IdleCenter Research Tree: Every Node and Cost
21 research nodes, their Research Point costs, prerequisites and which ones survive Legacy.
Research is IdleCenter's long-term plan. Every game you release earns 1 Research Point (RP), so the tree is paid for with releases, not with cash. That makes the order you research in a real decision. An early Auto-Build means more releases, and more releases mean more RP for everything after it.
The tables below list every node with its cost and prerequisites. They are read from the game's content files, so they always match the current version. Most research belongs to the current run and resets when you found a new studio with Legacy. The 5 nodes marked as kept on Legacy stay with you for good.
First run: from the garage to Legacy
The first run's tree holds 13 nodes worth 253 RP in total. You don't need all of them to reach Legacy, only the path to it. Legacy itself requires both Remasters and Offline Progress.
| Research | Cost | Requires | Kept on Legacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-Build Starts, builds and releases projects for you (switch it off or point it at your pick in the Studio) and adds 0.5 ideas/s. | 4 RP | Nothing | No |
| Quality Tools Better tools make better games, and better games earn more. | 7 RP | Nothing | No |
| Bulk Hire Hire staff in bulk (x10 / max). | 10 RP | Auto-Build | No |
| Analytics Shows how well every topic and genre fit before you try them, and boosts income. | 14 RP | Quality Tools | No |
| Sequels Release a sequel of any game in your catalog, no building needed; new games also earn more. | 18 RP | Analytics | No |
| Trend Forecast See which topic and genre will be in fashion next, and when the market shifts. | 16 RP | Analytics | No |
| Market Research Auto-Build follows the market: it chases trends and avoids topics your players are tired of. | 24 RP | Trend Forecast | No |
| Offline Progress Earn while away, up to 8 hours. | 22 RP | Bulk Hire | Yes |
| Hiring Drive Staff cost 10% less. | 20 RP | Bulk Hire | No |
| Long Tail Hits fade 25% slower. | 24 RP | Sequels | No |
| Remasters Re-release old games for a second wave of income. | 28 RP | Long Tail | No |
| Legacy Turn your studio into a legend and start anew with reputation. | 35 RP | Remasters + Offline Progress | Yes |
| Master Craft Polishing is 50% faster. | 31 RP | Quality Tools | No |
After Legacy: the studio chain
Owning Legacy opens a single chain of 8 more nodes (189 RP). The first ones are permanent and make every later studio stronger. The rest are per-run upgrades that you rebuy each run, and they come quickly because your Reputation makes each run faster.
| Research | Cost | Requires | Kept on Legacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codex Bonuses What you learned about good pairings makes every new game earn a bit more, for good. | 27 RP | Legacy | Yes |
| Fan Network Loyal fans buy your new games on day one. | 27 RP | Codex Bonuses | Yes |
| Studio Legend Reputation grows 25% faster. | 26 RP | Fan Network | Yes |
| Brainstorm Rooms Passive ideas flow 25% faster. | 25 RP | Studio Legend | No |
| Press Tours Launch events give every new game a bigger start. | 24 RP | Brainstorm Rooms | No |
| Build Pipeline Development work is 25% faster. | 22 RP | Press Tours | No |
| Merch Store Catalog income +10%. | 20 RP | Build Pipeline | No |
| Talent Agency Staff cost 10% less. | 18 RP | Merch Store | No |
Reading the tree
- Automation first. Auto-Build is the cheapest node and keeps releasing games while you plan. Every release is another RP, so it pays for the rest of the tree.
- Information before optimisation. Analytics shows how every topic and genre fit before you try them. Until then, you learn combos only by shipping them and checking your Codex.
- Permanent nodes are worth more than their price. Offline Progress, Legacy, Codex Bonuses, Fan Network, Studio Legend are never lost. Buying them early in a run means every later run benefits too.
- Cost reductions stack. Hiring Drive and Talent Agency each make staff 10% cheaper. They are the late answer to the rising cost of every extra hire.
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