This Grand Life 2

Devlog

• This Grand Life 2 launches into Early Access
  June 20, 2024 by PokingWaterGames

  I pressed the button that makes the game available and now you can purchase it. Make sure you have a computer... ...and a sitting surface... and you're all set... Continue reading

  
• Story Time - Mr. Jamali And His Bar
  May 25, 2024 by PokingWaterGames

  I've been doing a long-term playtest and recently came across an interesting dilemma which shows the experience I'm trying to create for players. This is Churrs! It's a bar in London run by Ahmadreza... Continue reading

  
• Design Talk - Deciding City Policies
  May 15, 2024 by PokingWaterGames

  Previously I talked about setting up the economic policies that govern each city. Today I'd like to expand on how I've fleshed it out since then. When setting up these policies I try to be as objectiv... Continue reading

  
• Managing Household Relations And Incompatible Personalities
  May 02, 2024 by PokingWaterGames

  here are a few more challenges to consider once you start adding multiple characters to a household. When two people are at the same location they have a chance to interact. They'll decide on a semi-r... Continue reading

  
• The Schooling System And Teenage Mood Swings
  April 12, 2024 by PokingWaterGames

  Children attend school with the goal of obtaining a high school diploma by the time they near adulthood. Not everyone has the same experience though, and a child's personal success will be impacted by... Continue reading

  
• Modding - Mafia Loans, Child Workers And More
  March 21, 2024 by PokingWaterGames

  This Grand Life 2 will have a modding system that allows for a variety in gameplay for players, including some built-in mods that I'll talk about today. Starting loans Some players might want to only... Continue reading

  
• Early Access Date and Other Announcements
  February 29, 2024 by PokingWaterGames

  Exciting news, the game will officially launch into Early Access on 20th June, 2024, marking a significant milestone in its development journey. It will also be participating in the upcoming Next Fest... Continue reading

  
• Map Modifiers - Government Policy And Local Industry
  January 27, 2024 by PokingWaterGames

  1

  In the same way there are tens of thousands of character combinations based on preferences, there are also many possibilities for cities based on government policy and local industry. Government Polic... Continue reading

  
• Emergent Storytelling - The Life Of Paddy and Liv
  December 23, 2023 by PokingWaterGames

  1

  With most of the major features fleshed out, the last few weeks have involved lots of testing and balancing. The different gameplay mechanics are really starting to come together. I'd like to tell the... Continue reading

  
• Small Business (Part 3) - Building Awareness And Reputation
  November 27, 2023 by PokingWaterGames

  This is a continuation of the series on running a business in This Grand Life 2. Previous posts: Part 1 and Part 2 Brand Awareness Awareness can be built by spending money on advertising, or getting y... Continue reading

  
• Demo Is Launched!
  October 20, 2023 by PokingWaterGames

  1

  You can now play a demo of This Grand Life 2! I've also made a new trailer for this grand occasion: The demo is set in the land of TutorialVille, Kentucky USA! In this fine city you can get a job, ren... Continue reading

  
• Small Business (Part 2) - Contracts and Industry
  October 09, 2023 by PokingWaterGames

  Last time I talked about the "job hour" being the core of the small business system. Contracts are an extension to this system that can amplify your profits or losses. Let's look at opening a flower s... Continue reading

  
• Small Business (Part 1) - From Employee To Employer
  September 13, 2023 by PokingWaterGames

  Starting your own business is in some ways a culmination of all the other gameplay mechanics. In a business you will have jobs to work, utilities to pay, assets and floorspace to manage, a premises fo... Continue reading

  
• Populating The Map
  August 18, 2023 by PokingWaterGames

  1

  For the first This Grand Life game (TGL1), a large portion of player suggestions was for more jobs and career types. I was reluctant to add too many of these that played the same and were only cosmeti... Continue reading

  
• Experience And Qualifications - A Lifetime Of Learning
  August 01, 2023 by PokingWaterGames

  1

  To qualify for certain activities in This Grand Life 2, you need to pass a threshold of accumulated experience and qualifications. I think the best way to explain how this works is with an example. Le... Continue reading

  
• Industries And Inflation - Why The Rent Is Too Damn High
  July 11, 2023 by PokingWaterGames

  1

  The economy in This Grand Life 2 is made up of industries. Each industry keeps track of its own inflation rate, which is how quickly prices are increasing or decreasing over time. Almost every single... Continue reading

  
• Status Conditions - Amplifying The Emotions
  June 28, 2023 by PokingWaterGames

  1

  Last time I talked about the preferences system and how activities affect people differently depending on their likes and dislikes. Today I'd like to talk about status conditions, which stack on top o... Continue reading

  
• Preferences, Addictions And Allergies - Simulating The Human Experience
  June 15, 2023 by PokingWaterGames

  1

  How can some people work two jobs, while others struggle to get out of bed in the morning? What compels one person to shower twice a day, and another to consider personal hygiene completely optional?... Continue reading