Ok, let's get to the point...
Look at my account and see that I gave 0 to another game of this developer, so this is a TRUE review from someone that have already written some of these.
Sorry for this, but I think this site is infested with fake reviews...
Then, about the game...
I haven't find any bugs of sort about the game: it haven't the best graphics, but it's also a sim/management game, so it doesn't bother me much, and the soundtrack is a bit strange, but still interesting.
I understand if someone have problem with bugs, but... some reported bugs are (at least, for the last Steam edition) are simply non-existing!
For the rest, it's a simulation deeper than it might appear at first glance.
You don't drive machines here, you develop a real business plan, with a consistent number of options and possibility.
I't not also a simple game, and this if, for me, a good point.
I'm playing it for several hours.
Normally, I will give this game a 7, but the fact that it is the only (true) simulation of this kind on the market, allow it to get a point... so 8.
Over all I like the concept of the game. It is fun and I much prefer the overhead business position rather than driving a tractor myself.
Gameplay problems are as mentioned elsewhere it lacks automation and becomes too micro-managing. You have some automation, but the game could use more for a better game. The unlocking by farmer level of things seems weird and unrealistic. That is to say you have to unlock achievements and level up to get access to new buildings, vehicles, seeds, livestock and so on. Another problem is your money goes up way too fast. I start with cattle when I play and they populate way to fast and I have to keep selling them much more often than a farm would in reality and crops grow fast too, it doesn't seem like the game is linked to seasons at all. Crashes, I've started crashing more as my farms get bigger.
Good points are the main design itself. Being able to automate some parts of the business so I don't have to click in order for something to happen. Soil management is fun. Just for fun I made an extensive water reserve to be drought proof since I make money so fast selling cattle. Energy management is fun, building solar panels to go of utilities. Purchasing land is fun, yet the portioning is clunky which leads to inefficiency.
Over all I enjoy the game, though lack of automation and game crashes prevent me from playing it more. Both of these problems limit the size of my farms too.
I recommend checking it out if you can obtain it cheap. It is a good perspective on big business farming for a game. I keep looking for a newer version, so it is market worthy.
AVOID. If you can get past the random crashes that the insomnia engine is famous for, the gameplay is sort of interesting but falls quickly into silly mode.
At first it appears you have a lot to do and there are lots of options to make for a big farm with very diverse options.
And yet, as they did in AgSim2013, Actalogic have failed to properly design a game that, while suggesting the potential for BIG farm setups, continues to force downsizing because of seemingly endless clicking and micro-management.
I can get to multi-million$$ very quickly and setting up just one more paddock gets oh so monotonous. Please, can't we just copy field??!!!
And the maintenance. wtf? I have to click every machine in every garage multiple times to repair and maintain. Can't I just you know, hire a damn mechanic, I'm a millionaire right?
My final "stop playing this Maverick" moment came when I needed to grow pumpkins to maximise my piggery. I can't find seed in any town!! I'm a level 16 farmer and I haven't got access to pumpkins!! My KIDS can grow pumpkins.
Dude. Really.... Where's my pumpkins??
NOTE: Yes, Steam users have been giving this game a hard time. Among the multiple DO NOT BUY posts are fanbois. The community suspects they are paid shills or dummy accounts. You have been warned.
At time of writing, UIG is offering this game on Steam their other "famous" title, AgSim 2013 for an extra $3 with their new farming sim, Farming Pro 2014 due out today.
Note, FP2014 is by a **different developer**. I've ordered my copy (why Maverick, why?????) so watch my space on Metacritic.
Micro Managers dream. Shame it is unplayable. Crashes to Desktop every 10 minutes, buildings randomly freeze up. AVOID in it's current state. With fixes of it's many bugs could turn out to be a decent game.
SummaryIn the best tradition of the giants-series the player will get a first-class business simulation crafted with a lot of details. The player will build farms, maintain and upgrade his properties. Whether farming or ranching, the experience covers all
parts of agriculture. With the right strategy and the courage for expansion, internation...