Software Types

• Note More software is being developed, and this list will be updated when that time comes

Features and Dependencies

Each software can have three different types of features.

1. 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.

2. 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

3. 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.

Here is the list of all the software types currently available and their respective features.

Operating System

The Operating System 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.

Features

1. Terminal

  The basic interface for an OS. Allows Text-Based games to be developed

2. GUI

  Requires artists and the 2D specialization, but enables 
  most advanced features in software including 2D and 3D 
  rendering in the OS itself

3. 3D rendering

  Self-explanatory

4. Keyboard input

  A forced feature that doesn't affect other software

5. Plug 'n' Play

  Enables joystick control with the game engine

6. Multitasking

  Adds quality

7. Multithreading

  Adds quality

8. Networking

  Enables MMOs/Multiplayer as well as Auto Update for OS's

9. Auto-update

  Requires Networking, adds quality

10. PC speaker

  Enables Sound/Music in games and is necessary for Audio Tools

11. 8-bit audio

  Advanced audio function, used in games

12. HD audio

  Same use as 8-bit audio

13. 64-bit

  Not entirely sure what this is required for, but adds quality for sure

Video Tool

The visual tool is for creating visual art, whether it be 3D animations or pixelart.

Features

1. Image viewing

  Adds quality

2. Image editing

  Requires GUI, helps raise quality in games

3. 3D editor

  See above. Also requires 3D rendering from OS

Audio Tool

The audio tool is for recording and mixing sound effects and music.

Features

1. Audio playback

  Adds quality

2. Recording

  Requires HD audio

3. Music editor

  Requires 8-bit audio

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

Features

1. 2D rendering

  Requires GUI

2. Text-based

  Default feature

3. 3D rendering

  Requires 3D rendering OS feature, and allows 3D rendered games

4. PC speaker

  Requires PC speaker OS feature

5. 8-bit audio

  You guessed it, requires 8-bit audio from OS

6. HD audio

  yet again, requires HD audio OS feature

7. Networking

  Guess what it requires?

8. Scripting

  Adds quality, large development time requirement

9. Joystick support

  Requires Plug 'n' Play from OS

Game

Interactive art. The game requires a Game Engine, Visual Tool, and Audio Tool.

Features

1. Text-based

  From text-based game engine feature

2. 2D graphics

  Requires artists plus 2D rendering feature from GM, as 
  well as image editing from visual tool

3. 3D graphics

  See above

4. Music

  Requires PC speaker from OS

5. Dialog

  Not sure what this requires, my guess is scripting from
  GM and recording from Audio Tool

6. Open world

  Adds quality

7. AI

  Adds quality, might need scripting, not sure

8. Multiplayer

  Requires Networking

9. MMO

  See above

10. Joystick support

  From GM feature

Webbased Game

Webbased games are not bound to any operating system, but suffer the conequences of not being able to fully utilize the underlying system. Essentially a watered down game that doesn't need an OS

Features

1. HTML based

  Default feature

2. 2D graphics

  Don't think it has a requirement

3. 3D graphics

  From 3D editing in Visual Tool

4. Music

  Requires either Music editor or Recording from Audio Tool

5. MMO

  Requires a server

Antivirus

Protecting computers from digital troublemakers since it became profitable to do so.

Features

1. File scan

  Adds quality

2. Background scan

  Believe it requires Multitasking from OS

3. Firewall

  Requires Networking

4. Mail scan

  See above

5. Virus database

  See above above