my conclusions :)
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2016 8:04 am
Thanks for all the feedback. I will keep reading the other thread but since need to work on the new games, probably won't answer so much often as before
My conclusions about PSCD are:
- art was much more important than I thought. I wish I had changed it BEFORE release offering an alternate version (like Hanako did with her latest game), but now it's too late
- talking with other indies, the problem is also the mix-up. I probably was much better off doing either a CARD GAME, OR a VN. Mixing VN with RPG works, because both are based on story (unless you play pure hack'n'slash RPGs). Also, the RPG+romances a tested formula (Bioware, Fire Emblem, etc).
- the competition or "bad moment" could have some impact, but I don't think very big. The main problem was the wrong mixup and art. If I made it a card game only, I could have added some more gameplay features, like a map to conquest, regions giving bonuses, etc etc (just some random ideas I got now). I could have sold it for less and could have been more competitive. And if I made a sci-fi VN only, I could have planned it more better so Miakoda could have done a better job: it's not easy to write a story when someone tells you "short sentences, the game will be a fully voiced TD". Then after a few months "oops sorry the coder quit, will be a card game instead, oh add a lot of descriptions, make scenes longer". Honestly, I'm surprised by the good result and that's why I am SUPER confident on Love Bites
As said the game still sold so it's not like it was a failure. I will of course do the DLC since has some of the most interesting romances but in future games I'll remember the lesson I learned here!
My conclusions about PSCD are:
- art was much more important than I thought. I wish I had changed it BEFORE release offering an alternate version (like Hanako did with her latest game), but now it's too late
- talking with other indies, the problem is also the mix-up. I probably was much better off doing either a CARD GAME, OR a VN. Mixing VN with RPG works, because both are based on story (unless you play pure hack'n'slash RPGs). Also, the RPG+romances a tested formula (Bioware, Fire Emblem, etc).
- the competition or "bad moment" could have some impact, but I don't think very big. The main problem was the wrong mixup and art. If I made it a card game only, I could have added some more gameplay features, like a map to conquest, regions giving bonuses, etc etc (just some random ideas I got now). I could have sold it for less and could have been more competitive. And if I made a sci-fi VN only, I could have planned it more better so Miakoda could have done a better job: it's not easy to write a story when someone tells you "short sentences, the game will be a fully voiced TD". Then after a few months "oops sorry the coder quit, will be a card game instead, oh add a lot of descriptions, make scenes longer". Honestly, I'm surprised by the good result and that's why I am SUPER confident on Love Bites
As said the game still sold so it's not like it was a failure. I will of course do the DLC since has some of the most interesting romances but in future games I'll remember the lesson I learned here!