inZOI Another Life Simulation Game in Early Development

[FzzyDg8]

[Kimi]

That looks really good!

[Rosewin]

[Klinn]

The pathfinding or routing system employed by inZOI is atrocious. I've mentioned some examples previously like how bad it is in large open areas such as parks or the Bliss Bay beach, but here's some new ones I came across.

Check out the pic below. My Zoi at position "A" is instructed to travel to the other Zoi at position "B". The red line is the path you would expect the Zoi to follow. Simple and straightforward.

Nope, the Zoi follows the green path to position "C", changes into his swimsuit, climbs down into the pool, swims across the pool to position "D", climbs out of the pool, changes back into his regular clothes, then walks down to the other Zoi at position "E". Note that removing the pool ladders does nothing. The Zoi just jumps into the water instead of climbing in. Terrible.

But wait, there's more!

Now look at the pic below of the inside of the house. The Zoi at position "A" has just finished using the toilet and wants to wash her hands. No problem, just walk a few steps down to the sink at position "B", right?

Nope, the Zoi follows the green path all the way around to the sink in the kitchen at Position "C". Why? Because the game's pathfinding code only compared the simple radial distance to each sink (yellow lines). The radial distance to the kitchen sink slightly shorter than to the bathroom sink, so the code routes the Zoi that way. Well, sure, it's "shorter" but only if you ignore all the walls and other obstructions the Zoi has to work around. Terrible.

Another example. Remember back when players were complaining about Zois taking long circuitous routes when entering or exiting a property? In an update the devs "fixed" it. Well, no, they actually didn't fix the problem but just added two more predetermined entry / exit points at the middle of the sides of the lot. That's it.

So now you situations like the one shown in the picture below.

My Zoi is at position "A". Sorry, it's kind of hard to see him since I had to zoom back out to show the whole problem. The pre-update single predetermined entry / exit point was at point "B". Because of the fixed point only at the corner of the lot, I used to build houses with the main door on a 45-degree angle. The Zoi would travel from point "A" to point "B" and then across the street to the subway.

With the update, the devs added predetermined entry / exit points at point "C" and "D". A quick kludge.

Now what happens is my Zoi at point "A" follows the green line, traveling out the back door, all the way around the back of the house and down to reach the added fixed entry / exit point "C", walks a short distance to the sidewalk, then travels down the sidewalk to the street crossing and finally heads over to the subway.

Again, what is happening is that game's code is only measuring the direct radial distance between point "A" and point "B", and the radial distance from point "A" to point "C", completely ignoring what happens when a Zoi has to actually travel between those points. Oh yeah, the green path is so much better than the red one. Terrible.

This illustrates what happens you don't actually fix the problem, but try to paste a bandaid over it. The broken pathfinding system now breaks in new and (apparently) unexpected ways. The underlying system is bad and no amount of bandaids will cover up the problems. It needs to be replaced.

All these problems with the pathfinding system should have been caught during private internal playtesting before the game even was released in Early Access. By ignoring the errors for so long, the developers now have two choices:

1) Fix the broken pathfinding system at this point, which means a significantly bigger workload since so much "stuff" has been added on top of the game and it all has to be tested against the new system. If the devs had fixed it early on, it would have taken time, but leaving it until now makes the job even worse. (This is known as "technical debt")

2) Or the devs leave the broken system as it is and accept that their game will always be sub-par.

 

[FzzyDg8]

23 minutes ago, Klinn said:

2) Or the devs leave the broken system as it is and accept that their game will always be sub-par.

 I'm thinking they choose what is behind door #2 (taking lessons from EA, of course.)

[Klinn]

Sadly I think you're right @FzzyDg8 . When the game was released I tended to overlook issues. After all, it was Early Access so it may take some time for the devs to get around to fixing problems, even the essential ones that form the fundamental underpinnings of the game like the pathfinding system.

But over the past 9-1/2 months it's increasingly apparent that the devs are more interested in just layering on more and more "stuff". Well, it doesn't matter how fancy you make a house if it's built on shoddy foundations.

[FzzyDg8]

3 hours ago, Klinn said:

Well, it doesn't matter how fancy you make a house if it's built on shoddy foundations.

So true!

[Rosewin]

 And I thought sims were bad. 

[RedMallie]

I appreciate your very clear and easy to follow explanations, dear @Klinn, as I also appreciate your photos of issues, like the routing system.

It is indeed disappointing to go through this. 

[Klinn]

.

Frustrating, but I persevere in order to try out the new features of the game. 

My Zoi started up a bakery, Fred's Fantastic Foods. If it's not fantastic, we don't have it!  This is just using one of the default business lots and templates. It actually works more like a café. For a bakery, I assume people would come in, buy some goodies, and then bring them home or wherever. In this place they buy goodies and then sit down to eat them, chat with other patrons, etc.

Anyway, you may remember Fred is an avid baker so this business was a good fit. The only problem is that when setting it up I accepted the default business hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. That means Fred has to get up around six in the morning to make it in on time.

But Fred is not a morning person. Below he's brewing cappuccino for customers, but it looks like he could use a jolt himself.

So far haven't had many of the issues that other players have posted about. Although one day I did have a Zoi who wandered in behind the counter, got some fried noodles right out of my fridge to eat, used the sink to wash up, went around sniffing my plants, but never actually bought anything. Freeloader.

My biggest annoyance at the moment is that all the customers are added to your Relationship list. I've now got tons of them cluttering up the list who I never actually want to develop a relationship with. They need to add a tab in the list for People To Ignore. 

You can hire employees to help out but I haven't tried that feature yet.

[Rosewin]

[Kimi]

He really does look like he's napping on the wall.

[Klinn]

@Kimi In-game, his animation kinda makes it look like he's banging his head on the wall. 

A short digression from the business concern. In late fall Fred made a concerted effort to get the roof top garden into shape. Felicia "helped" by vacuuming the dirt.

It took until early winter for the garden to fully mature, but now Fred & Felicia can slow-dance amongst their sparkling crops.

I was rather surprised to see that banana and mango trees can grow and bear fruit in the midst of winter. Such is the magic of sparkles I guess.

Anyway, back to business.

Fred tried to increase his clientele by providing some musical entertainment out front. Some bystanders stopped and cheered, but the effort didn't seem to lead to any more customers. And yes, the kerning on the sign's letters leaves much to be desired.

Fancy cupcakes sold OK but patrons really loved the chocolate cake. Definitely the best seller and most profitable for Fred. The business reached level 3 out of 5 but reaching the next level looked like it would take a couple of weeks of playing the same activities at the shop over and over, and who knows how long the last level would take. So Fred sold the business for 1600 mews and looked to start another.

What to choose? The bakery, cafe, and restaurant all looked to be the same -- cook/bake food, customers pick it out of the display cases and find a spot to sit and eat it. Done that, what else? The club and lounge businesses appeared to be a similar sort of thing except with drinking and dancing. The most opposite sort of business I can find is running a fitness center.

So watch for Fred's Flex opening soon. Get your FLEX on! 

 

[Rosewin]

Who doesn't love chocolate cake! Also sets up business for the next venture.  

[Klinn]

Aha! Fred's master business plan -- two locations side-by-side. Customers load up on calories at the bakery, then pop next door to burn them off. 

[FzzyDg8]

[Klinn]

Well, Fred's Flex fitness business is a bust. 

I'm not entirely sure if the reasons are intrinsic to that type of operation or just because the process of setting up a business is badly designed, confusing, and leaves you uncertain if the result is what it should be. I think the process is *supposed* to be:

1. Buy an empty business lot, or already have one from before.
2. Select a business type, specify the lot it will occupy.
3. The type of business is supposed to provide a "template" which sets operational details like hours of operation, if there's an entry fee (like a club cover charge) and a few other details.
4. To the best of my knowledge, the "template" should also provide a fitted-up interior with the basic furnishings to operate the business. For example, Fred's bakery came with food prep area and equipment, ordering kiosk and display cabinets, and seating for patrons.

When setting up the fitness business, steps 1 - 3 did not seem to work properly. I created the business and then deleted it 4 times, trying different sequences of actions and I'm still not sure if I did it the way the game wants me to, while providing no info or guidance in doing so. And every time I went to visit the new business it was completely empty. No furnishings or equipment so step 4 of the process was missing entirely.

OK, let's press on regardless and fill the empty main floor with exercise equipment and some plants for ambience. The only way this type of business can earn money is by charging an entry fee, sort of a gym membership (daily). But that's only 10 M, a pittance.

First day of operation: 11 patrons = 110 M minus expenses (business fee) of 36 M for a profit of 74 M. Geez, in the bakery a single slice of chocolate cake would bring in that much. This doesn't look promising.

Second day of operation: I expanded to the second floor, doubled the number of exercise machines, and refinished the concrete walls and floor with something more pleasant. Result: 9  patrons = 90 M minus expenses (business fee) of 115 M for a loss of 25 M. 

This does not seem to be a sustainable business model.  Did I do something wrong when setting up the business that may have contributed to terrible performance? Maybe, but the game gives you no clue if that's the case. I suspect it's more like bad game design, the developers just didn't bother figuring out how things should work so they make sense. Another half-baked feature.

Another option is to avoid the process of setting up a business is by buying out an existing operation. At least, I *think* so. There's a cafe and a bar that I think you can take over so that's what I'm going to do next before writing off the feature as useless.

Wish Fred luck!

[Rosewin]

Well that's disappointing. Maybe he could buy the bar and drown his sorrows. 

[Klinn]

Nope, buying the club added to his sorrows. 

First off, "buying the business" does not actually buy the business. The existing biz is deleted and you end up buying the property only. So you still have to go through the nightmare of trying to set up a business, fighting with a completely stupid user interface.

Second, managing a bar or club or lounge means you do two things -- mix drinks that you can't sell to anyone, and watch Zois dance. That's it. First night of operation cost my Zoi over 300 M and no sign of it getting any better. I even went off to the pre-built bar the developers made in the city to see if there was some magic I was missing but nope, same old story. The Zoi behind the bar counter who theoretically should be mixing drinks for customers just stood there and eventually took off, presumably bored to death.

It seems the first business I tried, the bakery (it was first on the list of business types) is the only one where your Zoi can actually do something.

So I'll revise my opinion of this "feature". It's not half-baked, it's 1/10th baked at best. Sure is a good thing the devs spent time on this piece of crap rather than fixing some of the long-standing bugs and issues in the game. 

[Rosewin]

[FzzyDg8]

12 hours ago, Klinn said:

Sure is a good thing the devs spent time on this piece of crap rather than fixing some of the long-standing bugs and issues in the game. 

That sounds strangely familiar.

[Klinn]

.

With business operations being pretty much a bust, Fred & Felicity decided the only sensible thing to do would be take a trip around the world to pet cats. 

Starting in their hometown of Dowon, even if it is a little chilly at the moment.

Took a plane to Bliss Bay where they, and the kitties, enjoy much more agreeable weather.

And of course, finally flew to the tropical island of Cahaya since the cat temple is located there.

The trip may have cost a lot but the purrs were worth it.

As has been noted before, cats solve all problems, sometimes in mysterious ways.

[FzzyDg8]

[Klinn]

.

One of my new Zois, Brian Baker, is getting tired of other Zois asking why he's holding a pick axe. Really, really tired. Dangerously tired.

More about Brian to follow.

 

[FzzyDg8]

[RedMallie]

[Klinn]

[ fade to a flashback ]

It's possible for a Zoi to hire other Zois as employees for their business. Brian Baker had the bright idea of setting up a chain of bakeries in Bliss Bay and maybe even beyond. And he knew just the right Zois to hire.

Naturally Brian's skills in baking and coffee brewing were top notch. He also knew a pair of sisters living in Bliss Bay, Sally and Serena Server, who were equally skilled. Ideal candidates to keep his bakeries running smoothly. After getting his first business up and running, Brian hired Sally to help out.

Day 1: Both Brian and Sally worked in the bakery and brought in a modest profit of 956 M.

Honestly, Brian was doing most of the work. Sally did some baking and cleaning but not as much as expected. Especially since Brian was paying her 495 M per day. Perhaps she would do more if he did less.

Day 2: Brian sat on his favorite chair in the bakery and watched Sally. The business lost 284 M that day.

This was discouraging, but perhaps the problem was that Brian was sitting there in the bakery. He decided to stay home and let Sally take full responsibility for the customers. Would she do better when left to her own devices? To pass the time, Brian took up scavenging minerals and bought himself a pick axe.

Day 3: Brian stayed away from the bakery and left Sally on her own. The business lost 312 M.

Not good. Given her skills, the baked goods and coffee that Sally made were top notch and sold for a high price. But she just didn't make enough to handle all the customers that showed up. Perhaps Sally needed help. Brian hired her sister Serena Server so they could both work in the bakery. That doubled his expenses for staff but maybe it would pay off by having two employees producing high quality items for sale. Brian crafted himself a better pick axe.

Day 4: Brian roamed the city smashing piles of rocks in search of gems while the two sisters worked the bakery. The business lost 707 M that day.

It just wasn't working out. Neither employee brought in enough money to cover the cost of their wages, never mind turning a profit. Adding more outlets to form a chain of bakeries would only make the situation worse. Sadly, Brian's dream was shattered.

Which brings us back to where you came in, dear reader.

[ flashback ends, dissolve to Brian on the couch with pick axe ]

 

[FzzyDg8]

[Kimi]

That is quite hilarious! Especially since that is the daily totals.