Burger Bounty

🍔 Burger Bounty: Workflow Optimization Study

Burger Bounty is more than a cooking game; it is a simulation of small business logistics and workflow optimization. The player assumes the role of owner-operator, responsible for every link in the supply chain: cooking, serving, cleaning, and upgrading. At Watch Documentaries Games, we analyze this title as a study in "Bottleneck Management."

The game begins with the player performing all tasks manually. This highlights the inefficiency of unspecialized labor. As revenue is generated, the game shifts from an action game (running around) to a management game (hiring staff and automating processes).

⚙️ Efficiency Mechanics

Success relies on minimizing travel time and maximizing throughput:

• Task Queuing: The player can carry multiple items. Efficient players plan routes that allow them to drop off a burger, pick up dirty dishes, and clean a table in a single loop, rather than making three separate trips. This is known as "trip chaining."
• Bottleneck Identification: Is the kitchen too slow? Or are customers leaving because tables are dirty? Identifying the current bottleneck dictates where you should spend your upgrade money next.

💼 Upgrades & Scaling

The economy system forces strategic choices:

• Hoverboard: Increases player movement speed. This is the highest ROI (Return on Investment) upgrade early on, as it directly increases the number of tasks the player can perform per minute.
• Staff Hiring: Staff automate specific tasks (like cleaning). However, they move slower than the player. Hiring staff frees the player to focus on high-value tasks like cooking complex orders.
• Capacity: Increasing the number of tables increases potential revenue but also the risk of dissatisfied customers if service speed doesn't match demand.

🎮 Controls & Interface

The game is designed for fluid movement:

• Move: WASD or Arrow Keys.
• Interact: Proximity-based. Simply standing near a station triggers the action. This removes input lag and emphasizes positioning over button mashing.

🏆 Expert Tip: The "Clean As You Go" Rule

The most common failure state is a dirty dining room. New customers cannot sit at dirty tables. Prioritize cleaning immediately after a customer leaves. A clean table is an asset ready to generate revenue; a dirty table is a liability.

❓ FAQ