Video Game TYCOON

Video Game TYCOON is a tycoon computer game developed and published by GAMESweet Software. It is an example of a tycoon game, however it is not like traditional tycoon video games. Rather it lets its users not only play video games, but create their own 3D video games as well, and even burn them to CD, as well as DVD. There are other software tools and games that let people make their own 2D video games such as RPG Maker, Fighter Maker or Shooter Maker that also do not require any knowledge of software engineering to produce an original working video game. There are also tool-kits that do require programming and 3D art skills such as Microsoft XNA. Video Game Tycoon attempts, albeit in a rather simplistic form, to allow the creation of an original 3D video game by anyone over the age of 10. Based on the success of version 1.0 a new version, Video Game Tycoon: Online Edition, was released on October 25, 2009. It addresses some of the shortcomings of the original, with more of a "Teen" rating, more game-play styles and a place for game sharing. Control is limited, as the game mechanics are very simple. The games can also run on a small max of 512mb of ram. This is the max, no matter how much you have. If your computer has 256mb, it will come up with 256 total. The game has been tested to work with Vista, as well as the disc saying compatibility with vista.

RAM
The game has a 512mb ram limit with the gold edition. There are settings that allow you to set this down. For example, if you are looking to make a game that runs well on a computer with 256mb of ram and you have 512mb, you can set this down, and the game will only see 256mb. This is good for more limited computers that don't have a lot of ram to run with.

Certain Limitaions
There is a limit of 2 players and 20 levels. As to the amount of objects on the playing field, that is determined by ram settings.

Editions
So far, GameSweet has released 3 editions of Video Game Tycoon:
 * Video Game Tycoon: Gold Edition - Released 2006
 * Video Game Tycoon: Diamond Edition (discontinued) - Released 2006
 * Video Game Tycoon: Online Edition - Released October 25, 2009

Overview
There are three types of gameplay in Video Game TYCOON: play, tutorial and build.

Play
When you first login to the menu, you see three things. On the left far left you see Play, On the far right you see Build, and in the middle you see Tutorials. When you click on play, the game provides you with some of its games, and if you made your own game, that would be there too. Basically, you just click on a game and it allows you to play it how it was made. If you like the game, go back to Build mode to burn your video game onto disc.

Tutorial
Tutorials teach novices the basics of building their own 3D video games. This includes defining levels and level objectives, defining players, and defining other objects. After completing the 4 supplied tutorials, players earn their Certificate of Training in Video Game Design.

Build
Build mode is where most of the time is spent, creating and fine-tuning video games. Players can achieve bronze, silver, and gold medals as they gain more experience building games.

To achieve Bronze Video Game Design Awards, players need to create a level with 5 targets and a target level objective, a level with 5 collectables and a collectable level objective, and equip a vehicle with a weapon or a character with an accessory. Once players have achieved bronze, they unlock the ability to burn games onto CD or DVD (This feature is omitted in the Online Edition. Instead, it is replacved with the ability to post games online, which is available from the start).

To achieve Silver Video Game Design Awards, players need to create a level with 5 gates and a gate level objective, a level with multiple player character selections, a level with 2 or more cheats, and a level with a timer objective. Achieving silver status unlocks the high flying Kruiser and Pegasus objects. In version 1.16 - 1.24 of Gold Edition, it was possible to unlock both the kruiser and pegasus. The bug is fixed in version 1.25. The Online Edition allows for both items to be unlocked.

To achieve Gold Video Game Design Awards, players need to create a level with multiplayer support, a level with 2 easter eggs, a level with at least 3 snap-together do-it-yourself terrain sections, and a level with an objective rewards that gives players the ability to unlock levels. Achieving gold status will unlock advanced object controls, which allow players to generate more complex and interesting video games.

Players and AI Objects
Players and AI (artificially intelligent) objects define the majority of the game content for each video game. Player objects are controlled by players using the mouse, keyboard, or game controllers. AI objects are controlled automatically by the game itself. The textures of the players can be edited using an image editor in the Online Edition.

Character Choices

 * Civilians: A boy or girl player; they each have customisable clothing and three textures which represent different races.
 * Spies: The same characters as the civilians; However, these wear spy outfits. They can also be equipped with rocket packs.
 * Horses: Regular horses with customisable fur; These horses also can wear stripes and spots as texture skins. Most characters can ride horses.
 * Unicorns: Mythical horses with horns. They function just like regular horses.
 * Pegasus (Unlocked through obtaining the silver award): These animals are basically unicorns with wings. They function like the unicorns, except that they can fly using the jump key.
 * Aliens: Mutant creatures from space. Their skin tones can be customised. They can also be equipped with rocket packs.
 * Skeletons: Skeletal remains of humans. They function like most other players, except that they can use guns. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Ashbendars: These are mythical female heroes. Like all characters introduced in the Online Edition, they can use guns. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Rumpelstiltskin: A dwarf from the famous children's story, Rumpelstiltskin. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Stumpykiltspin: A counterpart of Rumpelstiltskin, made-up specifically for this game. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Orcs: Evil, large, ogre-like creatures. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Wolf Man: A mechanical-looking werewolf creature. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Swat Guy: A male member of the SWAT team. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Special Ops Guy: A male soldier. Can be equipped with a rocket pack. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * US Soldier: A male soldier of the United States army. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Stalker: A male soldier. He can be equipped with sunglasses, and the hat equipped with the player is removable. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * WWII German Soldier: A male soldier of the German army, specifically during the events of World War II. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Male Soldier: A generic male soldier. He can be equipped with a rocket pack. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Soldier Girl: A generic female soldier. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Scorpion: A giant scorpion.
 * Tarantula: A giant tarantula.
 * T-rex: A generic Tyrannosaurus Rex.
 * Triceratops: A generic Triceratops.
 * Gun Turret: A large, turret that can shoot down U.F.O.s, it is usually used for alien invasion type games. It comes in a normal and large size.
 * Leclerc Tank: A French, Leclerc tank.
 * Challenger: A British Challenger tank. It comes in 3 texture skins. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Warrior: A British Warrior tank. It comes in 3 texture skins. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Panhard VBL: A French Light Armored vehicle. It comes in 3 texture skins. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Leopard 2: A German Leopard 2 tank. It comes in 3 texture skins. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Marder 1A3: A German Marder 1A3 tank. It comes in 3 texture skins. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * M1A1: A US M1A1 tank. It comes in 3 texture skins. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * M2A2 Bradley: A US M2A2 tank. It comes in 3 texture skins. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * LAV 25 Stryker: A US Stryker vehicle. It comes in 3 texture skins. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * M1126: A US Stryker vehicle: It comes in 3 texture skins. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * H4: A US H4 vehicle: it can be equipped with a missile or a machine gun. It comes in 3 texture skins. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * T72: A Russian tank. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * BTR-80: Another Russian tank. (This character is only available in the Online Edition)
 * Alien Tank: A tank that appears to be from outer space.
 * Alien Tripod: A strange craft with legs.
 * Kruiser (Unlocked through obtaining the silver award): A German car which can glide. Its color is customisable except for the Online Edition, in which it is only available in Hot Pink.
 * Kallant: A fictional brand of car. Its color is customisable.
 * XJ11 Coupe: A fictional brand of car. Its color is customisable as well as its texture skin.
 * Horn Beetle Car: A car shaped like a beetle.
 * Lady Bug Car: A car shaped like a Lady Bug.
 * XJ11 Hover Car: A fictional brand of car which can levitate. Its color is customisable.
 * KMW K30: A car which spoofs BMW. Its color is customisable.
 * Kamaro: A fictional brand of car. Its color is customisable.
 * Korche. A car which spoofs Porsche. Its color is customisable.
 * Buggy: A basic dune buggy. Its color is customisable.
 * Pickup: A basic pickup truck. Its color is customisable
 * F2000 Race Car: A fictional Race Car. Its texture skin is customisable.
 * Kountash: A fictional brand of car. Its color is customisable.
 * Kerrari: A car which spoofs Ferrari. Its color is customisable.

Weapons and Other Accessories
Various weapons and accessories can be attached to many player and AI objects.

Game Play Objects
Game play objects are those objects that affect level objectives, such as gates that affect the gates objective, exploding crates and barrels that affect the survive objective, collectable objects such as butterflies, stars, and coins that affect the collection objective, and many more. Some of these objects are listed below.

Scenery Objects
Scenery objects are those objects that are added primarily for generating interesting scenes and terrain. Scene objects don't directly affect game play, however may indirectly affect game play (such as when a tree is put in the center of a race track).


 * Battlefield Objects
 * Houses
 * Rural Buildings
 * Trees
 * Bridges
 * Commercial Buildings
 * Sporting Buildings
 * Fences
 * General
 * Rocks
 * Historic Buildings
 * Landmarks (for unknown reasons, the Capitol Building and Chrystler Building are misspelled, with K's instead of C's. This possibly because of copyrights.
 * Signs
 * Skyscrapers

Terrain
There are two types of terrain available: Geared-Up terrain and Do-It-Yourself terrain. Geared up terrain is terrain that has already been snapped together, and may also contains interesting scene and gameplay objects. Do-it-yourself terrain are sections that can be snapped together to generate larger, more interesting 3D scenes.

Game and Level Objectives
Game and level object—lives are what actually define the game play of each level. These objectives may be either required or bonus objectives. If required, level objectives must be completed to satisfy the level

Cheats
Custom cheats allow players to unlock players, levels, and other game features by using their own cheat names. For example, a player may want to use the player name 'bigammo' to enable the unlimited ammo cheat. Cheats available include the following.

Secrets
Upon receiving the Silver Award, the Kruiser is unlocked. The Kruiser can do an unpowered glide if the action key is pressed. The Kruiser can also be unlocked if the designer is named 'vgtall'.

Reception
Informal reviews have been generally positive, Negative reviews have focused on the games less than state of the art graphics, over simplified game mechanics and incompatibility with some PC hardware. Formal reviews award the game an average of 8/10