Am I the only one who sucks at Game Dev Tycoon?

I've read several times that you'd better release your games on PC.

GDT is totally random at your first playthrough, especially if you don't know the secret behind calculating stuff, but there's at least "some" logic behind it. If you want to cheat away, go to their wiki and look for the best combination and the platform for a certain genre, here's the most important link: Cheat sheet
but if you want to play legit here some of my tips.

The best genre for Nintentdo DS is RPG, followed by Casual
Also don't build new engines frequently, Do not build an engine for every platform. Try to research new tech(addition) first before you make a revamped engine. In the later run, you might want to have a separate engine for some genres.

In the later years (after 2014) PC is the best for sure, but in the mid 2000, console still holds the best profit.

P.S: Last time I played it was 2 months ago, I'm not sure if they updated the game for later years since the game calculation gets wonky waaaay ahead in the future (e.g. 2100)

Engines should probably only be built when you have enough new stuff to add to them. Generate a game report for each game, then you will get information added into the system that will be available to you. You can then use that to better build your games.

I usually stick to safe combos, like Hospital Simulation or Dungeon RPG, for example. I just think in terms of what sells in real life. I pick safe systems that aren't about to go out and games that fit on those systems. I try not to spend too much money until I have it built up. It is easy to run out quickly. The game continuously gives you bits and pieces to alert you to what works and what doesn't. Mainly as long as you are keeping up with reports. It will tell you great combos, how popular games are on certain systems, and stuff like that. I usually get most of my games in the 7s and 8s, with some hitting higher.

Your best move is to simply apply real life logic. If you would play it in real life, on a system, it probably works on there.

I've beat it about 6 times (once on Steam). The Steam version is kinda revamped, its actually easier. PC is the best overall system to release games on, cause it has pretty much all positive audiences & genres, but you should want to go for the one with the biggest marketshare starting out in order to make profit.

On the Steam version you don't really need to focus on researching as much, I made it to the end of the game with only 3 engines, now I have $800 million & i'm making MMO's & stuff lol.

& after you release a game, you can choose to do a Game Report. That's a must because it'll give you info on what to include/what not to include in your games & how much of the different resources you should use for each game.

The only time you really need a new engine is when you've put out a bunch of games & decide to made sequels out of some of them. & don't hire a bunch of people too early, it won't end well..

EDIT: I meant engines aren't really important, not researching. You should research 5-7 things at least every time you decide to upgrade to an new engine to make it worthwhile.

you have to see that the features you implement into your game are not much under 80%. (you can see this at the right of the names "engine", "graphic" and so on when you have these game development screens where you have to choose how much time the subcategories are supposed to take)

I always do Game Reports, and I've gotten hints to a ton of different genre combos and platforms, which is good.

I don't build the same engine every time, I try to build one if I have 5 or 6 new things

Guess I didn't mention that

dont rush anything . just take it slowly and Engine upgradaes are the most inmportant thing in that game.

played that game since non-steam version . love it and i always get over 100-500 m now without any hack and stuffs

Probably. At the first try I received like 5-6 a game. On the second one, I got like 8-9-10 on every game. Just don't put randomly the sliders, develop better engines and select a booth at the G3

I've played Tycoon games before, and it was not pretty. You're not alone.

Don't get discouraged: EA had a couple of rough years too. But now, thanks to the Humble Origin Bundle, they're making a comeback.

Every time I look at GDT it reminds me of another game with the same premise. I control an office, the office layout (where to put people and tables), I design things, there are quarterly reports, and I think I can possibly train and improve the workers. That's all that I seem to remember. Btw, I play a lot of Kairosoft games and I'm pretty sure this isn't one of them.