As a solo indie gamedev and professional power engineer, I plan to provide players with a glimpse of the power industry with Power Network Tycoon. This game isn't just about building a city, it's a deep dive into the complexities and nuances of power network management, which is a topic often oversimplified in other city builders.
I would like to briefly talk about two features I've integrated as tools into the game that are part of some of the in-game missions, giving the player real-world engineering challenges. The first is EPR (Earth Potential Rise) or GPR (Ground Potential Rise), depending on what country you are from. This is very important issue that most people do not know exists outside of electricians, power line workers and power engineers and is a critical safety consideration in power engineering. This feature educates players about managing electrical hazards when buildings are struck by lightning or equipment fails, emphasizing the importance of proper electrical network design. This is generally managed by engineering designers by simulating the electrical network and determining what kind of voltages levels (hazards) will be present. The designeres software that does this is both impressively powerful and impressively expensive, generally having a subscription cost equal to the salary of the person using the software. What I've tried to do in the game is develop a simplified version of the types of analysis (finite element analysis) industry uses to give the player a sense of how the physics of electricity works at higher voltages.
The second key feature is the EMF (Electromagnetic Field) Meter. As concerns about EMF exposure grow, this tool becomes increasingly relevant. It allows players to measure the magnetic flux density and electric field strength around power lines and equipment, ensuring compliance with the safety guidelines set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), which is the most respected authority on this topic and one I've been dealing with for my own work as a professional power engineer.
These tools in Power Network Tycoon not only add depth to gameplay but also provide a window into the world of high-voltage electricity for players. The game is a culmination of my passion for power engineering and my ambition to create a game that's both entertaining and able to give the player a glimpse of the industry.
As players navigate the challenges of building and managing a power network for an island community, they experience a unique blend of strategic gameplay and realistic simulation. Power Network Tycoon is more than a game. It's a journey into the heart of power engineering and I welcome you to try the demo and/or full release coming soon to Steam! However, given we are on Itch.io. for a laugh, you can play what it started off at over 2 years ago at Power Network Tycoon v0.00001 and see how far its come!