Lemonade Tycoon, previously released as Lemonade Inc., is a Shockwave-based game first released by Hexacto on 13 September 2003. A free, limited version is available for online play at many sites. The full game with no time restrictions can be purchased online. The goal of Lemonade Tycoon is to sell lemonade and profit. With selling, players must manage many aspects of their business. Players establish a recipe, set prices, and sell lemonade in a variety of locations. The game includes changing weather and news, which the player must compensate for. To overcome some factors, such as long lines and stock, players can buy upgrades. The packaged version included versions for PC, Mobile Phones, PocketPC, and Palm devices. Lemonade Tycoon employs an innovative "Game-On" concept which allows users to transfer game saves from a Windows PC to a Palm handheld or Pocket PC and back again to continue.
While Lemonade Tycoon is compatible with multiple platforms, the game differs slightly on each. The Windows version allows more details and info because of a larger screen. Locations had a much bigger view and . Other versions had to deal with smaller screen. They did not include as much information as the PC. Areas would be cut down so only a portion could be seen. Each platform, however, is not limited in usability and functionality.
The sequel, Lemonade Tycoon 2, is set in multiple locations in New York City and allows more than one stand. It, of course, has multiple improvements over the original.
Game Modes
Lemonade Tycoon includes two game modes; Career and Challenge. Career mode lets the player have a stand for as long as they want. Challenge mode had a 30-day limit to see how fast your stand can grow within the period of time.
Selling and Advertising
One can advertise in Lemonade Tycoon. Everyday one can pay an advertising fee of one's choice. Advertising increases the number of potential customers.
Stocks/Supplies
In order to make lemonade, players have to buy supplies or stocks. Players can buy lemons, sugar, ice, and cups. In order to start the day, players must have enough supplies to make one pitcher of lemonade. Lemons and Sugar both spoil over time. Ice always melts at the end of each day without refrigeration.
Upgrades
Lemonade Tycoon features many upgrades that are available at different prices. Some reduce wait times, since customers can get impatient and leave. Stand upgrades allow more storage and customer capacity.
Locations
There are five different locations where one can move your stand. Some places are more popular than others. Each location has a different rent. One can start out in your neighborhood (called "The Suburbs") for free, but a day of selling at the mall costs $50.00. Each location has satisfaction and popularity. Popularity changes as the player's stand gets more popular. Good satifaction and advertising bring more customers. Satisfaction ensures that customers will come back to the stand. If there are short lines, there are good prices, the player serves all customers rather than them leaving, and the player has a good recipe, the player's customer satisfaction will go up. With the increase of satisfaction, customers will come back to a player's stand. Satisfaction and popularity are location based. They do not travel with you as you move from location to location.
Game Factors
There are many News Headlines that change how well lemonade is sold. Some headlines can improve your business and some that can hurt your business. Headlines change every game day and can sometimes only affect a single location.
Weather affects how well lemonade is sold, too. Warm and hot days bring more customers to stand than on cold and rainy days. The weather changes each day and does not seem to follow any weather patterns.
Lemonade Stock Exchange (LSX)
The Lemonade Stock Exchange was an online feature that let one see how one's stand compared to others. It no longer exists.
Awards
Lemonade Tycoon earned the Best Pocket PC Strategy Game in Pocket PC Magazine's 2002 Best Products Awards
Staff
These are the people who worked on Lemonade Tycoon:
Lead Programmer: Laurent Vitalis
Programming: Dany Savard and Denis Simard
Framework Programming:Jean-Roch Roy, Michel Donais, Michel Glaude, and Dominic Marier
Game Design: Alexandre Parizeau and Laurent Vitalis
Graphic Design: Le Hoang Khanh
Graphics Production: Simon Nadeau, Laurent Vitalis, and Van Bolher
Sound Production: Laurent Vitalis
Executive Producer: Sylvain Croteau
Producers:Alexandre Taillefer, Alexandre Thabet, Patrick Minotti, and Derek Zakaib