Proposed changes/additions – Industrial Companies.
Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:20 pm
Just would like to explain what I had in mind and perhaps we can discuss this a bit more.
What is the issue?
The crux of my issue with railroad companies owning industries is that normally railroad companies do not own companies they service. Now I am sure there are perhaps exceptions like originally the CPR building/operating hotels in the Canadian Rockies to increase passenger travel. Those hotels are, for some time now, not owned by the railroad as such anymore but are like the railroad company itself, part of a larger company. However, generally speaking in real life it does not make financial sense to have a railroad company directly own other none related industries.
If in a game it becomes a requirement to build/buy an industry to even just be able to create a winning game then, I feel, there is a misuse of why a railroad company is started for in the first place. In other words you do not incorporate a railroad company to operate a steel mill as an example.
I do not necessarily mind acquiring wealth first before starting a railroad company but frankly I find it a waste of time. I would much rather see sufficient cash given to start a railroad company to start out with since, after all, RT3 is a railroad game.
How it might be implemented:
Since apparently it is too time consuming or complicated to generate a totally separate asset owning player the alternative is to use one of the normal available companies for that purpose. This company will not be allowed to run a railroad but is allowed to purchase/build industries. Those industries are being build/purchased at normal game costs. It might just be setup that at the start of the game you own that company and all your cash is in that company. This company however is 100% owned by you to start out with.
One of the issues needing to be resolved is how one can share the chairmanship between two companies without having to lose it from one company. Another issue is deciding if the company setup for industries only remains a company with shares available for trading or simply stays 100% player owned. I lean toward none of the shares available for trading.
Expected outcome:
The operation of a more real life railroad/industry environment would be the biggest beneficiary. Industrial profits end up in your personal pocket and not in the pockets of the other shareholders through dividends. Railroad funds are invested in direct railroading activities only. It will also add to the Tycoon flavor since there will be added activities in the financial aspects of the game i.e. how will I raise cash to purchase an industry – sell shares? Increase dividends? In which company?
Further future development:
Find a way of sharing cash between the two companies besides that gained by share trading or dividend activities. Check the possibility of personal bonds. (So, what is wrong with an interest free loan from my 100% owned Railroad Company anyhow?)
Be able to own several such industrial companies.
What is the issue?
The crux of my issue with railroad companies owning industries is that normally railroad companies do not own companies they service. Now I am sure there are perhaps exceptions like originally the CPR building/operating hotels in the Canadian Rockies to increase passenger travel. Those hotels are, for some time now, not owned by the railroad as such anymore but are like the railroad company itself, part of a larger company. However, generally speaking in real life it does not make financial sense to have a railroad company directly own other none related industries.
If in a game it becomes a requirement to build/buy an industry to even just be able to create a winning game then, I feel, there is a misuse of why a railroad company is started for in the first place. In other words you do not incorporate a railroad company to operate a steel mill as an example.
I do not necessarily mind acquiring wealth first before starting a railroad company but frankly I find it a waste of time. I would much rather see sufficient cash given to start a railroad company to start out with since, after all, RT3 is a railroad game.
How it might be implemented:
Since apparently it is too time consuming or complicated to generate a totally separate asset owning player the alternative is to use one of the normal available companies for that purpose. This company will not be allowed to run a railroad but is allowed to purchase/build industries. Those industries are being build/purchased at normal game costs. It might just be setup that at the start of the game you own that company and all your cash is in that company. This company however is 100% owned by you to start out with.
One of the issues needing to be resolved is how one can share the chairmanship between two companies without having to lose it from one company. Another issue is deciding if the company setup for industries only remains a company with shares available for trading or simply stays 100% player owned. I lean toward none of the shares available for trading.
Expected outcome:
The operation of a more real life railroad/industry environment would be the biggest beneficiary. Industrial profits end up in your personal pocket and not in the pockets of the other shareholders through dividends. Railroad funds are invested in direct railroading activities only. It will also add to the Tycoon flavor since there will be added activities in the financial aspects of the game i.e. how will I raise cash to purchase an industry – sell shares? Increase dividends? In which company?
Further future development:
Find a way of sharing cash between the two companies besides that gained by share trading or dividend activities. Check the possibility of personal bonds. (So, what is wrong with an interest free loan from my 100% owned Railroad Company anyhow?)
Be able to own several such industrial companies.