Info about MakeThatMoney:

Official game description:
Checkout And Wishlist Little Kingdoms
=====================================
About the Game
==============
Story:  
In MakeThatMoney, you play as John.. A 21 year old who decides it's time to achieve his dream of becoming a millionaire. Leaving home with just 500$ to spend, you have to start at the bottom, working for scraps, sleeping in a box every now and then..  
Features:  
• Day/Night Cycle: Day and Night last for 5 minutes with a 1 minute change in lighting at the end of each.  
• Buy Houses: Can buy houses, sleep in them, rent them out to make money over time, and/or sell them.  
• Work For Money: Can work for money, ask for promotions to make more money.  
• Buy Businesses: When you have the money, you can buy a business, some will need to be stocked with goods.  
• NightClub: Can play slots at the NightClub, can also have a drink, or two.  
• Civilians: Good people, can be robbed at night...  
• Cops: Will give chase if you have a fine.  
• Bank: Can take a loan out to buy a house, or get a degree.  
• Store: Can buy items to help in the long run.  
• Age: If you do not become a millionaire before john passes, you lose!  
• Random Crates: Random crates can be found in town. If the player has a crowbar they can open them. Items found in crates can be sold at the PawnShop.

Release date: Mar 22, 2017

Categories: Life Simulation, Day/Night Cycle, Resource Management, Open-World Exploration, Casual Simulation, Time Management, Economic Simulation


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $0.99 - $1.99
  - Reasoning: The negative reviews indicate that even a 75% discount or a $2 price point is too high for the perceived value, suggesting the fair price is below $2. Positive reviews only consider it worth it when on sale, implying the sale price (likely lower than the base) is acceptable. Thus, the community's fair base-game price range is very low, around $1 to $2.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 3.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The explicit '3 hours later' indicates a play session lasting at least 3 hours, which I use as the sessionLength estimate. The other quotes describe shorter sessions (under 15 minutes, a few minutes) but do not provide a reliable average. No review gives a specific total time to complete the game, reach a story ending, or achieve endgame milestones, so those metrics remain null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is reported as boring, repetitive, and technically flawed from the outset, with no evidence of any later improvement, so it never becomes fun.
  - Stance: Never clicks
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: repetitive gameplay; limited options; crashes; clunky controls; boring tutorial
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: N/A
- Player Archetypes:
  - Casual Simulation Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Relaxing, easy-to-play simulation gameplay
    - Playstyle: Casual, pick-up-and-play simulation
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Disillusioned Veteran (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking a quality, non-grindy experience, but found the game lacking
    - Playstyle: Critical evaluation, comparing to past experiences
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - 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:
- Surprisingly good for GameGuru engine (weight 0.19): Despite being made with the GameGuru engine, the game is considered not too bad, with clever and imaginative use of the engine's capabilities. This is a positive note for a typically limited engine.
- Strategic depth beyond typical FPS (weight 0.12): The game is not just another FPS; it involves strategy, offering a more thoughtful experience. This sets it apart from standard shooters.
- Simple controls aid gameplay focus (weight 0.11): Simple controls allow players to focus on the gameplay itself, reducing learning curve and enhancing immersion. This is a key positive for usability.
- Retro GTA feel via top-down view (weight 0.11): The top-down view and music evoke a retro GTA feel, appealing to fans of classic games. This nostalgic element is a notable strength.
- Active developer support (weight 0.11): The developer actively updates the game and is open to suggestions, which is appreciated by the community. This responsiveness builds trust and improves the game over time.
- Clear interface and fresh map (weight 0.1): The interface is clear and the map has a fresh look, contributing to a positive visual experience. This enhances usability and aesthetic appeal.
- Relaxing and rewarding gameplay (weight 0.1): Players find the game relaxing and rewarding to play, offering a satisfying experience. This emotional response is a strong positive.
- Responsive character controls (weight 0.1): Character controls are responsive, allowing for precise movement and actions. This is crucial for gameplay enjoyment.

Common complaints:
- Repetitive and boring gameplay (weight 0.59): Players find the gameplay repetitive, boring, and monotonous, with limited tasks and a lack of variety. The game quickly becomes unenjoyable.
- Tedious and confusing controls (weight 0.57): Controls are non-changeable, use alternating F and E keys for actions, and have random button inputs. This makes the game tedious and unplayable for some.
- Lack of optimization and settings (weight 0.44): The game has zero optimization, no resolution or graphics options, and loading hangs. It fails to meet basic PC game standards.
- Unfair and broken mechanics (weight 0.37): Players face unfair mechanics like random fines, being blacklisted, and losing access to purchased buildings. This makes progression frustrating and illogical.
- Frequent crashes and bugs (weight 0.36): Multiple players report the game crashing, lagging, and being buggy, with some unable to play at all. This includes crashes on loading screens and during gameplay.
- Slow and unbalanced economy (weight 0.33): Earning money is extremely slow, requiring in-game years to become a millionaire. Income drops after buying businesses, and some buildings never generate income.
- Limited content and options (weight 0.33): The game offers very limited things to do, with few ways to win and minimal choices. Players feel constrained and unable to explore.
- Poor graphics and presentation (weight 0.27): Graphics are described as awful, low quality, and reminiscent of early 2000s shovelware. The game lacks visual polish and looks outdated.
- No proper ending or progression (weight 0.26): After reaching the goal, the game restarts as if the player failed, with no ending screen. This leaves players feeling unrewarded and confused.
- Unplayable due to bugs (weight 0.25): Some players cannot play at all due to an unclosable letter, crashes, or other issues. The game is effectively broken for them.
- Poor audio design (weight 0.24): There is no music except on the title screen, sound effects are barebones, and a loud jumpscare occurs when robbed. Audio adds little to the experience.
- Lack of guidance and direction (weight 0.18): Players report a lack of guidance and direction support, making it hard to know what to do. The game is also all in English, which may be a barrier for some.
- Energy and health system flaws (weight 0.18): Players cannot sleep during the day, and the only way to restore energy is to go to the hospital. This forces tedious waiting and limits play.
- Balance and bug fixes needed (weight 0.18): Players note basic balance issues and the need for bug fixing. The game feels unpolished and in need of significant improvements.
- Taskbar and overlay issues (weight 0.16): Windows 10 taskbar covers menu options, and Steam overlay causes brightness increase. These are technical issues that hinder the experience.
- No autosave feature (weight 0.1): The game lacks autosaves, making it unpleasant to play through. Players risk losing progress if the game crashes or they quit.
- Character visibility issues (weight 0.1): The character appears as a pixel on screen due to the top-down view, making it hard to see. This affects gameplay clarity.
- Options remain basic (weight 0.1): The options menu is still basic, lacking customization and advanced settings. This limits player control over the experience.
- Game feels like brain-rot (weight 0.09): One player describes the game as brain-rot material, indicating it is mindless and low-quality. This reflects a negative overall impression.

Gameplay feedback:
- Top-down adventure game (weight 0.4): The game is a top-down adventure title built with GameGuru, featuring a single map and text-based interactions with buildings and NPCs.
- Day/night cycle affects gameplay (weight 0.28): The day and night cycle is a core mechanic that impacts gameplay, such as preventing work at night. This adds a time management layer to the simulation.
- Earn money through jobs and businesses (weight 0.28): Players earn money by working various jobs, restoring energy, and buying businesses, which are central to progression. This includes promotions and crime as alternative income sources.
- Goal is to become millionaire (weight 0.21): The primary objective is to earn $1,000,000 before dying of old age, driving the player's long-term strategy and resource management.
- Strategy and management simulation (weight 0.2): The game involves strategy and management of time, money, and energy, requiring players to balance resources to succeed.
- Trivial interactions increase money counter (weight 0.12): The gameplay involves walking around and performing trivial interactions with objects to increase a money counter, which may feel repetitive or shallow.
- Low income per action (weight 0.12): Each action yields only $10-$50, making the grind toward the million-dollar goal slow and potentially tedious.
- Buy houses, education, workplaces (weight 0.12): Players can buy or rent houses, pursue education, and choose from various workplaces, adding depth to life simulation.
- 3D text-based homeless simulator (weight 0.11): The game is essentially a 3D version of a text-based homeless simulator, combining survival mechanics with a graphical interface.
- Open-world sandbox gameplay (weight 0.11): It is an open-world sandbox where players can do whatever they want to make money, offering freedom in approach.
- Nightclub with slot machines (weight 0.1): The game includes a nightclub featuring slot machines, adding a gambling element to the money-making options.
- Casual simulation game (weight 0.1): The game is a casual simulation, likely appealing to players who enjoy relaxed, management-style gameplay.
- NPCs communicate via text (weight 0.1): NPCs communicate through text boxes, reinforcing the text-based feel despite the 3D presentation.

Performance notes:
- Poor optimization and performance (weight 0.35): Several reviews mention poor optimization, lag, freezes, and low FPS, with one noting the game freezes every two seconds. These issues suggest the game runs poorly on many systems.
- High FPS on mid-range hardware (weight 0.19): A player with an i5 4590 and GTX 960 reports running at over 200 FPS, indicating excellent performance on modest hardware. Another review also notes great FPS rates, suggesting the game can be well-optimized.
- Loading screen hangs (weight 0.11): One player reports that loading hangs, which can lead to long waits or being stuck. This is a specific performance issue that affects the initial experience.
- Well optimized but cap FPS (weight 0.1): One review states the game is well optimized but recommends capping the FPS, likely to avoid issues like screen tearing or excessive heat. This suggests the game performs well but may benefit from FPS limiting.

Recommendations:
- Game not recommended (weight 0.49): Multiple reviewers strongly advise against purchasing the game, citing it as a poor value. One reviewer even states it is not worth buying even with a 75% discount.
- Worth the price (weight 0.34): Some reviewers find the game worth its price, describing it as enjoyable and a good value for cheap fun and time killing. This contrasts with the negative feedback.

Other player notes:
- GameGuru engine asset flip (weight 0.43): Multiple reviews identify the game as an asset flip made with the GameGuru engine, which is considered a poor-quality toolset. This suggests the game lacks original content and is built from pre-made assets.
- Outdated compared to GTA (weight 0.33): The game is compared unfavorably to GTA V and early top-down GTA games, implying it feels outdated and lacks modern features. It also resembles text-based homeless simulators from the early 2000s.
- Developer responsive and improving (weight 0.3): Some reviewers respect the developer's work, noting active updates, bug fixes, and openness to suggestions. The store video honestly presents graphics and gameplay.
- Not worth the price (weight 0.21): Reviewers state the game is cheap but not worth its price, even with a discount. The low quality and asset flip nature make the cost unjustifiable.
- Trading cards better than game (weight 0.21): The Steam Trading Cards are considered better than the game itself, and the game can be left running to farm cards. This indicates the game's primary value is its cards, not gameplay.
- Reminiscent of old flash games (weight 0.19): Reviewers compare the game to childhood flash games that were more fascinating, suggesting the game feels simplistic and nostalgic but not engaging.
- Small map and limited content (weight 0.19): The map is on the smaller side, and the game is a tiny fraction of The Sims 1. This indicates limited content and scope.
- English only and large download (weight 0.18): The game is only in English and requires a 1 GB download, which may be a barrier for some players.
- Developer anonymity suspicious (weight 0.12): The developer removed their name from the Steam page, making the game appear to have no developer or publisher. This is a red flag for quality and accountability.
- Player spike from card idlers (weight 0.12): A spike in player counts occurred when trading cards were added, likely from idlers farming cards. This inflates apparent popularity without genuine interest.
- Exploit guarantees slot wins (weight 0.11): A reviewer describes an exploit involving saving and reloading at the nightclub slot machine to guarantee wins, indicating a game-breaking bug.
- New release with balance issues (weight 0.1): The game is a new release with balance issues that need addressing, but the developer is still improving it.
- Reviewer uninstalled the game (weight 0.09): One reviewer uninstalled the game, likely due to dissatisfaction with its quality or content.
- Watched development from start (weight 0.09): A reviewer watched the game develop from start to finish, suggesting they have a long-term perspective on its evolution.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.37): Players are frustrated by random button patterns, non-changeable controls, and a control scheme that forces alternating F and E keys for every action. The game suffers from frequent crashes, freezes, bugs (e.g., buildings never generating income, losing purchase abilities), and a lack of optimization, making it unplayable. Additional issues include an unclosable opening letter, an all-English interface, and a broken random number generator that gives fines despite a 40% chance.
- Disappointment (weight 0.15): Players are disappointed by very limited content, repetitive gameplay, and awful graphics. The game restarts with nothing after reaching the goal, and after buying a business, players are barred from working there, causing income to drop significantly. Crashes, no autosaves, lag, and bugs further ruin the experience despite a good initial idea.
- Boredom (weight 0.12): Players find the game boring, clunky, and monotonous, with gameplay that quickly becomes repetitive. The content is super limited, leading to a lack of engagement and rapid loss of interest.
- Confusion (weight 0.05): Players are confused by the game's lack of clarity and the requirement of a 1 GB download for such limited content. The game itself is confusing to navigate or understand.
- Annoyance (weight 0.05): Players are annoyed by an overly loud jumpscare when robbed at night and an annoying letter from Mom that cannot be clicked away and covers the key binding, obstructing gameplay.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.05): Players enjoy the game as it provides cheap fun and is enjoyable despite needing work. The core gameplay is engaging enough to be fun even with imperfections.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Players appreciate the developer's down-to-earth attitude and active integration of user suggestions. They also value the developer's effort in coding and adding a lot of content within a small map.
- Disgust (weight 0.02): Players express disgust, labeling the game as plagiarism and cash grab shovelware, indicating a lack of originality and quality.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Players are angry because the game engine is terrible and the gameplay is essentially zero, leading to a poor experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Players are excited because they were hooked on the gameplay, indicating a strong positive engagement with the game's mechanics.
- Respect (weight 0.02): Players respect the amount of work that went into coding the game and how quickly bugs were solved, showing appreciation for the developer's dedication and responsiveness.
- Relaxation (weight 0.02): Players find the game relaxing to play, suggesting a calm and stress-free experience.
- Reward (weight 0.02): Players find the game rewarding and challenging enough to keep playing, indicating a satisfying balance of difficulty and progression.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.02): Players are satisfied because the game is well optimized and has responsive controls, leading to a smooth and enjoyable experience.}