Hi Guys!
You probably have noticed I have slowed down on game development and getting on much less than before. I must admit that I lost interest in the game as my airline is quite fully developed.
I still log in once in a while thanks to the great game community but still that alone is not enough to keep players
Therefore, I am thinking to add various new game mechanics and overhaul. And there will be a world reset that comes with it, cause with all these new proposed changes (non confirm yet...just new ideas) some established airline is going to be badly hurt. Might as well start over and reset the game world
BUT! not all is lost! I am going to introduce some LEGACY bonus so more accomplished airline in this current game world will be rewarded in the new game world (but not too overpowered)
Below is a list of proposed change, take note that all of the below are up for discussion. Just want to brainstorm a little bit here and gather some inputs
Negotiation systemYep....many of the things below will base on this new system. Getting slots, getting airplane order discount, establishing routes to foreign country, setting up base etc etc
Airlines accumulate negotiation points over time, the rate of accumulation probably has to do with an airline's size or something (to be determined)
Negotiation has certain cool-down period, perhaps one can only negotiate for the same thing every 3 months in-game time for example
Now I know some of you might hate it, but there will be randomness implemented into this (just like any negotiation!)
To initiate negotiation will need certain amount of points. For example:
To negotiate for slots from a scale 5 airport requires 50 negotiation point. And the outcome could be : Great success : 10 slots, Success : 5 slots, Minor Success : 2 slots. Failed : 0 slots
Some of the harder thing might require several negotiation dialog to push through, for example establishing a foreign base
I know this might turn into a very lame system....but i do want to put it up for suggestions/comments/concerns. I think this system could be interesting if we do it right
Country relationship with AirlinesThe current game as certain country relationship matrix, and an airline's relationship with a country is fixed by the airline's mother country. This is a good starting point but we can perhaps make this more interesting. I would think each airline should have unique relationship with each country. Certain things that can affect the relationship:
1. Establish flight routes from foreign country to this country with high volume
2. Presence of other foreign airlines in this country - especially airlines from same foreign country (need to fight it out, for example a country would only allow N routes flying to her from a foreign country X - I think this is pretty realistic)
Airport slotsAirport slots are now gained via negotiation. Of course many other factors still affect the outcome:
1. How crowded is the airport
2. How big is your airline
3. Country relationship
4. How many routes do you already have (easier for fresh airlines)
Increased difficulty of flying to already crowed country/airportIt's quite easy...almost too easy now. Any airline as far as having neutral relationship can fly to any other airports. I understand the old route restriction is not welcoming to many players, but I do think having some limit is good, as far we it's something players can work on and see progress (and protection for younger airlines too, it should be relatively easy for them on the first few routes)
If certain airport (size matters too) is already crowded with route flying from certain country X, then it will not easily allow new airline to do it. New airline probably need to opt for other alternative airport of that country or use "negotiation"
Increased difficulty of setting up hubs especially foreign onesCurrently as far as the airline grade is certain level and you have a route flying to certain foreign airport (and country relationship is > 0), then u can setup hub and start flying domestic. That seems a bit weird. I would assume in real world a country wouldn't just let a foreign airline flying domestic like that.
So im thinking that airline's country relationship should play major role here. Only after building up good relationship will the country give a foreign airline to "negotiate" for a hub. Once a hub is setup, it probably will have certain restrictions (for example only allow X number of domestic route and within Y km range etc). Those restrictions will be slowly relaxed as the airline further improve relationship with certain country
Fleet compositionCurrent game model is pretty flat - airplane model perform the same for all players - same maintenance cost - except that country relationship play certain role (ie Russian cannot buy American jets). We need a new model that is more interesting. That does not necessary mean more realistic but i do want to make the game more interesting. For example sticking with a single manufacturer would give discount and also maintenance bonus. Buying airplanes from certain country will affect airline's relationship with certain country etc etc.
Loyalty competitionAirports in the game world right now can sustain many airlines with high loyalty - as far as all of them provide high quality service and volume. I am thinking to change the game model such that loyalty is "relative" - the loyalty pool is a fixed number (say 100), and will be split to all airlines that flies to this airport - still computed by mostly volume and service level, with hometown airline having some extra bonus.
This should give hometown airline a bigger advantage against foreign airline. And also make it the game more competitive as airlines would have to fight for loyalty.
Loyalty will also play a more dominant factor when virtual pax makes their travel decisions
Probably many more...but i will stop for now...it's getting late