Quick Fact Guide - Game Environment

Original article written by Regina Moore posted 6 years 4 weeks ago

TIME
A game year is 16 weeks long. There is a break between the ending of one game year and the beginning of the next, which is usually two weeks. Sometimes the break is three weeks. Therefore, a full game year cycle is 18 weeks or 19 weeks long. This in turn means that there is *roughly* three game years in one real life calendar year.

Each new week starts after 1:00 PM Pacific time Saturday, which is post time for Saturday races. The exception is that Week 16 ends after the 11:00 PM Pacific post time for Pacific region races on Friday, and break starts immediately thereafter. There isn't any Week 16 racing on Saturday.

Each new game day starts at 12:00 AM Pacific time. The game is on Pacific time, because that is the timezone where The Steward resides. Players can edit their "Settings", so that various game times (such as post times and deadlines for auctions, etc.) are shown for their specific time zone.

The SIM days of the week start with Monday, which is Day 1. Sunday is Day 7.

One can see the official game date and time by looking at the heading of the Steward’s Notices box on their home office page.


ADMINISTRATION
The SIM is run by Emily Shields, also known as "The Steward". The Steward breeds Thoroughbreds, which are put up for auction as unraced yearlings or two year olds, but otherwise doesn't participate in the game, in terms of managing a stable.

The computer owns horses under the name Alexander Jaysman, and becomes the owner of a horse when it is sent to Greener Pastures.

The SIM's programmer is known as "The Admin." His job is to fix bugs and add new features to the game.

The SIM has four graphic artists and one administrative assistant.


PLAYERS
Players can be found under the "Community" heading of the Manage menu of one's home office, on the page "Owners". Players are considered both the owner and trainer of all the horses they own. They can also breed horses (after they have been in the game six weeks), which they can keep or sell. Players can see how they compare to others by accessing the Owners page under the Rankings section of the Manage menu on their home office page.


STABLES
Players are restricted to one stable (SIM account). They may own a unlimited number of horses with that one stable.


JOCKEYS
Jockeys (which are also the drivers for Standardbreds) have individual abilities. The ability of one jockey over another only counts in nose finishes. To find out about a jockey's ability, one can pay 500 game points to ask the jockey agent, Duncan McScout. Jockeys can ride in an unlimited number of races, anywhere in the world, on any race day.


SIM CHARACTERS (FICTIONAL PEOPLE)
Mary Weather - assistant trainer that follows the player's instructors to train their horse(s). She can also give information on a horse's equipment needs, at a cost of 500 game points.

Dr. Henede Hacklu - veterinarian that is the player's tool for finding out how rested or tired a horse is. A visit from Dr. Hacklu costs $1000, though is $700 for Juniors, and $500 for New Players.

Clark Hoss - horse whisperer who hints at the type of track condition (wet, dry, etc) that the horse prefers. A visit from Clark Hoss costs $1000, though is $700 for Juniors, and $500 for New Players.

Anna Liza Doolittle - bloodstock agent that can comment on the quality of a broodmare or racehorse, for a cost of $10,000. For a cost of 250 game points, she can grade the "nick" between a stallion and mare.

Jenny Jane - office assistant that can take care of insuring multiple horses, or nominating multiple horses for the major stakes races.

Duncan McScout - Jockey agent who comments on the ability of a jockey, for a cost of 500 game points.

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