[1.9.26] Trend-setting, Fashion Design and Distribution

[GDfromRivendell]

Trend-setting

Trends were the part of the social simulator that inZOI actively promoted before release. It was about a whole community, rather than just a family.

But for now (v0.5.x), mass events and trends aren’t broadcast anywhere: not in Bubbly social, not through NPCs or venues in the world, not at all. Likewise, the player doesn’t influence them. Usually, people in the community communicate and interact not on a private interpersonal level, but rather around shared interests and events, which are typically external (if they even communicate in person and not just in public feeds).

From Discord:

If trends does come back into InZOI, please allow trends to be set by doing #trends on InZOI’s bubbly or something, because not everyone wants to set a trend randomly but they might want a choice to choose which trends should be used or what item is for a trend.

Yes, IRL, trend‑setting is driven mainly by K‑pop idols, K-Drama actors, the entertainment industry, global luxury brands, they’re usually promoted by entertainment companies (SM, YG, JYP, and for us Adam Entertainment), social media (TikTok, Instagram, and for us Bubbly), as well as media and outdoor advertising.

Fashion designers and boutiques can launch trends on their own, especially when it comes to luxury brands (Chanel, Dior, Gentle Monster), yet without idols or actors as a showcase, the impact is weaker.

Fashion Design and Distribution: branded boutiques and online marketplaces

I noticed that Zois have a website where they “check” new arrivals of clothing and accessories, and I feel more and more like making something like that functional. Platforms like CONNECT Gamewear (CLO), Palet’s seasonal drops are progressing pretty solidly, MyBusiness system has already been introduced, so I’m moving to in-game concepts.

• Each branded boutique can offer its own assortment and collections (players can optionally lock this stuff in CAZ.)

• This approach allows players to access content as part of fictional (or real) brands, collections, and gameplay systems including in-game (!) pricing, discounts, and seasonal drops.

• With MyBusiness, players would be able to create their own brands:

• new crafting mechanics – sew or order custom designs (with CLO?), craft jewellery (like in LBY);

• import or generate logos, manage collections and pricing;

• build their own boutiques, stock racks and dress mannequins;

• create storefronts on a marketplace;

• run ads and collaborations with idols and other celebrities (Bubbly, Adam Entertainment, billboards).

• Players can access these collections:

• right in the boutiques (racks and mannequins – the outfit should be recognizable, try-on zone, catalogs)

• through the PocketMarket App, especially if pickup points are planned in the game.

• Like in lots of action-RPG and life-sim games:

• trying on should be super clear and easy, a unified CAZ-like UI with unique boutique background screen to mix and match outfits and add them to the cart for the next payment step, just like IRL;

• the same applies to skincare products, perfumes,, beauty, tattoo salons and barbershops – the mechanics are the same, but more variety is always a win.

Below is a quick mockup: a website, CONNECT x PocketMarket and Boutique CAZ UI.

CONNECT x inZOI: Contest - CONNECT x inZOI
Canvas Palet: inZOI Canvas

[Starwing]

I love your ideas, especially players creating their own brands through their boutiques, if the business feature is expanded to included. I’m sure they will expand and give us more types of businesses (and hopefully mixed-use properties so your zoi can live on the property where their business is).

I saw videos of the trend-setting feature in inZOI before the Early Access phase started. From what I saw, the player was prompted to wear a certain thing and it became a trend as the zoi went around town, but that doesn’t give the player the choice.

Right now, the most common rumor I get on Bubbly is “show off fashion sense.” I’m not really sure what is meant by that, like is the person considered a “show-off” because of their fashion, or are they liked because of their fashion? Regardless, it doesn’t matter. The rumor literally doesn’t matter and doesn’t do anything.

With new crowd mechanics, I don’t know if any city-wide things are even possible anymore, but this would be a very neat feature!

Designer Clothing

If the player is able to stock their boutique with designs they make in CAZ, the customers could try them on (customer goes into the changing room, then comes out to look in the mirror, because it would be fun to watch), and if they love the outfit, the customer can buy it and wear it out of the store.

It would be neat if the player could also offer a “Personal Style Consultation” where a customer would pay a certain fee and go into a boutique-style CAZ changing room. The player can create an all-new outfit or use a saved preset. After the consultation, the customer is either thrilled and buys the outfit, or they hate it and let you know.

When a customer buys an outfit, there’s a chance that others will see it and want to buy it. This isn’t a city-wide trend, but the start of it. There could be a trickle of people picking the same outfit, and then the price has to rise because there isn’t enough stock of the outfit to satisfy the demand.

The boutique owner could have a way to track the popularity of their clothing by checking analytics “gathered from social media and other sources.” The player could decide to stock more of something, or see there’s a potential trend growing, and develop their own pricing strategy to influence trends with prices and promotions.

Celebrities and Influencers

There should be a chance for a random celebrity or famous influencer to purchase from your store and instantly set a trend on fire. Or the player could also fund an “Influencer Campaign” on Bubbly by paying for sponsored posts. There would be a few (mostly Young Adult) zois in the city who are considered influencers. The player could see the overall follower count, general audience of the influencer, and the cost of a sponsored post.

[GDfromRivendell]

Thanks for the additions I really like them. As a rule, I just make a quick promotional preview of the mechanic to include lots of tag‑anchors to hook onto, and the wording is very vague. But I really wanted you to keep building a massive request for it.

So if possible, please drop it in the Friday brainstorm prime time on Discord. It’s kind of strange to me that fashion gameplay in life sims almost doesn’t exist, even though it really deserves its rightful place there.

[Starwing]

I’ll post it there for sure! Thanks