1. Genre Match ---

This is where Game Dev Tycoon screws you over. Let's say you focused only on Adventure games, getting three design-focused employees (Gameplay/Story&Quests/Dialogue) instead of the normal two, ignoring Dialogue.

The custom console genre match is counter-intuitive. The genre you use the most is the worst match, and the genre you use the least is the best match. For me, Strategy and Adventure games are the best matches because I mostly develop for consoles and most consoles are poor matches for Strategy games and mediocre matches for Adventure games.

2. Audience Match ---

The audience match is much more straightforward. The audience you use the most will be the best match, and the one you use the least will be the worst match. The good news is all audiences will be at least "Okay" matches, even if you never develop any games for them!

I've seen the following match combinations on custom consoles.

1.
1
1
1.
1.
Y +++
E ++
M +

2.
Y +
E. +++
M ++

3.
Y ++
E +++
M +

4. (Rare)

Y +++
E +++
M +

5. (Rare)
Y +
E +++
M +++

6,. (Rare, fortunately)

Y +
E +++
M +

7. (Very rare, only once have I done this)
Y +++
E +
M ++

There are probably a few others, but it's hard to get E + because your first 10 games or so are all E due to the fact that it's the default audience.

I've never seen two ++ and one +++ (like the TES 64) or any -- or any ---.

It is possible to make a console by Y16 or so. You need at least 100M in the bank or you risk a Game Over.


You should hire a Tech 700+ and Design 700+ immediately upon entering the final office.

You will also need enough research points (200) to train the new employees in Design Specialization and Tech Specialization.

Make sure you have the following research done (you'll have to save up research points, but you also want to have new combinations to get research faster, so it's tough to balance this).

Basic Physics
Video Playback
Achievements
Surround Sound
3D Graphics V3 or V4. (Ideally V4)
Advanced Stereoscopic 3D

You can start the console production as soon as you research Hardware and have your Tech Specialist.


This is my first and probably only guide, so any advice is appreciated.

4. Creating the Console Itself ---

Don't put too much money into the reliability of the console; just 10-15M is fine.

Put all the research you've done into the console and start it!

Set the budget to 3M for your Tech Lab and in a couple years (sooner, if you used 3D Graphics V3), you'll have your new console!

5. Somewhat Later Consoles --

Still earlier than most would do it (I think), you can make your console around Y20, adding 3D Graphics V5 and Online Play to the feature mix.

You could also do it around Y24, with 3D Graphics V6 if you've been rushing to get new graphics in your engine.

Another time is Y28, when you ideally have 3D Graphics V7 and maybe Advanced Physics if you focused exclusively on Engine-heavy games.

Lastly, you can do it around Y30/Y31 adding Visirous Support into the mix.

This is my first (and likely only) guide. Any comments are appreciated.