Cities Skylines 2: Companies & Billboards
Greetings enthusiasts! With a fresh dawn, comes a brand-new chapter in our Cities: Skylines II development series. Today’s spotlight is on the intriguing dynamics of companies and their billboard representations within the game. In our pursuit of crafting an even more lifelike urban simulation, we’ve considerably enhanced the role of companies and the significance of their billboards, drawing a contrast from the preceding Cities: Skylines. Now, not only do companies hold tangible game mechanics, but their billboards also echo their presence within structures.
In Cities: Skylines II, companies are no longer mere visuals but pulsating entities. They make their way into your city, contingent on demand, dictating job availability and educational prerequisites. They are instrumental in augmenting the city’s affluence and have the capability to trade goods, both importing and exporting, outside the city precincts. This intricate dynamic compels you to strategize your intra-city public transportation and foster ties with adjacent cities. Moreover, the city’s industrial palette influences the kind of companies it lures. For instance, a particular industrial sector could be a magnet for companies seeking its resources. Without further ado, let’s navigate through this tapestry of game mechanics.
COMPANIES & THEIR BILLBOARDS
More than just ornamental ads, billboards in this iteration have a pivotal role. Once a zone is earmarked, eligible companies begin to set up shop. And as they settle, their distinct insignia is exhibited on the billboard. Interestingly, the frequency, magnitude, and design of these billboards aren’t monotonous but exhibit variations every time the edifice reappears in your game. For a company to root itself, essential utilities, workforce, and resources are paramount, coupled with the imperative of staying in the black. The accessibility of its location, combined with the city’s educational landscape, significantly impacts its sustainability. Efficient cargo networks can be the lifeline for these companies. To delve deeper into this ecosystem, you might want to revisit our prior edition titled ‘Economy & Production’.
BUILDING COLORS
Upon settling in, companies have the liberty to adorn the building with their signature hues. The extent to which a building imbibes a company’s colors can vary. While some structures might subtly weave the color into architectural details, others might boldly splash it across the main facade. Additionally, certain edifices might incorporate multiple shades from the company’s palette, exhibiting them in diverse architectural features.
COMPANY CHIRPS
Chirps serve as your city’s pulse, updating you on its ongoing activities. Residents share snippets of their daily life, while service entities provide updates on their operations. Businesses, too, join the chorus, announcing relocations, new branch openings, job vacancies, and other news. To catch all these updates, just check out the chirper feed. When companies chirp, their logo icon is displayed alongside their name, often accompanied by the address of their establishment.
COMPANY PRODUCTION CHAIN
Firms play a pivotal role in the production ecosystem. A single firm can manage an entire production line, from sourcing and storing raw materials to crafting and marketing the end product to consumers. Every firm is designated a specific zone for operations and has a distinct material or product they handle or vend.
BILLBOARDS
Before a firm occupies a building, the billboards will display “space available” signs at that site. This feature was introduced to effortlessly identify buildings that are yet to be leased by a company.
COLOR VARIETY
Crafting a vast array of logos in diverse styles to ensure no single color overwhelmed the billboard scene was a captivating challenge. Our strategy involved arranging background colors in columns and superimposing logos over them. The nuanced task was ensuring an even distribution of logos across columns while maintaining distinct color variations and unique logo designs. Fans of Cities: Skylines will recognize some classic names that have been revamped, supplemented by numerous fresh ones. Moreover, some brands subtly pay tribute to our developers and incorporate clever wordplay.
ACCESSIBILITY
Having selected the colors, our next challenge was ensuring the uniqueness and legibility of each logo. This involved ensuring a diverse palette – some logos being darker, some lighter, with a mix of vibrant and subdued shades. Furthermore, we were committed to ensuring every logo was discernible to those who are colorblind. Piecing together color combinations that met all these prerequisites was at times a demanding and slightly vexing endeavor, but undoubtedly among the most engaging and rewarding aspects of the process.
That wraps up today’s discussion. We trust you found this insight into the essence of the billboards and a preview of the game’s brands enlightening. Join us tomorrow as we delve deeper into the intricacies of the Citizen Characters. Keep an eye out!
