offers a unique experience with deep lore and complex gameplay mechanics. Players who enjoy character customization and development will find this game particularly appealing.
- Specific gameplay recommendations (weight 0.05): Players recommend specific abnormalities and suggest playing certain games in the series first for a better experience. This indicates that there are strategic elements and a preferred order to playing the games.
- Recommended for management game fans (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for fans of management-style games, indicating it has strong management elements that appeal to this specific group.
- Mods for easier gameplay (weight 0.03): Players recommend using mods to make the gameplay easier, suggesting that the game can be quite challenging and mods can enhance the experience.
- Recommendation for specific media (weight 0.02): Players recommend watching specific videos or trying other games in the series, indicating that these can enhance the overall experience.
- Mentally challenging (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for mentally strong players, suggesting it has elements that can be psychologically demanding.
- Niche appeal (weight 0.02): The game may not be for everyone, but it can be an unforgettable experience for those who it resonates with, indicating a niche but strong appeal.
- Alternative story consumption (weight 0.02): Some players suggest reading or watching the story elsewhere, indicating that the narrative can be enjoyed through different media.
- Intense experiences (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for those who enjoy intense experiences, indicating it has elements that can be quite thrilling or demanding.
- Relaxing and family-friendly (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for those seeking a relaxing and family-friendly experience, suggesting it has elements that are calming and suitable for all ages.
- Introduction to Project Moon's games (weight 0.02): The game is considered the best introduction to Project Moon's games, indicating it is a good starting point for new players.
- Comparison to Fallout Shelter (weight 0.01): The game is compared favorably to Fallout Shelter, suggesting it has similar appealing elements to that game.
- Tutorial recommendation (weight 0.01): Players recommend playing the tutorial, indicating that it is helpful for understanding the game mechanics.
- Use of online guides (weight 0.01): Players suggest using online guides for E.G.O/abnormality descriptions, indicating that external resources can enhance the gameplay experience.
- Avoid specific choices (weight 0.01): Players recommend avoiding picking the train, suggesting that certain choices can negatively impact the gameplay experience.
- Recommended for SCP fans (weight 0.01): The game is recommended for fans of SCP, indicating it has elements that appeal to this specific group.
- Personal growth experience (weight 0.01): The game is recommended for those seeking a personal growth experience, suggesting it has elements that can be emotionally or psychologically rewarding.

Other player notes:
- Modding for quality of life (weight 0.04): Players suggest using mods to enhance the gaming experience with quality of life improvements.
- Request for game gifts (weight 0.02): Some players have requested gifts related to the game.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.32): Players experience frustration due to a combination of high difficulty, game-breaking bugs, and unclear instructions. The steep learning curve, punishing mechanics, and repetitive gameplay contribute to a sense of unfairness and stress, especially during later stages or specific days like Day 49.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.2): Players enjoy the game for its engaging storyline, unique characters, and challenging gameplay. The variety of activities, interesting abnormalities, and the overall quality of the game's graphics, gameplay, and music contribute to a fun and immersive experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Players feel satisfied when they overcome the game's challenges, complete difficult missions, and see their progress. The rewarding gameplay, successful management of the facility, and the engaging story and character development contribute to a sense of accomplishment.
- Love (weight 0.05): Players express love for the game due to its compelling story, enjoyable gameplay, and attachment to characters. The game's OST, art style, and overall experience, despite some flaws, create a deep appreciation and affection for the game.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): Players are excited by the game's unique and engaging gameplay mechanics, challenging scenarios, and deep narrative. The anticipation of complex story elements and the thrill of overcoming difficult gameplay interactions contribute to this excitement.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Players find joy in the gameplay and story, enjoying the characters and gameplay elements. The emotional connection to characters, beautiful storytelling, and the overall engaging and rewarding gameplay experience bring happiness.
- Stress (weight 0.03): Players feel stressed due to the game's high difficulty, intense gameplay, and the emotional experience of managing challenges. The high stakes, information overload, and punishing mechanics contribute to a stressful and overwhelming experience.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Players feel nostalgic when playing the game after a long time, recalling childhood memories and past experiences. The game's ability to fulfill childhood fantasies about monsters and the detailed recounting of in-game events and characters evoke a sense of nostalgia.
- Disappointment (weight 0.02): Players feel disappointed due to unmet expectations, such as difficulty levels not matching their anticipations or sequels changing genres. Specific gameplay elements, like employee management and high death penalties, also contribute to this disappointment.
- Engagement (weight 0.02): Players are engaged by the game's rich story, challenging gameplay, and innovative mechanics. The deep and rewarding gameplay, along with the unique worldview and exploration, keeps players invested and interested.
- Positive (weight 0.02): Players have a positive experience due to the enjoyment of the game's challenge, mechanics, and overall engagement. The beauty, excitement, and rewarding aspects of the game contribute to a positive outlook.
- Addiction (weight 0.01): Players find the game addictive due to its interesting and engaging gameplay mechanics. The compelling story and challenging scenarios make it difficult for players to stop playing.
- Negative (weight 0.01): Players have negative experiences due to frustration with bugs, complexity, and the game's difficulty. The time consumption and setbacks contribute to a negative outlook.
- Pain (weight 0.01): Players experience pain due to the game's high difficulty and punishing mechanics. The cruel and torturous aspects of the game contribute to a sense of suffering.
- 沮丧 (weight 0.01): Players feel 沮丧 due to the game's difficulty and the emotional toll of setbacks. Specific challenges, like 抑制战, contribute to a sense of despair and frustration.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players are enthusiastic about the game's management aspects, music, and overall positive experience. The engaging and enjoyable elements of the game evoke a sense of excitement and passion.
- Pride (weight 0.01): Players feel pride in their progress and accomplishments within the game. The sense of achievement from overcoming challenges and completing the game contributes to this feeling.
- Hate (weight 0.01): Players express hate due to balancing issues, UI problems, and specific game elements that cause frustration and difficulty. These aspects contribute to a negative and hostile outlook.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Players are amused by the game's humorous and quirky gameplay elements. The unique scenarios and changes in management style over time contribute to a sense of entertainment and enjoyment.
- 兴奋 (weight 0.01): Players feel 兴奋 due to the game's interesting setting and high replayability. The exploration of abnormalities and the engaging gameplay mechanics contribute to a sense of excitement and enthusiasm.}