Build-a-lot is a 2007 casual video game for Microsoft Windows. The object of the game is to construct, upgrade and sell houses for profits. They can flip houses for quick cash or collect rent to make funds go up. Players help mayors from eight different areas and through 35 different levels to complete the game. Build-a-lot was created by HipSoft. It has also been ported to Mac OS X by Red Marble Games. In 2009 it was ported to mobile phones, iOS systems and BlackBerry's by Glu Mobile. It was ported to the Nintendo eShop and DSI shop on August 18, 2011. In July 2013, Build-a-lot 3 and Build-a-lot 4: Power Source was ported to Android by Glu Mobile again
Game modes
There are two game modes in Build-a-lot: career mode and casual mode. In career mode, the object is to complete levels in which the player is assigned a set of tasks. In casual mode, the object is to meet a cash balance goal in the shortest time possible.
Career mode
In career mode, the player's object is to complete a set of tasks in an individual game scenario, or "level". After doing so, they can advance to the next scenario. Once a level is completed, that level is available for play to that player on a continuing basis. Career mode has a total of thirty-five different levels, which are grouped together in eight different "neighborhoods" of between three and five levels. Each "neighborhood" has a different map character, number of lots, and different mayor. The neighborhoods advance in terms of game complexity. New structures become available at higher levels, and goals become more difficult.
Meadow Dale is the tutorial neighborhood, in which the player is given the most basic tasks and is provided on-screen instructions for the game. Levels 1, 2 and 3 are played in this neighborhood. The "new" Mayor of Meadow Dale is Jennifer Russell.
Pleasant Valley is the first regular game neighborhood. Levels 4, 5 and 6 are played in this neighborhood. The Mayor of Pleasant Valley is Beatrice Hudson, who in the game is revealed to be a native of New England.
River Glen contains levels 7, 8, 9 and 10. The Mayor of River Glen is Patrick O'Brien.
Evergreen Park hosts levels 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 and its Mayor is Theodore Buckley III.
Lakeside is the setting for levels 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 and its mayor is the bald Frank Crawford.
Granite Springs is the setting for levels 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 and its mayor is the blonde Annie Stanton. It's a western-style mountain community.
Summit Ridge is the penultimate neighborhood, where levels 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 are played. Summit Ridge is modeled as a skiing community, à la Jackson Hole or Aspen, Colorado. The Mayor of Summit Ridge is Hans "The Wolf" Stallmire.
Palm Grove is the final neighborhood, where levels 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 are played. The Mayor of Palm Grove is Vince Danner, who claims to have been a "Hollywood Superstar". Palm Grove is an island community (à la Hawaii), as Danner refers to the "Mainland".
Casual mode
In casual mode, the player's goal in each level is solely monetary—reaching a predetermined level of cash. The player may achieve that goal using any strategy, and is not required to build any particular house or building. However, in each casual mode game, the player is given only a starting cache of cash, workers, and materials. Other than the smallest of the housing blueprints, the player must purchase the blueprint for any house or building the player would like to build.
Only six neighborhoods are available for play in casual mode, as opposed to the eight neighborhoods in career mode. The six neighborhoods available in casual mode are the last six neighborhoods in career mode.
River Glen - The goal of River Glen in casual mode is $1,000,000. The player begins with $100,000 in cash, four workers, and 500 materials.
Evergreen Park - The goal of Evergreen Park in casual mode is $2,500,000. The player again begins with $100,000 in cash, four workers, and 500 materials.
Lakeside - The goal of Lakeside in casual mode is $5,000,000. The player begins with $150,000 in cash, six workers and 750 materials.
Granite Springs - The goal of Granite Springs in casual mode is $10,000,000. The player again (as in Lakeside) begins with $150,000 in cash, six workers and 750 materials.