Power Network Tycoon

[h1]Power Network Tycoon – Review From an Electrical Engineer[/h1] [i]First of all, I should mention that I’m not playing on Hard Mode. Some of the features I point out might exist there, but I will still share my thoughts.[/i] Before anything else, I want to say this: [b]As an electrical engineer, I was genuinely excited when I discovered this game.[/b] I’ve been waiting for something like this for years, so finding it unexpectedly made me really happy. Please take my criticism as constructive feedback from someone who truly wants this game to grow. [hr][/hr] [h2]Major Technical Issues[/h2] [b]- Unrealistic power factor values shown for residential customers[/b] This is not realistic. There are no reactive power penalties, but residential buildings still display power factor values like 0.6, which is unrealistic because household PF is not individually measured or monitored in real networks.. [b]- Compensation done with capacitor banks placed in open fields[/b] In reality, utilities do NOT install capacitor banks for customers. Compensation is always the responsibility of the facility owner. [b]- Capacitor banks emitting EMF[/b] This is incorrect from a basic circuit theory standpoint. Capacitors do not produce EMF “fields” like the game suggests. [b]- EMF events inside substations[/b] Distribution utilities do not monitor EMF levels as part of their operations. This mechanic feels unnecessary. [hr][/hr] [h2]Unrealistic Elements[/h2] [b]- A thief stealing copper inside an energized substation[/b] This is practically impossible due to immediate electrocution risk. Copper theft usually happens on de-energized low-voltage lines, not inside substations. [b]- No SCADA system[/b] Even the simplest real-world network has basic SCADA: • breaker status, • fault alarms, • remote open/close. A lightweight version would greatly improve realism. [b]- No protection relays[/b] Substations should have at least overcurrent and earth-fault protection. Even a simple “Healthy / Tripped” indicator would be enough. [b]- No low-voltage cabling[/b] The game shows phase imbalance, but we never see: • neutral current, • neutral heating, • LV cable loading, • transformer stress from imbalance. Adding simplified LV cabling would make phase balancing much more meaningful. [hr][/hr] [h2]Things I Liked[/h2] [b]- Grid inertia mechanic[/b] This is incredibly well done. Inverter-heavy systems making the grid more fragile is a very realistic behavior. [b]- Earth Potential Rise (EPR)[/b] Accurately implemented, which honestly impressed me. [b]- Lightning protection[/b] Solid implementation. [hr][/hr] [h2]Suggestions[/h2] [b]- A realistic reactive power penalty system for industrial facilities[/b] Instead of applying PF penalties to homes, apply them properly to industrial zones. The utility could: • collect penalty revenue, • send warnings, • impose harsher penalties, • disconnect extreme violators. Poor power factor could also cause realistic technical impacts: • higher transformer temperature, • overheated cables, • voltage drops, • increased losses. These could generate interesting events: • “Cable failure due to excessive reactive current.” • “Transformer overload caused by inductive load.” • “Customers complaining about low voltage due to factory PF issues.” [b]- Add simplified low-voltage cabling[/b] Automatic sizing is fine, but player-controlled routing would add strategy. Improper balancing could overheat the neutral conductor or stress the transformer. [b]- Make the EMF system optional[/b] EMF is not something utilities normally deal with. It could remain only for specific buildings (hospitals, data centers, etc.). [b]- Add a solar irradiance map[/b] Even a simple “Good / Medium / Poor” sunlight map would improve solar planning. [b]- Vegetation and fire/fault events[/b] Trees contacting lines can cause: • flashovers, • outages, • fires. This would be both realistic and engaging. [b]- Add a lightweight SCADA interface[/b] No need for complexity. Just: • breaker open/close status, • fault alarms, • remote reset, • simple relay indicators. [hr][/hr] [h2]Final Thoughts[/h2] Despite the issues, I want to emphasize again: [b]I’m truly happy this game exists.[/b] Seeing concepts like grid inertia, grounding behavior, and EPR in a tycoon game is something I genuinely didn’t expect. With a few improvements—especially in reactive power logic, LV behavior, and basic SCADA— this game could easily become the most realistic and enjoyable power network simulation . I’m excited to see where it goes next. As I continue playing the game, I’ll keep writing more feedback whenever new ideas come to mind.

Hits the niche of "realistic grid management" game pretty well with not much else filling it. There definitely could be some added QOL features for managing what is connected to each substation (which loads are connected, which cap banks go to what, swap loads between substations, ect), the existing tables don't feel sufficient. All that said I really like whats already here. Add the QOL features and some other gameplay elements (power importing maybe? other flow devices) and it'll be great.

This is a really interesting and unique game, and fills a void in the city builder genre that I didn't realize I was missing. It does a great job of having enough technical depth to be interesting, while still being simple enough to be fun. Even as someone with a background in distribution system engineering, the game often presents challenges that make me have to stop and think about the best way to solve problems on my grid. You also can't always just upgrade your way out of a bad design, which I think adds some challenge and depth. The developer is very active, and the game has received multiple content additions in the short time I've owned it. The game is already great in its current state, and I'm confident it will continue to get even better with future updates.

I am an electrical engineering student who will be studying power engineering senior year. I did some research to see if there are any games centered around electrical/power engineering because I wanted to play something that would teach me a thing or two. Lo and behold, I found this game and I absolutely love it. I was a fan of RCT as a kid and love playing Factorio and building circuits in my spare time. This game combines all of those elements into one comfortable package. Thank you David. I really enjoy your game.

I feel like I can now add Power Engineer to my Resume :) I knew nothing about Power Engineering at the start, but I love tycoon games! It was fun, easy to learn, and often chaotic with weather. A cyclone destroyed my town at the start, but we rebuilt and claimed the island as ours! Very enjoyable and you are given the ability to customize a lot of the mechanics for difficulty which makes replayability fun to goof around with too.

Power Network Tycoon is a strategic simulation game where we manage the power system of an island. If you are not used to playing these types of games, there are step-by-step tutorials that make it more understandable. In the game, it is important to monitor the temperature and voltage of the generators, as malfunctions can cause power outages, which could endanger the lives of the island's citizens. There will also be periodic natural disasters. The game's creator is a power engineer and has made the game a realistic representation of power management. Follow : [url=store.steampowered.com/curator/44793303-The-games-that-I%2527ve-played/] The games that i`ve played [/url]

I know next to nothing about power engineering and I was able to play this game successfully for two hours and a bit. I found it very addictive. I enjoy the different missions, they keep the game fresh and engaging. Most of all I love watching the city grow as I expand the network. I want to see if I can make it take up the whole map! Good pacing and overall very enjoyable. Looking forward to the full game and more content.

Pretty good power network simulator with lots of realism and a cool economy aspect. I think its a little pricey for its content and it being EA but time will tell.

I absolutely love the concept of this game. Considering this is the work of a single developer, it’s incredible to see the updates and improvements that have been rolled out so far. That said, I think the game may eventually need a “Power Network 2” to overcome some of the current limitations. (Graphics and your computer will slow down when things get busy) However, even as it stands, this game is a hidden gem. If you enjoy tycoon games, this one should definitely be on your radar. Beyond the entertainment factor, the game also provides a surprisingly deep dive into the working of a power grid—more than you might have thought possible! Supporting indie developers like this is important, so I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a try.

Cool concept with nice visuals and lots of thought put into it. Excited as a power EE to see what gets added in the future!