New Automation Game on Steam Feels Like Satisfactory for Players Who Love Complex Systems

Following the incredible success of Satisfactory, Coffee Stain Studios’ brilliant game that delivers player freedom, gorgeous visuals, and satisfying audio all in one package, more and more automation games have started popping up online. There are entries in the genre with Wild West vibes, story-driven anime automation games, and much more, with developers all trying to put their own spin on the genre to become the next Satisfactory. When it comes to Data Center on Steam, the automation task is its defining factor, as players are working on a huge building of interlinked computers.

Automation games are all about trial and error, with players mastering systems to get things flowing exactly the way they want. Running into a problem is less of a headache and more of a fun brainstorming session, as once it’s solved, the feeling of satisfaction is immense. It certainly seems like Data Center is going to be rewarding in the way these games should be, as players will have to tackle a ton of customer data and app requirements to find success. And with a Steam demo for Data Center already available, it’s possible to see exactly what other automation fans think about this particular game so far.

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Image via Waseku MASTER a wide range of parts, from ethernet cables and racks to servers and switches. COMPLETE customer-driven goals, making sure multiple apps run smoothly. EVOLVE your setup regularly, earning XP that can be used on upgrades through processing more data while building reputation through successful tasks to attract more customers. EXPERIENCE realistic challenges, like device lifespans and failures, which requires maintenance and replacement planning. RELY on immediate feedback via network status, tracking the impact of every part placement and connection.

Assemble racks, servers, and switches, connect enough capacity for each app, earn money from processed data, and unlock gear and bigger customers with XP and reputation.

Data Center Balances Challenge With Readability

The biggest challenges with automation games are ensuring that they stay complex and challenging without failures happening because of poor design, and fortunately, it does seem like Data Center has kept these pain points in mind. When it comes to complexity, the game has its player base covered. The network players run will be used to run a number of customers’ apps, with more customers regularly joining up to increase capacity targets and app requirements. More demanding customers will join the network later on, too, meaning that players constantly need to think ahead and evolve their setups.

To evolve their infrastructure, gamers will need to boost data flow by spending their XP on more racks, servers, cables, and so on. Managing the actual devices will also be something to carefully consider, as some can be faulty and break down, requiring a replacement. Players will have to make redundant connections and design some alternative paths ahead of time as well, preparing for disaster when a switch dies or a link is broken somewhere in their data center. While players can upgrade hardware and remove bottlenecks, it’ll be easier said than done once their floor is covered in computers to manage, as success will eventually lead to a “bustling operation.”

Fortunately, tracking one’s expansion in this upcoming Steam game is made easier via one promising system: visual networking. This mechanic sees packets clearly displayed as colored balls tied to a customer. This should make flow, congestion, and capacity — the most integral information for Data Center players — easy to decipher at a glance, allowing them to get back to work at increasing said capacity or clearing some congestion from the network. How well the game keeps its promise of immediate feedback for “every placement, failure, connection, and upgrade” is up to the player to determine, but it’s great that Data Center developer Waseku had this goal in mind when creating the game.

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What Players Are Saying About Data Center's Demo

Via the community hub for Data Center, the opinions of various Steam players can be seen, and many seem to be positive on the title overall due to its complexity and concept. Users do, however, point out minor issues like needing to fully rewire broken servers, which is described as a tedious process. Waseku’s current workaround is patch panels, but the developer does mention that the full version will allow automation fans to hire someone to sort broken servers for them, which should smooth things out a bit. Another issue seems to be the tutorial, with some players feeling like they’re not taught nearly enough and that the game almost assumes they know how to work in a Data Center before they begin, which would make for a rather niche audience. Hopefully, the full version of the game will offer a better tutorial that makes things easier for those who struggle to grasp complex systems quickly.

It’s also worth noting that those who refuse to play games that utilize AI in any way will want to steer clear of this title. Data Center uses AI for its fictional company and application logos, though its other assets do not.

Image via Waseku

Still, even with these issues, many commenters on the latest patch notes for Data Center seem thrilled with what the game has to offer. It’s certainly different from connecting pipes and working on a factory, but that uniqueness could be exactly what helps it succeed. So long as Data Center doesn’t scare off casual players by being too intimidating in its opening moments, the game could be the next big thing in the automation genre. For those that are still on the fence, Data Center’s imminent launch on March 31 will surely bring proper Steam reviews that give gamers a clear idea of just how enjoyable the final product is.

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