| Andy | Wednesday, August 29, 2018 - 01:41 pm 
1. Crimson One
Crimson One should have started running by August 1.
Unfortunately, the number of interested players is very close to zero.
Crimson One represents a major development effort that took several months to complete and was done to answer once and for all, the requests for a place where unrestricted wars can take place.
We had long discussions on the forum about the war process and how it should be liberalized and make war possible without any protection, and back to “what is has been before”. This is now done, but interest is extremely limited.
We will keep registration open for Crimson One for a longer period and see if more players become interest. We will start it if at least 25 players are registered.
If nothing happens for two more months, we will repay those who registered their gold coins back.
2. War levels (Aug. 14)
More war levels added to Simcountry. The highest war level is now 18. We intend to add more levels in the coming weeks and months. There are very few players reaching these war levels but it should remain possible. These war levels carry large awards in gold coins and game money.
3. Population birth and Death rates
Population birth rates are too low and the population in countries with very large population numbers tend to decline. Many have asked us to improve this and we have promised to do so in several stages.
We have increased birth rates and reduced death rates in the previous upgrade on Aug. 14. The change had a good effect and the numbers are now more reasonable but as we said before, it is hard to predict what the full effect would be.
Two weeks later, the full effect is visible and we are now introducing a next stage, increasing birth rates again and reducing death rates.
Results should become visible on the birth and death rate graphs on the population page. It will kick in immediately and its effect will increase in time. We expect the full effect to become visible after one week.
4. Death Rates in General
Death rates can be reduced in every country by improving the health index. We have now increased the influence of the health index on the death numbers twice (Aug. 14 and today) and the result should be visible immediately.
Increasing the health index requires more hospitals, doctors and nurses and increases the cost for the country. It does result in much lower death numbers, keeps more workers alive and working, but it also increases the number of retired citizens and the cost of social services to support that group. The choice is yours.
5. The use of Raw Materials
We have recently added more raw materials to the production process of many products in Simcountry. The reason for these changes is that some materials are only used in the production process of only one or two products and it makes them unstable if the market for these products shows sudden changes. Corporations that depend on only very few buyers can then bankrupt very quickly.
To prevent disruptions to the production process, we have a gradual introduction process of new raw materials to existing corporations. Preventing shortages that can disrupt production.
We have done so in the past two upgrades and have increased gradually the use of the new raw materials.
This is a good improvement in stabilizing the markets and we are looking for more products that are being produced by a very small number of corporations and used by very few. |
| Daniel Iceling | Wednesday, August 29, 2018 - 05:18 pm
Andy,
Awesome, great to see the game news is back :D
It's good to see the GM's addressing population concerns. May I suggest that the underlining cause of the original problem was overwhelmingly on the births side of the equation.
Even with a healthcare index of only 138, my average life expectancy is already 113. That is way beyond any realistic value, ever seen in the real world. And it is impossible to sustain with a retirement age capped at 65.
The death rate largely effects ageing, rather than total long term population. Since any growth from reduced deaths, just increases the elderly population, further suppressing births.
Long term, it can actually lower your total workforce. Because the increased elderly population still counts towards total population, and as such, drives down your birth numbers, depriving you of young productive citizens.
If you are trying to enable larger populations to be sustainable. Please focus on births, not on reducing the already extremely low death rates.
Signed President of DanNation on LU |
| Daniel Iceling | Wednesday, August 29, 2018 - 05:43 pm
Andy,
I was doing some research around life expectancy and death rates in the real world. It turns out that the Death Rate in Simcountry isn't low at all.
Instead the game is simply over estimating life expectancy. In the real world the global death rate is below 0.9% of the population per year. This results in a average global life expectancy of just over 70.
In Simcountry, my nation has a death rate of 1.1% per year, with a life expectancy of 113. The death figures are accurate. However the life expectancy is being drastically miscalculated.
I would suggest either updating the formula for life expectancy, or hiding the value in game. Because as it stands, it's very misleading. Making people think their citizens live far longer than they actually do.
Signed President of DanNation on LU |
| SuperSoldierRCP | Wednesday, August 29, 2018 - 07:22 pm
Andy,
Please consider tweaking the average life expectancy rate. While a high healthcare index is a players choice us economic players are punished. I choose to play an economic game and I'm dramatically punished for it. You require 180 healthcare index past level 10.
I'm currently at a 190 healthcare index(please check Melichor on LU) the average life expectancy is at 172.72 years and growing! Most my empire sits at 145 healthcare at the expectancy is 120+... These index's mean I pay more in social security then they ever provide.
I'm sorry but 170+ years is WAY to long for sims to live. It makes it almost impossible to keep index's you require not to mention the healthcare and Social security dramatically drain my fiances.
Either the GM needs to update the game requirements to have massively lower index's requirements or the GM needs to put a cap in place for healthcare. I pled with you to please place a cap on life expectancy Honestly If I have people living to 100 that's fine, maybe even 110. But anything over 110 years old is insanity and just shows how desperately the GM must take action. |
| Daniel Iceling | Friday, August 31, 2018 - 06:17 am
Everyone,
The TL;DR is... The death rate is fine. The displayed life expectancy is a miscalculation that doesn't effect actual game values, just ignore it.
Signed President of DanNation on LU |
| Andy | Saturday, September 1, 2018 - 12:17 am
Life expectancy is incorrect.
we will find what is wrong and fix it.
In the mean time, I have seen that death rates are down a bit and birth rates up.
we will wait a week and see where it goes.
then may make another step. |
| Daniel Iceling | Sunday, September 2, 2018 - 10:57 am
Andy,
Thank you, I'm glad to hear it. Good to see some focus on the non-war side of the game. I'm looking forward to analysing the changing population demographics.
Signed President of DanNation on LU |
| Khome | Sunday, September 2, 2018 - 06:05 pm
Andy. Layout problems. Several of us have been asking about it for the past few days in Problems and General. I can only assume you are missing these posts. Please address the problem of the old layout being switched to the new one despite our preferences in settings. This is effecting everyone who chooses to, and prefers the old layout.
Thanks. |
| Daniel Iceling | Monday, September 3, 2018 - 08:26 am
Khome,
I'm pretty sure there were previous posts from the GM. Saying that the old layout had been discontinued. And no longer received the updates it would need to remain functional. As such everyone is being move onto the new layout.
Maintaining two layout systems would require extra developer time, that could otherwise be used improving the game.
Andy, feel free to correct me if I am mistaken. However, I think this is kind of like people demanding that Facebook "bring back the old notifications system and make it great again"... It's never going to happen.
Signed President of DanNation on LU |
| Khome | Monday, September 3, 2018 - 03:23 pm
Dan, several of us had been asking for about a week for an answer with no reply. It's unreasonable not to expect one. Also, maintaining an old layout which has been used and preferred by many is no huge concession. |
| John Galt | Monday, September 3, 2018 - 07:22 pm
The new layout is garbage. I can't even find the welfare index on the main page. I have to go into the country indexes page to find it. |
| Khome | Tuesday, September 4, 2018 - 12:12 am
I noticed that to . |
| Michael | Tuesday, September 4, 2018 - 12:17 am
I'm curious as to what the old layout looks like. I presume I am using the new layout. Too bad we don't have a choice between the two. |
| Michael | Tuesday, September 4, 2018 - 12:18 am
For one thing better PR (public relations) and responsiveness from the GM's would go along way. I think that is why quite a few players get frustrated and leave. |
| freelancer9372 | Tuesday, September 4, 2018 - 01:11 am
"Maintaining two layout systems would require extra developer time, that could otherwise be used improving the game."
Yeah, been waiting since 2008 for that..
Still waiting.
Give us the old layout back atleast..
The GMs dont take, or respond to valid criticism.
Goodluck getting one to reply, Im sure they are busy with their 9-5 jobs tho, god forbid this being their only income source.. |
| Khome | Wednesday, September 5, 2018 - 05:26 pm
It is frustrating.... |
| Madoff | Wednesday, September 5, 2018 - 09:41 pm
We should be grateful for the 20 minutes per month that the gamemasters devote to the game. |
| Daniel Iceling | Thursday, September 6, 2018 - 09:02 am
Personally I am very appreciative to the GM's for making a game like Simcountry. There are very few games with deep, market, demographic, financial, and global simulation. Structured in such a realistic manner.
Sure things could always be improved, but there isn't a great line of people out there, willing to step up to do a better job.
As for cost, the game is Extremely affordable. Far more so than almost any other MMO I play. I am grateful for everything they do for us. Although I would always happily have more XD haha, but I shouldn't be greedy haha
Signed President of DanNation on LU |
| Andy | Thursday, September 6, 2018 - 09:31 am
Life expectancy
I already confirmed that the computation of the life expectancy is wrong. I said we will find the error and fix it.
The error is corrected.
The next update next week Monday (probably) will fix it.
The change will start directly but will take a some time to stabilize, moving from the previous computation to the new one.
Birth rates
The last update did increase birth rates.
the next update will add a new boost.
we are careful about these changes as it is difficult to see where it goes.
Computations are numeric and depend on population numbers in some age groups and the total population.
The old page layout
The old page layout was indeed very old.
The current one can be easily updated, colors can be changed, choice of info on the screen, moving blocks where you want then or removing them.
It is possible to set colors to match the previous interface.
There are many pages with two versions and it is obsolete.
we said long ago, several times, that it will be phased out.
There are indeed very few players who know how these pages looked like.
For years now, new players use the new style. |
| Daniel Iceling | Thursday, September 6, 2018 - 11:46 am
Andy,
Thank you. I'm looking forward to the next round of birth rate increases, it's exciting to see new life being breathed into the demographics of our worlds :D
Signed President of DanNation on LU |
| Khome | Thursday, September 6, 2018 - 10:27 pm
About the layout, yes we know new players use the new one. That's fine. And yes, we know that "we" said that the old one would be phased out, however there are enough older players requesting that some effort be made to allow us to continue using the old layout. As stated before, it is very unattractive and even with the change of colors and arrangements, it is still not what we enjoy seeing. It don't believe it would be too much to ask that you allow the old layout be an option as it has been. It has lasted this long, I see no reason to add another reason to irritate SCs longest, and most devoted players.
Seriously, can we just catch one simple break here? There are MANY things wrong with this game that I know will fall on deaf ears, so I gave up on saying anything. However, the page layout is a VERY reasonable compromise. Please don't dig your heels in just to make a point. Please just let us have this one thing. |
| John Galt | Friday, September 7, 2018 - 03:02 am
I find the new layout difficult to get information at a glance. It is too busy. The old layout was simple and perfect in my opinion. |
| Khome | Friday, September 7, 2018 - 06:03 am
Amen. |
| Andy | Friday, September 7, 2018 - 02:44 pm
You can remove information from the layout and much reduce the info on the page.
you can also change colors. |
| Khome | Friday, September 7, 2018 - 04:55 pm
yeah, as stated before, I am already aware of that. It's still hard on the eyes, and the request to allow us to use the old layout remains. Please do not dismiss this so quickly and give us the courtesy of a true consideration. This isn't a hard change. |
| John Galt | Friday, September 7, 2018 - 09:44 pm
We don't want to remove information. We want all the information but in a way that is easy to read. Some of the boxes are so small and information is cut off. Some information is missing entirely from the main page like welfare index.
If the holy Pinktator were here, he would prefer the old layout. It is written in the prophecy. |
| Khome | Saturday, September 8, 2018 - 01:26 am
I should have kept quiet and have others ask for the old format. Once I advocate a suggestion it's immediately doomed since it is me making the request. Think I'm joking?
I've gotten used to the weird treatment. |
| johnV | Saturday, September 8, 2018 - 03:40 pm
Andy
From the update and in a latter post you said that birth rates were increased.
Can you explain why the expected number of births and total birthrate are declining every month? |
| Andy | Saturday, September 8, 2018 - 06:18 pm
When you have such a problem, it helps if you also give us the world name and country so we can look.
The numbers depend on the health index and can decline.
before and after the recent change to increase numbers.
It also depends on the number of the population in each age group.
The reproductive age groups are 18 to 40
your country may have a smaller number of people in these groups or a very large number.
also, older people die in larger numbers and death numbers depend on the number of people in these older age groups.
some age groups may grow, some decline.
The changes we have made, and the next one coming Monday, increase the number of babies born each month and it will in time increase the number of children, then also other age groups but it does not mean that the population will start growing immediately.
If you check the 0 to 4 years old group, you should see growth quite quickly. Then several days later, it should start influencing the 4 to 8 years old group. etc.
People are not born 24 years old. It takes time before these babies will start producing their own babies.
I hope it is clear. |
| Daniel Iceling | Saturday, September 8, 2018 - 08:04 pm
JohnV,
Perhaps I can help explain what is going on.
Firstly, some background information. Birth rate is the % of people born each year, compared to your existing population. Number of Births, is the total number of babies that are born each game year.
There are several factors that influence the birth rate. The most important ones are:
1) The Base Birth Rate (This is the base level of births the game gives you, before you factor in anything else).
2) Population Age Distribution (Only people between 18-40 have children in Simcountry).
3) Total Country Population (The larger your population, the more it will reduce the birth rate. This is to stop populations from growing exponentially forever).
The changes the GM made, we're to increase the Base Birth Rate. However, as your population grows, your overall birth rate will still decline. Until you reach a stable population level.
Signed President of DanNation on LU |
| Andy | Saturday, September 8, 2018 - 08:33 pm
very true Daniel.
We are also moving the reduction curve to higher population numbers.
so the decline in birth rates will be slower than before and will decline to 1% minimum.
This is up from 0.6, then 0.7 next it will go to 1.0% |
| Daniel Iceling | Saturday, September 8, 2018 - 09:24 pm
Andy,
Thank you so much. That is a great change. Increasing the base rate helps. But slowing the taper rate gives a lot smoother demographic distribution, and lets people have more time before they reach the maximum level.
Also, a minimum level is a great idea. To prevent high population countries being caught in endless declines.
When you say there will be a 1% minimum, does that mean the overall birth rate won't fall below 1%? Even if the number of 18-40 year olds is low?
I'm so glad to see the GM working on Population and game balance.
Signed President of DanNation on LU |
| John Galt | Saturday, September 8, 2018 - 11:41 pm
I made a theme that is somewhat bearable. Too bad the save feature is broken and I can't share it. |
| Khome | Sunday, September 9, 2018 - 04:58 pm
Andy, I still haven't received a response on my previous request to allow us to use the old layout. |
| Andy | Monday, September 10, 2018 - 10:05 am
The birth rate always had a bottom value.
It was as I remember 0.6%
increased to 0.8% and now it will be 1.0%
As the numbers of population can decline even when age distribution is OK,
we are making sure (for years now) that the number of births each month does not follow that trend and we keep it at a stable level.
So even when the health index is too low, we do not let population numbers plummet.
It remains a complex computation and tweaking it can produce major changes that are hard to predict.
hence our reluctance to make large changes.
Mainly the change planned for today and also the previous ones will have an effect on the age distribution long term.
You can only see the details if you watch the population graphs in various age groups and keep doing so for some time.
The is no need to do so, only if you are interested in the process. |
| Daniel Iceling | Monday, September 10, 2018 - 10:18 am
Andy,
That is good. A higher minimum, and a more gradual reduction curve as your population grows, will make population more stable over the long term.
Do you expect to reduce deaths, and increase births again? Or is raising the minimum birth rate to 1%, the only change currently planned for the future?
Signed President of DanNation on LU |
