Software Types
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Features and Dependencies
Each software can have three different types of features.
- A time-locked feature, that is a feature that unlocks when a certain year arrives. E.g., the OS feature 8-bit audio isn't unlocked at the start of the game. Can also include base features which are available from the beginning and have no prerequisite.
- A dependency-locked feature, which means a feature that depends on a certain feature from a different software. For example, the feature 3D rendering in a game requires the 3D rendering feature in the selected Game Engine
- A dependency-tree feature. Some features replace other features in software. For instance, the feature 8-bit audio from the OS is an evolution of the PC Speaker feature, and thus you can only select either PC speaker or 8-bit audio, and not both. This forms a dependency tree which allows certain features to evolve over time.
Additionally, there is a feature called QA that every software type has access to. This QA feature will improve stability and usability at the cost of development time and innovation.
Software Types
Acutally there are seven types of software which can be developed:
- Operating System
- The OS is the largest piece of software in Software Inc. Most software needs an Operating System to run on. When people stop buying a line of Operating Systems, they will also stop buying software for them.
- Video Tool
- This is for creating visual art, whether it be 3D animations or pixelart.
- Audio Tool
- An audio tool is needed for recording and mixing sound effects and music.
- Game Engine
- The game engine is what powers a game. It contains everything needed for a game, except for the creativity. All features are based solely on the OS.
- Game
- Interactive art. The game requires a Game Engine, Visual Tool, and Audio Tool.
- Webbased Game
- They are not bound to any operating system, but suffer the consequences of not being able to fully utilize the underlying system. Essentially a watered down game that doesn't need an OS.
- Antivirus
- Protecting computers from digital troublemakers since it became profitable to do so.
| Software-Type | Features | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Terminal | The basic interface for an OS. Allows Text-Based games to be developed |
| Operating System | GUI | Requires artists and the 2D specialization, but enables most advanced features in software including 2D and 3D rendering in the OS itself. |
| Operating System | 3D rendering | Self-explanatory |
| Operating System | Keyboard input | A forced feature that doesn't affect other software. |
| Operating System | Plug 'n' Play | Enables joystick control with the game engine |
| Operating System | Multitasking | Adds quality |
| Operating System | Multithreading | Adds quality |
| Operating System | Networking | Enables MMOs/Multiplayer as well as Auto Update for OS's |
| Operating System | Auto-update | Requires Networking, adds quality |
| Operating System | PC speaker | Enables Sound/Music in games and is necessary for Audio Tools |
| Operating System | 8-bit audio | Advanced audio function, used in games |
| Operating System | HD audio | Same use as 8-bit audio |
| Operating System | 64-bit | Not entirely sure what this is required for, but adds quality for sure |
| Video Tool | Image viewing | Adds quality |
| Video Tool | Image editing | Requires GUI, helps raise quality in games |
| Video Tool | 3D editor | Requires GUI, 3D rendering from OS and helps raise quality in games. |
| Audio Tool | Audio playback | Adds quality |
| Audio Tool | Recording | Requires HD audio |
| Audio Tool | Music editor | Requires HD audio |
| Game Engine | 2D rendering | Requires GUI |
| Game Engine | Text-based | Default feature |
| Game Engine | 3D rendering | Requires 3D rendering OS feature, and allows 3D rendered games |
| Game Engine | PC speaker | Requires PC speaker OS feature |
| Game Engine | 8-bit audio | Requires 8-bit audio from OS |
| Game Engine | HD audio | Requires HD audio OS feature |
| Game Engine | Networking | Requires Networking OS feature |
| Game Engine | Scripting | Adds quality, large development time requirement |
| Game Engine | Joystick support | Requires Plug 'n' Play from OS |
| Game | Text-based | From text-based game engine feature |
| Game | 2D graphics | Requires artists, 2D rendering feature from GM and image editing from visual tool |
| Game | 3D graphics | Requires artists, 3D rendering feature from GM and image editing from visual tool |
| Game | Music | Requires PC speaker from OS |
| Game | Dialog | unknown |
| Game | Open world | Adds quality |
| Game | AI | Adds quality / unknown |
| Game | Multiplayer | Requires Networking |
| Game | MMO | Requires Networking |
| Game | Joystick support | From GM feature |
| Webbased Game | HTML based | Default feature |
| Webbased Game | 2D graphics | unknown |
| Webbased Game | 3D graphics | Requires 3D editing in Visual Tool |
| Webbased Game | Music | Requires either Music editor or Recording from Audio Tool |
| Webbased Game | MMO | Requires a server |
| Antivirus | File scan | Adds quality |
| Antivirus | Background scan | Adds quality / unknown |
| Antivirus | Firewall | Requires Networking |
| Antivirus | Mail scan | Requires Networking |
| Antivirus | Virus database | Requires Networking |