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Design Overview

A relaxed, narrative‑driven shopkeeper sim in a space station, where the joy comes from small daily rituals, quiet observation, evolving décor, and relationships with a shifting cast of customers. You’re a steady presence in a huge galaxy, shaping small ripples through stocking choices, conversations, and personal touches — but never the fate of the galaxy itself.

Cozy Pillars

  1. Small Significance – You matter most in your corner of the station; big events arrive as gossip, souvenirs, or distant announcements.
  2. Ritual over Rush – Stock shelves, check messages, watch the hallway, make coffee. Pacing is player‑led, with no fail‑states or forced urgency.
  3. Evolving Familiarity – Regulars return with small changes; décor shifts over time; ambient station life feels alive and consistent.
  4. Downtime as Gameplay – “Quiet” moments still offer meaning: overheard chatter, bulletin updates, or a patron lingering by the counter.
  5. Space as a Character – The shop and surrounding corridor have distinct moods, lighting changes, and evolving details.

Core Loop

Observe → Plan → Stock → Interact → Reflect

  • Observe: Check docking registry & hallway to see who’s in port; watch foot traffic.
  • Plan: Decide stocking priorities & décor tweaks based on who’s likely to visit.
  • Stock: Move goods from backroom to displays manually or via auto‑fill.
  • Interact: Chat with locals, negotiate with solicitors, overhear travelers.
  • Reflect: Update personal PDA notes, rearrange items, enjoy the quiet.

Story Philosophy

  • "Tell, Not Show" – Major events shared indirectly (customer gossip, bulletin posts, mysterious items).
  • Stories are fragmentary & overlapping — player infers connections over time.
  • Consequences are soft & social: warmer conversation, a gift, or a subtle shift in who visits.

Player Spaces

  • The Office – Private, decorated with keepsakes; check PDA & messages here.
  • Underdeck Storage – Quiet restocking zone; items shown as simple visual tokens.
  • Customer Service Desk – Intimate story interactions; not primary sale point.
  • Showroom Floor – Stocked displays; personal aesthetic flourishes matter.
  • Outer Hallway – Public concourse; peaceful observation point into station life.

Customer Types

  • Locals: Steady rhythm; visually varied via outfits/props.
  • Semi‑Regulars: Locals with light recurring arcs; subtle personality quirks.
  • Travelers: Mostly one‑offs; add novelty and outside news.
  • Patrons: Unique meshes & arcs; long‑term relationship anchors.

Each type informs shop “feel” based on who you cater to.

Key Systems

Quests:

  • Flexible stage‑based containers; trigger events, dialogue, and environmental changes.
  • Dock delays, visiting celebrities, special orders — always via station life, never as hero assignments.

Stock & Displays:

  • Manual or automated stocking with visual feedback.
  • Default loadouts or one‑off arrangements for events.
  • Storage tokens give at‑a‑glance stock cues.

Progression:

  • Footprint expands by acquiring neighboring corridor units.
  • Growth leads to visual/audio upgrades: glass frontage, increased foot traffic, vista window with dock views.
  • Social network deepens via solicitors, suppliers, and remote offers.

Atmosphere Tools

  • Day/Night cycle: Gradual light & traffic shifts.
  • Ambient audio layering: Background hums, chatter, machinery; player music override possible.
  • Announcement system: Flavor + world updates without dragging player away.
  • Lighting states: Cozy day/night tones; rare event lighting for mood shifts.
  • Environmental hooks: Occasional celestial or station events as light spectacle.

Cozy Safeguards

  • No punishing timers — delays act as story beats, not blockers.
  • Soft reputation — negative reviews add flavor/mystery, not anxiety.
  • Menu tactile feel — visual and audio cues to keep terminal use cozy.
  • Emotional payoffs — occasional longer Patron moments to break fragment pattern.

Cozy Design Goals

  • Make repetition comforting, not grindy.
  • Focus rewards on visual/social growth, not stats.
  • Treat watching, listening, and adjusting décor as valid play.
  • Ensure the station feels alive even without direct player action.
  • Keep scope manageable through modular systems and asset reuse with variation.
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