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 I think 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 and tools, 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 designer engineers by simulating the electrical grid and determining what kind of voltages levels (hazards) will be present. The engineering software that does this is both impressively powerful and impressively expensive, sometimes 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) many industies use, to give the player a sense of how the physics of electricity works in the real world.
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. Many countries will have these limits chosen with expert advice from bodies like the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), which is the most respected authority on this topic many professional power engineers work in accordance with. The tools in the game carry out a simplfied calculation that is representative of the real world. I say simplified because engineers may setup a simulation to run for 24 hours to precisely calculate field strengths, which isn't feasible for game to have that level of accuracy.
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 aim 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 combination of strategic gameplay and realistic simulation. I welcome you to try the game on Steam or itch.io.