🎬 Complete Beginner's Guide
Welcome to your 90s video rental empire! This guide covers everything you need to know for your first profitable week, from ordering your initial stock to handling your first angry customer.
Day 1: Opening Your Store
Step 1: Order Your First Stock
Use the computer in your office to order VHS tapes. For your first order:
- Budget wisely: You start with limited cash. Order 20-30 tapes to fill your shelves without going broke.
- Mix genres: Get a variety - Action, Comedy, Horror, Drama. Different customers want different movies.
- Check ratings: Don't worry about "bad" movies - customers love them! Even 1-star horror films rent well.
- New Releases: These rent for more ($7-8 vs $5-6) but cost more upfront. Start with 3-5 New Releases.
Step 2: Stock Your Shelves
When your delivery arrives:
- Pick up tapes from the delivery box
- Place them on shelves matching their genre (Action on Action shelf, etc.)
- Face the covers outward so customers can see them
- Leave some empty space - you'll get more deliveries
Pro Tip: Press F while holding a tape to see its genre, rating, and rental price. This helps you organize efficiently.
Step 3: Open for Business
Flip the door sign to "OPEN" and customers will start arriving. Your first day is tutorial mode - take it slow and learn the basics.
Serving Customers
The Checkout Process
- Customer brings tape(s) to the counter
- Click on the register to ring them up
- They pay automatically
- Hand them their receipt (optional but increases satisfaction)
Handling Returns
When customers return tapes:
- Take the tape from them
- Check it back in at the computer (click "Returns")
- Put it back on the shelf for the next customer
Special Requests
Customers with question marks over their heads want recommendations:
- They'll tell you what genre they want
- Grab ANY movie from that genre shelf
- Hand it to them - they'll be happy regardless of rating
- This builds loyalty and increases tips
Your First Week Strategy
Days 1-3: Build Your Foundation
- Keep ordering: Order new stock every day to fill empty shelves
- Watch the calendar: Friday and Saturday are your busiest days - stock up before them
- Save your money: Don't buy decorations or expansions yet
- Learn the rhythm: Morning is slow, evening is busy
Days 4-7: Start Growing
- Hire your first employee: Once you're making $200+/day consistently, hire a stocker
- Buy a snack shelf: Candy and popcorn are pure profit - place near the register
- Expand your inventory: Aim for 50-60 tapes by end of week
- Start saving for expansion: Your first store expansion unlocks at Level 5
Essential Tips for New Owners
Money Management
- Late fees are income: Don't feel bad charging them - it's part of the business
- Profit is after wages: The end-of-day screen already deducts employee costs
- Reinvest profits: More tapes = more rentals = more money
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Ordering too much too fast: You'll run out of money and shelf space
- Ignoring New Releases: They're expensive but rent for premium prices
- Not checking returns: Unreturned tapes mean lost inventory - check the computer daily
- Hiring too early: Wait until you're profitable before adding staff costs
Controls & Shortcuts
- E: Interact with objects, pick up tapes
- F: Inspect tape details (genre, price, rating)
- Tab: Rotate objects when placing decorations
- ESC: Open menu to save, adjust settings, or quit
Week 1 Goals Checklist
- ✓ Complete your first day (Achievement: First Day Complete)
- ✓ Reach $200+ daily profit
- ✓ Stock 50+ VHS tapes
- ✓ Hire your first employee
- ✓ Add a snack shelf
- ✓ Reach Level 5
- ✓ Survive your first Friday rush
Next Steps: Once you've mastered the basics, check out our Staff Management Guide to optimize your team and our Weather System Guide to maximize profits during special events.