manual_en.txt

Manual for Developer Version
============================

Author: Själe

Translator: Matthew Forrester [notes in square brackets]

Foreword

Please always have in mind that this is a developer version. It's far
from perfect and many things are still missing. But we try to make sure
that you always have playable software.

For this we depend on your help. Tell us about mistakes, make
suggestions, discuss with us whether the game makes sense or not, and
lend a hand, if you have the skills to contribute. It's also great to
motivate ourselves by chatting in the forum:

https://www.gamezworld.de/phpforum/

At the moment the game is playable as an endless game. The AI works,
but it's not yet in it's final state.

At the end of the manual there's a list of keyboard shortcuts for this
developer version.


Contents
========

* Loading and Saving
* Game Speed
* Movement of In-Game Characters
* Functionality and Features:
    * Programme Schedule
    * Archive
    * Movie Agency
    * Ad Agency
    * News Studio
    * Station Purchase
    * Script Agency
    * Studio
    * Supermarket
    * Boss-Loans-Begging
    * Terrorist
    * Room Agency
    * FSK 18 and Bailiffs
* Interface
* Chat and Cheats
* Processes in the Background
* Changes Made by the Players
* Keyboard Shortcuts for the Developer Version

Loading and Saving
==================

There are two ways to save and load the game. On the one hand, you
can open up the appropriate menu by pressing the "Escape" key. By
left-clicking on the respective menu entries, you can get to the
corresponding sub-menu. When saving, enter a name. When loading, find a
savegame and select the appropriate entry.

On the other hand, there's also the possibility of quick-saving and
-loading. Simply press these keys:

* Quick Save - "F5" key
* Quick Load - "F8" key

Game Speed
==========

You can change the game's speed with the "up" and "down" arrow
keys. There are also preset speeds. For this, see the end of the
"Keyboard Shortcuts for the Developer Version". The "left" and "right"
arrow keys alter the game speed and the movement speed of the in-game
characters.

Movement of In-Game Characters
==============================

If possible, your avatar will go wherever you left-click with the mouse
pointer. If you click on a door or another interaction object, then the
in-game character will try to move there. If a room is occupied, then
the avatar will stop in front of it.

Inside the rooms, actions are usually triggered by
left-clicking. Clicking on the right mouse button leaves the current
menu or the room in which you are located.

The "Esc" key will call up a menu that allows you to save the game,
to terminate it or to reload.

Before you really get started, it is recommended to save the game at
the beginning and wander through the building. You may discover the
noticeboard with the names of all those who laboured to make this free
gaming experience possible for you.


Functionality and Features
==========================

The basic things are explained in a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9reFu18PIJg

Tom.io introduces the game with an (almost) complete explanation [in
German]:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaXdh_o3HA4

For those who like to read the full story, or who have used up their
data allowance, it will be briefly described below.

Programme Schedule
------------------

To get to the Programme Schedule, you must first enter the player's
office. Left-click on the door or select it in the elevator plan and
your in-game character will move there. Left-clicking on the computer
in the office will present you with the Programme Schedule.

You will see the first day. At the beginning of the game, the Opening
Show and three advertisements are already in place. In addition, an
advertisement has been scheduled as an infomercial. This is only the
case at the beginning of the game and should give you enough time to
explore the game in peace.

As long as the programme or advertisement blocks are coloured grey,
then you can move them to other broadcast slots. Other colours mean
that they are already being or have been  broadcast. A red advertising
block means that it did not fulfill the requirements.

Moving the mouse pointer over a programme or an advertisement displays
a tooltip containing information about the selected programme.

To move a programme/advertisement simply left-click on it, then the
item is picked up and is attached to the mouse pointer. To drop the
item, left-click again.

If you want to place your (even already broadcast)
programmes/advertisements in another slot, press the "Ctrl"-key
and then left click. The existing broadcast stays where it is; the
duplicate is attached to the cursor and can be placed in the current
location with a fresh left-click.

If you want to place individual episodes of a series in sequence, press
the "Shift"-key and left-click on it. As long as the "Shift"-key is
pressed, then every left-click will place an episode.

If you place an advertisement in a schedule slot, then it becomes an
infomercial. These receive a certain amount of money per viewer. But
they also damage your image with the viewers.

By contrast, if you place a programme in an advertising slot, then a
trailer for that programme is created. This trailer ensures that more
viewers will watch the programme. However, the number of additional
viewers depends on how many viewers saw the programme before the
trailer. Multiple broadcasts strengthen this effect, though only up
to an upper limit. Every further trailer then draws no additional
viewership.

If you want to see or change the schedule for the following day or
days, then use the the little arrow in the top right. Obviously you can
also go back again.

Available advertisements and programmes can be seen in the respective
menu options on the right. There are also more tooltips here when you
move the mouse pointer over the programme/advertisement. Left-click to
drag the programmes. Left-click to put them down again. "Shift" and
left-click retains the programme as long as you have the "Shift"-key
pressed. If necessary, a right-click will give you a free hand again.

You also find the "Finance", "Statistics" and "Achievements" items on
the right of the Programme Schedule. Left-clicking on them opens the
corresponding screens, which will show you more detailed information.

Archive
-------

In the Archive you meet the archivist. You need him, if you want to
sell the programme rights that you own. Click on the archivist and you
will be shown a list of the genres. If you own rights from a certain
genre, then it is coloured black, with green lines next to it, which
indicate the number of rights under ths genre. So click on a genre and
select the rights that you want to move to the Movie Agency, click on
them and place it in the suitcase.

But beware! If you put rights which are currently used in the Programme
Schedule into the suitcase and leave the room, then the programme will
be deleted from the schedule. So you will have to fill that gap again
later.

Movie Agency
------------

This is used for the acquisition and sale of films, series, and so
forth ('programme rights'). On the left you can see the agent behind
his desk. On the right there's a bookcase. In the centre is your
suitcase. If you have come straight from the archive, it may contain
the rights that you've selected to sell. If you want to sell them,
left-click on them and click on the movie agent with the programme
rights. Then the rights are gone. But whether they will turn up in the
bookcase again is uncertain.

Turning to acquisition, there are two methods. Firstly, the programme
rights in the bookcase. Move the mouse pointer over the slipcases and
it will bring up information about the respective rights. The price,
course. It states whether or not you can afford it. More important
for the audience ratings, however, are the bars for Speed, Box Office
and Critics for the programmes included in the rights. And also the
Topicality. This decreases with every broadcast. And with it the
monetary value of the rights. If the programme isn't broadcast for a
while, the Topicality will return to a certain level.

How the attributes of programmes are to be assessed, described by
STARSCRazy:

"Speed: How interesting the programme is to Joe Bloggs (affects viewer
evaluations).

Critics: How interesting the programme is to critics (affects critics'
assessment).

Box Office: How successful a film was at the box office.

For all three values: the higher the better.

But each has some values that are more important than others, according
to their genre:

* Critics is especially important when it comes to Culture, Live,
Music, and Shows.
* Speed is important in Erotic, Sport, Gossip, pay-TV
* Box Office matters for Action, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance"

Left-click on a package of programme rights, move them over the
suitcase and click once more, then they will be placed in the
suitcase. That's only a pre-selection though. Although the money is
immediately deducted, if you click on the rights again and move them to
the bookcase, and click there again, they are placed in the bookcase
and the money is back in your account. But if you leave the room with
the rights in the suitcase, then the rights package unavoidably ends
up in the archive and is automatically available for your programme
planning. Should the suitcase be full of programmes, then leave the
room, wait a while, re-enter it and you will have enough space to go
shopping again. By the way: the gaps opened by your purchases will have
been filled by the agent in the meantime.

The second way to acquire programme rights here is by auction. For
this, click on the auctioneer's hammer on the agent's desk. This
displays a menu with rights and their respective minimum bids. Mouse
over it to display the information about the programme rights
again. Click on it and you have made an offer. The money is immediately
deducted from your account. If no other player has bid by midnight,
then the rights automatically are yours and are available for programme
planning.


Ad Agency
---------

This is the good fellow who keeps the wolf from the door. Well,
he actually wants to flog us the stuff which ruins a film for the
viewers or gives them a chance to get crisps. In a nutshell: here are
the commercials which are broadcast each hour and keep the cash rolling
in. You can see folders on the table and by the wall and your suitcase
in the top right corner. There are usually folders in this case. Those
are the advertising contracts you previously signed. You automatically
get three at the start of the game. If the suitcase is full, then you
can't sign new advertising contracts. You can only free up space once
your adverts have finished broadcasting. Or if they pass the time
limit, which, however, results in a penalty.

Move the mouse over the folders and you'll see information about the
relevant advert. I don't need to explain the profit any further. The
penalty is due if you don't broadcast the required commercials in the
specified time with the required viewers. The tooltip also shows you
how many times the advert has already been scheduled and broadcast.

Here, too, the gaps that have been torn will be filled again after
leaving the room. So head straight back in to see if something
attractive has come in.

There is a separate icon on the bottom left of the window. Move
the mouse pointer over it and a menu pops up where the advertising
contracts can be sorted by viewing figures or profit.

Please don't complain too much that the advertising payments are not
yet balanced correctly. This is an open field and not so finished
either. But we're working on it.

News Studio
-----------

In the News Studio the news is produced, as you'd expect. You can see
the newsreader's booth on the right. That's just there to look good.

On the left, you see six coloured boards with different symbols. You
can adjust the subscription levels there. The tooltip shows you which
symbol belongs to which genre. The subscription levels differ in the
time delay with which you receive the news. At level 0, you don't
receive any news for this genre. At level 3, you receive it as soon
as the news is released. Subscription level 0 costs nothing, 3 costs
the most.

The game will add news bit by bit, as allowed by the predetermined
level of delay. The news can entice viewers from other stations, who
might then also watch the other programmes on your channel. Something
to watch out for is that the billing level is always based on the
highest one which was set that day. So it's worth implementing cutbacks
just before midnight.
You don't need to worry if you switch through the levels. The actual
change takes effect only after a few seconds.

If you click on the pinboard, then you come to the actual centrepiece:
the supply of news - on the left - and those selected for transmission
- on the right.

As usual, left-click an item to pick it up and move it where you want
to drop it. If the target slot was not empty, dropping an item will
automatically pick up the item from that slot. Reposition that item as
well by left-clicking or dispose of it by right-clicking. In the latter
case, however, it is no longer available.

Since the news possesses its own audience rating calculation,
it can be quite interesting to try a few combinations. It is
definitely possible to push the news audience higher than that of the
preceding programme. Then the following programme can in turn get more
viewers. In addition, the different viewer groups react differently to
different news items. But find out for yourself. The sequence of the
broadcast news items also has an effect.

Station Purchase
----------------
We've now obviously come to one of the strategically most important
features. Should I use money for station construction or for better
programmes? The menu for station construction can be found by
left-clicking on the map on the far right [of your office].

If you then click on "New Station", a transmission mast symbol appears
on the mouse pointer, which you can move over the map. In doing so it
will display to you how many viewers you can reach at the appropriate
location. That will also always indicate how many new viewers you would
gain. That will be important if there are several transmission masts in
metropolitans areas, which might perhaps overlap. Each possible viewer
obviously only counts once. Not to be forgotten is the information in
the lowest line: the expected purchase price.

When you have found a suitable place for the mast, fix it by
left-clicking and confirm with the "Buy Station" button. If you like
the look of somewhere else after placing, then you can remove the
transmission mast again by right-clicking. If you have already clicked
on the "Buy" button it's obviously too late for that. You can sell the
transmission mast again. To do this, select it in the list on the right
and then click the "Sell Station" button. You get less money back from
the tightwads than it cost you.

The menu items "Cable Network Uplinks" and "Satellite Uplinks"
at the bottom give you access to available cable networks and
satellites. While the available satellites will be listed, the
available cable networks will be shown by moving over the map. If you
meet the specified conditions, you can rent the connections. Be aware
that for each one there is a one-year contractual term. The coverage of
cable and satellite is based on the real data. Therefore only partial
coverage of the areas is to be expected. However, this rises in the
course of the game.

For all three types of transmission, the range is extended at the
beginning of the next hour.

Script Agency
-------------

Here, you can buy scripts for your in-house productions. They stand on
and next to the little cupboard by the door. Hovering the mouse pointer
over them lets data sheets appear, on which you can read up on the
relevant information. Click on the desired script and place it in the
suitcase. As soon as you leave the room, the selected script is yours.

Studio
------

Take the chosen script into the Studio. Click on the desired
script in the suitcase and place it on the little cabinet on the
right. Left-click the studio manager on the left and a dialogue is
displayed in which you can ask for a shopping list. These appear below
in the centre, after left-clicking on "I need a shopping list for this
script." And off we go to the Supermarket.

Returning from the Supermarket, you can start the production if the
shopping list has been completed. Simply click on the studio manager
and choose whether only the first or all of the planned productions
should be made.

Supermarket
-----------

Enter the Supermarket and you will be offered a dialogue which
leads to buying a present for Betty or the procedure for programme
pre-production.

Betty gifts are only interesting to Betty or not at all. Try out for
yourself whether your assessment of her character corresponds to the
in-game reality. There's nothing more to add here.

So choose programme production. Shopping lists you have been given by
the studio manager are listed on the top left of the next screen. Click
on the one you want.

The various required cast members (director, actor, etc.) now appear
in the middle. Click on an entry and a list of possible characters
is displayed. The blue bars roughly symbolize the appropriate level
of experience. This changes with further productions. Move the
mouse cursor over the characters and it displays a tooltip for each
character with their individual attributes. The attributes in green
are particularly important for the present production, those in grey
are relatively uninteresting. Choose a character for each required
cast member.

If you should want to undo your choice, it's possible by right-clicking
on the appropriate character.

Next a production company has to be selected in the part of the screen
on the right. There are three levels. Each level has its price and
allows for distributing a certain number of production points. The
former must be paid, the latter can be assigned to the main production
areas. Or alternatively to the speed of production.

The main areas of production are each weighted differently according
to their genres. For example, an action film is more in need of stunts
than a romance. When all the points have been allocated, planning can
be completed on the left below the information about total cost and the
production time.

Ten percent of the total cost is due immediately. The the rest is
automatically paid on completing the production which you will be
informed about by an in-game notification. The programme is then
available in the programme planner. By the way, the studio cannot be
entered during production time. The studio door tooltip informs you
about the production status.

Boss-Loans-Begging
------------------

The Boss' room is right of the elevator on your floor. He is a boss of
the old school, please keep an eye on his exquisitely animated cigar
smoke (not that it matters at all).

What there is do, or not do, here will be shown in the speech
bubble. Simply click on the one that corresponds to your request, which
is currently drawn only from financial choices. Pay back or ask for
new loans.

The credit allocation depends on different factors. So not keeping
advertising contracts or broadcasting outages changes the boss' mood,
which at the moment only has implications for the line of credit.

From time to time a notification appears that the boss wants to see
you. He gives you two in-game hours for this. If you let the time
expire, your character will automatically move to the director's
office. It just knows what's best for it. You can immediately pay a
visit by left-clicking on the notification.

In addition, the boss informs you about upcoming Sammy awards. If you
win the competition, the reward is a small prize in cash or a bonus to
the audience ratings.

Terrorist
---------

He is a nasty piece of work. Not without controversy, he ensures that
there are always enough free roooms in the building. Because free
rooms are scarce and in the later course of the game needed as larger
studios. The first one that you have is only size one.

The terrorist is actually a henchman of both Dubanian embassies, who
are in perpetual conflict with one another. The other side is the real
target. The terrorist threat is announced with a notification later in
the course of events.

Shortly afterwards, the terrorist enters the building and goes
to the information board. That is where you have the chance to
participate. Because you can mix up the nameplates on the information
board. Put the nameplate of the embassy of the country which is
mentioned in the news as the target for a possible attack to place that
suits you and the terrorist will direct his steps there. If you would
like to see what happens, simply follow along.

By the way, the AI can also place the appropriate embasssy nameplate on
your offices or studios.

Room Agency
-----------

This pleasant chap lets you rent newer and eventually bigger
studios. Left-click on the pinboard and it displays the occupied rooms
in the building. The potential rentable ones are highlighted. A tooltip
contains the present tenant of each one and the studio size. So far,
the latter has no impact on the in-house productions.

We will learn later how you can convince the tenants to give up their
rooms.

'FSK18' and Bailiffs
--------------------

Programmes with the label 'FSK18' [the German equivalent of an 18
certificate or TV-MA rating] may not be broadcast between 0600 and
2200 according to the Youth Protection Law of TVTower-land. It rests
with you whether you will abide by that. But there's a catch. Or, more
accurately, two. The authorities could detect in the Programme Schedule
that you intend to flout the law. A fine is subsequently due and the
programme will be removed from the Programme Schedule. Then you must
fill the gap again.

If you have managed to smuggle the programme past the censor unnoticed,
there is still always a 25% chance that one of the two court bailiffs
(Mr Czwink and Mr Czwank) appear after the broadcast. Since they don't
know their way around TV-Tower that well, they inform themselves at the
information board just like Mr Terrorist. Swap the appropriate Archive
nameplate and rights might be confiscated from the competition. If
programme rights have been confiscated, you will receive a notification
about it.

Like real life, FSK18 broadcasts at the wrong time damage your
image. Currently by 0.5 percentage points.

Interface
=========

The lower part of the game screen, which keeps you company during the
whole game, is referred to as interface. On the left is the television,
which displays the current programme of each station. You can turn it
off. You can also  choose which station's programme you want to watch
using the coloured buttons.

Moving the mouse pointer over the screen of the TV set or the buttons
of the other stations, a tooltip appears with information about the
current programme. In addition, your own station will hint whether a
suitable commercial break is set.

The right screen shows each of the target groups that will be
particularly reached by the programme. The displays in the middle are
self-explanatory thanks to the tooltips.

Chat and Cheating
=================

The in-game-chat is called up with the "Enter" key. In the developer
version, the chat can accept various commands. The command "/dev help"
lists the applicable comands. For example, "/dev money 1 1000" will
credit 1000 Euros to the account of the first player.

Processes in the Background
===========================

An example of the processes in the background is the audience rating
calculation. At the moment not much explanation is possible here. So
it is easier for you if you pay attention to inconsistencies and where
possible report them to us. Since most of the those who find us in the
vastness of the Net are probably experienced players, intuition is a
factor that should not be underestimated in improving the game.

And we won't explain away the inconsistencies in advance with big
words.

Keyboard Shortcuts for the Developer Version
============================================


Game Speed
----------
* Up/down arrow keys : Game speed +/-
* Left/right arrow keys : Running speed and game speed +/-
* Left-Ctrl + right arrow key : Fast forward level 1
* Right-Ctrl + right arrow key: Fast forward level 2
* 5 : Speed 60 game minutes/s
* 6 : Speed 120 game minutes/s
* 7 : Speed 180 game minutes/s
* 8 : Speed 240 game minutes/s
* 9 : Speed 1 game minute/s (standard)

Rooms
-----
[The German names are given where these explain the shortcut]
* W: Ad Agency [Werbemakler]
* A: Archive
* B: Betty
* F: Movie Agency [Filmagentur]
* O: Office
* C: Boss [Chef]
* N: News Studio
* R: Room Agency
* P: Room Plan
* Ctrl + R: Room Plan
* S: Studio (the first one found)
* L: Supermarket [Laden]
* Left-Ctrl + S: Supermarket
* D: Script Agency [Drehbuchagentur]
* Right-Ctrl + S: Script Agency
* E: Credits (employees :-))

Loading/Saving
--------------
* F5: Save game state (Quicksave)
* F8: Load game state (Quickload)

Misc
----
* 1-4: Change player (with Observer Mode players are only observed)
* Left-Ctrl + O: Observer Mode on/off
* G: Ghost Mode (scroll freely through the building with the mouse)
on/off

* TAB: Dev-/debug panel show/hide
* Left-Ctrl + TAB: Room-specific debug insights on/off
* Q: Audience share debug screen on/off
* K: All characters will be kicked out of the rooms
* T: Launch the terrorist

* F1: Game manual or display room/screen-specific help if available
* F6: Play music [or new track]
* F10: (De)activate all outside characters (movements)
* F11: AI on/off

* M: Music/sound output on/off
* Shift+M: Sound effects on/off
* Ctrl+M: Music on/off