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So you want to create software do you? Well this page is here to get you started. Information on this page is drawn from observations, forums, and discussions to help YOU attain software superstar status! *This page is very much in progress and will be updated as time goes on*

So you want to create software, do you? Well, this page is here to get you started. Information on this page is drawn from observations, forums, and discussions to help YOU attain software superstar status! *This page is very much in progress and will be updated as time goes on*

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== Don't Freak Out ==

== Don't Freak Out ==

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Its supposed to be a confusing mess. There will be a tutorial window that will helpfully guide you through the process and introduce you to all the different windows.

It's supposed to be a confusing mess. There will be a tutorial window that will helpfully guide you through the process and introduce you to all the different windows.

A recommended starting build to get a hang for the game is make your founder's two '''personality''' traits "Optimistic" and "Generous". The sliders on the bottom left can be left untouched for now, those will be explained shortly.  

A recommended starting build to get a hang for the game is to make your founder's two '''personality''' traits "Optimistic" and "Generous". The sliders on the bottom left can be left untouched for now, those will be explained shortly.  

Now on the right, you should increase starting money to $20,000 or one notch up if you are playing with a different currency (You may change currency through the options menu). Starting year is fine at 1980, but you should change the difficulty to "Easy" while you learn the game.  

Now on the right, you should increase starting money to $20,000 or one notch up if you are playing with a different currency (You may change currency through the options menu). The starting year is fine at 1980, but you should change the difficulty to "Easy" while you learn the game.  

Finally, the number of days in a month might seem odd. Simply put, if you leave it at the default 1 day per "Month", every day that goes by will be equivalent to a month on the in-game calendar. You can increase this if you like, most people play with 4 days in a month, but it just affects how quickly time moves and is a matter of preference. Leave it at 1 or 2 for now.

Finally, the number of days in a month might seem odd. Simply put, if you leave it at the default 1 day per "Month", every day that goes by will be equivalent to a month on the in-game calendar. You can increase this if you like, most people play with 4 days in a month, but it just affects how quickly time moves and is a matter of preference. Leave it at 1 or 2 for now.

[[File:Welcome.png|1024x768px]]

[[File:Welcome.png|1024x768px]]

Remember to breath, you got this. An important concept for this game is every window is resizable and movable so feel free to drag that tutorial around. Go ahead and read what its got to say and hit continue until there is no more, then hit end to make it go away. For this little guide, we'll be sticking to the tutorial for now, so go ahead and hit that green wrench to enter build mode.

Remember to breathe, you got this. An important concept for this game is every window is resizable and movable so feel free to drag that tutorial around. Go ahead and read what its got to say and hit continue until there is no more, then hit end to make it go away. For this little guide, we'll be sticking to the tutorial for now, so go ahead and hit that green wrench to enter build mode.

B: Furnish (used for placing stuff like tables, chairs, coffee machines...)

B: Furnish (used for placing stuff like tables, chairs, coffee machines...)

C: Roads (used for building roads and parking but you wont need it for now)

C: Roads (used for building roads and parking but you won't need it for now)

[[File:Building_Mode_1.png|1024x768px]]

[[File:Building_Mode_1.png|1024x768px]]

== Earning Money: Contract Work ==

== Earning Money: Contract Work ==

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The very first way your company can make money is by accepting and finishing '''Contracts'''. Contracts are randomly generated projects that your company can complete, and each comes with its own requirements for completion.  

The very first way your company can make money is by accepting and finishing '''Contracts'''. Contracts are randomly generated projects that your company can complete, and each comes with its requirements for completion.  

To find contracts, hit the button under '''Development''' that looks like a piece of paper (A). You should see the following screen:

To find contracts, hit the button under '''Development''' that looks like a piece of paper (A). You should see the following screen:

[[File:Contracts.png|1024x768px]]

[[File:Contracts.png|1024x768px]]

You should sort the list by hitting '''Months''' (B) until the contracts that take the fewest months are on the top. Generally, contracts that can be completed by 1 or 2 people (C) have a month requirement of 1 or 2 months. They don't pay a lot of money, but when you are just starting out they provide an excellent source of income.

You should sort the list by hitting '''Months''' (B) until the contracts that take the fewest months are on the top. Generally, contracts that can be completed by 1 or 2 people (C) have a monthly requirement of 1 or 2 months. They don't pay a lot of money, but when you are just starting they provide an excellent source of income.

You are also looking for contracts that have a '''Bad''' or '''Horrible''' (D) required quality because these take much less time to complete, thus more profits!  

You are also looking for contracts that have a '''Bad''' or '''Horrible''' (D) required quality because these take much less time to complete, thus more profits!  

Search through the list until you find a contract that has a low quality requirement, has a recommended team size of 1, and takes 1 or 2 months to complete, and hit '''Accept Work'''

Search through the list until you find a contract that has a low-quality requirement, has a recommended team size of 1, and takes 1 or 2 months to complete, and hit '''Accept Work'''

'''Completing the Contract:'''

'''Completing the Contract:'''

Now that you have accepted some work, you should see a project window on the right side of the screen (A). The tutorial should give you the basic run down of a project's lifespan, but we'll recap here as well. ''Warning'', this section is very wordy!

Now that you have accepted some work, you should see a project window on the right side of the screen (A). The tutorial should give you the basic rundown of a project's lifespan, but we'll recap here as well. ''Warning'', this section is very wordy!

There are four stages of completing a project. There is the design stage which is the first stage. In this stage, your designer(s) will design the product in question. If you mouse over the project window in this stage you should see one or more green bars (B) being filled as your employees work. The best case scenario is to have these bars all the way filled, but be careful! '''If you leave the project in the design stage for too long, you'll actually lose progress.'''

There are four stages of completing a project. There is the design stage which is the first stage. In this stage, your designer(s) will design the product in question. If you mouse over the project window in this stage you should see one or more green bars (B) being filled as your employees work. The best-case scenario is to have these bars all the way filled, but be careful! '''If you leave the project in the design stage for too long, you'll lose progress.'''

[[File:Contracts2.png|1024x768px]]

[[File:Contracts2.png|1024x768px]]

Once those bars are filled, you can hit '''Develop''' (C) in the project window to advance to the next stage called '''Alpha'''. In this stage, your programmer(s) will create the project that was just designed. Again you'll see green (or red bars which represent art requirements) being filled. Unlike the design stage, you cannot leave this project for too long, as once your programmers and artists are done, they will stop working until you hit '''Promote''' to advance to the next stage.

Once those bars are filled, you can hit '''Develop''' (C) in the project window to advance to the next stage called '''Alpha'''. In this stage, your programmer(s) will create a project that was just designed. Again you'll see green (or red bars which represent art requirements) being filled. Unlike the design stage, you cannot leave this project for too long, as once your programmers and artists are done, they will stop working until you hit '''Promote''' to advance to the next stage.

The next stage is called '''Delay''' and is just an intermediate stage that will last for a set amount of time depending on the skill level of your employees. More skill = shorter delay stage. This stage will finish automatically soon.

The next stage is called '''Delay''' and is just an intermediate stage that will last for a set amount of time depending on the skill level of your employees. More skill = shorter delay stage. This stage will finish automatically soon.

Then, your project enters '''Beta''' stage where bugs are squished in preparation for the projects '''Release'''. You can release the project prematurely, but be warned! Bugs make people unhappy with the final product and will affect sales/contract payment.

Then, your project enters '''Beta''' stage where bugs are squished in preparation for the projects '''Release'''. You can release the project prematurely, but be warned! Bugs make people unhappy with the final product and will affect sales/contract payment.

Now that you understand how a project works, go ahead and continue game time until the contract is completed. Remember, you can skip time forward if there is nobody in your building until the next time somebody shows up. So every time your founder goes home you can skip til he shows up again.  

Now that you understand how a project works, go ahead and continue game time until the contract is completed. Remember, you can skip time forward if there is nobody in your building until the next time somebody shows up. So every time your founder goes home you can skip till he shows up again.  

'''Finish your contract and Release it, then repeat the process until you have around $50,000 or double the amount you started the game with.'''

'''Finish your contract and Release it, then repeat the process until you have around $50,000 or double the amount you started the game with.'''

Make sure your break room has a fridge and a table with a coffee machine.

Make sure your break room has a fridge and a table with a coffee machine.

And finally put a toilet in the toilet room.

And finally, put a toilet in the toilet room.

Now throw a bunch of Windows/Lamps everywhere that people actually can see and but doors in so you can walk into the rooms.

Now throw a bunch of Windows/Lamps everywhere that people actually can see and but doors in so you can walk into the rooms.

- How much am I willing to spend on the hiring process. The more you spend, the more candidates you will have. Also, when deciding on how much you want to spend on hiring you will need to think about your insurance policy. A good insurance fund will attract better skilled workers. I would advise on investing a little money each time you finish of a contract or release software so that when ever you decide to hire you will have more skilled employee's to choose from

- How much am I willing to spend on the hiring process. The more you spend, the more candidates you will have. Also, when deciding on how much you want to spend on hiring you will need to think about your insurance policy. A good insurance fund will attract better-skilled workers. I would advise on investing a little money each time you finish a contract or release software so that whenever you decide to hire you will have more skilled employee's to choose from

[[File:New_Hire_3.PNG|text-bottom]]

[[File:New_Hire_3.PNG|text-bottom]]