u/AdvisorKitchen9023

Hello everyone. I would like to ask the CAM team for a few things.

First of all, thank you for all the hard work you've put into this project. I'm genuinely excited about the improvements and fixes that continue to come to a game that still has such a strong community around it. The introduction of the package manager for plugins, in particular, has made the experience much more hassle-free.

That said, there are a few things I'd like to bring up.

1, Please consider abstracting the CAM version into a configurable option (variant). Currently there is an option to choose between "current" and "legacy", but I would really like to be able to choose between every major version (for example, "legacy", "^3", or "^4").

The reason is that version 4 seems much easier to play, at least for me. I can plop all kinds of schools, hospitals, fire stations, and police stations while still maintaining a huge net income. With version 3, that wasn't the case - I had to think carefully about every decision and sometimes accept that certain areas would remain less desirable in order to keep my budget sustainable.

For example, the starting money on Hard mode was increased to $500,000. I actually preferred the old $100,000 starting amount because it made the early game much more challenging and rewarding.

Yes, I could have chosen not to upgrade to version 4. However, I was away on a bachelor party, and when I came back and saw Simtropolis online again, I was so excited that I immediately updated everything. Unfortunately, I then found myself unable to roll back.

Of course, if I want a specific version, I can stop using the package manager for this plugin and install CAM manually. That brings me to my second point.

2. I think exposing the "Core Files" component in the installer interface is a step in the wrong direction.

I understand that you've successfully abstracted it into a reusable component, but from a user's perspective it is an implementation detail. Exposing it feels a bit like a microwave manufacturer exposing internal wiring and connectors to end users.

The reason I bring this up is that it's difficult to understand which "Core Files" are compatible with which "CAM Controller" versions. I suspect that the "^3" Core Files are intended to work with the "^3.0" CAM Controller, while the "^4" Core Files are intended to work with the "^3.1" CAM Controller. However, from a semantic versioning perspective, that relationship isn't necessarily obvious.

I'm also struggling to find a place where these compatibility constraints are documented, similar to how dependencies are specified in a package.json file.

To me, it would make more sense to place both "CAM Controller" and "Core Files" under a single "CAM" package. End users don't really need to know about the internal structure.

Some may say, "just keep backups". The problem remains the same - because the CAM components are now scattered across multiple packages, and because I can't find the version constraints anywhere, I don't actually know which parts of my backups are relevant when restoring a previous setup.

3. I understand that finding the "right" balance values can be extremely difficult. There is no one-size-fits-all configuration, and as I mentioned earlier, version 3 worked really well for me.

One possible solution would be to separate gameplay balance from CAM versions. Instead of baking balance changes directly into new releases, you could provide several balance variants and add one called "custom", allowing users to edit a .txt file themselves - similar to the old Traffic Simulation Configuration Tool.

This would give players much more flexibility and reduce the need to continually rebalance through new versions. It could also solve issues such as the starting money values for Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulty levels.

4. I'm sorry, but I don't like the new intro logo.

The release notes described it as an "improved intro logo", but I don't think "improved" is the right word - it was changed, and whether that change is an improvement is ultimately subjective.

Would it be possible to expose this as another variant so users can choose whether they want the classic logo or the new one?

5. Would you consider adding kindergartens as educational facilities?

6. I was also wondering whether it would be possible to redesign the "Waste-to-Energy Plant" so that it has two separate sliders - one controlling the amount of garbage processed and another controlling the amount of electricity exported (the current behavior).

The reason is that the current implementation feels somewhat exploitable. A player can plop a Waste-to-Energy Plant, move the funding slider all the way to the left, and effectively get free garbage disposal. I understand that CAM now includes an incinerator (please correct me if I'm mistaken), but the underlying issue still remains.

Please don't take any of this criticism personally. I'm writing this in good faith because I genuinely appreciate the work you've done and believe these ideas could improve the experience for at least some players.

Thank you for your time, and thank you again for continuing to support the game.

u/ulisse99

I am 32M, a father of two - have been absolutely terrified of flying since my adolescense. Based in Zurich. I have an upcoming trip to Greece with my family next week. Then, from Turkey flying to Seoul through Astana for my friend's bachelor's party.

I am extremely anxious! Recently had a flight to London and back and I was worried all the time until the plane took off - twice. Flying with my family - scared to lose them; flying alone - additionally worried that I am leaving my family behind. Going is the most scary thing for me; and acting upon my fear by staying makes me feel miserable.

I read the SOAR by Tom Bunn; did therapy; had hypnosis; and read a few books about the coping mechanisms against anxiety. There is no magic pill to get rid of it - instead despite experiencing them, shaking and trembling - still to choose to hug the wife and kids; take the taxi; check-in the luggage; get through the gates; board the plane; and simply surrender.

I am scared to an extend that feels is beyond my tolerance.

Wish me a safe journey! And again for another. And the one that comes after please. I don't want to ruin my family's holiday; and friendship with my old buddy (such a bastard - couldn't have a party somewhere in Europe?!).

I am not sure what exactly I want from this post. I guess I seek a bit of attention, reassurance (whatever that means) and support. However I started it as a diary-like entry.

Peace.