W3C - Game News Aug. 14 and Today Aug. 29

We don't want to remove information. We want all the information but in a way that is easy to read. Some of the boxes are so small and information is cut off. Some information is missing entirely from the main page like welfare index.

If the holy Pinktator were here, he would prefer the old layout. It is written in the prophecy.

I should have kept quiet and have others ask for the old format. Once I advocate a suggestion it's immediately doomed since it is me making the request. Think I'm joking?

I've gotten used to the weird treatment.

Andy
From the update and in a latter post you said that birth rates were increased.
Can you explain why the expected number of births and total birthrate are declining every month?

When you have such a problem, it helps if you also give us the world name and country so we can look.

The numbers depend on the health index and can decline.
before and after the recent change to increase numbers.

It also depends on the number of the population in each age group.

The reproductive age groups are 18 to 40
your country may have a smaller number of people in these groups or a very large number.

also, older people die in larger numbers and death numbers depend on the number of people in these older age groups.
some age groups may grow, some decline.

The changes we have made, and the next one coming Monday, increase the number of babies born each month and it will in time increase the number of children, then also other age groups but it does not mean that the population will start growing immediately.

If you check the 0 to 4 years old group, you should see growth quite quickly. Then several days later, it should start influencing the 4 to 8 years old group. etc.
People are not born 24 years old. It takes time before these babies will start producing their own babies.
I hope it is clear.

JohnV,

Perhaps I can help explain what is going on.

Firstly, some background information. Birth rate is the % of people born each year, compared to your existing population. Number of Births, is the total number of babies that are born each game year.

There are several factors that influence the birth rate. The most important ones are:
1) The Base Birth Rate (This is the base level of births the game gives you, before you factor in anything else).
2) Population Age Distribution (Only people between 18-40 have children in Simcountry).
3) Total Country Population (The larger your population, the more it will reduce the birth rate. This is to stop populations from growing exponentially forever).

The changes the GM made, we're to increase the Base Birth Rate. However, as your population grows, your overall birth rate will still decline. Until you reach a stable population level.

Signed President of DanNation on LU

very true Daniel.

We are also moving the reduction curve to higher population numbers.
so the decline in birth rates will be slower than before and will decline to 1% minimum.

This is up from 0.6, then 0.7 next it will go to 1.0%

Andy,

Thank you so much. That is a great change. Increasing the base rate helps. But slowing the taper rate gives a lot smoother demographic distribution, and lets people have more time before they reach the maximum level.

Also, a minimum level is a great idea. To prevent high population countries being caught in endless declines.
When you say there will be a 1% minimum, does that mean the overall birth rate won't fall below 1%? Even if the number of 18-40 year olds is low?

I'm so glad to see the GM working on Population and game balance.

Signed President of DanNation on LU

I made a theme that is somewhat bearable. Too bad the save feature is broken and I can't share it.

Andy, I still haven't received a response on my previous request to allow us to use the old layout.

The birth rate always had a bottom value.
It was as I remember 0.6%
increased to 0.8% and now it will be 1.0%

As the numbers of population can decline even when age distribution is OK,
we are making sure (for years now) that the number of births each month does not follow that trend and we keep it at a stable level.

So even when the health index is too low, we do not let population numbers plummet.

It remains a complex computation and tweaking it can produce major changes that are hard to predict.
hence our reluctance to make large changes.

Mainly the change planned for today and also the previous ones will have an effect on the age distribution long term.

You can only see the details if you watch the population graphs in various age groups and keep doing so for some time.

The is no need to do so, only if you are interested in the process.

Andy,

That is good. A higher minimum, and a more gradual reduction curve as your population grows, will make population more stable over the long term.

Do you expect to reduce deaths, and increase births again? Or is raising the minimum birth rate to 1%, the only change currently planned for the future?

Signed President of DanNation on LU