Feature: allow to do a hostile takeover of an AI company (in singleplayer)

[TrueBrain]

Motivation / Problem

With the removal of the share-system, you could no longer make an AI disappear in a single player game. At least, not without going into the console.

Description

Add a nice little button Hostile Takeover to allow you to take over any AI (in singleplayer) at any moment in time. But be careful: it can be really expensive if the AI is doing well.

I reused the bankruptcy flow, as it is very identical; just the amount (and text) is different.

Limitations

Finding a good value for what to pay is a bit tricky. The normal CalculateCompanyValue(.., false) doesn't work (this is what you pay when you go bankrupt), as the loan is "forgiven" there. Which is silly in a hostile takeover.
Additionally, I also added a penalty for companies that are doing well, as otherwise it is really cheap to buy out an AI early on, and even cheaper later in the game.
But, this is all based on an opinion .. it needs some input, before or after merging, what an actual good value is.

Checklist for review

Some things are not automated, and forgotten often. This list is a reminder for the reviewers.

• The bug fix is important enough to be backported? (label: 'backport requested')
• This PR touches english.txt or translations? Check the guidelines
• This PR affects the save game format? (label 'savegame upgrade')
• This PR affects the GS/AI API? (label 'needs review: Script API')
  • ai_changelog.hpp, gs_changelog.hpp need updating.
  • The compatibility wrappers (compat_*.nut) need updating.
• This PR affects the NewGRF API? (label 'needs review: NewGRF')
  • newgrf_debug_data.h may need updating.
  • PR must be added to API tracker

[PeterN]

So a stop-gap until an unbroken shares system with hostile takeovers is implemented?

[TrueBrain]

So a stop-gap until an unbroken shares system with hostile takeovers is implemented?

In sorts, yes. At least it is easier to maintain than the shares system was, and it fills that gap of players that like an AI for the first few years, but then want to get ride of them.

[nielsmh]

The purchase price should at the very least also include the value of fixed assets too, so you can't just get fifty brand new Yate Haugan, that never made a delivery yet, and thus have zero profit, for free.

[TrueBrain]

The purchase price should at the very least also include the value of fixed assets too, so you can't just get fifty brand new Yate Haugan, that never made a delivery yet, and thus have zero profit, for free.

They are.

[nielsmh]

The purchase price should at the very least also include the value of fixed assets too, so you can't just get fifty brand new Yate Haugan, that never made a delivery yet, and thus have zero profit, for free.

They are.

Make sure that's reflected in the GUI too, right now the message shown does not mention anything about that.

[TrueBrain]

The purchase price should at the very least also include the value of fixed assets too, so you can't just get fifty brand new Yate Haugan, that never made a delivery yet, and thus have zero profit, for free.

They are.

Make sure that's reflected in the GUI too, right now the message shown does not mention anything about that.

Yes boss. Wait, you are not my boss :P

Anyway, suggestions? I am having a hard time wording it clearly, so could use some suggestions :)

[Andrew350]

I thought "all their assets" made that pretty clear?

[TrueBrain]

Tnx @nielsmh , talked on Discord to find a much better sentence. In a hostile takeover of {COMPANY} you will purchase all fixed assets, pay off all loans, and pay two years worth of profits.{}{}The total is estimated to be {CURRENCY_LONG}.{}{}Do you want to continue this hostile takeover?

Will update the screenshot soon.

[FLHerne]

I thought "all their assets" made that pretty clear?

It says "get all their assets, in exchange for paying off their loan plus two years of profits".

"all their assets in exchange for their book value, plus paying off any loan plus two years of profits", except that's too long.

To be honest I don't see why it's important to explain the cost at all. It is what it is, the approximate range of the company's value is fairly obvious, and no other estimated cost has a similar explanation.

Does it even have to be described as a "Hostile Takeover"? It's an AI, we don't know what the management thinks about the issue. Could just as well be a voluntary merger.

My concrete suggestion (off the top of my head):

[Buy Company]

You are about to buy Fast Transport Inc.
All infrastructure, vehicles and other assets will become part of your company, Anglian Logistics.
Estimated Cost: £131,445

[Buy Company] [Cancel]

[TrueBrain]

I really like "Hostile Takeover", just because it is a bit tongue in cheek towards what you are doing. In reverse, "buy" gives the suggestion the AI is always fine with it. So I would rather keep this wording. Not everything has to be all that serious in OpenTTD :)

As for the rest of the text, I think the new text is fine, not? Being a bit clear it is not the same as a bankruptcy never hurts anyone.

[michicc]

Doing some more bike painting: "fixed assets" might be the correct financial term, but I would very much think that many players will interpret is as excluding vehicles (as the move and are not fixed in place).

[nielsmh]

Additional thought, which probably does not need to be part of this PR: A game script should be able to command the closure of a company and transfer of all its assets to someone else. Possibly with flags for what assets to transfer and what to void. When a GS does that, the GS should also be responsible for handling any payment it deems is required.

[Eddi-z]

Afair the old feature had a protection period of 5 years before a complete takeover was possible, should this one have this as well?

[TrueBrain]

Afair the old feature had a protection period of 5 years before a complete takeover was possible, should this one have this as well?

I did not see such need, given this is an AI and in single player only. If you want to do a hostile takeover earlier .. go nuts, I would say. Additionally, the costs are significantly higher than a share-buyout was, so that hopefully helps too.