Info about PC Building Simulator:

Official game description:
Featured DLC
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About the Game
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Build your very own PC empire, from simple diagnosis and repairs to bespoke, boutique creations that would be the envy of any enthusiast. With an ever-expanding marketplace full of real-world components you can finally stop dreaming of that ultimate PC and get out there, build it and see how it benchmarks in 3DMark!  
PC Building Simulator has already enjoyed viral success with over 650,000+ downloads of its pre-alpha demo and has now been lovingly developed into a fully-fledged simulation to allow you to build the PC of your dreams.  
Take charge of IT support for Irratech Corp in the IT Expansion which features over 20 hours of additional story content, included in PC Building Simulator completely for free.  
The career mode in PC Building Simulator puts you in charge of your very own PC building and repair business. From your own cozy workshop, you must use all your technical skills to complete the various jobs that come your way.  
Customers will provide you with a range of jobs from simple upgrades and repairs to full system builds which you must complete while balancing your books to ensure you are still making a profit!  
PC Building Simulator will allow you to experiment with a large selection of accurately modelled, fully licensed parts from your favourite real-world manufacturers.  
If money was no object, what would you build?  
Build your PC from the case up with your favourite parts and express your building flair by choosing your favourite LED and cabling colors to really make it stand out. Choose from a range of air and water cooling solutions to keep it cool or even go all out with fully customizable water cooling loops! Once your rig is ready to go, turn it on and see how it benchmarks. Not happy with the results? Jump into the bios and try your hand at overclocking to see if you can get better results without breaking anything!  
Does building your own PC seem like an impossible task?  
PC Building Simulator aims to teach even the most novice PC user how their machine is put together with step-by-step instructions explaining the order parts should be assembled and providing useful information on what each part is and its function.

Release date: Jan 29, 2019

Categories: Simulation, Educational Simulation, Hardware Simulation, Business Simulation, Economic Simulation, Customization, Realistic Simulation, Sandbox

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 30; verdict: Aggressive Monetization; summary: The reviews for PC Building Simulator indicate a mix of satisfaction with the core gameplay and frustration with the monetization strategy. Key issues include the necessity of purchasing DLCs to access certain features or fixes, complaints about the base game price being high, and a perception of greed from the developers. While some players enjoy the game, the monetization approach has led to significant dissatisfaction among others.
- Proton/Linux: score 30; verdict: Minor Tweaks; summary: The game is playable on Linux using Proton, but it is not natively supported. Performance issues are noted, with low frame rates even at reduced graphical settings.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback for the Steam Deck experience reveals several key issues and positive aspects. Controller support is a significant concern, with users describing it as clunky and unintuitive. Compatibility issues require the use of Proton for the game to be playable on Linux, adding an extra step for users. Performance issues, such as low frame rates, also impact the user experience. Despite these issues, there is positive feedback about the game, with users highlighting its strengths and enjoyable aspects on the Steam Deck.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: Performance varies significantly across hardware cohorts, with lower VRAM configurations showing surprisingly adequate performance while higher VRAM setups report mixed experiences and specific issues.
  - Sample size: 74 (4% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (positive, 41 reports): The game runs adequately on lower-end hardware, with reports of 30-34 FPS on medium to fantastic settings.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (negative, 17 reports): Users report poor performance and lag despite having higher VRAM, indicating potential optimization issues.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (mixed, 10 reports): Experiences vary with some users enjoying the game while others face compatibility and performance issues.
  - Windows 16GB+ VRAM (positive, 6 reports): High-end hardware runs the game well, though some users report specific technical issues unrelated to performance.
  - Caveats: 74 of 1909 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $15.00 - $25.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that users find the game worth purchasing when it is on sale, typically around $15 to $25. Many reviews mention waiting for a sale to buy the game, indicating that the perceived fair price is lower than the current base price. The repeated mentions of waiting for sales and specific price points around $15 to $25 help establish this range as the community's fair price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 7.4h
  - Story completion: 6.0h
  - Session length: 3.2h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides direct and indirect mentions of playtime. The first quote indicates a minimum playtime of 6 hours. The second quote suggests that the game was dropped at 3.2 hours, indicating a session length or partial completion time. The third quote mentions feeling like the game content has been exhausted at 7.4 hours, which could imply a story or game completion time. The fourth quote indicates a significant investment of hours, suggesting long-term engagement, possibly indicating endgame content or extensive playtime.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts slow and can be tedious initially, but becomes more enjoyable as players progress and unlock more features like selling custom computers and overclocking.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Unlocking the ability to sell custom computers and experiment with overclocking.
  - Time to anchor: 3h 0m
  - Friction: Slow progression; Tedious early tasks; Compatibility issues; Repetitive tasks
  - Unlock drivers: Educational value; Addictive gameplay loop; Creative freedom in free build mode
  - Conditions: Career mode; Free build mode; Educational setting for beginners; Relaxing and therapeutic gameplay
- Player Archetypes:
  - Chill Builder (sale)
    - Motivation: Relaxation and satisfaction from building virtual PCs.
    - Playstyle: Casual and laid-back, focusing on the enjoyment of the building process.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: chill gamer; casual builder
    - Reference games: PC Building Simulator 2; House Flipper
  - Learning Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Learning and gaining knowledge about PC building.
    - Playstyle: Educational and methodical, focusing on understanding the components and the building process.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: beginner; student
    - Reference games: Kerbal Space Program; Cities: Skylines
  - Hardware Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Passion for PC hardware and the enjoyment of building and customizing virtual rigs.
    - Playstyle: Experimental and creative, focusing on trying out different components and setups.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: PC enthusiast; hardware lover
    - Reference games: PC Building Simulator 2; Hardware Engineers


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:
- Educational about computers (weight 0.99): The game is highly educational, teaching players about computer assembly, maintenance, and the basics of how computers work. It is recommended for those interested in learning about PCs and computer building.
- Enjoyable and fun gameplay (weight 0.48): Many players found the game to be enjoyable and fun, with a relaxing and entertaining experience. The gameplay is engaging and provides a solid overall experience.
- Realistic and detailed simulation (weight 0.37): The game offers a realistic simulation of PC building with detailed and authentic components. It uses real-world brands and provides a lifelike experience.
- Practical PC building skills (weight 0.33): Players appreciate the game for helping them practice and improve their PC building skills without spending money. It allows for building and repairing PCs, enhancing real-life skills.
- Engaging career mode (weight 0.2): The career mode is engaging and adds a fun puzzle-solving element. It includes fixing customer PCs, dealing with budgets, and upgrading systems.
- Variety of components (weight 0.19): The game features a large selection of diverse and authentic components from real brands, adding to the realism and educational value.
- Resonates with PC enthusiasts (weight 0.11): The game is particularly enjoyable for PC hardware enthusiasts and provides an outlet for exploring PC hardware.

Common complaints:
- Game becomes repetitive (weight 0.3): Many players find the game becomes tedious and repetitive over time, with tasks feeling similar and losing their appeal quickly.
- Outdated graphics and hardware (weight 0.25): The game features outdated graphics and hardware components, which detract from the overall experience and make it feel less immersive.
- Lacks new technology (weight 0.19): The game does not include the latest technology and components, such as DDR5 or newer series cards, making it feel outdated and less engaging.
- Tasks are overwhelming (weight 0.09): Some tasks in the game are perceived as too abstract and complex, leading to players getting stuck and frustrated.
- Poor tutorials and explanations (weight 0.09): The game lacks well-explained tutorials, making it difficult for players to understand and accurately complete tasks.
- Compatibility issues (weight 0.07): Players encounter issues with GPU and component compatibility, which can hinder gameplay and upgrades.
- Unclear customer requests (weight 0.07): Customer requests in the game are often vague and unrealistic, leading to confusion and frustration.
- Game is buggy (weight 0.07): The game is reported to have numerous bugs, which can affect the overall experience and gameplay.
- Poor optimization (weight 0.06): The game suffers from poor optimization and localization, leading to a subpar gaming experience.
- Blue screen issues (weight 0.06): Players experience frequent blue screen issues within the game, which disrupts gameplay.
- Unrealistic mechanics (weight 0.06): The game mechanics are simplified and unrealistic compared to real-life complexities, making tasks feel tedious.
- Expensive DLCs (weight 0.06): Players find the DLCs to be expensive and not worth the cost, which can be a deterrent.

Gameplay feedback:
- Comprehensive PC building simulation (weight 0.67): The game offers a detailed and realistic simulation of building, repairing, and upgrading PCs. It includes various aspects such as assembling computers step-by-step, applying thermal paste, and diagnosing computer issues.
- Career and progression systems (weight 0.45): The game features a career mode with progression and increasing difficulty. Players manage budgets, handle client requests, and complete various tasks related to PC building and upgrading.
- Educational and learning aspects (weight 0.19): Players can learn about PC parts, computer building, and the computer repair process. The game serves as an educational tool for understanding the basics of building and troubleshooting PCs.
- Component management and variety (weight 0.17): Players can select from a variety of components, ensuring compatibility and tracking parts. The game also includes mechanics for part replacement and identification.
- Realistic and troubleshooting scenarios (weight 0.12): The game includes realistic scenarios and logic, providing players with real-life cases for hardware troubleshooting and installation.
- Sandbox and creative modes (weight 0.07): The game offers a sandbox mode for creative builds, allowing players to experiment with complex PC building without specific constraints.
- Overclocking mechanics (weight 0.07): The game teaches and allows players to engage in overclocking mechanics, including processor overclocking.

Performance notes:
- Runs on low-end hardware (weight 0.11): Several players noted that the game can run on low-end PCs and even on trash laptops, indicating decent performance on less powerful hardware.
- Optimization issues reported (weight 0.1): Many players have reported that the game has optimization issues, leading to subpar performance on various systems.
- Various glitches and bugs (weight 0.06): There are reports of annoying glitches, bugs, and issues that can make the computer wonky and glitch out.
- Blue screen errors (weight 0.05): Some users have experienced constant blue screen errors, which significantly disrupt gameplay.
- Graphic errors and issues (weight 0.05): Players have reported minor graphic errors and outdated graphics, which can detract from the visual experience.
- Loud fan noise (weight 0.05): Players have reported that the game causes loud fan noise on certain hardware, such as a 3070 laptop.
- Game crashes frequently (weight 0.03): Several players have experienced game crashes, which can be frustrating and disruptive.
- Performance issues on high-end hardware (weight 0.03): Even top-tier PCs have reported performance issues, such as not running at 120 FPS, indicating potential optimization problems.
- Occasional freezing (weight 0.03): Players have experienced occasional freezing during gameplay, which can be disruptive.
- Compatible with Steam Deck (weight 0.03): The game is playable on Steam Deck, which is a positive note for players using this hardware.
- Playable on Linux with Proton (weight 0.03): The game can be played on Linux using Proton, which is beneficial for Linux users.
- Low FPS on old hardware (weight 0.03): The game runs at 20 FPS at 1080p on an old PC, indicating performance limitations on older hardware.
- Microstutters during gameplay (weight 0.03): There are reports of microstutters, which can affect the smoothness of gameplay.
- No integrated graphics support (weight 0.03): The game does not support integrated graphics, which can be a limitation for players with certain hardware configurations.
- Backpack system causes lag (weight 0.03): The backpack system has been reported to cause lag, which can be a specific issue affecting performance.
- Computer turns on unexpectedly (weight 0.03): Some users have reported that their computer turns on when the PSU is at 0, which is an unusual and potentially concerning behavior.
- Advanced configuration needed (weight 0.03): The game requires advanced configuration, which might be a barrier for some players.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended for PC enthusiasts (weight 0.3): The game is frequently recommended for those interested in PC building and hardware enthusiasts. It provides a safe environment to learn about building PCs without the risk of damaging expensive hardware.
- Request for updates and new features (weight 0.18): There are requests for more recent components, newer electronic products, and additional game modes such as multiplayer. Some users also suggest better optimization and deeper mechanics.
- Buy on sale (weight 0.16): Many reviewers suggest purchasing the game during a sale to get better value for money. It is often considered worth the price only when discounted.
- Supplement with external resources (weight 0.15): Reviewers recommend watching YouTube videos of people building PCs for additional learning and to get a better feel for the process.
- Consider the sequel (weight 0.14): Several reviews recommend looking at the sequel, PC Building Simulator 2, for more modern parts and additional features. It is suggested to buy the second version for an updated experience.
- Specific packs and configurations (weight 0.06): Reviewers mention specific packs like the Overclockers UK pack and NZXT pack. There are also recommendations for configurations that offer good quality/price and high performance.
- Mixed feelings on DLCs (weight 0.05): Some reviews suggest getting to a certain level before considering DLCs, while others mention owning every DLC offered. There is also a request for more free-to-play DLCs.
- Avoid buying computers in hypermarkets (weight 0.02): One review advises against buying computers in hypermarkets, though this point is less frequently mentioned.

Other player notes:
- Sequel not on Steam (weight 0.03): Players expressed frustration that the sequel to the game is not available on the Steam platform.
- Mentions of DLCs (weight 0.03): There were mentions of downloadable content (DLCs) in the reviews, indicating that players are discussing additional content for the game.
- Game received as gift (weight 0.02): Some players mentioned that they received the game as a gift, which might influence their reviews.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.23): Players enjoy the engaging and practical gameplay, which is both fun and educational. The game's realistic mechanics, variety of PC building options, and detailed immersion provide an entertaining experience, especially for those interested in hardware and PC assembly.
- Frustration (weight 0.18): Players experience frustration due to various bugs, lack of explanations, and repetitive tasks. Issues with game mechanics, such as GPU compatibility, crashes, and tedious mechanics, contribute to a sense of annoyance and difficulty in progression.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.17): Players feel a sense of accomplishment from successful builds and the educational value of the game. The realistic and detailed gameplay, along with the creative freedom and variety of PC building options, contribute to a satisfying experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.09): Players express disappointment due to outdated components, lack of updates, and repetitive gameplay. The game's limitations, such as the absence of modern hardware and poor graphics, along with the feeling of the game being more like work than play, contribute to this sentiment.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): Players are excited about the realistic PC building simulation and the educational value of the game. The fun gameplay and the opportunity to build high-end PCs, along with the detailed and immersive experience, generate a sense of excitement.
- Positive (weight 0.04): Players have a positive experience due to the game's educational value and engaging activities related to building and fixing computers. The realistic simulation and the enjoyment of learning about PCs contribute to this positive sentiment.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Players feel nostalgic as the game brings back childhood memories and realistic hardware experiences. The detailed description of building and upgrading PCs, along with the soundtrack, evokes a sense of nostalgia.
- Boredom (weight 0.03): Players experience boredom due to the repetitive nature of tasks and the slow pace of the game. The monotonous gameplay and the need to perform repetitive actions, such as screwing in parts, contribute to this feeling.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): Players are amused by the humorous storylines and client requests. The humorous approach to PC building and the unique, funny situations in the game provide an entertaining experience.
- Gratitude (weight 0.02): Players express gratitude for the game's educational value and its impact on their real-life PC building skills. The game's ability to open up new hobbies and passions, along with helping users learn about PC building, generates a sense of thankfulness.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Players are enthusiastic about the game's level of detail and accuracy in PC hardware. The enjoyment of exploring PC hardware and building, along with the educational value, contributes to this enthusiasm.
- Approval (weight 0.02): Players approve of the game's educational value and quality. The game's effectiveness in helping beginners start in PC building and improving skills is well-received.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Players find joy in the game's emergent storytelling and relaxing nature. The unique and humorous stories, along with the enjoyment of learning and building in the game, contribute to this sense of joy.
- Relaxation (weight 0.02): Players find the game relaxing due to its chill and therapeutic gameplay. The free-play mode and the ability to unwind with the game after a long day provide a relaxing experience.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the enjoyable gameplay experience and the unique mechanics. Learning about PC building and the engaging gameplay contribute to this excitement.
- Frustrated (weight 0.01): Players feel frustrated due to game inaccuracies and the tedious nature of the career mode. The unrealistic aspects of the game and the similarity to real work contribute to this frustration.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players are disappointed due to the lack of realism and outdated components. Issues such as poor game optimization and the announcement of a sequel contribute to this disappointment.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the educational aspect and the detailed representation of PC building. The variety of components and realistic gameplay are highly valued.
- Addiction (weight 0.01): Players become addicted to the game due to the engaging activity of building PCs. The enjoyable and immersive gameplay mechanics contribute to this addiction.}