Prison Architect

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Prison Architect is the next game from Introversion, the developers behind DEFCON, Darwinia, Multiwinia, and Uplink. The game is a prison sim management game. While this isn’t the first prison sim, the systems that play off each other in the game seem very deep- at least that’s the impression I have (partially lifted from the AI failures the team has been tweeting while working on the game).

Here is the trailer:

The game is currently in Alpha, which you can play if you purchase at $30 right now. There also other packs available for purchase on the website:

http://www.introversion.co.uk/prison...

Looks neat. Will check out on Steam later. From what I read the game currently just throws prisoners at you until the system collapses. That doesn't sound like it would hold my attention for very long. So I'm waiting for them to give it some more objectives.

Regardless of how interesting or engaging the game ends up being, they sure make an entertaining trailer.

After the PCGamer article a few months ago this began orbiting in my radar. I chipped in yesterday morning, and spent last evening with the Alpha. I'm enjoying it, but unfortunately can't discern performance and bug issues from my wifes lower spec laptop which is my only option for games at the moment.

That looks great. I need a new sim type game. Plus naked dudes eating in the shower! (uh maybe i shouldn't be so excited by that) I meant, aww naked dudes eating in the shower

If naked dudes eating in a shower makes you excited have I got a website with you. Click

This looks interesting but $30 for the alpha was hard to swallow. It's a shame they're not further along, I was expecting that this game would be in full release by the end of this year.

Still, I loved both Defcon and Darwinia, so this will be a must-have at release.

At first when I heard about them wanting to do this game I wasn't interested but after I watched a presentation they did on it and the tech and why the previous game had to be cancelled I was pretty much sold. Won't be preordering during such a busy season but will definitely try and grab it when it comes out.

RPS has an interesting article on PA.

After hearing Anthony Gallegos talking about it on a recent Rebel FM, I decided to pick it up.

Looking forward to downloading it tonight and seeing what the alpha is like!

I hadn't played the alpha since November, and just happened to fire it up 2 nights ago. Great improvements since November control and gameplay wise, not a ton of content, but it's looking great so far. Put myself in the hole a few thousand dollars before I stopped the other night, so I get to enjoy some quiet time waiting for my grant funds to trickle in. I had just laid down a foundation too, and have cut off my main prison area from the outside until I can afford a door.

Clearly, they are doing an okay job introducing this game into the general public. It is has, thus far, sold $1 million in pre-orders (which isn't 100% accurate since you can actually play the pre-beta avaible with per-orders): http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Pri...

I put a good 3-4 hours in over the weekend and really enjoyed my time with it. Make no mistake that it's an alpha, it's pretty buggy. Not crash buggy, but just general AI/gameplay buggy.

I'll see if I can get a screenshot of the prison I managed to get running (pretty well) tonight.

It is still missing several features. I definitely enjoyed my time with the game, but now I'm waiting a while until the game is more finished.

I enjoy the twitter feed for the game. The bug descriptions are sometimes pretty great.

Alpha 8 is out and it includes some new doors and lock functionality, some bug fixes, an awesome building planning tool so you don't find out your new cell block is just a smidge too small when you're putting in the last row of cells, and it's on Steam now. All the alpha folks just got Steam keys as well.

I've been mucking around with the game a bit and really enjoying it, though the hardest working people in my prison seem to be the doctors for some reason!

Yeah, that planning tool looks like a god send!

Really happy they decided to take a feature break and just work on bugs and usability for this release. Very happy with the (upcoming) Steam integration as well!

So I've been playing quite a lot of this since Alpha 8, it's significantly more polished, but still a bit buggy.

Here are a couple of screenshot of the prison that I made. It's a bit small, but functions fairly well. My biggest problem is that I've basically run out of money and with all the rioting (all the damn time), I keep paying too much in repairs.

IMAGE(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/866088786521098317/69769288CA4336BAF86D6320B18B89BC49DE6270/)

IMAGE(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/866088786535635645/DD906273C07956B86D5B56DC1C0799C9FA0FAC4D/)

IMAGE(http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/866088786535639095/03887EEE3946DC2F8090C045EEF347EDD6F8E9C6/)

I started a new prison last night because the one above was really not viable any more (money and layout). I also learnt that you really should have windows in your cells or your prisoners get REALLY annoyed.

The new one is a much nicer layout. Good routes for the cooks & workers. You can just see down the bottom right I've laid out the second cell block. I'll probably build that tonight.

IMAGE(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/866089216496369577/E808A638140640E00B6A3DF4BD60E366CFAD0877/)

I'm thinking about streaming playing this tonight (Aus time, GMT+1100).

They just need to bite the bullet and get Matt Inman to redo all the characters. It's a moral imperative.

AP Erebus wrote:

My biggest problem is that I've basically run out of money and with all the rioting (all the damn time), I keep paying too much in repairs.

For the money issue, consider throwing down a workshop or two. Yes, it's completely broken at this point, but sometimes that extra money really helps.

For the rioting, have you messed around with the prisoner's regime? I've gotten to the point that they're on free time except for when they're eating. It cuts down on the rioting by quite a bit.

AP Erebus wrote:

I started a new prison last night because the one above was really not viable any more (money and layout). I also learnt that you really should have windows in your cells or your prisoners get REALLY annoyed.

The new one is a much nicer layout. Good routes for the cooks & workers. You can just see down the bottom right I've laid out the second cell block. I'll probably build that tonight.

I really want them to split up the Deliveries room. It just causes all sorts of layout and routing problems to have your supplies and your prisoners dumped off at the same location.

I think I've realised that the economy is really broken at the minute. Certain items, namely doors and windows cost too much, especially when you need to outfit a bunch of cells. Conveniently, prisoners don't seem to care that there are not doors on the cells (see the last picture)

The save files are plain text, so you can easily hack it to give yourself more money. I may do this as the alternative is just to lay workshop tiles everywhere and that kinda amounts to the same thing really...

Anyway, here is the current prison after some more expansion.

IMAGE(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/864963520998371730/782994E71CF9A8AD7B22D85270570E6622D3DB9C/)

IMAGE(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/864963520998374204/D9E3C748D36365520A3A7BADA657CAC68FB9F20E/)

IMAGE(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/864963520998375711/F13ED7240C18AB427A7DDC0DC09DB7F496DB9048/)

There is a new alpha out, Alpha 9!

It introduces prison labour, gotta make those cretins WORK! Also includes visitations!

Looks cool. Having more to do is a great thing. I enjoyed the game but got bored relatively quickly.

So I hacked a empty save file to give myself $1,000,000 and started building my dream prison.

The result is a fairly self-sufficient prison with relatively low riots and issues.

IMAGE(http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/866093583036844159/10866BE766013BFA26ACDFC4A59F24211D7F6AC0/)

I was enabled, so I picked it up and played through the tutorial last night. Quite a game. I'll start a prison in the next day or so, see how it goes. It's certainly got a lot of moving parts... Are they looking to do multi-story prisons? Most inner city ones are towers, I suspect.

Robear wrote:

I was enabled, so I picked it up and played through the tutorial last night. Quite a game. I'll start a prison in the next day or so, see how it goes. It's certainly got a lot of moving parts... Are they looking to do multi-story prisons? Most inner city ones are towers, I suspect.

I don't believe they are.

My guess is that they just want to focus on making as many interacting systems as possible. Which is where a lot of the fun for me is derived.

I'm a little intimidated with how to put my first prison together. I built what could be an intake area, but next I guess I need a food hall? At least the jail has a set of toilets now...

Do we have to provide restrooms for the staff? A commissary for them?

Robear wrote:

I'm a little intimidated with how to put my first prison together. I built what could be an intake area, but next I guess I need a food hall? At least the jail has a set of toilets now...

Do we have to provide restrooms for the staff? A commissary for them?

I have to admit, it is quite intimidating on how to get this stuff going.

My pro-tip is to edit the save file and give yourself a ton of money so you can try stuff out.

As a starting point, open the prison log thing in the bottom right, click the grants tab, and select Basic Detention Center and Administration Center. These will give you some money and a checklist of things to build to get yourself started. Things like a Holding Cell, a shower, a yard, etc.

I wouldn't worry about cell blocks until you've worked out some of the more basic stuff like showers, canteens, kitchens etc.

I've been meaning to do a bit of a write-up on my prison building procedure, so I'll do that tonight

Giant Bomb have put up a 75min (not) quick look of PA...

It's kinda amazing.

I know the game isn't finished, but after watching that GB video, I really want to play it ... now.

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