Geoplanetical - Geopoltics Simulator

[Ian C]

Lots of pages, map modes and options. On the surface it's like Superpower 2 but far deeper and a whole lot better.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/940230/Geoplanetical/

[Jarhead0331]

Have you played it?

I'm reading about issues with a lack of UI feedback, slow calculations, and a lot of AI slop. Would be interested in first hand reports!

[Ian C]

Have you played it?

I'm reading about issues with a lack of UI feedback, slow calculations, and a lot of AI slop. Would be interested in first hand reports!

I'm playing it in Early Access currently. It's better than I anticipated but by no means streamlined. It reminds me of Superpower 2 but far deeper and more realistic.

The map, map modes and globe are incredible and the best I've seen in a game like this. It's full of spreadsheet data and it is deep and very accurate but:

-You have to dig for some functions-they are not immediately obvious, for example, the Command Screen button is right at the end of a page. UI feedback can certainly be improved.

-Overwhelming data. There's a lot to take in. I like deep games but you really have to be into accounting spreadsheets and stock screens to get the most out of this at the moment. There is a lot to process.

- Advanced economy etc. It's not a Paint The Map game. Lots of figures and many options everywhere. I'd call it 'labyrinthine'.

AI Slop - Yes, some of it is AI-generated, like the portraits of leaders. The Dev is open about what he uses AI for, as it's a one-man show, but the code is his own. Arguably, the criticism of AI taking away coder's jobs is also faced with AI allowing sole developers to make games on their own, like this one. It's a debate I won't get involved in, but as a creative professional myself, I'll say that I'm against the use of AI to replace people, but not against using it as a tool to make things easier for a creator. 

I've not noticed the calculations being slow but I'm on a PC with fast CPU, and this may make my experience smoother than others.


Plus Side:

- It's stable and has a lot of promise.

- Military action takes into account range, logistics and other factors and differentiates between different generation of hardware and weapons. From what I've seen, war fronts are realistic. Actual bases are listed.

- Infrastructure is incredibly detailed.

- It's all based on extensive real-world data.

- world leaders and their associates are all modeled and have personalities and political philosophies.

- Individual forms of governments are recreated with elections, congress, etc.

- The dev listens to feedback and takes it onboard.

- The Developer is legit and has a professional track record of competency.

I asked AI (cough) about the company:

Polytale Games is run by **Hugo Dumouch**, a French independent game developer born in 1998, with over nine years of experience developing PC and mobile games.

**Background:**
- Co-founded IRL Team in 2019, developing games for publishers including Ketchapp, TapNation and Homa Games.
- IRL Team was acquired by Homa in 2020.
- Subsequently worked as an Advanced Creative Unity Developer at Homa.
- Experienced in Unity programming, game design, balancing, player analytics and monetisation.
- Developed or published titles including *E-Startup*, *E-Startup 2: Business Tycoon*, *Night Rolls Cozy Store* and *Geoplanetical*.


**Conclusion:**

Hugo Dumouch is an established developer with professional industry experience, rather than an unknown newcomer. Polytale Games appears to operate primarily as his independent, largely solo development label.

[Ian C]

Some screens I found online of military details and options with nations at war, and U.S. bases and energy grid.

Full Gallery: https://postimg.cc/gallery/PtGnyJh

[Jarhead0331]

Awesome! Thanks. It does look very good and definitely has promise to finally be a great geopolitical sim where so many others before have failed.

Question: With respect to the military, can you organize and build military units? Is there any control over where units go? For instance, If I wanted to deploy aircraft carriers to the strait of Hormuz, could I do it?

[Ian C]

Awesome! Thanks. It does look very good and definitely has promise to finally be a great geopolitical sim where so many others before have failed.

Question: With respect to the military, can you organize and build military units? Is there any control over where units go? For instance, If I wanted to deploy aircraft carriers to the strait of Hormuz, could I do it?

You can build forces and bases but not organize them, as far as I can see. Theater command is the level of control you have at executive-level like a head of state. You pick targets for offensives, set the policy and manage the war operations at top-level and get regular reports but no direct contact with units. Strategic-level. 

[Tripoli]

I just purchased it.  I'll try to give it a spin later today, If my two new furball/puppies give me a minute of peace.....

[Ian C]

Question: With respect to the military, can you organize and build military units? Is there any control over where units go? For instance, If I wanted to deploy aircraft carriers to the strait of Hormuz, could I do it?

I found this under the Defense tab. It looks like these options are not yet in the game for manual use.