Hi everyone!

I'm Nau, the developer behind Burgie's.

Today I'm writing to ask you about something that's been on my mind for a few days. I'd like to hear what all the players think before I start coding it, since maybe I'm overcomplicating things here 😅

Besides being a developer, I'm also a player, and lately I've been really hooked on incremental games. So my head has started filling up with ideas about implementing a mechanic I really like from them, one that could fit Burgie's really well.

Right now, the purchase and unlock tab for new items looks like this:

If you've already played, you'll have noticed there are even certain locked items you can only buy once you've bought another item first, like the Smasher, which requires having the Grill before it shows up in the shop.

I'm thinking about changing it into an upgrade tree. Instead of buying items directly, you'd upgrade dish-washing speed x5 times (+20% each time), and completing that would unlock other related items or upgrades, like the dish rack. Each station would have its own little path and upgrade system. Here's an example from the game Shelldiver:

This kind of system is very trendy right now, and I get why: it feels more satisfying to gradually upgrade things than to just buy from a list. But I'm also worried that, since most of you come from relaxed cooking games, this might feel more "management-heavy" than what you're looking for in Burgie's. I don't want opening the game to mean having to think too much, when what I value most is that it stays relaxing. So if I do go ahead with it, I'd look for a way to simplify it as much as possible, so you're not stuck tracking % numbers, but simply guiding your purchases down a single path.

So I'm asking you directly: would you like a system like this, or would you rather the shop stayed simple? Why?

Tell me straight up, any opinion helps. Thanks for reading!

*Keep in mind I wouldn't erase anyone's progress. I'd assume that, depending on what you've already bought, you'd start off with certain unlocks already in place. Though you could reset your progress if you wanted to start fresh.

**It's important to clarify that this new system would replace the old one. I don't believe players should have to make decisions about how the video game should be played; rather, that is my responsibility as a developer. And a hybrid model combining the two systems would be more confusing and complex for everyone.