Automation: The Car Company Tycoon Game

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"Automation: The Car Company Tycoon Game" is a simulation game that allows players to design and manufacture their own cars. Players start by building their own car company, and must manage various aspects such as research, development, design, production, and marketing. The game features detailed car customization, including engine and transmission design, and allows players to compete in a dynamic market against AI-controlled competitors.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,478 reviews

gameplay82 positive mentions

stability113 negative mentions

gameplay
307 mentions
27 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Automation" is highly detailed and immersive, appealing primarily to car enthusiasts and those with mechanical knowledge. While it offers extensive customization and realistic vehicle design mechanics, many players find the learning curve steep and the lack of intuitive guidance frustrating, particularly for beginners. Despite some bugs and performance issues, the game is praised for its educational value and depth, making it a rewarding experience for those willing to invest time in understanding its complex systems.
- “The game’s graphical fidelity and attention to detail in vehicle animations and factory environments contribute to its immersive gameplay experience, making each design iteration and test drive feel both satisfying and visually appealing.”
- “Automation: the car company tycoon game stands as a pinnacle of automotive simulation and business management, offering unparalleled depth in vehicle design, engineering realism, and strategic tycoon gameplay.”
- “The active modding community continues to contribute new car models, design templates, and gameplay enhancements that expand the game’s content and customization possibilities.”
- “The whole process of setting up, signing off, facelifting, etc. is basically unintelligible, and there's no in-game guidance on how the gameplay mechanics work.”
- “Your company is going to bankrupt anyway even in the easiest difficulty mode; you don't get any good tutorial instead of the YouTube video. The product is so raw, unfriendly for beginners, the developers should add adviser mechanics like the Civilization game series has, which tell you what to do to solve your problems.”
- “I really want to enjoy this game, but in its current state, I am unable to have stable, reliable gameplay.”
graphics
194 mentions
29 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their high fidelity and attention to detail, particularly in vehicle animations and environments, contributing to an immersive experience. However, some users note that the graphics can be demanding on hardware, requiring a higher-end GPU for optimal performance, and there are ongoing concerns about optimization and occasional glitches. While many appreciate the visual customization options and overall aesthetic quality, some feel that the graphics are not cutting-edge and could benefit from further improvements.
- “The game’s graphical fidelity and attention to detail in vehicle animations and factory environments contribute to its immersive gameplay experience, making each design iteration and test drive feel both satisfying and visually appealing.”
- “The graphics are absolutely gorgeous, and the amount of detail in this game is stunning.”
- “Great graphics and textures in different environments with flawless light settings give this game something to show off.”
- “Despite numerous game engine changes, visuals haven't improved in the last three years (on full epic settings).”
- “Third, graphics are incredibly weak; it looks like a PS1 game from 20 years ago.”
- “The graphics are crap; it's literally a point-and-click kind of game.”
stability
117 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and glitches that affect gameplay, particularly in the vehicle designer and campaign modes. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these issues, others express frustration over the lack of progress in fixing these problems over the years. Overall, the game is considered to be in an early access state, leading to a mixed reception regarding its stability.
- “Great mod support; I personally run 1080 mods and it runs great.”
- “It runs great on low-end hardware as well.”
- “Updates come out at a slow rate, but so far my experience has been bug-free.”
- “The campaign mode is not just buggy and not totally functional, but it's just an enormous pain to play.”
- “Game has a lot of bugs, constantly crashes and freezes.”
- “All it really is is a buggy mess with a terrible 'lite' campaign that's very confusing to learn.”
optimization
104 mentions
16 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many users reporting performance issues, bugs, and a lack of stability, particularly on lower-end systems. While the game offers a deep and engaging experience for car enthusiasts through its detailed simulations and tuning mechanics, the overall performance is hampered by long load times, frequent crashes, and a user interface that feels underdeveloped. Players express hope for improvements in future updates, especially with the anticipated transition to a new engine, but currently recommend caution for those with less powerful hardware.
- “The game’s comprehensive design suite allows for precise tuning and testing of performance metrics such as horsepower, torque, acceleration, and fuel efficiency, offering a deep dive into automotive engineering principles.”
- “The satisfaction you can get out of working on a performance hatch variant of a car for hours, before finally tuning the suspension to induce lift-off oversteer to shave off that extra few seconds on the track is sensational.”
- “This game absolutely shines for what it is meant to do - let you make a fantasy car company, complete with fine-tuning the engines for economy or performance or both.”
- “The game is optimized extremely horribly, and I need to run it on the lowest settings to get a playable framerate.”
- “I enjoy this game but there's way too many bugs, performance issues, and bad gameplay in general to recommend this.”
- “Memory leaks, broken saves, engines disappearing from your car, car stats not updating after changing parts/settings, paint slots resetting, transparency/layers glitching out in photo mode... there are a lot of performance issues for a game that does not justify that with its gameplay or visual fidelity.”
story
67 mentions
6 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely considered minimal or non-existent, with many users noting that it focuses more on vehicle creation and customization than on a traditional narrative. While some mention a basic campaign mode, it lacks depth and is often described as repetitive, with players primarily enjoying the sandbox features for their creativity rather than any story-driven content. Overall, the game excels in its design mechanics but falls short in delivering a compelling story experience.
- “Create your own brand of cars, create models, variations, fictional events, and backstory behind the great visionary engineers under your employ.”
- “But, the game does really excel in its primary mission: make a way to design cars.”
- “The tycoon 'story' is not very deep, and it doesn't really seem fun to me.”
- “It's pretty much the exact same story every time; you get to the point where you can create a second generation of cars, and factories, and as you're creating the 'blueprints' for the new vehicles and engine, the game just seems to stop seeing new things you've created.”
- “The story mode has not been totally completed as of right now.”
humor
51 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is largely derived from its absurd and creative car-building mechanics, allowing players to design hilariously impractical vehicles and experiment with outrageous modifications. Users find joy in the comedic potential of their creations, often sharing laughs with friends as they navigate the game's intentionally unrealistic scenarios and physics. Overall, the game is celebrated for its lighthearted approach to car design, making it a fun experience for those who enjoy playful experimentation.
- “Honestly a masterpiece of a game, if you are into cars this game can make you scream with joy, the realistic tuning paired with some of the most hilarious mods addable to the game makes this a work of pure and utter magic.”
- “To get the full experience you have to try building in creative; there is something so fun about building cars that would never be made today, whether it is multi-million dollar hatchbacks, semi trucks with pizza cutter wheels, or a car that can do a wheelie so hard it backflips. Making a powerful front-engine RWD car with the world's steepest torque curve is just one of the many hilariously stupid ideas you can come up with.”
- “The BeamNG exporter is pretty cool and a great way to see just how hilariously bad you are at making a drivable car (and crash it, naturally).”
music
42 mentions
29 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the catchy and immersive soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety. Many appreciate the chill vibe of the music, making it suitable for background listening, but some users find it outdated and suggest muting it in favor of other options. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant aspect of the game, though opinions on its quality and relevance vary widely.
- “The soundtrack might as well have written itself into my memory like it had been burned into a CD-ROM.”
- “The music is so chill and awesome; I listen to it while studying.”
- “This game has an absolutely amazing soundtrack packaged alongside its content.”
- “The music and sound effects haven't changed in half a decade and are no better than what Gene from Bob's Burgers could punch up on a keyboard in one episode; just mute it and put on Spotify instead.”
- “The soundtrack DLC is optimistic; it frankly sounds like royalty-free soft rock. I'm not saying it's bad, but to me, it's just not $5 good. I'd only make the buy if you really love the music or want to support the devs.”
- “This inability to mute music during boot up has been brought up in the forums a few times, and the developers have stubbornly refused to give us that option.”
grinding
28 mentions
0 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Players consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and time-consuming, often requiring an excessive investment of time to achieve desired results. While the customization options for car design are praised for their depth and creativity, the process is marred by convoluted mechanics and frustrating menu navigation, leading to a sentiment that players might need "a second life" to fully engage with the grinding elements. Overall, the enjoyment of the game is overshadowed by the repetitive and laborious tasks involved in vehicle building and factory setup.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game is more tedious than it should be.”
- “It's nothing but tedious work.”
replayability
18 mentions
39 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a high level of replayability, particularly for creative players and car enthusiasts, with many users praising its infinite possibilities and engaging sandbox mode. However, some players note that the lack of variety in certain scenarios and unfinished content from developers can diminish replay value for the average user. While hardcore fans may find endless fun, casual players might experience a more limited experience after exploring the main features.
- “Amazing game, virtually infinite replay value.”
- “Provides endless fun and huge replayability.”
- “One of the most easily replayable games out there, with infinite possibilities.”
- “It's 'thumbs down' because the developers seem to have deserted this project unfinished, and thus, left us with a low replay value.”
- “Low replay value after you have tried massive, huge displacement power roaring, small displacement usable moon-revving, and lastly, econobox engines.”
- “These scenarios were fixed (no random variety) and there were about a dozen of them, but there was replayability, as they were challenging enough that you had to work to get the platinum score.”
monetization
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for its poorly designed user interface and unintuitive mechanics, making the advertising and market elements feel underdeveloped. Despite these issues, players appreciate the quality content and active community, indicating that the game is not a cash grab but rather still in early access with potential for improvement.
- “The parts of advertising and dealing with market stuff of the campaign are half-baked - full of ingredients that might make something fantastic, but between the absolutely horrible UI and unintuitiveness, it's just bad.”
- “This is just starting to get to the point where advertising, research, engineering times, and factory setup are boggling my mind and frustrating me to a point where I can't play the game.”
- “Lots of content, great quality as well, active community that adds to the game for free (as far as the game itself is concerned), and the damn thing is not even finished yet!”
atmosphere
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a supportive and collaborative community, bolstered by regular updates and enhancements. However, the mixed quality of staff interactions, with some appearing condescending, detracts from the overall welcoming environment. Additionally, music plays a crucial role in enhancing the game's atmosphere.
- “Regular patches, content updates, and feature enhancements ensure that automation continues to evolve and meet the expectations of its dedicated player base, fostering a supportive and collaborative community atmosphere.”
- “Music is another important aspect; it plays a crucial role in building the atmosphere.”
- “Building an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome is essential, and while some staff are supportive, there is a perception that many consider themselves superior to the community.”
- “I rate the staff 3/10; while some are supportive, the bulk of them seem to think of themselves as outright superior to their community, which doesn't really work if you build an atmosphere of everyone being welcome.”
- “Music is another important thing; it forms a very important part of building atmosphere.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional investment in the game, often reflecting on their extensive playtime and the personal connections formed through their experiences. This attachment can lead to a sense of finality, as some players feel they have reached a point where they won't revisit the game again, highlighting the profound impact it has had on them.
- “Not least of which because after 200 hours of gameplay, making it my most played game on Steam, there is a lot of emotional investment to be perfectly objective.”