[Marketing Revamp Proposal]

Proposal for new marketing screen (taken on Version 1.2.0.217)

 

Maybe the sliding bar for marketing on individual advertisers can be added with intervals on the slider so it may be easier to use. Of course the maximum can be changed especially when it can help with the game running smoother. If you can it can be player exclusive while AI can use the current marketing options rather than giving the opportunity for them to toy with the max costs. Just like the ranges the current marketing screen has, each tier gets a bump in maximum (excluding the top tier, "Advertising to existing fans").

[RealImage mod]

I am creating a folder of images from selected artists on the RealArtists database provided by the game and the community's own RealArtist database, since looking at the default photo used by the game may not be the prettiest to look at after a while ;D. Since this mod will be using selected pictures, I am asking any and all willing contributors to help with:

• Artist/Band name
  
• Highlight events where said artist/band have their best appearances/looks

 

I will be compressing majority if not all of the selected images into the default "missing" image dimensions (which is 94 x 125). I am also willing to replace any image(s) of any artist which the community might find some photos "unflattering". This mod is meant to enhance the visual appearance of the game and its artists within your games, not hinder it.

 

I also want to point out (for Mark) there is a bug with the game where if two or more artists have the same letters, such as "Jhene Aiko" and "Aiko", both artists will have the same image displayed. This may due to the image name being "Jhene_Aiko.jpg" which the game might be tricked into displaying for both artists because of "Aiko" being in the file name. It should be further looked into.

[Question on Artist Stats]

How does each individual artist stat play in the role of the music process? Specificially:

• Responsibility
  
• Rebelliousness
  
• Professionalism (Does this affect music videos or..?)
  
• Creativity (is it when making different genre songs compared to artist genre?)
  
• Egotism
  
• Greed (Does this affect relationships with managers and partners?)
  
• Patience

 

Does each one have a specific role in the music equation when making songs/albums?

 

 

[Labels Limit]

Should the Player's releases and sales processing be prioritized over the rest of the labels and artists? I'm thinking it might be possible to have charts and income be processed to the Player while the rest of the labels and artists still be processed in between the Player making songs/albums with its artists and having to simulate the game another time, so in a way it can run in the background. I'm thinking this is possible so the calculations won't be a huge load in itself and can be distributed over time

[Suggestions]

As for the mixtapes,

It should be for unsigned artists so that they can get the attention of labels or maybe get on the charts on their own without a label. This could also make it easier for the player to decide which artists to sign.

 

I just thought of another idea. Perhaps there could be a magazine, like The Source, which rates albums and maybe mixtapes by unsigned artists and has an unsigned hype section. The magazine could also have something like the annual XXL freshman section and interviews. The interviews could feature artists.who recently released a project or an artist who is in a rivalry, the interviews could also be based on the hype bar.

 

Good idea, the hype thing would only be beneficial towards their sales rather than getting a contract with a label, since reputation plays a major role into getting a record deal. Having mixtapes be released independently should be applied to artists under 50 reputation in all regions in addition to the unsigned part.

 

XXL Freshmen could be a re-wrapped Wendy Williams Show (to save both time on coding and easier workload for the game). In this case, there should be maybe 10-20 hip hop artists (some may be already-generated hip hop artists, some be randomly generated names to fill in roster) and be given interviews over the course of 2 months. Each interview will have a re-wrapped audience reaction and rename it something like "Chances of being in XXL Freshmen: [insert probability]", to which "insert probability" will be something around "Likely" or "Uncertain", much like a magic 8 ball.... Just an idea :)

[Collaboration Album]

It's in the process to future updates, so stay tuned! (Coming from Mark in previous posts)

[Small UI Feature]

Since I like to research on which people give the best outcomes in making songs such as producers and engineers without having to go through the hassle from the database button, I thought of something.

 

How about when hovering over a single from the charts, maybe create a detailed hover window on information from the single such as:

• Producer
  
• Studio
  

 

Same list could be implemented for studio albums. It's a small addition, and is a bonus to small details within the game :)

[Eurovision]

I like the idea, maybe having artists be given the chance to represent the country they come from. Bump!

[Chart positions info]

It's a bug, and a broad one, too.

 

It is also a problem when trying to see how much sales a song in a specific genre in the charts, especially when trying to load the songs on "All Time" in specific categories, which just loads up the songs with highest sales of all time, in all genres.

[Adding Viny]

It would be a good addition to the sales. Vinyls have been on rise too, despite best selling vinyl albums is Lana Del Rey with 70,000 sales.

[How do your artists win awards?]

Some award elements such as Single of the year are based purely on sales, and it is chosen random.

 

Sadly, this is the only award that is predictable, and is up to the game to determine the nominees and winners.

[Mysterious cheat]

I was in the middle of choosing a producer and had to do something and saw my cat walk around my keyboard. I didn't mind at first until I heard error sounds, then I went over to my computer and realized I got a pop-up saying, "Alright here is your $10,000,000 you cheater!". Mark, are you hiding something from us? :D

[How to start rivalry?]

Just a song but their genre isnt rap or hip-hop? If so its a bug

 

It's usually been occuring with Hip-hop artists, but it might have to do with me forcing Rap artists to release Hip-hop songs, which may trick the game into thinking Rap artists also have Hip-hop release, which affects the random selection of artists being chosen in a rivalry. On a recent game save, and using RealArtists database, I used Angel Haze, a Rap artist, to release a Hip-hop genre song which ended up with Nicki Minaj, a Hip-hop artist, get into a rivalry with another artist.

 

I haven't tried it on another database or with different genres, but so far it's been with Hip-hop and Rap oriented artists.

[Update sales figures]

Unfortunately, setting it to that number would probably break the game, if not, run much slower. I talked about this on an earlier post of mine, which also shows you how to edit it.

 

Think of it as this way: if the max number of singles/albums are at 500,000 , the game would have most debuting singles/albums chart near that number, depending on the artist's reputation. Every now and then, when an artist with a high reputation heavily promotes a new release, their debuting sales have a chance at passing that 500,000 limit (which very well can be a bug).

 

So, looking back at your question, it would be realistic to look at the sales figures of today and set it to around there, but to 9 million? Then again, you can create your own database and see for yourself how it can turn out, but be sure to make a copy in case you forget how to get back into the editor.

[Update sales figures]

A lot of countries' max sales are capped at 100,000 or even 750. United States, known for their music and its sales to the artists selling there, is capped at 250,000 for singles and 350,000 for albums. It is unrealistic when most #1 albums surpass 350,000 in the US and singles in the US are surpassing 300,000 sold units a week.

 

Not only the US, but South Korea, Japan, and China are HUGE music markets in Asia, with South Korea's best-selling band BTS selling over 2,000,000 units in South Korea. Countries should receive higher max sales for the original database, because while it is not much of a problem, it can ruin the realism of the game.

[All Time Chart Bug (Whole Info + Save files)]

You go into the Game Files. If you don't know how:

C:\Program Files (x86)\The Road 2 Success Game\Editor

 

Click on R2S Editor. Once done loading, click on "Load a database". I recommend creating your own database so you don't modify the original database otherwise you won't qualify in the scoreboard or you cause any errors in the database.

 

Once you finish loading, you click "Country info" at the bottom of the left column. Now you can edit more than the max sales for albums/songs, and can edit any country in the game.

 

Quick note: Editing max sales for albums/songs will affect all sales for any release in that country, even your competitors.

 

Hope you found what you're looking for.

[Numbers Bugged]

I've been playing this game for a couple of years now, and whether if I use a custom or the included database that comes with the game, I would get songs or ratings on some artists go above 100. Such as when I train an artist in production, and their production stats excede 100. This also applies when there are high rated producers, mixers, vocal mixers, etc. in the process of a song.

 

It's not an issue, but it defeats the purpose of  1 - 100 ratings throughout the game, maybe there isn't a cap set to the game? If it isn't, I can always send a copy of my database and save for you to look at.

[load saved game]

The Are you sure you want to load this saved game as doing so will wipe any current data question is from the current game loaded. For example, you have a game loaded and haven't saved, and when you want to switch to another game, it's asking if you haven't saved the current game you're on.

 

As for your new save that is having issues, I think it ties to how the database is being viewed within the code and how it is determined whether or not to be viewed, and the most logical fix is to delete the save, as I had a game save suffer the same fate. For now, you can help Mark fix this issue by sending him a copy of your game file and have him look to give you a clear answer.

[DUPLICATE]

In custom databases, clicking the add button one too many times can cause duplication.

 

Just delete the items you added in the database and re-add them, that should do the trick. If not, delete all the new items you created, make a new database from import, and add it through there.

[stagnant charts]

You can get higher sales than the debut, as long as you promote more after the debut.

[How to start rivalry?]

Using a custom database, I somehow seem to get rivalries for Hip hop artists that has either a Rap song created or a Rap song in their databse (an unfinished song). Does this have to do with the game thinking my artist is a Rap artist, or is it something else??

[Question about song titles?]

For now dashes are allowed, and it might have to do with how the game is coded. Let's hope it can be added in a future update  :-\

[Game Mods]

I was wondering of having the mod creators' usernames listed under the mod title instead of including in the description. Additionally, including recently updated timestamp from the last time the mod creators submitted updated versions of their mods.

[New player - How do I add artist photos?]

Hey Mark, did you remove photos from the 1.x R2S series because of possible uncredited works and complaints of the peoples who photographed the artists?

[Suggestions]

Directed to Mark more than Meole

Training

 

Companies would be able to train newly created artists such as live ability before the artists debuts.

You're able to do this. Live ability is increased through experience in tours. The more tours they have, the faster their live ability increases. I understand what you're saying, but it would be a bit of a hastle going through compulsory training after every audition, when you can train them already through Artist Coaching or training a new role.

 

Combining Artists

 

Companies would be able to combines two or more solo artists for a new band.

I agree, and have this be a player-only action. If not, have creating new bands be very difficult and require many conditions between the artists involve, relationships (Artist relationships), mutual relationships, same genre, and similar stats overall.

 

Band Solos

 

Companies would be able to promote/release music for band members sololy.

Goes back to combining artists: have it be a player-only action. It would decrease workload and be less complicated to code.

 

Company Websites/Promotion

 

Companies would be able to create websites to promote their artists on. They would also be able to recieve continous auditions through the website.

[...]

Instagram, Weibo

This can be done through additional buttons in marketing. I also feel like the promotion and marketing apect of single/album releases is very simplistic and OP when your label becomes financially well-off. This should be included in the revamp of the 1.2 update.

 

Ability to Start A Show or Radio

This shouldn't be a good idea. Since you would be given the chance to make a radio, it would be for every label as well. It adds more flavor, but becomes a hastle when there's 3 and 4 radio shows run by the same label, and amplified by 40 labels in the database. It would mean more opportunities, but could be frustrating to code, especially with AI.

 

Promotion When You Buy Artist Things

 

Artists would gain popularity and or fans when they get jewelry or a car.

This could work with hype and Instagram/Twitter follower increase.

 

Controversies/Scandals

 

Artists could get into scandals and/or their music could cause controversies. This could affect them positively or negatively like a large decrease in followers.

 

Video Themes/Content Affects Success

 

Themes to videos like sexy or fantasy. Similar to the current choices but a bit different. Content of video would also affect the views.

Again, would function with hype, and follower count. The Content Affects Success themes would work if there's sexual or explicit content based from the music video choices when picking a Concept Video. This could also work if there's sexual words or slurs in the song title, and could work the same way as picking a concept video, voiding what the video is about.

 

Music Shows

 

Promotional shows where artists perform their songs.  This would make it so that artist's can promote their singles by performing without booking full tours. Maybe an option for mini tours. Maybe Korean shows Inkigayo or Music Bank for reference.

There's award shows that do this. Maybe what you're trying to say is expanding the performances when artists do in award shows and TV appearances? If so, then it would work as an entire sub section such as X Factor or State of Dance, and ranks performances 0 - 100, outside or inside the stage they would theoretically have.

 

Promotion Period

 

A set period where an artist constantly promotes their song. Maybe an extra increase in sales.

This can work with the energy status. By using the hiatus function, you can set them in a hiatus to have them in "promotion", which would increase hype of a song/album and sales, at the expense of their energy and tour practice.

 

Lawsuits

This is really interesting. The scenario I imagine is when an artist releases a single that was written by another artist, and an event where the artist that wrote the single didn't "clear" it, and would involve the labels the artists involved in a lawsuit pushed by the songwriter. There would be a possibility function whether each label would be lying or not, and whether in court who would be favored over the other. The one that loses the court battle would have to pay songwriting credits. The penalty could be worse by a random chance factor, whether the label has to pay minimum 30% to 50% of raw income from the single, which can be inputted by another possibility function.