How should TV Shows work?

I thought I had it all figured out, but during the past few days I became a bit unsure if my concept is really the way to go with TV shows, so I thought I should get your input first before I continue.

If you want you can head over to http://filmstudiotycoon.proboards.com/thread/5/tv-shows-input and tell me what you would like to see.

Film Studio Tycoon Message Board!

As promised I set up a small message board for you guys, so you can reach me more easily with your ideas and feedback and discuss the game.

You can find it here:
http://filmstudiotycoon.proboards.com/

Posting should work without registration. If it doesn't, contact me.

The Hollywood Insider

Another small step forward: The game now has a message system (connected to the event system). Instead of "normal messages" I went for a website style. I hope you like it.









(Just ignore the Button in the bottom right. It won't be part of the game. I just use it for debugging.)

Progress Report

As promised...



The game will now ask you, if you want to recast a role or if you want to hire the actor who played the character the last time. It's a minor, but in my opinion super-useful, feature.

Work on TV Shows continues. On the sidelines I'm working on the event system, because the TV Show stuff is a bit boring from a coding perspective.

I already have added events for "New Couple", "Couple getting married" and "Baby born" (Yes, there is a chance that the baby will later show up as an actor).

  

Progress Report

Last week the project file got corrupted! Luckily I had made a back up the week before, so not too much work was lost. 

Despite the minor setback, things are going well on the TV Show Front.

 

I also worked on a couple of other smaller things. Most noteworthy are probably relationships. The game now has a database for relationships between artists. Possible relationships types are friend, sibling, twin, lover, spouse, parents and enemy (Anything I forgot?).

A new game will start with certain artists already having relationships, but as you play, new relationships will develop via the event system. 

Another minor feature I implemented are Writer-Directors. If you pick a writer for your movie who is also a director, this message will come up:

I want something similar for movie sequels (and TV Show seasons), so you don't have to re-cast every single role, making sure you hire the same actors you had in the first movie.

I'm also thinking about setting up a small forum to make it easier for you guys to leave your feedback, your ideas and your wishlists. I'm getting feedback through several different channels right now, so it might be nice to have a central place to discuss the game.

Don't worry, TV Shows are coming!

Don't worry, if you don't hear from me for a couple of days. I started working on the TV Show mechanic and I want to hold off on updates until I made enough progress for a full Feature Spotlight.

I also have a question: Is it a good idea to limit topics to certain genre, where they "fit in"? The Randomize-Option and the AI are producing a lot of movies with weird combinations. It just feels wrong to have a Drama/Romance movie set in present day Chicago revolving around "Dragons" and "Robots". On the other hand it can be quite fun to imagine a movie that actually combines elements that don't seem to go together. So what do you think? Limit certain Topics to certain Genres or not?