There are many construction games out there. Some more simple than others.
I always liked the more complex approach. The more technical one.
With Factorio some years ago, I almost found the perfect game for my "needs". But Satisfactory nailed it!
What is Satisfactory?
Satisfactory is a simulation game for Windows by the Swedish developer Coffee Stain Studios.
In this open world building game, you build a factory that is as efficient as possible from the first person perspective on a distant planet.
The aim of the game is to mine the planet's resources, to build a space elevator and to send more and more complex components from the planet.
Due to the great similarity of the game mechanics, the game is often referred to as a 3D implementation of the game Factorio.
So I am mining?
Not quite!
At the beginning of the game, you land on an uninhabited, distant planet on behalf of the fictional company “Ficsit Inc.”.
First of all you have to mine resources like iron ore or copper ore by hand.
From one base you can send the mined resources to the client into space. For this you are rewarded with more advanced technologies that allow more resources to be extracted and the extraction of resources to be automated.
The ores have to be transported by conveyor belts to smelting furnaces and smelted (metallurgy) in order to be further processed into components such as wires or plates. In the course of the plot, you slowly build a huge factory in this way, which puts together increasingly complex objects from increasingly numerous components. (Like computers and AI components)
The central game content is constantly improving your own factory, optimizing work processes and logistics and trying to work as efficiently as possible.
At the same time, the alien planet must be explored in order to gain access to new and more distant resources.
How did it start?
In my 3rd approach I started in the desert part of the planet. Purely out of space reasons. No trees, no hills... nothing. Perfect to spread out easily.
After about 50 hours into this game, most of the starting constructions are already rebuild or replaced.
Let me guide you through my current factory real quick.
The first milestone you want to reach as soon as possible is electricity. At the beginning you can get power from biomass only.
Which is rare in the desert. So I needed to get leaves and wood from the distant jungle. Bit it was worth it.
As soon as you discover coal power, its a piece of cake...
Current overall production ~2600 MW. Already polluting the planet... nice...
With enough power in the back I was able to maximize my output of iron and copper products such as engines, various wires and electronics
the beginning of computer production. It all starts with a wire...
For train enthusiasts like me, the monorail setup is a real pleasure.
Setting up rail tracks and connecting train stations enable you to transport goods over large distances in a quick way
train leaving "Main Station" Its delivering plastics and rubber from the station "Oilfields"
Speaking of oil fields.
Crude oil processing is also a central part of the game. Like in the real world.
I have setup a distant factory for this purpose. Finding oil wasnt that easy.
The main products plastics and rubber are beeing delivered right to the main hub. Excess amount of fuel is beeing used for energy production
I need to unlock some more components though to put up a bigger sign, but landing space ships will be able to detect my sign easily
For Hive... build with a pipeline
Whats Next?
There are yet some technologies I am currently working on. The next big mile stone will be nuclear enegy.
I already have come across Uranium ore but I am not able to use it by now.
And there are some challanges to tackle with this.
First: Radiation ... don't touch green glowing stuff without protections
Second: Nuclear waste. Like in real life. Dealing with nuclear waste is an issue that needs to tack
ed somehow.
The game world also is to explored further. I already know some parts of the jungle and the "green lands" but there is more to be seen.
Time to unlock the buggy and prepare for an adventure...