Info about Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop:

Official game description:
Bus Simulator 27 has been announced! Wishlist now!
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About the Game
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Look forward to **Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop**, and the most comprehensive and advanced fleet in the history of the series. For **Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop**, a fleet of 30 officially licensed buses by well-known, international manufacturers such as Alexander Dennis, Blue Bird, BYD, Grande West, IVECO BUS, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Setra, and Volvo is available for you to drive. For the first time, you will also have access to a double-decker and electric buses.
Get ready for the brand-new, impressive US map Angel Shores and a revamped version of the European Seaside Valley map from the previous game instalment – including its map extension. Different difficulty levels and play modes are also available for a wide range of player types.
In **Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop** you have the option to use extended management elements like creating detailed timetables, buying and selling buses, and planning efficient routes. Do you prefer to get up from behind the desk and take control of your buses yourself? The auto-features of **Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop** can take over your management duties and let pure bus drivers simply enjoy their time on the road.
Play in either single-player or co-op multiplayer mode, transport your passengers safely and promptly to their destinations and be rewarded for your timely and safe driving at the end of each day.
Since **Bus Simulator 21** release it was also vastly improved by the Next Stop update! It added many game improvements and a brand-new career mode to the main game of **Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop**. The latter combines the sandbox mode with the campaign's economic system.
In addition to the Next Stop update, you can also enjoy a free official map extension DLC. Look forward to a new area in the north of the "Angel Shores" North American map.
*   **Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop** includes around 30 buses by international, well-known manufacturers
*   Two huge, lively environments in the USA and Europe with an even greater open-world approach will make you itch to explore your surroundings
*   Drive alone or with friends in the cooperative multiplayer mode
*   Optional, refined management features such as setting up detailed timetables, visiting bus dealers on the map, or planning efficient routes
*   Different play modes are available for a wide range of player types
*   Supports popular steering wheels, gamepads, Tobii Eye Tracking, and TrackIR
*   Major Next Stop update added a brand-new career mode to the game and included numerous bug fixes and game improvements for smoother gameplay
*   Optional free map extension DLC with lots of new tasks for owners of the main game (seperate download)

Release date: Sep 7, 2021

Categories: Driving Simulation, Vehicle Customization, Open-World Exploration, Management Simulation, Cooperative Multiplayer, Single-player, Realistic Simulation

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 85; verdict: Predatory; summary: The game has been criticized for its aggressive monetization strategies, particularly focusing on the necessity and high cost of DLCs for a complete experience. Players feel that essential content is locked behind expensive DLCs, and the frequent release of new versions and season passes adds to the perception of a cash grab. These practices significantly impact the user experience negatively, leading to frustration and a sense of being exploited.
- Steam Deck: score 70; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback for the Steam Deck experience reveals significant issues with control responsiveness and precision, stability problems such as game crashes, and performance issues like frame drops. These technical barriers greatly impact the user experience, making the game less enjoyable and more frustrating to play.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence indicates that many users feel the game is not worth the full price and suggest waiting for a sale or discount. This sentiment is echoed multiple times, indicating that the community perceives the current price as too high. The general consensus is that the game should be purchased at a reduced price, suggesting a fair price range would be significantly lower than the current base game price of $34.99.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 30.0h
  - Story completion: 10.0h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided indicates various playtime metrics. Several reviews mention playing for a couple of hours, suggesting a typical session length. One review specifically mentions playing for ten hours, indicating a longer play session. The campaign mode and main story completion times are less clear, but some reviews suggest that the game can be engaging for extended periods, potentially indicating a longer game completion time. There is limited evidence regarding endgame content, suggesting that this metric might be weak or missing.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Bus Simulator 21 becomes fun after players overcome the initial tutorial challenges, which are a significant source of early frustration.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Completing the tutorial
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Confusing and pedantic tutorial; Managerial learning curve; Bugs and glitches
  - Unlock drivers: Completing the tutorial; Learning managerial aspects
  - Conditions: Playing with friends; Focusing on driving and management; Enjoying repetitive but calming routines
- Player Archetypes:
  - Driving Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of driving and progression in a semi-realistic environment.
    - Playstyle: Focused on driving routes and managing a virtual bus company.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: driving enthusiast; simulator fan
    - Reference games: Bus Simulator 18; Euro Truck Simulator 2
  - Multiplayer Collaborator (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of cooperative multiplayer gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Cooperative and social, focused on building and managing a bus empire with others.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: multiplayer enthusiast; co-op gamer
    - Reference games: Bus Simulator 18; Euro Truck Simulator 2
  - Critical Bargain Hunter (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Seeking value for money and improvements in game quality.
    - Playstyle: Critical and discerning, focused on finding value and improvements.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: bargain hunter; critical gamer
    - Reference games: Bus Simulator 18; City Bus Simulator


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 fun gameplay (weight 0.45): Many players find the gameplay to be fun, enjoyable, and addictive. The game offers a relaxing and rewarding experience, making it a popular choice among players.
- Extensive bus variety and customization (weight 0.44): The game offers a wide range of buses from major manufacturers, with detailed models and extensive customization options. Players appreciate the variety and depth of bus selection and customization features.
- High-quality graphics and environments (weight 0.42): The game features beautiful and detailed graphics, with impressive environments that enhance the overall visual experience. Players appreciate the graphical improvements and attention to detail.
- Realistic and immersive experience (weight 0.35): The game offers a high degree of realism, with realistic controls, gameplay, and environmental details. Players enjoy the immersive experience and the accurate representation of driving a bus.
- Detailed and lively maps (weight 0.31): The game includes detailed and lively maps, such as Angel Shores and Seaside Valley, which are appreciated by players for their size and level of detail.
- Improved route planning and management (weight 0.29): The game introduces better route creation and planning features, allowing players to strategically plan and manage their bus routes. This adds a layer of challenge and depth to the gameplay.
- Positive reception as a successor (weight 0.16): The game is seen as a successful successor to Bus Simulator 18, with improvements in various aspects such as bus selection, graphics, and overall gameplay.
- Enjoyable story mode (weight 0.06): The game features an enjoyable and well-rated story mode, adding an extra layer of engagement for players.
- Expanded simulation features (weight 0.06): The game includes expanded simulation features such as the presence of trams in traffic, adding to the realism and depth of the simulation.

Common complaints:
- Unpredictable pedestrian behavior (weight 0.21): Pedestrians often exhibit erratic behavior, such as jumping in front of buses, ignoring traffic signals, and spawning inside buses, leading to accidents and unpredictable gameplay.
- Buggy and clunky UI (weight 0.17): The game's user interface is reported as buggy and clunky, with unresolved issues and poorly designed menus that hinder the user experience.
- Game riddled with bugs (weight 0.15): Players frequently encounter a wide range of bugs and glitches, which can be annoying and significantly impact the gameplay experience.
- AI behavior issues (weight 0.11): The AI behavior, including pedestrian and traffic AI, is often janky and unrealistic, leading to erratic and unpredictable actions.
- Inconsistent road widths (weight 0.11): Roads in the game are sometimes too narrow and other times too wide, which can affect the driving experience and realism.
- Difficult bus maneuvering (weight 0.1): Players find it challenging to put buses on routes, brake in time with articulated buses, and manage the turning radius of some buses.
- Terrible physics engine (weight 0.1): The physics engine in the game is criticized for being unrealistic and poorly implemented, affecting the overall gameplay experience.
- Overpriced game and DLCs (weight 0.08): Many players feel that the game and its DLCs are overpriced and not worth the cost.
- Steering wheel configuration issues (weight 0.08): Players report difficulties in configuring and using steering wheels, with the game often failing to recognize input from these devices.

Gameplay feedback:
- Realistic bus driving mechanics (weight 0.31): Players appreciate the realistic bus driving mechanics, including suspension, speed, and interactive controls. The variety of buses and routes adds to the realism and enjoyment of the simulation.
- Route creation and management (weight 0.15): The game offers extensive route creation and management features, allowing players to build, edit, and strategically plan their bus routes.
- Open-world exploration (weight 0.11): The game features a large open world that players can explore, adding to the immersion and enjoyment.
- Engaging gameplay experience (weight 0.1): Players find the gameplay to be interesting and well-developed, providing a very good overall experience.
- Customization options (weight 0.09): Players enjoy the customization options available for both characters and buses, allowing for a personalized gaming experience.
- Variety of buses and routes (weight 0.08): The game includes a wide variety of buses and brands, as well as different types of routes, enhancing the gameplay experience.
- Multiplayer and online play (weight 0.07): The game offers multiplayer and online play options, allowing players to engage with others in cooperative modes.
- Sandbox mode availability (weight 0.06): The sandbox mode is appreciated as it allows players to explore the game without following the storyline, providing more freedom.
- Tutorial issues (weight 0.06): The tutorial has been criticized for being confusing and pedantic, which can hinder the initial gameplay experience.
- Map design improvements (weight 0.06): Players have suggested improvements for map design, including more streets and better neighborhood boundaries.
- Dynamic weather and day-night cycle (weight 0.06): The game features dynamic weather and a day-night cycle, which adds realism and variety to the gameplay.
- Improvement over previous versions (weight 0.06): Players note that the game is an improvement over previous versions, with better graphics and more realistic simulation.
- Ticket checking mechanic (weight 0.04): The ticket inspection feature is noted as a part of the gameplay, adding another layer of realism to the bus simulation.
- Learning traffic rules (weight 0.04): The game helps players learn traffic rules through its simulation, including proper traffic sign placement.
- Gear shift and turn signal mechanics (weight 0.04): The game includes detailed mechanics for gear shifting and turn signals, adding to the realism of the bus driving experience.
- Quest/tutorial system (weight 0.04): The game features a quest-based progression system, guiding players through various tasks and tutorials.
- Relaxed driving mode (weight 0.04): Players appreciate the relaxed driving mode and adjustable driving aids, which make the game more accessible.
- Bus configuration and modification (weight 0.04): The game includes a bus modification system, allowing players to configure and customize their buses extensively.
- Passenger pickup mechanics (weight 0.04): The game includes mechanics for stopping to pick up passengers, adding to the realism of the bus simulation.

Performance notes:
- Laggy gameplay (weight 0.24): Players report significant lag during gameplay, affecting the overall experience.
- Specific hardware configurations (weight 0.07): Some players have found specific hardware configurations that work better, such as stable 60 FPS on low settings.
- Multiplayer performance issues (weight 0.03): Multiplayer mode is reported to have significant lag and performance issues, making it unplayable.
- High GPU temperature (weight 0.02): The game causes high GPU temperatures, which can be a concern for hardware longevity.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for simulation enthusiasts (weight 0.13): The game is particularly recommended for fans of simulation and bus games, despite some flaws.
- Highly recommended by players (weight 0.12): Many players strongly recommend the game, highlighting its overall quality and enjoyment.
- Recommended for driving fans (weight 0.09): The game is recommended for those who enjoy driving and have a steering wheel for a better experience.
- Desire for more bus variety (weight 0.07): Players express a desire for more bus models and variety, including specific types like double-decker buses.
- Worth the price on sale (weight 0.07): Players suggest that the game is worth purchasing, especially when it is on sale, due to its variety and replay value.
- Consider other similar games (weight 0.06): Some players suggest considering other games like ETS2 or OMSI 2 for a different or more fluid driving experience.
- Recommended for specific play styles (weight 0.05): The game is recommended for those who enjoy route planning, timetable management, company management, and bus customization.
- Miscellaneous recommendations and comments (weight 0.05): Various other comments include recommendations for specific setups like using a gaming PC or specific settings like 'ping pong' route mode.
- Recommended despite flaws (weight 0.04): The game is recommended despite some issues like AI problems and lag.
- Suggestions for future improvements (weight 0.04): Players have suggestions for future updates, such as adding subways and maglev trains, or creating an American bus simulator.
- Anticipation for future releases (weight 0.02): Some players express anticipation for future releases like Bus Simulator 27.
- Comments in other languages (weight 0.02): There are comments in other languages that also recommend the game or suggest other versions.

Other player notes:
- DLC mentioned (weight 0.02): A reviewer mentioned the DLC. No further details were provided.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.37): Players are frustrated due to the game's numerous bugs, poor optimization, and technical issues such as crashes, freezing, and performance problems. Additionally, issues with AI behavior, confusing controls, and unrealistic mechanics contribute to the frustration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.19): Players feel disappointed because the game did not meet their expectations, with many citing poor quality, lack of improvements over previous versions, and numerous bugs. The game's lack of realism, poor execution of ideas, and issues with graphics and physics also contribute to this disappointment.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.1): Players are satisfied with the game's realistic gameplay, enjoyable driving experience, and high-quality graphics. The variety of features, such as multiple maps, a wide range of buses, and improvements made by the developers, also contribute to their satisfaction.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Players enjoy the game's immersive and detailed gameplay, fun driving experience, and the variety of buses and customization options. The realistic sounds and interactive gameplay also add to the overall enjoyment.
- Anger (weight 0.04): Players are angry due to the game's numerous bugs, poor optimization, and constant crashes. The lack of significant updates, unresolved issues, and the focus on paid DLCs instead of fixing bugs also contribute to their anger.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Players experience joy from the pleasant and fun gameplay, great graphics, and mechanics. The enjoyment of driving and expanding their virtual bus company, as well as the fun multiplayer and career modes, add to this joy.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Players are enthusiastic about the game's enjoyable gameplay and recommend it to others. The game's scenery and overall experience contribute to their enthusiasm.
- Relaxation (weight 0.01): Players find the gameplay experience calming and meditative. The enjoyment of driving and career mode adds to the relaxing nature of the game.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players are hopeful for future updates and improvements to the game. They anticipate that continued bug fixes and updates will enhance the game's quality.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Players are amused by the interesting and sometimes chaotic gameplay. The surreal nature of some bugs and entertaining aspects of the game add to their amusement.
- Happy (weight 0.01): Players are happy with the positive aspects of the game, such as its enjoyable gameplay and features.
- Angry (weight 0.01): Players are angry due to issues with the game and the company's practices. Negative aspects of the game and unresolved issues contribute to their anger.
- Excitement (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the enjoyable gameplay mechanics and anticipate more content. The fun and engaging nature of the game adds to their excitement.
- Enttäuschung (weight 0.01): Players are disappointed due to the lack of a German translation and technical problems. The game's poor optimization and numerous bugs contribute to their disappointment.
- Optimism (weight 0.01): Players are optimistic about the potential of the game and the fixes being implemented. They hope for future improvements and updates that will enhance the game.
- Concern (weight 0.01): Players are concerned about high GPU temperatures and potential lack of interactive features in upcoming games. These technical and developmental issues contribute to their concern.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the game's graphics being more beautiful than expected. The depth and complexity of the game also contribute to their surprise.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Players feel nostalgic due to the updated graphics for Seaside Valley and comparisons to other truck simulators. These elements bring back fond memories and contribute to their nostalgia.
- Happiness (weight 0.01): Players are happy because their children or grandchildren enjoy the game. The joy and entertainment their family members derive from the game contribute to their happiness.
- Indifference (weight 0): Players are indifferent because they do not care if others like or dislike the game. Their lack of concern about others' opinions contributes to their indifference.}