This looks sweet. I really hope this WIP ends up in the "Program Announcements" board. I'll be keeping an eye on it.
BTW, I have never played Sim Tower, but are you going to incorporate any simple plumbing strategies? It's one of the areas that has always fascinated me about tall buildings. Raising all that water, but you can't just have pipes going straight down or you would kill someone using 18th floor's toilet.
Not sure how deep you want to go with this, but heating and AC would seem to coincide with plumbing, as well as vent shafts.
If you really want to get crazy, some simple wiring simulation and breaker box for Electric would rock!!!
Other Ideas (Warning: May be stupid 
)
- (AI Pathfinding)
Usr is able to toggle different failures of systems to see how well the building can function in case of power outages, in-operable elevators, Heating/cooling.
- (*Time consuming + Physics + Audio Acoustics + Sound Wave Analysis + Atmospheric Dynamics)
User can run tests for (sound/noise) (acoustics/distribution), sound proofing, & outside environmental noise etc.. Based on the materials used and the angles, shape of buildings design.
- (*Time consuming + Structural Physics/Load balancing)
Have the user be able to check/monitor structural fault tollerance. By allowing the user to create fail points at beams and struts to see how the building handles failure, and load re-distribution.
- (*Time consuming + Physics/Aerodynamics + Environmental factors)
I'm not an engineer, but living in NY, I was in awe the first time I found out that skyscrapers can easily sway 4-8ft (at times more) Depending on environment factors such as wind, temp, etc... So it may be interesting to check the buildings aerodyamics and drag coefficients, as well as flexibily of support structures.
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- (Further Dev).
IDEA #1:
Once you are finished with this project. I can see you taking it to new levels, if you so decide.
It would be really cool to see Exodus included in a Fire-Rescue-Type-Sim. Wher players could coordinate Fire/Rescue units to assist occupants and extinguish flames. Possibly add a grading/scoring sytem based on:
- Severity of fire to %Damage sustained
- # of saved lives and average rescue time based on floor
- Time to extinguish the blaze
- Amount of resources used and cost$
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IDEA #2:
You could build and office/Residential SIM around it, (sorta like simcity, but for one building that can be expanded as cash comes in).
Inhabitants (represented by little dots or jumpman like sim-people) could give feedback on the buildings design. They either continue to rent or move out of offices.
Better quality building and penthouses could allow the user to increase rates. Bargain with outside businesses to include restaurants, entertainment, conventions.
Residents/visitors could provide feedback to the player:
Negative comments (positive comments would be the opposite)
- Not much lighting here.
- Three Elevators to get to my office. This is not good for business. I may have to look at a new building.
- This building closed in, I miss a natural environment/lighting.
- Not enough bathrooms, what was the designer thinking.
- These corridors are too tight. Hope there's never an emergency evacutation.
- These elevators Accelerate too fast/slow.
- Every little sound echos through this building. (ehcos through this building... this building. building)
- I wish my office had larger windows, the skyline view would be nice.
- My office gets too hot with all these clear class windows facing the sun during the day.
- The water pressure is too low and toilets don't flush well.
- Not enough emergency lighting. Where are the Exits?
- I don't feel safe in this building, where are the security cameras?
etc...
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Just some Ideas. May be too difficult or time consuming to think about now, but I just thought I would share in case you ever come back to this after your project is turned in.
Really like what I see already. Solid idea and execution seems to have been clearly though out. Keep it up!!! I'm impressed.
