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Build-a-lot
Send the housing market through the roof as you build, buy, and sell houses in the new strategy game, Build-a-lot! You can flip houses for quick cash or sit back and watch the rental income pile up. Become a real estate mogul as you visit scenic towns, earn huge profits and perform special favors for the colorful local mayors. Can you build a new cinema for the local movie star? Install a bowling alley in the Mayor's Mansion? No problem! There's plenty to do and lots of fun ahead in Build-a-lot!
Build-a-Lot is one of the best games to come to Reflexive. I always keep a handy list in my mind of the best games on this site, and I've just added another!
This game is easy to understand, and easy to start. You get three levels to practice in the tutorial mode. Then, you start going on construction missions of your own in all different types of towns/cities! I really enjoyed unlocking new blueprints and features as I continued through the game. I found myself addicted to this game and couldn't stop playing it until it was over. But it wasn't over! There is also I casual mode which is untimed with cash goals.
There's plenty of fun in this game, and I took advantage of it all! It's worth every bit of the price. I thank goodness for a change in game genres. There are so many Diner Dash copies, Seek & Finds, and match-3's. It's always SO refreshing to see something new. It's a must-have and a must-try!
This review has an average score of 4.2 - Based on 84 ratings Login to rate this review
lvnmyfourkids' Review - November 20, 2007
Full Version (PC)
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Nice change in game modes!
I liked this game because it was different than the standard "dash" type games. I liked the new concept. I really enjoyed the different senerios. I would have liked more houses!
I liked the challenge of it. When one level was completed, you could go back and try to out do yourself.
Once you get the hang of making money and selling and buying, the concept is the same for all levels, but I like how each level was changed up just a bit.
I loved this game and so did the kiddos!
This review has an average score of 4.1 - Based on 35 ratings Login to rate this review
scholarsarena's Review - October 4, 2007
Full Version (PC)
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Building Up Something New
This is one is a refreshing and new concept. Understanding the concept is very simple, and the game overall has a very smooth learning curve and the first three tutorial levels are more than enough to get you started.
As u progress, you keep buying blueprints of various buildings and houses that you need to build. You have to assign workers, hire more if you need, get the materials and fianlly, but most importantly, achieve your goals.
The overall concept is a good one and collecting rent after building the houses is fun. You can have upto three star upgrades to each of ur house so that it's selling value and rent increases.
The mayors of the respective towns help u along the way and give u gifts when u complete each town.
All in all, I just wish it was longer. Or probably, the game developers could make some extra towns and allow us to download and install them in the game.
This review has an average score of 3.9 - Based on 37 ratings Login to rate this review
Hex Cheat: First open the game installed folder
C:\Program Files\Buildalot\). Backup file (Buildalot.RWG).
Start a hex editor & open file Buildalot.RWG
(C:\Program Files\Buildalot\Buildalot.RWG)
Goto Position: 45885302 or find Data: 4C6576656C54696D6553656373
You will see (LevelTimesecs = 450..Level).
This is the level goal time for career mode's goal #1.
you can change this value to 99999 but don't exceed the value like 999999evel. Always make the last dot as boundary. same tricks for expert times, money$, materials*, workers*, see the index. Change all goal's limitation as you like. If you want to change the mayor reward's money value then try to find 4D6F6E6579(Money). After few search later you will find mayor's reward. Good luck :)
Index for goal #1:-
Player Level Time secs:
Data: 4C6576656C54696D6553656373
Position: 45885302
Player Level Expert Time secs:
Data: 4C6576656C45787065727454696D65536563733D
Position: 45885327
Player Start Money:
Data: 506C6179657253746172744D6F6E6579
Position: 45885351
Player Start Materials:
Data: 506C6179657253746172744D6174657269616C73
Position: 45885379
Player Start Workers:
Data: 506C617965725374617274576F726B6572733D
Position: 45885403
Bank Cheat:- After building a bank click on Donate-On button. This way you will prevent taxes. Move the cursor & watch the bank meter fill up, when it almost touch the end click on Donate off button then you will get the bank interests. After getting the money repeat the process. You will have to do it fast otherwise you will have to pay the tax. You will pay taxes, less than all time donate off option.
I found out that Tamim's bank cheat to be very helpful, and it really does work. The important part to watch for is to make sure the green line is all most to the end, if you do it before then you will get taxed.
Once you have the estate's draft, start to build it first and upgrade it to 3 stars. Sell the Estate to gain some capital (at least 370k and higher).
If you have the sawmill's draft, I would suggest to build that before the Estate so that you could have cheaper material. After getting the capital from the Estate's sales, build the workshop and then the bank. Donate the bank to 'escape' from taxes.
The rest should be easy. You can also build another bank to collect interest, but it is optional.
sukino tip works faithie, it just need and arrangement: if the taxitor arrives, build a little house, upgrade it to 3 stars (or 2) and then sell it. With the money, pay the taxitor and then build the bank. After that you will complete the level easily. Note: don't forget (if available) to check the houses after upgrade to avoid damages and keep the incoming.
When building more than one bank be aware that you doesn't get more interests. A single bank pais you 10% of your cash each turn. If you build 2 banks, each single bank only pais 5%, 3 banks --> 3,33% each, 4 banks --> 2,5% each and so on...
The tip written by Tamim does not work. I had this same idea and tried it. The second I took the bank off of Donate, a taxitor was at my door. It does not work, so don't do it.
Sorry Tamim, it would be a good idea if the tax people weren't so fast.
To get extra money for workers or materials early in the game, sell off extra blocks of land - it'll be a while before you can build on them anyway, and when they come up for sale again, they'll be the same price, but you'll have a few buildings behind you generating income. Also don't spend money on buying buildings until most of your land is built on.
Build the best building you have resources for to start with, and upgrade it a few times, then sell it to get good start-up funds. Keep an eye on the rent bar, and if it hasn't sold when rent is almost due, unlist it so you can collect the rent, then list it again. Try and avoid selling when other properties are on the market.
If you buy land with a building but can't demolish or build something better straight away, inspect it so it doesn't get damaged, and gives you income until you're ready to use the land.
At the beginning of the game build two banks, one for donation, the other for money. Make sure that when the time for the first bank is ending the second's is starting. Keep an eye on them and change the donate button between the two banks before time pass. With that way you'll always have the bank interests from both banks and no taxes for your houses. Sorry about my bad english.
