Just started playing the Beta for the first time. This is only after 2~3 hours-ish of total gamplay.
Here's my first impressions:
- Tutorial: A Tutorial is desperately needed for the beginning of the game. (Which I believe is being worked on so i'm happily waiting for that.) Obviously, it should have the option to disable it every new game. I was struggling for an hour trying to figure out what I was even doing. Perhaps having an assistant like in IM@S who isn't a really staff but just someone who can help guide new players into the mechanics and gameplay loop. E.G: Having major goals we should be aiming for next like 'Recruit your first idols'/'Recruit Staff'/'Acquire all Facilities'/'Release our first single'/etc. Something will keep people from being lost. Which goes into my next point...
- Gameplay Loop: In terms of the gameplay loop, I wasn't sure what it was exactly before checking the forums. Based off of this it seems like it is.
- 1. Acquire Rooms/Staff (Dance/Vocal/Sales Manager)
- 2. Recruit Idols
- 3. Gain Fans
- 4. Release single
- That's all I know for now as I haven't progressed any further.
- Based on the above, Staff and Idols are the first thing we must obtain. However we also need to worry about getting the facilities we need to put them in. Which goes into my next point....
- Money: Facilities are really pricey and i'm not sure if it's because I should be making money before I even build room or if I shouldn't be buying the 3 main facilities at the same time. Bankruptcy happens really fast once you have full staff and rooms. Unless we are supposed to recruit idols and a Sales Manager first before even buying any other rooms. I wasn't able to progress unless I used the money cheat. Again, this could be resolved in clearer instructions or even a reduction in room prices. Or even having the rooms we need already available (although I'm not sure how that would affect balancing.)
- UI: Right now I enjoy the minimalist look of it, however I think that icons are way too small as I keep clicking the wrong one. In terms of pop-ups in the bottom right corner, I think they go away way too fast and I barely even notice them when they do appear. Also, it would be really cool to use the bottom bar to show progress of our singles and sales ala 'Kairosoft' games.
So far that's all I can say with my first impressions. I'm very thankful for the hard work put into this game as this is something that I really want to see finished one day.
Hoping to jump back in the update!