A lot of people are saying that you shouldn't buy Automation because it isn't a "game", at least, not yet. But that's exactly why I think people should buy it earlier. Automation holds some broad concepts, and is able to implement them in a simple yet extensive way. Building a car is just a series of steps, and yet, at the same time, it's so much more than just "a series of steps."

True, there's a vast amount of features that should (and hopefully will) be added, like a way to actually see your car in action. And diesel engines. But I believe that Automation, in its current state, is already an excellent sandbox and will only get better in the future. Why others are downvoting it for the very same reason is beyond me.

is good game

I love this game, but not everyone will. If you really like cars, and enjoy realistic building, this game is for you. Allthough, most people wouldnt bother, scince it targets a specific audience.

This game is still in early stages, and like it says, dont buy it unless you are really sure, because you might not like it at the stage it is at now. The cons about this game is that exact reason. It's still in its early stages. People wont be able to fully appriciate the game when its half complete. It's a small team working on a big game, and that takes time. It would be a shame is someone payed for this game and didnt get what they were looking for. Allthough, if you really are excited for the game, and simply cannot wait, please DO get it. It supports the devs to push out more updates. Also, if the devs are reading this, I love your game, and I cannot wait untill the full release. If you guys have any idea when the next big updates are or when it comes out of early acess, let me know so i can get off my mac and jump on my pc.

Cool! But not ready yet. I'm really sorry. But i refunded for now. I promise i will buy this game again, when it is finished. Or atleast in beta. It feels not like a game for 27,99 euros. I reallly reallly love the simulation more than any other game. It is my fav simulator ever. But the bugs and glitches. And even the unfinished look and gameplay makes it not worth the money. Make sure to follow this and wait until it goes in beta or release ^^

Controls are hard to use and 1 wrong click and the car that you spent an hour making disappears.
How about a (are you sure you want to delete this vehicle) button.

It's a good game i really need to say that but why i have a thumb down is not cause it's not a good game it's just cause when i took the openbeta to try lite campaign and when i got back to the original version it says "ERROR" then i uninstalled the steam mods and it still said "ERROR" please i want help to fix it :C

20.6 hours played so far, so not all the reviews here are from long-time players.

This game sounds like it's for dedicated petrol-heads, but it's great fun as a generic 'play with something complex and cool' game. Everything is explained with the best tutorials for any game, ever. Twiddling all the knobs and pushing all the buttons is fascinating and the well designed scenarios really mix it up well. Actually, everything in this game is well designed which is a rare treat.

Major kudos to the devs and if they model the big bad world of fickle customers, predatory competitors (like me), gullible investors (hehehe) and irrational governments as well as they model fuel injection systems this will be an amazing game. Potentially 'all time classic' level amazing and I don't say that lightly.

One warning, the minimum requirement to enjoy this game is some sense of curiosity, otherwise you may find yourself searching for the fire button.

Would I recommend this game to a friend? Heck yes.

I don't write reviews as a rule, but I feel Automation deserves one. With a tweak to the name it could be released sooner (add in missing engines, forced induction and bodies) and already be worth the money. When the tycoon side is added this will be one of the most abitious projects on Steam and no doubt well made and well polished. Top stuff.

And now I waffle...

Currently this is Automation - The Car Design Game. And it is bliddy brilliant at doing that. I got this a few years back, just after turbochargers were added to the engine designer. I guess I paid about this price and I have easily had my money's worth. The scenarios offer a challenge, getting platinum on the harder scenarios is a labour of love. And many hours can be lost forever fiddling around in the car designer.

There are a few annoyances at the moment, such as not being able to change fixtures for different trims and not being able to morph the body after placing fixtures (although I understand and respect the reason for this). But these are easy to live with just like limitations and design choices can be lived with in other titles.

So what about the 'Car Company Tycoon' bit. Why isn't a considerable chunk of the name not actually in the game. Logic. That's why. Car companies sell cars, so make the car design bit. Cars need engines, so build the engine bit. The detail is unprescedented, even with some parts such as the gearbox, cam and ignition settings simplified for gameplay reasons there is still an incredible amount of detail here. So I'm happy to wait months for an update and a year or two for the tycoon game because if the engine and car designers are anything to go by it is worth the wait. After all the 918/P1/LaFerrari (delete as applicable) wasn't designed in a day.

So back to the price. Is £22.99 (or whatever it is in $, Euros, Yen, Pieces-of-Eight, ...) worth it for an early access game from a teenie weenie indy dev. YES. Compared to other early access games there is plenty of content, and the devs are focussed on depth first, breadth (i.e. other engine types - I3, I5, V6 etc) later which is the correct way to do things.

On to the checklist I like to tick off before going for an early access game:
Do the devs communicate well and often with the community? - A definitive tick.
Is it frequently updated? - Cross
Are the updates meaningful and adding depth to the game or are they just bug fixes and "look, shiny" crap to appease the masses? - Tick
Is the content well made? - Tick
Does the game have potential? - Tick
Will they reach that potential? (i.e. is it a proper game or does it stink of a money grab) - Tick
Does it have MOAR POWER - Tick

I have devoted hundreds of hours into this game prior to it's Steam release, and it just keeps getting better. If you have ever daydreamed of building a car and or car company, this is a dream come true. Even if you only have a faint interest in cars, this game has a lot to offer, and can be used as an interesting way to really get to know how cars and car companies work. Can't wait to get into the actual tycoon elements of the game, but even as it stands theres plenty to do.

Mechanical Voodoo

I know this might surprise some of you, but I’m not what you’d call an “expert” when it comes to cars. I know they generally have four wheels and an engine to make them go. I’ve learnt the “controls” and I know that you have to feed them petrol or they’ll sulk and refuse to move, but when it comes to the actual mechanics of the vehicle it’s all magic and voodoo to me.

Then again, the same could be said about a lot of things, I don’t know much about rocketry either but that hasn’t stopped me from putting some cool spacecraft together in “Kerbal Space Program”.

It’s with this “can do” attitude that I approach Automation: The Car Company Tycoon game in development by Camshaft Software.


The Fastest Colour

Armed with the knowledge that “Red cars go faster” I dive straight into the game with visions of gull wing doors, sleek styling and cherry red paintwork racing through my mind.

Casting an eye across the design options it seems that an engine might be an important component, my “cherry chariot” will probably need one of those so I confidently click on the icon, expecting a few engine options to choose from, you know, cheap and slow, standard and reliable or fast and expensive.

This was not the case, you have to design your own engines too, a thought which filled me with dread and anticipation in equal measure.


Magic Box

The engine is the magic box that makes the car work, I’m vaguely aware of plugs that spark and shafts that crank but putting one together.... do some shafts crank better than others? I don’t even know what that means!

It’s at this point that I realised just how complicated piecing a working vehicle together is actually going to be.


The Rocksmith of Automotive Design.

Luckily, Automation is eager to lend a hand in the form of tutorial videos which you can access from within the game. This is an excellent and for me vital option which explains the various components, what they do and why they do it.

Four stroke configurations, head types, forced induction, headers, mufflers, these were all just words to me before I played automation, they’re still just words to me now too, but at least I know what they are!

Any game that can teach you something whilst you’re having fun can only be a good thing.


Bespoke Build

Every component and every material you choose will have an impact on your engines performance.

You can tailor your design to your requirements, if you’re building an engine intended for an everyday city car then economy and reliability will likely be more important to you than raw power.

Vice versa if you’re planning on building a super car, then a big, powerful and inevitably expensive engine should power your wagon for the super rich.


Talk the Torque

There’s a wealth of information and graphs you can pull up as you tinker with your design, looking for the torque, RPM or horsepower of your engine, it’s all there for you to see in its statistical glory.


Sound of Success

Another really nice touch are the dynamic engine sounds which will change to reflect your design choices, A beefy V8 should have its own distinctive growl and it does!


Other Bits

When you’re happy with your engine, it’s time move on to the car design itself, what chassis would be best, which suspension options should you go with, what about engine placement, drivetrain setups, tyres, breaking systems, the list goes on and on, to say that the design options available are comprehensive is an understatement.

The level of detail available can be mind boggling, but again, Automation is there with its quick hit tutorial videos and text to guide you through.


Nice Body

Once you’ve finished tinkering with your mechanical design, it’s time to do the important things like adding the trims and spoilers, positioning the headlights and painting the whole thing red.
Even in its early access state this design process is a comprehensive, slick and enjoyable experience.


Next Step

We’ve finally done it, the “Cherry Chariot”, a masterpiece in botched engineering, is ready to leave the design phase and go into production.

So what’s next? Should we start sifting through supply and demand figures? Decide which territories are ripe for picking? set up production lines and start advertising the hell out of our mechanical marvel?

When the money starts rolling in we could invest in some R&D, maybe start work on a new design, “The Crimson Carriage” and move our plans for global vehicular dominance another step forward.


Stop Sign

The answer unfortunately is no, at least not yet.
Automation: The Car Company Tycoon is still in development and as an early access title many of the planned features haven’t made it into the game yet.


Sign of Things to Come

Camshaft Software are planning some very exciting features in future updates.
There will be a campaign mode running from the halcyon days of motoring through to the near future, in game scenarios and the obligatory sand box mode.
The game will feature dynamic world markets, distribution and demand, target groups etc. which should give a full business tycoon experience and more mechanical and chassis parts than even the most demanding designer could ever need.


Buy a Fuzzy Feeling

What you get at the moment is a very competent car design tool and that warm fuzzy feeling from helping fund development of what promises to be a detailed car design and company manager tycoon title.


Waiting Game

I’m not going to pin an arbitrary percentage on to Automation at this stage, it’s just too early and there isn’t really a “game” there yet to rate. I will say that the design element that is in place is excellently implemented (think the car equivalent to designing that spacecraft in Kerbal Space Program).
I’m genuinely excited to see how development progresses and I hope Automation receives the company tycoon mechanics it deserves.

If the same care and attention lavished on the design aspect is spent on the tycoon side of the game then this could be something special.

( To view the full review (and others) please take the time to visit http://www.review-well.com/ )