Hello Capitalism Lab Community and Development Team!
I have always been deeply impressed by the in-depth economic simulation of Capitalism Lab, and I would like to contribute to the game's development by proposing a new DLC idea: the "Agriculture DLC."
I am confident that this DLC, by emulating the dynamic play of the ABCD grain major companies (ADM, Bunge, Cargill, Dreyfus), which wield enormous influence over the global food supply chain, will open up new industrial horizons in the world of Capitalism Lab and offer players even more realistic and strategic management fun. Furthermore, I believe that as a theme of interest to many users, the DLC itself can also expect to be profitable.
I am fully aware of the important goals of the development company, including limited development resources, the pursuit of realism, and ensuring the profitability of the DLC. With these points in mind, I have designed the core systems of the Agriculture DLC as follows:
1. Agricultural Supply Management System: Investing for a Bountiful Harvest
Core Idea: Fundamentally, farms can produce crops and livestock without additional supplies. However, if players input additional supplies such as water, electricity, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, pesticides, and seeds into their farms, both production volume and quality will dramatically improve. This will serve as a strong incentive for players to actively build and manage agricultural supply chains.
Development Considerations: This system can be implemented by expanding the existing in-game production and supply logic. It seems approachable within a realistic development scope by adding new resources and products. It could also create new market demand through linkages with existing manufacturing industries.
2. Agricultural Product Export System: An Ambitious Challenge Towards the Global Market (Like the ABCD Companies!)
Core Idea: Players can only export agricultural products produced on their own farms. They can set domestic sales prices at the farm and overseas export prices separately at the export company, allowing for flexible pricing policies tailored to market conditions. Agricultural exports will be operated based on the existing 'Export Company' system.
Growth Loop and Ultimate Goal: Initially, players will only have access to limited overseas markets. However, as players continuously invest capital to expand their sales network, they can cultivate new national markets, leading to a virtuous cycle of increased sales volume and market share expansion. Through the 'Export Company' interface, players can check detailed information such as national market share, revenue, and net profit. The ultimate goal is to secure overwhelming dominance in the global agricultural market, much like the real-world ABCD grain majors, and exert influence over the global food supply chain.
Development Considerations: Utilizing the existing 'Export Company' system can reduce the development burden while expanding content by adding new product categories (agricultural products) and growth mechanisms. This will provide users with clear goals and the enjoyment of growth.
3. Strengthening the Agricultural Finance System: Maximizing Synergy with Existing Banking DLC and Farm Expansion Features
Core Idea: Capitalism Lab already has a robust Banking DLC, allowing players to establish private banks and engage in various financial activities, such as taking out loans secured by farms. The existing farm expansion features are also well-implemented. Therefore, instead of introducing an entirely new financial system, this Agriculture DLC should focus on further specializing the functions of the existing Banking DLC for the agricultural sector and maximizing synergy with farm expansion.
Specific Proposals:
Develop Specialized Agricultural Financial Products: Within the existing Banking DLC, add new financial products tailored to agricultural cycles and characteristics, such as 'Agricultural Development Funds,' 'Agricultural Commodity Futures-Linked Products,' and 'Agricultural Technology Investment Cooperatives.' This will support players in more actively investing in the agricultural sector and managing risks.
Realize Realistic Farm-Backed Loan Conditions and Limits: Comprehensively evaluate farm size, productivity, technological level, and land value to further segment and realistically adjust the conditions and limits for farm-backed loans. This will enable players to procure funds for farm expansion more strategically.
Strengthen Linkages with Insurance Companies: Utilize the existing insurance system to introduce 'Crop Insurance' and 'Livestock Insurance' to prepare for agricultural management risks such as natural disasters and market price fluctuations. Also, expand avenues for insurance companies to invest in agriculture-related financial products, thereby strengthening interaction with the financial system.
Development Considerations: This approach will have a lower development burden than building a new system from scratch and will be an attractive element for existing Banking DLC users, encouraging them to expand their business into the agricultural sector. It will also add depth to the in-game economic system and provide players with opportunities to employ more sophisticated and realistic financial strategies.
4. Agricultural IT and AI Investment System: Cultivating the Future with Advanced Technology
Core Idea: Players can invest significant capital in agricultural IT. Through continuous investment, they can introduce satellites, big data analysis systems, and AI-based automation solutions, thereby gradually improving the productivity, efficiency, and quality of farm operations. Intuitive System: We aim for a simple and intuitive system where the investment effects are applied merely by moving capital to the respective technology field, without complex operations.
Development Considerations: Similar to the R&D system, this can be implemented in a way that passive bonuses or new features are unlocked according to investment stages. This can lower development complexity while clearly presenting users with long-term investment goals and their corresponding rewards.
5. Building an Exclusive Agricultural Logistics Network: Expanding and Specializing the Existing Logistics Company System
Core Idea: One of the core competencies of the ABCD grain majors is their exclusive logistics network, formed by controlling key global logistics hubs and transportation means.
Capitalism Lab already offers an excellent 'Logistics Company' feature through the Service Industry DLC. This Agriculture DLC proposes to actively utilize this existing Logistics Company system and expand and specialize its functions for the unique characteristics of agricultural products to build an exclusive agricultural logistics network. This is a realistic approach that can enhance development efficiency while imbuing the Agriculture DLC with its own deep strategic layer.
Utilizing the Existing Logistics Company System and Agricultural Specialization/Expansion Plan:
Establishment of Dedicated Agricultural Logistics Hubs and Infrastructure: In addition to the roads and ports managed by existing logistics companies, allow for the construction and operation of agricultural-specialized logistics hubs such as large-scale grain silos, refrigerated/frozen warehouses, and specialized agricultural product processing facilities (e.g., washing, packaging, quarantine facilities). These facilities are essential for maintaining the quality of specific agricultural products and processing them bottlenecken masse.
Introduction and Operation of Specialized Agricultural Transport: Beyond existing general freight transport, allow for the introduction and operation of transport means specialized for agricultural products under the logistics company, such as grain bulk carriers, refrigerated/frozen container ships, and dedicated agricultural freight trains. This will minimize quality degradation during transport and maximize the efficiency of bulk transport.
Pioneering and Monopolizing Global Agricultural Logistics Routes: Utilize the existing logistics company's inter-city and international transport route setting functions, but add the ability to pioneer strategic global agricultural logistics routes connecting major agricultural production areas and consumption centers, and to secure exclusive operating rights for specific routes (e.g., exclusive use rights contracts for grain export terminals at specific ports).
Advancement of IT Systems Tailored to Agricultural Supply Chains: Further specialize the IT system investment function of existing logistics companies for agricultural supply chains. For example, add functions that integrate and analyze real-time crop information, international grain prices, and weather forecasts to recommend optimal transport timings and routes, automate inventory management, and introduce agricultural product traceability systems to enhance food safety.
Maximizing Synergy with Agricultural Affiliates within the Group: Just as existing logistics companies prioritize logistics for other companies within the group, ensure that farms, processing plants, and export companies established through the Agriculture DLC receive benefits such as reduced transport costs and priority transport services through the group's logistics company, thereby strengthening the overall competitiveness of the group.
Strategic Value and Expected Effects:
Increased Development Efficiency and Realism: Instead of creating an entirely new system, expanding upon the existing Logistics Company system reduces development burden and provides users with a familiar interface.
Enhanced Agricultural Specialization and Strategy: Emphasize the importance of logistics strategy considering the characteristics of agricultural products (e.g., perishability, need for bulk transport) and deliver the fun of building a global logistics network like the ABCD companies.
Strengthened Interoperability with Existing DLCs: By enabling more in-depth utilization of the Service Industry DLC's Logistics Company functions, it increases the synergy between DLCs and adds to the overall content richness of the game.
Development Considerations: This system can be developed by adding agricultural-specific options and functions to the existing 'Logistics Company's' buildings, transport units, and management interface. For example, options like 'Construct Grain Silo' or 'Expand Refrigerated Warehouse' could be added to the logistics company building menu, and 'Refrigerated Truck' or 'Grain Bulk Carrier' could be selectable when purchasing transport units. IT system investment can also be implemented similarly to the existing R&D system, where agriculturally specialized logistics functions are unlocked step by step.
6. Anticipating Development Realities and User Support
Each system in our proposed Agriculture DLC has been designed with your development realities in mind. Each system is meaningful on its own and can be gradually expanded through phased development or organic integration with existing systems. Above all, the theme of agriculture, especially benchmarking the playstyle of the ABCD grain majors, aligns with the values of realism and in-depth management simulation that Capitalism Lab pursues, and we believe it can offer fresh fun and challenges to many users.
The active opinions and support of the community users will be a great force in making this idea a reality. We would appreciate it if you would freely share your diverse thoughts and additional ideas regarding this proposal.
We hope the development team will also review this proposal favorably, and we will always cheer for the continuous development of Capitalism Lab.
Thank you.