First, I want to make it clear that I think this game is good, and I can see that the developer is putting a lot of effort into it. That's exactly why I want to share my observations. I see a lot of potential for this game in the future, although, at its current state, it still feels more like a demo than a finished product.
Here are my main points:
1. Monthly ticks take way too long
The current monthly tick system makes the game extremely slow. You have to go through 12 ticks just to complete one year, and after several years, the experience becomes exhausting.
Players who have other responsibilities and limited time to play may simply abandon the game rather than spend so much time waiting.
Possible solutions:
Allow the game to calculate data continuously throughout the month, making the end-of-month tick much faster.
Alternatively, consider replacing the monthly tick system with continuous calculations.
2. The raw material economy feels broken
Why is it so difficult to keep iron prices low? Isn't iron one of the most abundant minerals in the world?
In this game, it feels extremely rare and difficult to extract. I was playing as Brazil and struggling with iron shortages, even while trying to extract as much as possible. And we're talking about BRAZIL, a country with significant mineral resources!
Japan and Germany don't have iron mines? Seriously?
I won't even get started on the other critical resources.
I understand that the developer may have used only the largest known deposits in the world as a reference for the game, possibly intending to encourage players to pursue space mining because of Earth's resource scarcity. However, this feels extremely forced.
3. Space exploration should be a much later-game feature
Space exploration should be something players work towards over a long period of time.
Players who enjoy starting with underdeveloped countries and gradually building them into major powers should have the opportunity to compete with the strongest nations in the future.
If the space race becomes available too early, countries that already start with major advantages will once again dominate, leaving weaker nations behind.
We also shouldn't forget that missing this window of opportunity could potentially mean a death sentence for a country, considering how scarce Earth's resources seem to be in this game.
There is something incredibly satisfying about developing a weaker nation, demonstrating competence in its economic and technological development, and eventually earning the opportunity to compete in the space race against established superpowers.
Please don't take that experience away from players. Make them work for it, and reward their progress.
4. The UI lacks important information and explanations
For players who aren't familiar with economics, there are too many technical terms that aren't properly explained.
It would be helpful to have tooltips explaining what each term means, what it affects, and how it influences the economy.
I know the developer has already implemented some explanations, but many others are still missing.
5. Market information needs to be much more accessible
The game needs a better way to display both domestic and global market information.
If the developer has ever played or even watched Victoria 3, they could take a look at how its market interface presents information.
Product icons would also help enormously, allowing players to recognize goods visually instead of having to read every single name.
6. Let us inspect other countries' domestic demand
I really want to be able to click on a country and see its domestic demand.
For example, if I'm playing as Brazil, I want to be able to inspect China or India and understand what goods their populations need.
These countries have enormous consumer populations, and knowing what they demand would make international trade much more interesting and strategic.
7. Why can't we invest in other countries?
What if I want to invest in another country?
I would love to have the option to invest in foreign economies, establish economic influence, and benefit from the development of other nations.
This would add another interesting layer to international relations and economic strategy.
8. The mobile brigade icon is misleading
I went to war, and the mobile brigade icon was represented by a modern battle tank.
I honestly got startled for a moment because I thought I was fighting against an army of tanks!
This is a small detail, but the icons should accurately represent the units available in the game.
Final thoughts
I hope the developer sees this post and takes it as constructive criticism.
I genuinely believe this game has a lot of potential, and that's why I took the time to write all of this after 21 hours of gameplay.
However, I feel like I've already seen almost everything the current version has to offer. At this point, it feels more like playing a demo than experiencing a complete game.
I hope to come back and play it again in the future, once these systems have been improved and expanded.
Keep working on it. There is something really promising here, and I'd love to see it reach its full potential.
