The importance of the MAM

Question

Hi im quite active on the discord and especially the questions and help section.

I noticed that a lot of people are asking about how to get explosives, supercomputers, the explorer, etc. Tons of people dont realise the importance of the MAM because the game does not emphasize the amount of uses it has and how you need it to progress in the game.

Maybe add a notification on the HUD that says when there is something you could research and make sure to inform people that you need the MAM.

Comments

Can confirm the importance of the MAM for unlocking items in a non-linear way is extremely understated and a huge source of user questions on the official Discord. The MAM UI in general could use some work in multiple different areas, such as showing/hiding different researchable items, the ordering of research appearing in MAM, visual/audio clues, etc. Most new players don't even know that sulfur is a thing because they can't find it in the world, and have no idea that there is an entire research tree locked behind it. I understand that exploring and finding the stuff is a big part of the game, but perhaps a way to let the player know that they need to find it would at least be helpful?

---

I still wonder what is harder today - login to dedicated discord, ask question or play and have fun with game.

---

Personally, I found caterium and sulfur before I had gotten very far in the tech tree and the ADA message that  lead me to the MAM was an awesome surprise! It really made the game feel less linear and as if i had actually discovered something.
However, I do understand how some are confused and maybe better texturing of the rare lumps or more direct ADA hints would clear things up.
I kind of like the idea of caterium, sulfur, and drop pods being an optional benefit in the game.

---

I can see what you are saying here, but from what I've been seeing on some discussion groups, many players are trying to play this game and don't even know how to do a proper screenshot or web search. I think that we are getting to a point where gaming has become so mainstream that we are getting some players who know just enough about computers to start the game.

---

I was thinking this also we use the wiki and other googled sources to know things like this we wanted the rifle so we googled how to unlock... I just don't understand what is hard about typing Satisfactory how do I unlock rifle into google.

---

Nobody should be required to research online or go to discord to figure out how to play the game.  If the guidance from the game is confusing for some of those that ARE finding those outlets to ask questions, imagine the many many more of the 507,000+ buyers that are confused.

---

Confused about what? Game teach you how to use MAM. If you do thing once, why is so hard try once more? You explore new planet. Every thing you find is mystery that you can check at MAM.

It is simple.

Why you force developers to do 'help-quest' for every item?

---

Got it.  "It works for me so it should work for everybody.  If not, it's their fault and screw 'em."

---

comment to TrialByWombat:  in a completed game I would agree with you, and if they wanted you to not have to discover it I would agree with you, but this is early access incomplete game and most of the things they are asking for aren't meant to be obvious you are meant to explore and discover.

---

The MAM interface requires some tweaking.

Having to scroll past all those items already researched is a pain.
Requiring that an item is in your personal inventory before it will appear as a researchable item is a bit obtuse.

Perhaps after you pick up an item (and until you have actually done the research) there should be a hint in the mouseover description of the item to the effect of "Researching this item is imperative to FICSIT progression."

---

Kelsey: Agreed hate scrolling past all the "complete" ones, it needs to show it researchable if it's been picked up even if it's not in inventory but I thought it already did that guess I've always had it in my inventory :) but then again I'm a bit of a hoarder.

---

IT seems to be the trigger to let it show up for the first time.  Once it's there then it'll remain there.

There were a lot of people who had no idea how to start the sulphur or quartz tech trees as a result of this "feature".

---

I don't think the quarts and sulfur lines are required to complete the tech tree. They are just extras that can be found. For that reason, I love that they are more open and less obvious.

---

I would also like some type of status line to remind me when the research has been completed.

---

I would truly love to have more usage of the MAM in the late game instead of just Hard Drive scanning for blueprints. It would also add to the feeling of accomplishment in between high demanding tiers in the future.