"Stonks! The Game" - 3 in 1 EcoGames Review

[@Graeldon]

UPDATE: After posting this review all the games featured have been moved into correct alphabetical sorting in the Steam Store. They're still listed, just not in the same alphabetical position they were at the time. I'm not sure if this was done by Valve or the Devs, but I'm glad to see the change.

[@krabparrot5724]

Doesn't that mean that you'll encounter them again though?

[@Graeldon]

@krabparrot5724 yes, but as they are already reviewed they'll be skipped over

[@thejay8963]

​@@krabparrot5724 In about 20 years, yes.

[@covereye5731]

EcoGames started off friendly, but is now the main antagonist of this series.

[@johncameron1935]

The "multiple really small games" formula is absolutely a must for this road trip of a series. Especially if they're all following a through line, like the developer being the same. You could have even done the fourth from this dev in this vid and I don't think anyone would have batted an eye.

[@Graeldon]

If I have multiple small games in a row, especially by the same developer then they will be grouped together to make sure that the video is entertaining, and so that there aren't multiple similar videos in a row. Nobody wants 3 months of hidden object videos, that's channel suicide

[@darkbreaker9767]

​@@Graeldon I can't wait for the hidden objects video to be two hours long and filled with 50 games

[@Graeldon]

We're not far off it now! It won't be 2 hours long though (I hope)

[@BanXxX69]

@@darkbreaker9767that actually sounds great xD

[@zekeram129]

Can Medieval Real Estate be even _considered_ a game? You can't even LOSE!

[@EdKolis]

A lot of games have infinite continues...

[@zekeram129]

@@EdKolis Yeah, but they still have a lose state. It's not a punishing lose state in the slightest, but it still constitues as a failure. Medieval Real Estate literally doesn't even _have_ one.

[@gargomaxthalus4195]

Exchange Medieval with Chinese, at it makes slightly more sense.

[@Richardiii2]

Wow this guy must really like "money goes up" games.

[@manboy4720]

maybe it's their dream to make a lot of money, seeing as absolutely nobody is going to buy their games.

[@BlazingImp77151]

medieval real estate looks kinda like a kid's scratch game.

[@gimok2k5]

So, the funny thing is: The "fictional" game you described for Warehouse Tycoon... that sounded like the Patrician game series (and I think also Port Royale, but I can't say for sure) except those are set in 1300s in the Hanse. You also buy and sell goods there, can buy more storage and even factories to produce stuff yourself for an even better profit, as well as housing for rent and so on. While also having the option to buy more boats and emplyees to automate certain routes. There is also a political game to be played, where you try to raise you stance in the Hanse. And on top of that, you also can go hunt pirates as an alternative income method, if you fancy some combat gameplay on top of that.

[@EdKolis]

A stock trading game where you win by having faster reflexes than an AI. Oddly realistic...

[@equinox2655]

What an interesting idea, playing all steam games. U earned a sub, I’m looking forward to see how it turns out

[@Graeldon]

Thanks, I appreciate it! I'll likely never finish all the games, but I'll get as far as I can!

[@crimsonitacilunarnebula]

​@@Graeldoncan you make a lidt if all the games and have a rating to recommnd

[@Graeldon]

Check the description on the latest video, I've linked a spreadsheet there. I'll add it to my main page as well 👍

[@KindaJustSnow]

I wish I knew what was going on in these dev's minds when making these games. What kind of people are they? Why are they making these? Are these really just simple cash grabs, or is this their honest attempt at making quality games? Who are these people lol

[@danielgrezda3339]

I have tried to make games, and they are damn hard and most of the time is spent learning how to do something rather than actually doing it. I think most of these games were first or second attempts that had a lackluster understanding on how to make games resulting in extremely barebones games that barely work and release them for a few bucks hoping to get at least a little money on all the time they invested learning how to make games. They aren't worth the money, but these don't feel like cash grabs in the slightest and if they stick to it I think they could make a game that's worth the money.

[@Graeldon]

The dev has been slowly improving over the years, but it's hard to say if the level of quality is intentional, or if it's simply what they are capable of.

[@lmao2302]

I have a theory that the dev was a financial literacy teacher who can barely code and makes students play this on their chromebook or sumn and he uploads them to steam for shits and giggle.

[@potatochips8512]

ive been keeping up with these! its fun to actually see these games which you never see people play. im happy you stumbled on my recommendations. a friend i told about this series had a question that annoyed me lol. and i suppose i have my own too. 1. what are you doing to do about games that are released, but have names that put them before games you’ve already passed? will you go back to them, or will you just pass them, only playing the game that comes right after the game you just played? 2. what are you doing about games that are popular or already have followings, and stuff that isnt obscure and small like all the ones we currently see? will you just skip them? or i dont even know what. im not sure how long it would take a reach a game like that but its a worthwhile question for me.

[@Graeldon]

Thanks for watching, I appreciate you being here! Those are great questions, which deserve answers. For #1 I'm not 100% sure yet, but I'm not planning on going backwards in the series. However, if it's feasible I may do it as a special episode. For #2, I'll be playing ALL games, and treating the big games as more of a retro review to see how they hold up by today's standards. More of a "should you play?" Or "Is it good?", similar to Josh Strife Hays, but shorter form content

[@potatochips8512]

thanks! good to know. sounds good to me :)

[@Blockinstaller12]

A good decision to pack multiple short games into one video with a similar theme, I'm sure it'll save some headaches along the way. As for this batch of games, they have that "developer's first game" quality. Though since they're all EcoGames, I'm disappointed that this developer didn't improve much.

[@StrakBlue]

What astounds me is that Steam requires you to pay $100 to upload a game as a method of deterring people from uploading absolute garbage and keeping the standard somewhat high. And this is what we end up with, low effort cash grabs. Meanwhile, devs who put thought and effort into their games but offer them for free aren't as likely to pay the $100 just to put them on Steam since there's no profit to be made. And I know "why should Steam offer a free platform for your game?" and you're right, it's their business model they can do what they want, but it kind of stings that Steam doesn't just charge to upload, but ALSO keeps a large percentage of the profits. Ouch.

[@AngelGamer-qg5cq]

These games must (somehow) make a profit, otherwise these developers wouldn't upload the games

[@nikenit]

It's not to keep any standards, its just a simple spam deterrent, so that ban evasion would be difficult and costly. Also those $100 are a deposit, not a payment. You get them back once you make $1000 of gross profit from your game. Its a relatively small symbolic amount of money to stop game spammers from early steam days (who would just upload hundreds of asset flips and "fake games" to the storefront). And it worked.

[@MaddogDD07]

Great video, very relaxing and easy to understand reviews. I wish you the best of luck reviewing every steam game's and here a beer 🍺 for the worst ones you going to need it lol. I subbed and look forward to the next games video.

[@Graeldon]

Cheers mate! Glad you're enjoying the content!

[@J-S-Gpc]

oh ya by the way there's this game that doesn't have a name and you cant see it when your browsing the games because the game claims that it is not in English (aka its not showing when your looking because of the english filter) but when i downloaded it was in english i don't know. if that really counts but just thought id let you know and good video cant wait to see the next one

[@Graeldon]

I had seen that one, but for the sake of simplicity I have filters in place for the series: No MMO's, no VR only games, no 18+ games and English language only.

[@J-S-Gpc]

@@Graeldon oh ya and btw what was your favorite game out of all of your videos my favorite that ive played was life not found or makethatmoney

[@Graeldon]

@@J-S-Gpc "LIFE"; not found is definitely the best one so far. But I have played one that I think will take the new top spot!

[@J-S-Gpc]

@@Graeldon oh is it the next one or is it akibots

[@Graeldon]

@@J-S-Gpc You'll just have to wait and see 😉

[@notebookofmath]

the idea of a real estate game where the only other mechanic is dying of hunger is so hilarious I can't stop laughing

[@mellow_mallow]

7:15 is this persona 3 music? Reminds me of the mall theme

[@BenMarcWilliams]

I love how the optimal strat in StockUp is to just blatantly cheat at the stock market. Social commentary, perhaps?

[@danielgiovanniello7217]

I am a simple man. I see Brooklyn 99 gif? I like.

[@andreworders7305]

How do these guys make a living off these?

[@J-S-Gpc]

hello

[@Graeldon]

Thanks for stopping by, always nice to see you here!

[@andreworders7305]

2 investment games?

[@Transference90]

It seems like all these games "should" be good, but yet, they aren't? So weird.

[@CainXVII]

I have heard ...things about medieval real estate

[@cozmoknot]

I think for more interesting games it should be one per episode, and for less interesting ones (such as these) you should do multiple

[@mighty_mobster_gaming]

Oh boy! I sure do love playing corporate propaganda games!

[@JathenJacksonr2d2]

If the games are short or if there's not much to say about them, then you should put multiple in one episode

[@andreworders7305]

These the same person all happened to be right next to eachother?

[@GilliganTF2]

I wouldn't have be able to play the game with a different resolution and with buttons that are tricky to click

[@ice161h]

why does warehouse tycoon use real place names

[@sunkruhmhalaci2592]

These.... these are actual things someone put on the market. One after another. How?

[@geekjokes8458]

who knows, by the time you get to L maybe they learned how to make a good game

[@Jakepearl13]

This is real

[@andreworders7305]

You didn’t review Stonks the game though

[@Supe0789]

0:34 very nice, I just got a discount for this game from a badge... anyone want it?

[@taisato2091]

Okay those were reallyyyy bad. Especially the first one. AI might a better game for me than medieval economy

[@kiendra]

Steam version of qzeq?!?! 🤯🤯🤯🤯😳😳😳

[@damianea103]

I sure hope you're getting enough money from these videos to cover the price of this garbage :P