Blub Emporium

An interesting, unique, calm and generally enjoyable time waster. It's hard to know where to put this game really; it's part shop sim, part factory management, part casual farming game, with each section of the game being linked to the others so they function as a whole. In terms of what you can expect to be doing, the gameplay loop is quite simple and engaging. You set up, run and eventually expand a shop that sells odd items that you harvest and manufacture to strange characters the game calls Blubs - aka: Slimes. The way you do this is fairly easy to understand, though there's a looming complexity that I can already see coming in the form of the production chain offered from the factory section of the game. I've only played an hourish and I can tell I'll be enjoying this one for quite a while longer. There seems to be a significant amount more content that will take some time to work towards. The pixel art is beautiful, the music pleasant and calming and the atmosphere very zen. All in all a nice little gem that I'm glad I found. Plus Australian dev, so happy to support.

[code]Curator page here-->[url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/37670120/] DaPRevieweD #1[/url]<-- [i]New review every Weekend[/i][/code] [h1]"A Blubber of An Emporium~"[/h1] https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2703909706 [u]GIST:[/u] You are the proprietor, staff, ranch hand, line worker, wage earner and just best all-rounder for your very own business! Selling what exactly? Toys, books, fruits and some other stuff I'm sure! Start small, work hard... Give it your all and be proud~ [h1][+] PROS;[/h1] [h1]:D GAMEPLAY[/h1] Variety is the spice of life as they say; with three main modes of play to alternate, leave be and micromanage. The "emporium" portion is where you arrange, stock-restock aisles, shelves and what have you. Whereas the "farm" is where you plant your succulents and mine other precious, growing over time resources. And finally the "factory" where you channel said raw materials into good old man-made production lines. All three areas can be freely decorated, expanded and more items get unlocked as you level up. But that's not all, it’s essentially one giant brain teaser as well. Where you have to experiment say putting a material source on snow instead of dirt. How best to connect the lines and make sure power gets diverted to their fabricators and so on. There are even little skill-checks which fluctuate in terms of speed that will lessen the minutiae of restocking or harvesting when done right. Minigames like spin-the-wheel, slide puzzles and I can only imagine more will be added, if anything is to be gathered from the latest update~ [h1]:D GRAPHICS[/h1] I don't condone cannibalism but man those tiny, round and juicy-looking blubs look delish... I don't even know exactly what they are made of- jelly, marshmallow, marble? But here I am all set to gobble them. The way they leap in excitement as they're shopping. Or how they stack items on their head without a shopping cart or basket! The world is vibrant and curious, with the occasional rare occurrences that you’ll get acclimated to as just part of the ride. Everything else give off massive adorability that needless to say is endearing, well-crafted pixelated goodness especially when you zoom in. Colors as rich and alluring as sighting a rainbow! But really it can be as beautiful or ugly as you make it. Obsess over picking the right swatches as you deem fit and shove a duck in the corner. The list of imaginative and “what I wouldn’t give to be in the creator’s head” items go on. I just love shopping for things to shop for while I’m shopping~ [h1]:D SOUND:[/h1] The overall sound is brazen, inspirational and a treat to the ears. Even something as inconsequential as interface menu clicking can bring your anger down and vent your frustrations of a capitalistic universe. Ironically, here you are also selling stuffs…! It must have taken a master class in bi*ch whispering because my mood gets significantly improved every time I’m in here. Jordan Clark, who I understand is a first-time composer makes a startling debut and likewise takes all the troubles you have and lets them simmer in a mix of feel-good. So relaxing that quite literally what was planned to be minutes become hours~ [h1]:D NOSTALGIA[/h1] Reminiscent of early Facebook games like [b]Restaurant City[/b] and that sentiment alone, it just brings me great joy. Back to a simpler time when I had just discovered- or rather gained access to the Internet with our first, overpriced broadband service... ANYWAY, whether you like hardcore tycoon titles, casual soothing management games to relax to after a long day or perhaps somewhere in between. I personally love idling and making money while doing nothing (lol, too close to home) but either way you're for sure in business~ https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2703913008 [h1][-] "CONS";[/h1] [h1]:O PROGRESSION:[/h1] This boils down to preference but I was perfectly happy and satisfied that (a) I didn't have to put in much effort or stress in playing it. But then (b) with more updates, I get the feeling that it's meant to be more competitive in nature. However, this all comes down to how you perceive of the leaderboards, newly added challenges and strain on the resources as losses become more disproportionate the further you rise~ [h1]:O DIFFICULTY:[/h1] The developer is more than willing to help but that doesn't discount the fact there isn't much help offered in-game besides the brief tutorial. Which is better than nothing, I suppose~ [h1]BUGS:[/h1] x None to report! But then again, I was idle half the time~ x I did notice more slowdowns after the most recent patch though... [h1]NITPICKS:[/h1] ~ I think being able to navigate with the arrow or WASD keys for quick selecting of objects would be super! ~ I may just have not gotten to that point; but rain effects for the farm would be pretty sick! ~ With the ASMR-quality of sounds, I'm surprised blubs don't have any cutesy voices of their own... [h1]"Something, Something... Fish in An Aquarium~"[/h1] https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2703916383 Tycoon title that I’ve come back to over and over. Possibilities so infinite, process so gratifying... Gives me the BLUB-dub to have a place of my own. Can't wait to see what else is in STORE for me~ [h1]VERDICT: B++[/h1] [b][i]... for brilliant, bubbly (fights internally not to pun), balsamic and beguiling![/i][/b] [code]A hubba blub-ba (darn it) thank you to [b]Riley Gray[/b] for the key![/code] [code]Don't forget to follow my curator [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/37670120/] DaRevieweD[/url] for more games!![/code]

This game is truly unique, colourful, and bubbly (or I guess you could say blubbly ;)) While playing through this game, the first thing I noticed was the vibe it gave when I was watching the emporium sell, the blubs buying items or sitting down, maybe even playing on an arcade; It is really something else, especially with the soundtrack adding to it; It sounds relaxing and ambient, yet it sounds like there's a powerful meaning behind every song. I also find that the factory is super fun! It's puzzles are very challenging, but very possible; Meaning it has a very nice balance! The Farm has a lot more depth than most would initially expect with how you can harvest items and whatnot, you can even automate some parts of it! :O I seriously couldn't recommend this game enough, if you're into tycoon, factorio-esque, or resource management games, get it. now.

[quote]A review copy was provided by the developer.[/quote] [quote]Follow my Curator page, [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/41363546-Fruit-N-Doggie-Reviews/]Fruit N Doggie Reviews,[/url] so you can be updated whenever I post a new review.[/quote] [h1]Overall Rating - Seriously Flawed ★★☆☆☆[/h1] [h1]First Impressions[/h1] I've had my eye on Blub Emporium (BE) for a while, but I hesitated in getting a review copy because I thought it could be more of a chore than actual fun. There's a fine line between a work-simulating game that's addictive and aggravating. Waffling doesn't accomplish anything though, so I picked up BE to see what it was really like. [h1]Gameplay[/h1] There's three main components to BE: the emporium itself, the farm, and the factory. Emporium is just another word for the store-front you're running, where you want to draw fellow blubs in order to sell them the products you're harvesting and manufacturing from the other two locations. I don't know how things like color coordination synergizes, but decorating and setting up goods helps draw in blubs, so you don't want to leave the walls or floor bare. As you level up, other work will be opened up from the store, such as completing missions, which seems to revolve around shipping off raw materials. At the farm, you'll establish and acquire raw goods. For instance mining iron, cutting grass, or planting various trees to create a new resource like coconuts or rubber. Unlike the other two places, this area is expansive right from the start, and were it not for so many distractions, would command most of your time. The factory is the most distinct area, as it has rather specific mechanics. With a single power source and connecting power-lines, you're expected to set up hoppers, conveyor belts, and machines to process your raw materials into completed goods that are stored in particular containers. What makes this area so distinct is how complicated it'll become over time, as you have to follow rather rigid rules in order to make working systems. An example comes from how electric lines flow in a unilateral direction, and how you can disrupt the timing in order to set off multiple events per cycle. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2977009233 [h1]Controls[/h1] Although playing with a controller would be an option, having tried portions of the tutorial that way, I'd only suggest it if you had one that's well-suited for dragging across the screen so much. Otherwise, it's sluggish. To be fair, it's not the style of game I'd expect to be designed that way, so I'd give it some credit for being compatible at all. When I set up my mouse, it functioned much better. [h1]Story[/h1] Aliens must really want some rubber ducks or something, because blubs from the moon make contact with your humble shop. Despite this, there's no plot or any story behind the events of the game. You just open with a tutorial, get some letters occasionally, and that's about it. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2977009328 [h1]Visuals[/h1] The other aspect about BE that made me wary of it was the visuals. Some of the clips in the trailers are so vibrant it's overwhelming. Thankfully, starting out, everything is much tamer, and the color scheme you ultimately go for will be based on your own preferences. Or so I would think, except the review system suggests they may dislike some of the designs you could use. I chose what I thought was a suitable floor design, but they crapped all over it, figuratively. It seems a little peculiar to have a rating system in place that'd condemn choices the developers made available themselves, “Hey, that's the brick floor we came up with. Yeah, we hate it. Replace it now.” [h1]Sound Design[/h1] For the longest time, I was fairly convinced BE had no music, and it's easy to see why. It's very faint, even when I turn up my computer volume more than normal. That and it's also rather sporadic, as there will be long pauses of complete silence. I'm not really sure what the intention is, but I don't think it's effective. Were it not for so much switching around, I'd suggest a few songs for each main area, with each having its own style. The factory could have some invigorating industrial tunes, while the store has a pop vibe to it. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2977009680 [h1]Pros[/h1] 🌟 If you're willing to invest the time and effort, this game has a lot of potential. It's frustrating and limiting at first though. 🌟 Focusing on three different areas of running a business is a good idea. [h1]Cons[/h1] ❌ Having to do so much of the menial tasks yourself is annoying. However, the two I'd want removed most are having to fill hoppers with raw materials and unloading the containers from the factory. Your only reason for going there should be to update or change your manufacturing lines. ❌ Crowding the emporium with game mechanics that take up floor space, like the task list, is frustrating. Especially when you've no room to spare. ❌ It feels like you never have enough money with so much stuff to invest into. [h1]Tips[/h1] 🔍 You can time the release of the button to get a bonus when harvesting items, or just hold it down for the entire time. Some aren't really worthwhile, such as grass, as its so quick anyways. Others may have a minor penalty if you mess up, such as moonstones, as it reverts the progress. 🔍 Increasing the size of your shop and factory will be early priorities. There's not nearly enough space for all the items you'll want to be placing in them. [h1]Final Thoughts[/h1] Some of my biggest issues with BE revolve around the factory, as its design is rather prohibitive starting out. With such limited space and working pieces, experimenting and learning how the system works feels laborious and costly. Another aggravation is that the tutorial explains only the sheer basics for how it all works. A tutorial that walks players through the opening area is useful, but when you have such a confusing component not too far afterwards, it seems tone deaf, “Here's how to do these algebra equations. Good luck figuring out the trigonometry on your own.” Despite my own gripes with it, others enjoy what this system allows for, so I wouldn't remove or replace it. Making it more user-friendly to new people would help a lot though. Even ignoring my issues with the factory, overall its the balancing and need for constant micro-managing that ruins the gameplay for me. You have to constantly rotate between all three areas in order to manage everything; harvesting resources, restocking shelves, decorating the store, expanding, learning how to create new goods, redesigning your factory, supplying the hoppers, and taking goods from the factory. I feel so busy just managing what I already know that I'm not very enthused about crowding my limited space with new junk. It feels like if the balancing was tweaked in key areas BE could be much more addictive, but there's certain stilted choices that throws me off and disrupts my momentum. [quote][url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32732116-IndieGems/]Follow our curator page: [b]IndieGems[/b] if you like and want to see more reviews like this one.[/url][/quote] [table] [tr] [th]PC Specs[/th] [th]Performance[/th] [/tr] [tr] [td]Ryzen 2700 RTX 2070 16GB RAM ADATA SSD 1920x1080 [/td] [td]The game ran without incident on default settings. 💖 - BE is healthy [/td] [/tr] [/table]

Overall: Give this game a chance, you will not be disappointed! Be prepared for a grind, that's kind of the point! This is an absolute gem of a game. It is very hard to pinpoint the genre of this game. This game has a constant power creep reminiscent of the Industry mods from Minecraft or Factorio. However, the materials you need to manufacture goods are gated behind a very simple mini-game. Many, many different flavors of the same minigame. These raw materials are processed in a circuit mini-game, where space and power need to be optimized. Processed goods are then sold in a store front, where you interact with a meta-game, similar to launching goods into space, or pursuing different research tiers in Factorio. None of these puzzles are extremely demanding, and I would say the overall aesthetic this game goes for is 'casual grind'. The game developer thought very deeply about simple mechanics, such as how rubber might feel versus a sandy boulder. The physics of the materials minigame instills very unique feelings, granted the simplicity of the puzzle itself. The soundtrack is amazing, as well. It provides the perfect backdrop for this experience. There are a lot of clever details built into the game, none of which I will spoil here. It is clear that this game is the product of a lot of passion. I truly feel that this is one of those indy gems blending mechanics and genres in a way that was previously unexplored; and it's done incredibly well. I am very certain that I'm only skimming the surface, because these systems are deeper than meets the eye, and I'm not incredibly far into the game. I had extremely positive interaction with the developer, as well. It's (unfortunately) becoming exceedingly rare to be approached by any game developer who has a sense of honest concern over their product.

[h1]Tedium Emporium[/h1] As much as I love this game, I cannot, in good conscience, recommend it until the developer adds early-game means of automating the incredibly mundane aspects of the game. As is, the game only becomes more and more tedious as you progress. [b]Progression feels incredibly punishing[/b] as the player is forced to manage three different screens filled with tedious arcade-style push-the-button at-the-right-time mini-games. Need a minute to think about how you're going to set-up a complex factory line? Well, you could have been harvesting the tons of plants on your farm (individually) or stocking the many shelves in your store (individually) or waiting for a blub to appear in your store and hope they sell you an 'exclusive' item whose function is incredibly fundamental to these types of games and should already be available in the store. The game simply makes you feel like you can't stop moving or else--oops--all your shelves are empty and your income is too insufficient to buy the numerous expensive upgrades necessary to simply add one more item to sell at your store. My current recommendation is to keep an eye on the game and read the update notes. Once early automation starts to roll out and the game becomes more like a game and less like a job, I will hopefully have the pleasure of switching my review to a positive one. I wish all the best of luck to the developer. He seems to be responsive to player feedback and I'm sure he'll shape this game into a great hidden gem. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Edit: Update 1.1.4[/b] After Playing the game a considerable amount more than when I last reviewed, I can say that the dev is definitely listening to player feedback and acting on it. The past few updates seem to aid progression so it doesn't feel slower than molasses running uphill in January, but still the game is incredibly slow. Be prepared to sell the same boring items for many many hours before ever unlocking anything interesting. Even when you unlock something interesting, like lemonade for example, be prepared for a long headache of trying to even fit it into your factory without having to take a ton of things down and rearrange everything. Tedium is still the name of the game here, but the dev still seems to want to improve. I would highly recommend checking back on this game once it hits 1.2.0. Until then, the game will likely continue to be a boring, tedious grindfest. I still question why I still masochistically continue to push myself to play this game. I will again revise my update once 1.2.0 hits.

Check out this very charming little fun game, the music is really unobtrusive and calming and it's an overall quite pleasant experience if you want to just chill for a while after work.

Honestly a massively underrated game! A hidden gem for sure! The fact the dev is STILL working on this game even after 3 years and the game doesnt even have 50 reviews is absolutely nuts! I only recently bought this but have had it on my wishlist I believe before release as I remember playing the demo. I never bought it previously as the factory side of things was off putting, too much brain power needed and was confusing; however with the introduction to the blub pedia right at the fingertips it allows ease of access for reminders on how things work and I absolutely love the images showcasing examples of setups! I am actually in the process of copying the lunar generator!! I hope this game gains traction at some point! With how well made the game is, it really does surprise me that it does not have a decent following already! Also wish the game counted towards my steam stats, I am planning on 100%ing this, and it would be nice for it to add to my total number, not sure what influences that though.

***EDIT*** The review below is not accurate to current version. After I play it at its current state I will update review to reflect how the game plays. ***END EDIT*** Wait to get this game. Seems like the developer focused on length rather than fun. From some of the discussion they are quoted saying it provides many hours of game play. Id rather it be shorter but more fun. As you progress it gets more tedious. Automation isn't until late game, it takes forever to level, like a long time. And higher levels are more late game. At its current state, its not worth the cost to me. The automation machine has a specific pattern to auto collect but you aren't told this so if you want to use it on trees... well they are permanent and you don't have the foreknowledge beforehand. I do think in the future this game will be worth it. Developer did say they are planning on early automation. So I would wait for a couple updates to get the game. As the developer updates the game I'll update the review. I hope the developer updates it and makes it more enjoyable and less tedious. Tedious isn't really relaxing.

It's a hidden gem of a game, I would even say it's on par with factorio) You easily can kill a few hundreds of hours in this game if you have OCD. =D