"I created the game of my dreams because no one else did." A developer from Vinnytsia and two colleagues created the economic simulator game Owner, where you can buy real estate and create businesses on a real map

«I’ve always been a fan of economic and business simulators and MMO games. For years I played server versions of Minecraft with advanced economies where you could create your own business — that’s always fascinated me the most. But I’ve never come across anything like this that combines an economic simulator with a real world map. I wanted to create a game where players could independently manage the economy, like in the real world, but without the need to have real business experience or start-up capital,» says the developer.

Years of preparation

The project, according to Lyubchak, was launched back in 2018. «Back then, we even had a beta version on PHP, which was tested by several players with exciting feedback. But due to the complexity of the development and limited resources, the game was suspended indefinitely,» he says.

Yuriy didn’t give up on the idea and eventually assembled a small team of three. «We all work on Owner in parallel with our main work, which sometimes slows down the process, but our passion for the project keeps us on track,» the developer said.

Uniqueness and features

Here are some features of the game:

1. Real-world integration. The entire game is built on a real map using OpenStreetMap. You can buy the same house you live in or the office you work in. We project the virtual economy onto real geography.
2. Dynamic economy with balance. In Owner, the economy combines systemic balancing mechanisms with the real influence of players on the market. Prices are formed under the influence of supply and demand, but within a balanced system. When many players compete for real estate in the city center, the value there naturally increases. If someone decides to invest in a remote, less popular area, they get a first-mover advantage with more favorable conditions. Thus, players really influence economic processes, but the system prevents critical imbalances.
3. Geolocation mechanics. The game encourages real-world activity. You can visit activity points around your businesses to receive income bonuses. It’s like you’re meeting with clients or checking in on your businesses — all of which is reflected in the performance of your virtual businesses.
4. Strategy and competition. Owner is not just about owning virtual buildings. It’s about strategic thinking, market analysis, predicting the behavior of other players. You compete for the best locations, for customers, for revenue.

Players in the game can:

• Buy and improve real estate;
• Manage different types of businesses (shops, offices, cafes);
• Analyze the market and adapt your strategy;
• Compete with other players for customers and locations;
• Visit activity points in the real world for bonuses.

Technologies

The game is built on TypeScript and React, running as a Telegram Mini App with OpenStreetMap integration. This allows us to leverage the powerful Telegram ecosystem and provide quick access to the game without the need to install additional applications.

«One of the biggest challenges was to optimize work with huge amounts of geographic data. We implemented a number of technical solutions that allow the game to run quickly under heavy loads,» Yuriy noted.

The uniqueness of the game is as follows:

1. Real geography: work with a real map, buy real buildings, and fight for the best locations.
2. Living economy: prices are formed naturally based on supply and demand.
3. Geolocation in action: move around the city, activate key points, increase business profitability.
4. Strategic depth: analyze the market, adapt, and win customers from competitors.

Owner will be released in beta soon.

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