Power Network Tycoon is an innovative city-building game specifically developed by a power engineer that emphasizes power network management. Featuring realistic simulations like EPR/GPR for electrical hazard monitoring and an EMF Meter compliant with ICNIRP guidelines, Power Network Tycoon blends strategic gameplay with realistic views into power engineering to give players an inside glimpse.
At Power Network Tycoon, my goal as an indie gamedev and professional power engineer is to give players an inside view into the power industry through my game development work and professional work as an engineering practitioner. Not simply a city builder game but rather providing players with a deep dive into power network management complexities - something often oversimplified in other city builders!
As part of some missions within the game, I would like to briefly introduce two features I have implemented as tools, giving real-life engineering challenges for you as the player. EPR (Earth Potential Rise) or GPR (Ground Potential Rise), depending on which country your are from is one such feature that offers such challenges. It is vitally important for most people to recognize this issue outside the realm of electricians, power line workers and power engineers as an essential safety consideration in power engineering. This feature equips players with knowledge to effectively handle electrical hazards when buildings are struck by lightning or equipment fails, emphasizing the significance of having an appropriate network design in place. Engineers typically manage this by simulating an electrical network and identifying potential voltage hazards present within it. Designer software that does this work can be both impressively powerful and costly; in general the subscription cost equals or surpasses their monthly salary. What I have done in the game is develop a simplified version of finite element analysis used by industry so the player has some idea how the physics of electricity behave at higher voltages.
As concerns about EMF exposure increase, this tool becomes ever more essential. Players can use it to measure magnetic flux density and electric field strength around power lines and equipment in accordance with safety guidelines established by ICNIRP; an internationally respected authority on this matter that I personally work closely with as an experienced power engineer.
Power Network Tycoon's tools not only add depth to gameplay but also offer players a glimpse into the world of high voltage electricity. I created Power Network Tycoon due to my passion for power engineering and desire to craft something fun but informative that provides players with insight into this industry.
As players tackle the challenges associated with developing and operating an island community's power network, they experience an engaging blend of strategic gameplay and realistic simulation in Power Network Tycoon - more than a game, really; it takes you on an exploration into power engineering! I encourage everyone interested to try the Demo version soon before its full release arrives on Steam!
