Software Types

Features and Dependencies

Each software can have three different types of features.

1. A time-locked feature, that is a feature that unlocks when a certain year arrives. E.g., the OS feature 8-bit audio isn't unlocked at the start of the game. Can also include base features which are available from the beginning and have no prerequisite.
2. A dependency-locked feature, which means a feature that depends on a certain feature from different software. For example, the feature 3D rendering in a game requires the 3D rendering feature in the selected Game Engine
3. A dependency-tree feature. Some features replace other features in software. For instance, the feature 8-bit audio from the OS is an evolution of the PC Speaker feature, and thus you can only select either PC speaker or 8-bit audio, and not both. This forms a dependency tree which allows certain features to evolve.

Additionally, there is a feature called QA that every software type has access to. This QA feature will improve stability and usability at the cost of development time and innovation.

Software Types

There are eight types of software which can be developed:

Operating System

The Operating System is the largest piece of software in Software Inc. Most software needs an Operating System to run on. When people stop buying a line of Operating Systems, they will also stop buying software for them.

2D Editor

A program that allows you to handle 2-dimensional arrays of color information.

3D Editor

Points in space, basically.

Audio Tool

The audio tool is for recording and mixing sound effects and music.

Game Engine

The game engine is what powers a game. It contains everything needed for a game, except for the creativity.

Game

Interactive art.

Office Software

Used in the office...

Antivirus

Protecting computers from digital troublemakers since it became profitable to do so.

Software-Type	Features	Description
Operating System	Terminal	The terminal is the classic text-based interface between the Operating System and the user.
Operating System	GUI	The Graphical User Interface allows users to actually visualize what they are doing. No longer will they be bound to inputting one line at a time.
Operating System	3D rendering
Operating System	Input system	Allow the user to interact with the operating system.
Operating System	Plug 'n' Play	Allow the user to interact with the operating system in any number of ways.
Operating System	Touch	You can never have enough greasy fingerprints on a surface.
Operating System	Multithreading	Multithreading allows the Operating System to run multiple threads at the same time by continually switching between them intelligently, speeding up applications and confusing developers to no end.
Operating System	Multitasking	Let your users pretend they can multitask by having several applications open at any one time.
Operating System	Networking	How will anonymous people troll each other all over the world without this handy feature?
Operating System	Auto-update	Keep bugs and malware out, while annoying users with broken drivers and sudden restarts.
Operating System	64-bit	Doubles the size of bits per register, allowing for bigger numbers, more memory, larger files, the answer to life, etc.
Operating System	PC speaker	For all your beeping needs.
Operating System	8-bit audio
Operating System	HD audio	Like 8-bit audio, but with more bits.
2D Editor	Image rendering	Actually display an image on the screen.
2D Editor	Pixel manipulation
2D Editor	Advanced brushes
2D Editor	Image effects	Needs more swirl.
2D Editor	Cinematic filter	Instant professionalism.
2D Editor	Image Compression
2D Editor	Video editing
2D Editor	Video codec
2D Editor	Stock library
3D Editor	Vertex editing	Move points in space around on the screen.
3D Editor	Rendering	Process the points into a picture.
3D Editor	Animation	Make the points move themselves.
3D Editor	Sculpting	Pretend the points are clay.
3D Editor	Voxel sculpting	Everything is a point.
3D Editor	Physics	Make the points interact.
3D Editor	Realistic hair	Make lines between the points.
3D Editor	Particles	Spray points all over the place.
3D Editor	Liquid simulation	Spill points all over the place.
3D Editor	PBR	Physically Based Rendering simulates photons reacting with the points.
3D Editor	Distributed rendering	Process the points into a picture on many computers at once.
Audio Tool	Audio playback
Audio Tool	Recording
Audio Tool	Music editor
Audio Tool	Virtual instruments	Guitar? MIDI Keyboard. Violin? MIDI Keyboard. Drums? MIDI Keyboard. Saxophone? Yes.
Audio Tool	Sound library
Audio Tool	Instrument library
Audio Tool	Autotune	This is a thing.
Audio Tool	Audio compression
Game Engine	Text-based
Game Engine	2D rendering
Game Engine	Visual editor	Drag'n'drop is the best.
Game Engine	2D assets	Help the developer along with some prepackaged assets.
Game Engine	3D rendering
Game Engine	3D assets	Like 2D assets, but with an extra dimension.
Game Engine	VR	Virtual reality
Game Engine	Advanced shaders	Not everything has to be flat! The irony is not lost on me.
Game Engine	Shadows	A very CREATIVE feature.
Game Engine	PC speaker
Game Engine	8-bit audio
Game Engine	Audio assets
Game Engine	HD audio
Game Engine	Networking
Game Engine	Physics
Game Engine	Scripting	Seperate the game logic from the logic logic.
Game Engine	Visual Scripting	It's like programming, but you use the mouse more.
Game	Text-based	Make the player type a novel to complete the game
Game	2D graphics
Game	3D graphics
Game	VR	Virtual Reality.
Game	Physics	Bouncy stuff.
Game	Music
Game	Dialog
Game	Open world
Game	AI
Game	Local Multiplayer
Game	Multiplayer	Facilitate the screaming of obscenities by teenagers from all over the world.
Game	MMO
Game	Mod support	You can mod this feature out of the game if you want.
Game	Touch support
Game	Advanced input	Wheels, joysticks, etc.
Game	Cutscenes
Game	Advanced Cutscenes	Reflect player choices in the story by rendering cutscenes in realtime.
Game	Motion capture
Office Software	Word processor
Office Software	WYSIWYG	What You See Is What You Get.
Office Software	Spellcheck	Make everyone seem competent.
Office Software	Auto layout	i.e. spending 30 minutes trying to make the picture fit in the place
Office Software	Spreadsheet
Office Software	Custom functions	A spreadsheet can always get more complicated.
Office Software	Charts
Office Software	Presentation
Office Software	Vector graphics	Lines, boxes and circles, basically.
Office Software	Animations	What better way to make your presention seem cheesy.
Office Software	Sound effects	And this is our projected earnings for the next fiscal year *pew* *pew*.
Office Software	Templates
Office Software	Clipart
Office Software	Scripting	Because you can never satisfy everyone.
Office Software	Online backup
Antivirus	File scan
Antivirus	User interface	Make it easy for the user to manage their virus handling.
Antivirus	Firewall
Antivirus	Background scan	Scan for viruses in the background causing hilarious file locks randomly.
Antivirus	Mail scan	There's always room for enlargement.
Antivirus	Virus database	Automagically keep your user's virus definitions up to date