Starting Capital

[POTKC]

How will starting capital be handled in Airline Enterprises? A set sum, like in CA, or perhaps a set of loans you can choose from? How much?

[Frenchie]

I would argue for a NPC share system, where the player could choose (from say 3 options) different amounts of starting capital, the higher amount the higher percentage or share of the profits going back to the shareholders (NPC). This would make for an interesting choice between starting bigger but growing slower, or starting slower but eventually increasing the rate of your growth as large swaths of profit poor into your investment.

[POTKC]

What if larger airlines could offer loans in return for a guaranteed set percentage of revenue or profits, either for a certain time, or until the loan is payed back?

[Unknown98]

I would argue for a NPC share system, where the player could choose (from say 3 options) different amounts of starting capital, the higher amount the higher percentage or share of the profits going back to the shareholders (NPC). This would make for an interesting choice between starting bigger but growing slower, or starting slower but eventually increasing the rate of your growth as large swaths of profit poor into your investment.

That's actually really interesting. I like it. Of course in real life the profits don't necessarily go back to the shareholders in equal proportions. For example if I own 0.03% of Google, I don't necessarily get 0.03% of Google's profits each quarter. It depends on how many dividends they decide to pay out, usually quoted in dollar amount per share. They may pay out something like 15 cents per share, so if I owned 500 shares I'd get (500 x 0.15) = $75. 

Eventually I'd love to have a system where airlines can invest in each other similar to what CA had.

[Carde]

Guess it also depends on what you want to have. Personally I would go for a private company maybe that could give you an advantage as others would not be able to see your numbers? After all once you go public you need to share your numbers publicly to.

[Unknown98]

Guess it also depends on what you want to have. Personally I would go for a private company maybe that could give you an advantage as others would not be able to see your numbers? After all once you go public you need to share your numbers publicly to.

This is true as well. A private company with no shareholders is not required to share any financial information with the public. With regards to gameplay I'm not sure if that would be of any real benefit or not in a game like this. Knowing the financial state of your competitors is always a good thing in the real world though.

[chaitanya]

With the BETA coming soon, what have you thought Unk for starting capital?

[Unknown98]

For the initial beta starting capital will be very large so we can test things. Right now I have it set to 500 million.

Beta will probably consist of several stages. Once more of the game is complete I will probably reset everything and then change the starting capital, so we can simulate the "real" gameplay.

Still not decided, I do like Frenchie's idea, but I also like the idea of giving several loan options. Less money with a lower interest rate or more money with a higher interest rate. That'd be cool.

[Carde]

As long as we have an option without giving out shares, loans are fine, but really it be great o just have enough to buy a single modern regional jet like CS. 737, A320 series to get started and on top of that give the option to loan more.