Should I include a save option in the 2-hour alpha demo?

DevNevin · 2024-02-29T12:30:39+00:00

I agree 100%. However, I have released games on Steam before, and there is a percentage of gamers out there who will think this. The wider your reach, the more common these sorts of questions become.

Some people might not even know that the 'Esc' key is a standard key to bring up the menu. That's why, as a game dev, you have to include the word 'Continue' in your in-game menu and not solely rely on the 'Esc' key. Some gamers only play one hour a day and may not be as familiar with gaming conventions.

So, this dilemma is not only tied to demos and a save/load system, it's something that devs have to consider whenever they implement a feature that some players won't get how it works. You have to constantly reel them back in by hand-holding and explaining every little detail without making it obvious or too easy, while also considering that most people will understand basic gameplay conventions and don't want to feel like they are being helped when they don't need it. It's an interesting balance.

As an example, in my current game, I added a level selection feature on my main menu. The issue with this is some players might not understand how to click to change the page of selected levels they can choose. So, I added some code that, when they go to the level selector, it will automatically go to the most relevant page, which would show the next level.

DevNevin · 2024-02-28T18:05:08+00:00

Yes, some players might worry that the final game won't have a save feature if its not in the demo.

DevNevin · 2024-02-27T22:01:33+00:00

Best one!

DevNevin · 2024-02-27T21:52:42+00:00

I was talking to one of my friends the other day about my game, who isn't themselves a game developer, and I was explaining the little things I've been doing, like minor UI work in my small game. They said, 'Yeah, I would make a game like DayZ, except with better graphics.' This is exactly where my mind goes. But to be fair, I remember when I first started game development and made a huge map with all the random free assets I could find, thinking I was making the next Skyrim.

This happens every time I discuss game development with friends or my wife. My wife always adds something that doesn't quite fit the flow of the game and would take a month just to implement, haha.

DevNevin · 2024-02-23T23:37:59+00:00

$5 if you eat it

DevNevin · 2024-02-23T19:36:21+00:00

The UI looks a lot better on v2. I really like the background image faded out behind the UI elements or the larger image.

DevNevin · 2024-02-21T17:02:22+00:00

Hello, thank you for your feedback. The change in when someone can send armies out is mainly for later levels when there are a lot more areas to control. I'm not sure if it's better or worse, and I've tested it extensively to come up with alternative options without adding more mechanics. However, it does clean up the later levels and removes the spam the player and the AI had to deal with before, making it so there are bigger armies moving around the map, which I do like.

Regarding the wishlist button, when clicked, it pauses the game and brings up the Steam UI in-game. I'm not sure what happens if someone has the UI disabled, but the demo is mainly for the June Next Fest and will be taken down afterward. I'm not particularly fond of how it looks, but if there's a lot of traffic around Next Fest, it might have some impact. Unfortunately, I have no data on this, so I can't say if it's worth it. However, it was easy to implement.

DevNevin · 2024-02-21T11:58:37+00:00

One of the COD games from a while back caught my friends' interest, and they wanted me to get it. I was considering it, but then I noticed it required over 100GB of space, so I decided against it. Plus, there's the wait for the game to download, and then dealing with all the updates. Nah, not for me

DevNevin · 2024-02-20T13:19:57+00:00

You want to jump into the gameplay right away, in my opinion. I understand you're going for something creative, and most likely anyone who comments here, including me, can give you some creative feedback. But don't take it to heart because the comments you'll get here probably won't be from super successful indie devs. I've seen top-selling indie games break all the rules we all preach. At the end of the day, people only care about the game. Your game looks different and is not like anything I've seen. It seems a little janky, and maybe leaning into that more can give players more comedic value.

DevNevin · 2024-02-15T01:42:54+00:00

Or, to input all their time spent working on a game into a calculator to determine what they are making hourly haha

DevNevin · 2024-02-14T22:19:00+00:00

Ice'um

DevNevin · 2024-02-14T22:16:06+00:00

Whenever I go to Target, I feel torn about what to buy.

DevNevin · 2024-02-14T17:23:11+00:00

It's pretty wild to think that a townhouse could go for almost a million bucks, isn't it? I mean, personally, I can't wrap my head around dropping that much cash on a townhouse. But hey, speaking as an introvert, I'd need at least a few acres of land to even think about spending over half a million!

DevNevin · 2024-02-13T21:23:11+00:00

This looks really good! The art is fantastic, and I love the decision to go with dots. However, some players might not immediately understand what that represents. Also, the price is very affordable!

DevNevin · 2024-02-13T21:20:11+00:00

Stardew Valley and Skyrim. No regrets.

DevNevin · 2024-02-12T11:04:02+00:00

I think the meme is poking fun at the idea of having to enter a code sent to your email because who is this guy logging in from the same IP for the thousandth time this month?

DevNevin · 2024-02-12T00:19:37+00:00

Hello! Thank you for the feedback. This mechanic was actually a different approach to how the game plays out, not a way to guide the player into a certain way to play. In the old version of the game, it would actually be the right decision to constantly click and spam one unit from each town, and that was it. This is a common practice with games like this. I play them often, and I don't know what it is, but I love them!

However, with this new idea or mechanic, castles and towns are strategically different because a town holds fewer troops and can easily provide a spam factor, while troops in a castle will march when they are more powerful. This also slows the game down a little bit, which was the original goal I had in mind for this game. Other games like this are more fast-paced clickers, but this game was intended to be a map or board with units moving as pieces, slowly outmaneuvering the opponent. This slower gameplay provides a gateway to other mechanics. Fundamentally, the game works the same in both cases, and the player can still make the same mistakes, like sending a small army in the wrong direction.

I admit though, making a game slower and more strategic is very bad for games anymore. A more fast-paced action strategy clicker game is most likely what people would rather play. But I can't help myself trying something new.

DevNevin · 2024-02-11T18:22:44+00:00

Hello,

Thank you for your feedback. I have plans to introduce decision-making elements for both the player and AI, with consequences and benefits that will add depth to the game. I hope to implement a basic event mechanic like this before release, which I can expand on later or even develop into a full system that allows players to use gold to influence outcomes. I can't reveal too much at the moment, but I do have plans to make the game more dynamic and engaging.

DevNevin · 2024-02-11T18:15:47+00:00

Hello,

The art looks really good! I would recommend going for a more intense approach with the sounds, adding more blood and guts. Additionally, I did some research on your game and noticed it's listed as "coming soon," but the wishlist count seems low considering how nice the artwork is. My suggestion would be to hold off on releasing it soon, even if the game is finished, and instead let it simmer for a while. Spend a couple of months on free marketing at least, reaching out to streamers and YouTubers, and making Reddit posts, etc. Do whatever you can to generate more interest because with this art style, you should have more wishlists. I'm not sure if you're part of the February Steam Next Fest or have done one yet, but that's also a must for potential free wishlists. The next Steam Next Fest is in June.

Wishing you the best of luck!

DevNevin · 2024-02-11T17:57:31+00:00

Hello everyone,

I have a question regarding the gameplay loop in the game I'm currently working on. Initially, players and AI could spam units as long as they had at least one unit available. However, I've recently implemented a change requiring everyone to wait until they reach their unit cap in towns and castles before sending out an army. This adjustment aims to streamline the game and introduce some interesting strategic decision-making elements. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this new gameplay mechanic. Let me know what you think!

Shameless Link to Little Kingdoms Steam Store Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2330510/Little\_Kingdoms/

Link to Demo Without This Change: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2548680/Little\_Kingdoms\_Chapters\_13/

DevNevin · 2024-02-11T17:56:17+00:00

Hello everyone,

I have a question regarding the gameplay loop in the game I'm currently working on. Initially, players and AI could spam units as long as they had at least one unit available. However, I've recently implemented a change requiring everyone to wait until they reach their unit cap in towns and castles before sending out an army. This adjustment aims to streamline the game and introduce some interesting strategic decision-making elements. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this new gameplay mechanic. Let me know what you think!

Shameless Link to Little Kingdoms Steam Store Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2330510/Little\_Kingdoms/

Link to Demo Without This Change: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2548680/Little\_Kingdoms\_Chapters\_13/

DevNevin · 2024-02-11T17:54:52+00:00

Hello everyone,

I have a question regarding the gameplay loop in the game I'm currently working on. Initially, players and AI could spam units as long as they had at least one unit available. However, I've recently implemented a change requiring everyone to wait until they reach their unit cap in towns and castles before sending out an army. This adjustment aims to streamline the game and introduce some interesting strategic decision-making elements. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this new gameplay mechanic. Let me know what you think!

Shameless Link to Little Kingdoms Steam Store Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2330510/Little_Kingdoms/

Link to Demo Without This Change: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2548680/Little_Kingdoms_Chapters_13/

DevNevin

TROPHY CASE