Bit Blot Forum
Aquaria => General => Topic started by: Alec on July 27, 2007, 11:43:25 pm
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Howdy,
I'm wondering what the people who are interested in buying the game think about the demo version.
The reasoning is that our first objective is to finish the game. Creating a demo version will be a separate process, probably taking about two weeks of intense work.
Once the game is done, we could either delay release for the completion of the demo, or release the game right away for those who are eager and save the demo for later.
I don't think we mind waiting, unless there are a lot of people who want to buy the game as soon as its ready, in which case we'd feel bad about stalling it further.
So.......... what say YOU?
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Demos are important, but i think anyone who wants to check a demo before buying is probably not fussed about waiting a couple of weeks to try it first..
One thing i would say is don't make the demo a full but locked version of the game, upgradable via serial or something, they're too easy to pirate and the temptation for some would be too great..
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Demo's going to be its own scenario, separate from the game, so that we can star the player off with more abilities and showcase the game more effectively. It'll also help us keep the file size down, as the full game is like 100-200mb... with a separate situation, we can probably get it to a more reasonable ~25mb.
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I think that most of the people here will probably buy the game without bothering with the demo. Your sample population is a bit biased. ;)
In terms of getting the demo done in time for release, I, personally, would rather get the game out sooner. Quite frankly, as a potential customer, I am a little worried about Aquaria. The release date has been pushed back several times, and it feels like many of these delays are due to added features, such as a Linux version and an editor. While these things are cool, and important, it seems that actually getting the game out the door would be more important. I don't mean to be rude, and I certainly don't want to tell you you how to do your job. I am just trying to express my own trepidation with regards to the release of the game.
Also, won't ASW be wanting a demo that is the full game with a cut-off point? That is the way that ASW seems to do everything else...
xander
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Demo's going to be its own scenario, separate from the game, so that we can star the player off with more abilities and showcase the game more effectively. It'll also help us keep the file size down, as the full game is like 100-200mb... with a separate situation, we can probably get it to a more reasonable ~25mb.
My favorite kind of demos ;D
Anyone remember the old Dizzy mini-games given away on the old ZX Spectrum magazines? :D
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Also, won't ASW be wanting a demo that is the full game with a cut-off point? That is the way that ASW seems to do everything else...
I don't know.
They might want it.
Whether they'll get it or not is another question. ;)
Some clarification:
The editor was already in the game, we're just prepping it for release by adding a mod framework. That hasn't really delayed the game that much yet.
Fixing the bugs spawned by the linux port will take some time, but it'll be spread out over testing. The core stuff seems to be working now.
There's things we tweak to improve the game, that's the most important. Adding details, making it more fun.
Up till now the major thing is the audio library, which I think have just "fixed"... by writing my own OpenAL/OggVorbis/sdl_threads implementation!
Other than that, its adding details, testing and finishing up the ending.
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Game first please ;_;
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Whatever floats your boat..
;)
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To hell with ASW and their bizarre demands.
Anyways, if a demo were released I would probably play it before getting the game, but I'm almost certainly going to buy it, so I'd rather just have it out earlier.
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Whether or not I'd want a demo first or not actually kind depends on the pricing. For example, if the game was $10 I'd probably jump in without playing it, but $20 or more might make me think about it a little.
Personally though, I think another really awesome trailer might do the trick. You guys sucked me in when GameTrailers posted that trailer back in February and another one that shows even more would really be fricken sweet.
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Are you going to release a demo for all platforms at once?
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Whether or not I'd want a demo first or not actually kind depends on the pricing. For example, if the game was $10 I'd probably jump in without playing it, but $20 or more might make me think about it a little.
Personally though, I think another really awesome trailer might do the trick. You guys sucked me in when GameTrailers posted that trailer back in February and another one that shows even more would really be fricken sweet.
I'd have to agree, if it is $10 I'd buy it straight away, no sweat, but if it starts crawling up I'll probably want a demo to make sure it is what I expect (although I hardly think it isn't :D, so I'm guessing I would just buy it anyway just to play it noooooooow ;)).
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I would pay $20 for this game without a demo. This is one of the very few unreleased games I'm enthusiastic about.
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Up till now the major thing is the audio library, which I think have just "fixed"... by writing my own OpenAL/OggVorbis/sdl_threads implementation!
Other than that, its adding details, testing and finishing up the ending.
That's great! And I don't want to be annoying, but if it's a portable and easy to use library,
maybe you should release it for other game developers to benefit from.
I mean.. If you wouldn't mind that.... It would be awesome.
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Voted for buying the full game without playing a demo.
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In terms of pricing, note that
Chocolate Castle is $20 ( http://www.lexaloffle.com/choc.php )
Prof. Fizwizzle is ~$20 ( http://www.grubbygames.com )
Defcon is $20 ( http://www.everybody-dies.com/ )
Mr Robot is $24.95 ( http://www.moonpod.com/English/about_mr.robot.php )
We haven't settled on a price yet, but it'll probably be something that makes sense relative to popular indie titles like these.
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In terms of pricing, note that
Chocolate Castle is $20 ( http://www.lexaloffle.com/choc.php )
Prof. Fizwizzle is ~$20 ( http://www.grubbygames.com )
Defcon is $20 ( http://www.everybody-dies.com/ )
Mr Robot is $24.95 ( http://www.moonpod.com/English/about_mr.robot.php )
We haven't settled on a price yet, but it'll probably be something that makes sense relative to popular indie titles like these.
Having read the latest post on the main site, i would be prepared to pay a lot more :D
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I personally would like a demo, but don't consider it that important. I'll be buying it anyway, (also, i agree with Cobar, i'd pay upwards of 35-40 dollars for this game right now) but a demo would be nice. It'd give me something to do until i get the money.
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Okay, that latest post on the main page was fricken awesome. Naija automatically looking at things of interest? That's a kind of small detail that turns great games into fantastic games.
I think that more stuff like that would be fricken awesome and would give me that push to purchase Aquaria with or without a demo.
Keep up the good work guys! I eagerly await hearing more and maybe even playing it! ^-^
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if you do the demo right. When I say right, I mean have it where when the player is done they are dying to have the full game. Of course you guys already knew that. I like the demos that are separate of the full game that way it's like you get something new and fresh but still shows off what the game is about
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In terms of pricing, note that
Chocolate Castle is $20 ( http://www.lexaloffle.com/choc.php )
Prof. Fizwizzle is ~$20 ( http://www.grubbygames.com )
Defcon is $20 ( http://www.everybody-dies.com/ )
Mr Robot is $24.95 ( http://www.moonpod.com/English/about_mr.robot.php )
We haven't settled on a price yet, but it'll probably be something that makes sense relative to popular indie titles like these.
I don't know all of these, but from those I do, I'd guess $30 would probably be pretty reasonable. Of course, those of us on the board might be willing to pay a bit more, but hopefully we'll be a rather small proportion of your sales ;)
Besides, that's what the boxed edition with OST is for!
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I too would pay $30 or $40 for this without batting an eye.
As for a demo - obviously I plan to pick up the game as soon as it's available, and I've been around long enough to feel pretty confident about whatever I purchase without actually playing it. I'm usually well-educated about my gaming purchases just because I'm A- an obsessive gamer, and B- frequently involved in game journalism. Demos mean little to me personally, hence I'd have no desire for the game's release to be delayed for that. That said, I think it's completely awesome when developers create demos that are actually different from the main game, providing another small section of unique gameplay or even a little unique story. That means even people who own the game will check the demo out just because it's something else related to the game they love, but something that they haven't yet seen in their own game. I think that would be my own personal choice for a demo if I were going to do one, though obviously this takes a bit of extra work.
My only request is this - please don't release the game until September. I took some time off of work in order to pick up and start burning through Bioshock, and if Aquaria came out during my stint with that, I think my head would explode trying to decide between the two. Seriously. And I like my head.
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My only request is this - please don't release the game until September. I took some time off of work in order to pick up and start burning through Bioshock, and if Aquaria came out during my stint with that, I think my head would explode trying to decide between the two. Seriously. And I like my head.
I can give you mine for rent. Sure, it has lower than average IQ, but i think you'll manage. :P
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I've been browsing the blog and forums for months, but you got me to register just to participate in the poll. I would definitely pay without a demo. Also, I was expecting a 29.99 or a 39.99 price point considering what I've heard/seen about the game!
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Okay guys, I think we should stop giving the guys a license to make the game cost more. :D
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$900 it is, then.
Aquaria > PS3
LOL
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Congratulations Bit-Blot. The results of this poll show that you are building up a decent fanbase of fanbois! :D :D
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Personnaly, if a demo is out, I think I won't download it. I want to hold the pleasure for the real game.
Still, a demo would be useful for people who doesn't know much about the game. Since it is free, why shouldn't they try it? And then if they love it they buy the game.
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I'd buy the game anyway, but if there is a demo first. I'd check it out before anything else.
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Simple question, if I download the game online, but that I have two computers at home, if I want them on both my computers i would have to pay it twice or there could be a way not to pay it twice? :-\
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Simple question, if I download the game online, but that I have two computers at home, if I want them on both my computers i would have to pay it twice or there could be a way not to pay it twice? :-\
I bet that depends on the security anti-piracy code they put to this game, I wonder if they started working on that at all.
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I have played an unnumbered amount of demos, there are good demos and there are bad demos. A demo should grab the player, and keep them entertained for a while. A good example of good demos are from spiderwebsoftware, they catch you into the story and at a point where you have gotten more questions than answers in the quests you have undertaken the *shareware demon* blocks your path at some place. Bad demos end before one gets into the story or the feel of the game, but at least one gets to try it before they buy it.
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Since the demo will be a stand-alone kind of experience, I definitely would want both the demo and the final game... Since I can only play one of them at a time it's all fine with me in whichever order you guys want to release this all. ^-^
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Yeah, it could be like Warcraft 3 demo version (I know I have noobies references :-[ ) with missions that weren't in the final game, like a kind of prologue.
If you do it that way then we don't have to keep the pleasure for the final game ^^
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Actually, we might change tactics and go for having the first part of the game as the demo. The reasons being that we've retooled the beginning of the main game to make it easier to get into and showcase the overall game more completely. (just in the interest of making the beginning more interesting) So it seems to work better as a demo now, and it would save us a lot of time if we didn't have to develop a bunch of new maps + puzzles just for the demo.
We'll see!
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Oooo! I don't know if that actually makes me happy. Having part of the game as the demo kind of dilutes the experience, I think, but also having a separate story/scenario could ruin the game experience too. I wouldn't know whether I should count the demo as part of the "official storyline" or not. Also, it could be crap. Not likely, but possible.
also, new avatar! :)
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The demo for the original Metroid Prime was the first part of the game before the planet. I was actually gonna bring that up as an example for a demo. It's easy to make, and if you do it right, we get a feel for the game while still left begging for more.
Of course, part of what makes it so successful is that Samus loses her abilities right after the demo, but alas. It's an example.
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If we had the demo as the first part of the game, it would let you continue from your save file when you got the full version, so I'm not sure how it would ruin the experience.
The main concern for us was making the demo fun to pick up and play, and I think the beginning of the game has achieved that now.
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Certainly easier than making your own starting scenario...I mean, I'd be happy with either a demo or the actual game at this point.
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Does this mean that the demo will/can be released before the game comes out?
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It means its a possibility, but I don't think it'll happen because we'll want to finish the game and test it all before working on separating the demo.
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Hmm, fair enough. As long as the game gets out faster I can't complain. :D
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To answer shortly, I'd buy the game witouth thinking about the price, well... as long as it is less then 200$... which would be a crazy price for ANY game. :D
A demo version might get some other audience, yet untouched, to learn and enjoy the game itself. I guess it is more of a marketing decision here. I've red about a "prologue" thingy, like making the first "missions" available to demo user. That would be a good idea since it wouldn't take two weeks of intense work to get to work I guess...
Oh and by the way, will the game be released in "Steam" (talking about the Valve software)?
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I personally can wait for the game, it will just be difficult, all I ask is PLEASE don't release it either near Oct 10 (Orange Box release) or December 5th (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)
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I put I would buy one without a demo. I am stoked about the game.
However, in terms of marketing, I feel you should DEFINANETLY have a demo. It allows others the chance to see the game before dropping the cash. For those of us posting on this board this is not a barrier.
For many a demo is the hook that preceeds the purchase.
2d
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I had an idea. If you make a demo, make it for mac first, since you are planning (well, last I heard) to release the window's version first. Meaning that the mac users will be reduced to drooling zombies.
...yeah. Mac demo first or we go >:D
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As a Mac user, I must protest! He doesn't speak for me! ;)
xander
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I use BootCamp... so go ahead, choose! ^^
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Personally, I will buy the game without even looking on the full version screenies, let alone a demo ;). Still, a demo is always nice... especially when it has it's own, separate scenario.
In that case, I would like to play it first to get more of the story. Waiting few weeks is perfectly fine with me - I waited for so long anyway.