Satellite ROI Testing Guide

One of the goals of play testing is to find out which satellites are worth building and which aren't. A satellite's Return on Investment (ROI) is what you get back minus what it cost you to build and launch it. This guide walks you through a systematic approach to testing satellite ROI.

What Is ROI?

  1. ROI = Total Revenue - Total Cost
    1. Total Cost = build cost + launch cost + any ongoing facility costs
    2. Total Revenue = cash earned per turn × number of turns the contract runs
  2. A satellite with a good ROI earns back more than it costs in a reasonable number of turns
  3. The goal of this test is to find out which satellites are too easy (too profitable) and which are too hard (not worth building)
    1. Ideally all strategies should be roughly equal so players have real choices

Step 1: Learn the Basics First

  1. Make sure you can successfully launch a satellite and get paid before starting ROI testing
  2. See the Test Script if you haven't done that yet

Step 2: Test Tiny Satellites

  1. Start a fresh game
  2. Research and build each tiny satellite, one at a time
    1. Note the build cost and launch cost for each
    2. Win a contract for it and note the payout per turn and duration
    3. Calculate: total revenue − total cost
  3. Record your findings:
    1. Which tiny satellite had the best ROI?
    2. Which had the worst?
    3. Were any so profitable they felt too easy?
    4. Were any so costly they didn't seem worth building?
  4. Submit your results as a Jira ticket at menconi.atlassian.net

Step 3: Test Small and Medium Satellites

  1. Repeat the process for small satellites
    1. Small satellites cost more to build and launch — does the extra payout justify it?
  2. Repeat for medium satellites if you have the tech and resources to reach them
    1. Note: you may not have enough tech or cash to test all medium satellites in a single game
  3. For each size tier, report: best ROI, worst ROI, and any that felt broken in either direction

What to Report

  1. For each satellite you test, report in Jira:
    1. Satellite name and size
    2. Build cost + launch cost (total investment)
    3. Contract payout per turn and duration
    4. Total revenue and ROI
    5. Your overall impression: too easy, too hard, or about right?
  2. If you find a satellite that seems clearly unbalanced, that's useful feedback — note it even if you're not sure of the exact numbers