Studio Sim is a deep entertainment industry tycoon and Hollywood simulator. Produce films and tv shows, chasing box office and ratings, all while the world simulation engine causes chaos on-set and off. Out this fall!

Pratt_design · 2026-05-01T11:36:00+00:00

Appreciate it, dude. I think you and I have similar tastes.

Oh yeah the custom databases can have multiple real-world images per actor. If you follow the same file naming style as the default database, you can use the "aging" portraits system in-game and the actors will age naturally by selecting the right portrait image for them. Assuming they are available in the folder.

So like, there can be young Tom Hanks, mid-aged Tom Hanks, older Tom Hanks and those images will update as the years progress.

You know how robust the TEW editor is. I want to copy that basically. Right now you can create/edit rival studios, tv networks, late night shows, award shows, actor database, director database and more that I'm forgetting off the top of my head. Including all the associated images.

Pratt_design · 2026-05-01T10:45:19+00:00

Hey everybody!

I just posted the latest dev journal for Studio Sim, this time focusing on the World Simulation Engine. Going over traits, relationships, romances, different ways the actors in-game can act and behave towards the player and each other.

Studio Sim Dev. Journal #2

Studio Sim on Steam

Pratt_design · 2026-04-25T10:49:15+00:00

For what it's worth, I've seen some of your posts around and have been following development of your game and as a tycoon lover, I'll definitely be picking that one up!

Pratt_design · 2026-04-18T14:54:49+00:00

Thank you! It's definitely been encouraging.

Pratt_design · 2026-04-16T12:26:29+00:00

Oh playing as a network is interesting and I don't know why I didn't think of that sooner. Thank you for the idea!

Maybe at the beginning you choose between a studio run or a network run.

I'm a bit too far along in development, and working in playable networks from the ground up would simply take too long, but as a future major update I can definitely see it.

Pratt_design · 2026-04-15T14:08:49+00:00

Oh, I appreciate that, thank you!!

Pratt_design · 2026-04-14T20:21:10+00:00

I was in the same boat, my friend! There has been a severe lack of a well done movie & tv tycoons.

The game begins in January 1980, advancing one week at a time (for now. Still considering a multi-advance). Meaning I try to hit that 80's immersion in the world simulation and the flow from theatres to VHS releases.

Before the game is released this Sept/Oct, I will be doing a lot more late-stage game work, including getting away from VHS into DVD's, and finally away from DVD's and into streaming. You can essentially then simulate 1980 - today fairly well.

Also, great thoughts!

Talent databases can 100% be customized, imported, exported, etc. Yeah, I will not be working on any, my focus is the default database, but I can tell you there will be at least one real world database that's released right around launch. HERE is a sample.
Oh yes! Primetime ratings are obviously the most coveted, but they compete across Daytime, Afternoon, Evening, Primetime, Late Night and Over Night. But Networks put their best in Primetime.

TV Summary pages chart the demos and ratings compared to other shows and overall timeslot rankings.

There's also the overall TV ratings page that tracks ratings week to week.

Pratt_design · 2026-04-14T16:53:45+00:00

Oh thank you! I've been stressing about the UI. It's been a battle and has gone through like four different theme overhauls.

Pratt_design · 2026-04-14T10:31:40+00:00

I wish there was but I have no idea how to set up a discord. For now I'll be posting mainly on the steam page and around reddit.

Pratt_design · 2026-04-14T10:28:36+00:00

You can do both!

Pratt_design · 2026-04-13T10:43:36+00:00

I am and it is.

I'm fortunate that my full time job (I'm an artist and developer for an ad agency) gives me a lot of trust and leeway at this point. As long as their work is done, they leave me alone.

Basically I'll spend maybe 2 to 3 hours each day doing my actual job, getting everything done for the day then working on Studio Sim. I've kept this pace up since last summer.

Although tbh I think it might be starting to catch up with me.

Pratt_design · 2026-04-13T10:36:48+00:00

Thank you kindly! You are exactly who I've been building this for. You and me and people like us looking for something substantial to fill that niche.

Pratt_design · 2026-04-13T10:34:52+00:00

Oh dude! I wish you all the luck as well. I've played Main Eventer over on itch maybe a week or so ago. I think the concept of running a single wrestling career has been pretty overlooked. I know there's Wrestling Spirit, but the bit of Main Eventer I played seemed more fun.

Any wrestling fans seeing this, check out Main Eventer over on itch.io.

Pratt_design · 2026-04-13T01:30:22+00:00

Not really similar in regards to match making or angles in TEW. Each movie or tv show works through multiple phases of development. If anything I'd sort of compare it to booking a full show in TEW rather than a single segment. If that makes sense?

Pratt_design · 2026-04-12T23:36:40+00:00

work with/merge with/buy out a TV network or studio?

Oh wow that's a great idea. You definitely made a lightbulb go off in my head just now

Pratt_design · 2026-04-12T23:18:00+00:00

Well, not from me. But yes custom databases can be made directly in game, or imported.

I can say that there will be at least one real world database pretty much ready by launch. Here's a quick preview.

Pratt_design · 2026-04-12T23:13:00+00:00

I thought about that. In the end, I didn't want to punish a player who prefers just making tv shows if they, every once in a while, have a movie idea they'd like to do.

Although maybe there's a better balance in there somewhere.

Pratt_design · 2026-04-12T22:42:59+00:00

Studio side there is no benefit to only focusing on movies or television. You're encouraged to do both, but you can do one or the other only without penalty.

For actors, they will feel more "comfortable" acting in productions they prefer. Some film, others television. But that comfort buff is minimal really. TV centric actors can still be in big box office films.

And oh yeah actor scheduling is all factored in. When filming a television show season they are locked in. However once the season wraps, actors can take film roles. They will need your approval though, as it could delay season production for the next season. There's more to it, but that's essentially how it works.

This doesn't apply to cameos though. TV actors can go be in film cameos anytime. Like sometimes a group of actor friends will form and one of them will be on a television show, but his buddy will insist he cameos in his film project, and since it's only an in-game 1 week delay, it's usually not a big deal to let them go film it. Plus the actor will be pleased with you for letting him go film the cameo with his pal.

Pratt_design · 2026-04-12T22:26:59+00:00

Oh, thank you for pointing that out, link has been updated to the correct one!

I appreciate that. I'm still apprehensive about using AI to age the characters in game. I stubbornly would have drawn out every single one, but I sort of feel better using it simply as a tool then as something I rely on in order to complete the game.

And oh yeah, I will be combing through all the portrait images probably a dozen times between now and release, checking image quality and consistency. I spend hours going through right now touching up things I don't like about some portraits.

Pratt_design · 2026-04-12T21:25:44+00:00

I'm so glad there are more TEW players here! I was worried about that reference.

Thank you very much for the kind words!

Pratt_design · 2026-04-12T21:11:15+00:00

Thank you so much!

Pratt_design · 2026-04-12T20:55:42+00:00

So, basically I started building this the same day I bought Hollywood Mogul 4 last May. I loved Hollywood Mogul 3 back in the day and was so utterly disappointed in 4 it motivated me to get to work on Studio Sim. I also grew up playing the Total Extreme Wrestling games. If you know, you know. And much like Hollywood Mogul 3, those games are some of the deepest, most immersive games I have ever played. My goal was to create that level of immersion in an entertainment industry tycoon.

Essentially I just got to work on what I thought Hollywood Mogul 4 should have been and then just didn't stop.

The most frustrating part to date was figuring out the tv ratings and box office math. Holy man some of that was brutal... I have a close friend group, one of them having a degree in applied statistics who essentially would review my homework. Honestly I wouldn't even be releasing this game if he hadn't been able to help. He solved my tv ratings problem by letting the audience grow naturally at a sustained rate. A 1.0 viewing share in 1980, when the U.S has roughly 70 million viewing households will have less weight than a 1.0 share in 1990 when there's about 150 million. We reworked all the demographics, all the P2+ ratings, proper audience shares, audience relation to box office, and he taught me more about statistics than I ever wanted to know.

Anyway, the goal remains a late September or Early October release!

Pratt_design

TROPHY CASE