Tips for hard difficulty?

[Nuvag]

Hi guys

Im usually doing very well on normal difficulty, usually getting a market share of >50% by 1920...1930

Yesterday I tried several games on hard, but went bancrupt till 1906. For instance it seems impossible to sell Sedans in London because of competition.
Did reasonable well with Microcars and Phaetons, but could not make enough money to finance a larger factory. Then eventually AI eats into my market with very cheap cars (600$)

My production costs are usually around 400 and sell price around 1000. Cars are reasonable good (for this time frame), some winning Best Car of the Year.

Any Tips?

Regards
Nuvag

[Eric.B]

Did you try the bond system to finance a new factory? Also maybe don't race to the bottom with the AI, build slightly more expensive cars with better margins. You won't win on volume, but you can be more profitable until you have production capacity to win with volume.

Also while everyone is slogging it out in London, maybe focus on lesser cities.

Just a few thoughts.

[Nuvag]

I needed to use the bond system just to get my two vehicles designed, even when dropping design costs way down (design speed slider at about 1/3).
Really can't build quality cars because of increased design cost and time, maybe I could design a single car instead of 2 or 3.

By the way: Wasn't able to sell a single Steam Engine based car?!?

---

Will try again later.
Should have noted that I choose "all companies", probably its way easier with fewer competitors.

I noticed engines below 1hp or very low MPG (Steam Engine) cannot be sold. Are there hard limits on some stats?

[Eric.B]

Well there is a top speed minimum. If your vehicle moves at 0mph (0kph) you won't sell any vehicles.

[Nuvag]

Yeah I noticed designing an engine with 1hp giving say 25 kmh while when reducing it to be slightly below 1hp it gives 0 kmh top speed. Probably it used as integer not a floating point number.
That said I think single cylinder are underpowered right now, in the early years you can design only 1hp or 2hp at most without going crazy with the sliders and price. I know they were overpowered in 1.16 when I first played gearcity but now they look just too bad to be useful. I would expect them providing at least half the power of a straight two cylinder with similar sliders?

I designed an 18hp steam engine in 1900 and couldnt sell the corresponding vehicle (not even at 300$), the only thing that was very bad was the fuel efficiency at 7 MPG.

[Eric.B]

Have you only played Hard mode since the last update?

There has been issues with Steam breaking installs due updates. One person had trouble selling vehicles, after a reinstall everything worked as normal.

Case in point, I just made a $515 Steam Compact Car and soldout 88 units at $800 a piece 1901 London on hard mode.

SO if you can't duplicate close to that. You might want to uninstall the game. Make sure all the files are deleted, then reinstall the game.

(Also note, around 1910 steam sales start to decline unless you take over the market. Electric starter killed the Steam Motor. I also noticed the artist used Coal as fuel... This is incorrect and will be changed soon I hope.)

[Nuvag]

I played a game on normal difficulty without problems, but didnt use a steam engine.

Failed three additional attemps in London, but could get a company running reasonably successful in New York on hard difficulty in 1908. Didnt use a steam engine so cant say if the problem can be reproduced.

Steam has a function in
right click on game in library -> properties panel -> local files
called
"verify integrity of game cache"
which gave me
"1 file failed to validate and will be reaquired"

But looking at the last file changed it was an file called Logfile.log containing the following text:

If you're reading this, Then Something is broke!
You're probably missing the exe file OR antivirus software is blocking the game.

If Steam was unable to install OpenAL. You can get that here: http://gearcity.info/Downloads/Beta/oalinst.exe

If you can't figure it out, email me! admin@ventdev.com

So i think you unintentionally committet this file to steam.
Another very minor finding: when uninstalling the game some files in a folder called "plot" will not be deleted, additionally the "Settings" folder could be deleted, too.
Saved Games and Saved Cars are not deleted as expected.

I completely uninstalled and reinstalled the game.

[Eric.B]

Verification of files sometimes fail due the Steam Cache being incorrect. It's not an issue with us, It's an issue with Steam. I do always recommend verification if the program completely crashes. However slightly incorrect data will pass verification but still be incorrect and cause odd results. Trust me, I've had quite a few people who have ran into this issue. I can link you to about 15 instances on these forums and the steam forums and another 30-40 in my email.

When you see this information in the log file, it is because Steam failed to install OpenAL libs. It is not included in the game files, but is part of the pre-included Steam Install files, which also includes DirectX9 and Visual Studios 2005 redistribution libraries. Steam is supposed to install these files if they're not already installed on your machine. It's SOP for Steam.

Settings and Plot are both user generated folders and can not be deleted by Steam (otherwise you'd lose all your settings every update.)

After reinstalling are you able to sell Steam cars in London?

[Nuvag]

I didnt intended to challenge your explanation that steam can destroy game files, in fact i encountered this problem on other games, too.
Probably i were unclear on the Logfile.log. The file contains some information and after clicking "Verify game integrity cache" its replaced with the mentioned content.
It doesnt appear when starting gearcity, nor on installation, so i suspected the steam installation package contains this file (?)

The real Logfile.log mentions several compile errors and missing files even after complete reinstall. Nevertheless i did not have any issues ingame playing several hours today evening.

22:17:38: Parsing scripts for resource group 3D_Art
22:17:38: Parsing script 1910WorldMap.material
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1910WorldMap.material(66): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1910WorldMap.material(67): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Parsing script 1960WorldMap.material
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1960WorldMap.material(67): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1960WorldMap.material(68): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Parsing script 1900WorldMap.material
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1900WorldMap.material(70): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1900WorldMap.material(71): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Parsing script 1980WorldMap.material
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1980WorldMap.material(67): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1980WorldMap.material(68): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Parsing script 1930WorldMap.material
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1930WorldMap.material(68): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1930WorldMap.material(69): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Parsing script ld_1960WorldMap.material
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1960WorldMap.material(67): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1960WorldMap.material(68): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Parsing script ld_1980WorldMap.material
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1980WorldMap.material(67): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1980WorldMap.material(68): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Parsing script ld_1900WorldMap.material
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1900WorldMap.material(70): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1900WorldMap.material(71): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Parsing script ld_1910WorldMap.material
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1910WorldMap.material(66): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1910WorldMap.material(67): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Parsing script ld_1930WorldMap.material
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1930WorldMap.material(68): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1930WorldMap.material(69): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Parsing script office1900.material
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1436): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1437): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1481): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1482): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1525): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1526): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1569): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1570): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1613): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1614): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1657): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1658): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1701): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1702): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1746): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1747): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1792): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1793): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1836): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1837): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1882): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1883): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1929): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in office1900.material(1930): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Parsing script ld_office1900.material
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1436): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1437): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1481): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1482): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1525): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1526): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1569): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1570): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1613): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1614): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1657): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1658): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1701): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1702): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1746): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1747): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1792): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1793): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1836): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1837): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1882): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1883): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1929): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_office1900.material(1930): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Parsing script 1900safe.material
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1900safe.material(383): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1900safe.material(384): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1900safe.material(420): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1900safe.material(421): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1900safe.material(460): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1900safe.material(461): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1900safe.material(501): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in 1900safe.material(502): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Parsing script ld_1900safe.material
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1900safe.material(371): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1900safe.material(372): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1900safe.material(408): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1900safe.material(409): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1900safe.material(448): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1900safe.material(449): token "depth_write" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1900safe.material(489): token "depth_pool" is not recognized
22:17:38: Compiler error: unknown error in ld_1900safe.material(490): token "depth_write" is not recognized

Got an additional message every time i save the game:

22:35:43: Save Game AS: ./GearCity/SaveGames/x.db
22:35:44:
Exception Occured saveGameAs db.
file: .\src\KompexSQLiteDatabase.cpp
line number: 120
error: unable to close due to unfinalized statements or unfinished backups

or

22:36:30: Save Game AS: ./GearCity/SaveGames/y.db
22:36:30:
Exception Occured saveGameAs db.
file: .\src\KompexSQLiteDatabase.cpp
line number: 114
error: no such database: origin

Did not produce a steam engine based car again, but as you tried it yourself i consider it working. Maybe the game files were broken as you supposed or i missed an other problem with my car.

[Eric.B]

The compile errors are just broken attempts at getting fancy shaders into the game. They're harmless and will be addressed in the future.

The bottom errors with "Exception Occurred" However are not normal and you shouldn't have them.

If you see these again, please attach the logfile on here so I can see what the cause of them are.

[Nuvag]

Lost the original Logfile when clicking "verifying game cache", but could reproduce the errors and attached the Logfile.

I receive "error: no such database: origin" every single time i save a game, except very rarely when i receive the other one ("error: unable to close due to unfinalized statements or unfinished backups")

However everything seems fine, i can save and load the Savegames and just continue the game.