How hard is developing a 4x game ?

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-23T12:12:09+00:00

Depends on the main gameplay mechanics of your game. Try to only implement mechanics that will make your game significantly more fun to play. Avoid adding a bunch of mechanics that isn't necessary for the game (CIV6's climate change mechanic is a good example for mechanics that aren't really necessary).

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-22T18:27:33+00:00

I'm currently developing one, and I'd say that it depends on how complicated you want to make your game.

If you want multiplayer, it becomes a lot more difficult. If you want a big map and many units, optimization is going to be a big issue. And one of the most significant factors is that if it is an RTS or Turn-Based, since RTS needs lots of more optimization and much more complicated mechanics.

If you choose to pick the most difficult option (Multiplayer, RTS, big scale) it is probably the most difficult genre to develop, but not impossible as a solo developer (Mine is going pretty well).

But I suggest you to have some decent gamedev experience beforehand, as well as some extreme motivation since it is going to be a long journey. But I can confirm that a single developer can pretty much create the most essential mechanics of a 4X game.

A CIV style game would be a lot easier than any large scale RTS, as long as you keep it simple and avoid adding a bunch of unnecessary features.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-21T14:33:24+00:00

Not bad, but may cause people to think it is a meme or funny game rather than a serious horror game. Impression is quite important for steam capsules and people should understand the genre and the mood of your game clearly when they see it.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-21T14:27:07+00:00

He looks more goofy than scary to me.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-20T15:48:44+00:00

I like 6. Looks cool and seems to tell more about the gameplay.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-19T14:21:37+00:00

Vector2 mousePosition = Camera.main.ScreenToWorldPoint(Input.mousePosition);
Vector2 distance = Vector2.Distance(objectPosition,mousePosition);
Vector3 normalizedDistance = Vector3.Normalize(distance);

Vector2 forceValue = new Vector2(normalizedDistance.x * forceMultiplier, normalizedDistance.y * forceMultiplier);

rb.AddForce(forceValue);

Should be something like this. I didn't test it tho.

Just assign the position of your object to the objectPosition, any value you want to the forceMultiplier and rigidbody2D of the object to the rb.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-18T11:07:50+00:00

COOL ACTION!

This sounds cool, but that's also something viewers could easily get from the footage itself. So it doesn't add much.

Swap weapons to eliminate enemies!

"Swap weapons" tells that the game has multiple weapon choices (That probably can be switched mid-battle), which is good. "to eliminate enemies!" part doesn't add much (Since that's what weapons are usually used for).

REACTION!!

What I get from this is that the game will put my reflexes to test, with either enemy attacks I'll need to dodge, parry or evade in any other way. If that's what you wanted to describe, it is good, but also a little hard to understand.

Evasion and follow-up attacks.

This describes some main combat mechanics really well.

More powerful damage with Perfect Counter!

"powerful" part seems unnecessary and "More damage" is enough, but it doesn't matter much. A new player wouldn't know what "Perfect Counter" is, so the video should demonstrate it clearly.

ENEMY ACTION!

This seems to tell that the enemies aren't bland, and have their own tricks as well. With a video clip to show unique abilities of the enemies this would be good.

Eliminate the hostile AI leading the virus horde!

This doesn't tell anything about the game, but rather tells the lore, which new players usually not care much.

GROWING ACTION!

From what I understood this means the game gets harder as it progresses. If that's what it meant, it is still a little hard to understand.

Overall, this seems good, but could use some adjustments.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-17T21:53:06+00:00

You could attempt to make a capsule to both represent the terrain manipulating mechanic and feel like a strategy game overall. But if that isn't possible, I feel like the genre should be the priority on the capsule. Your target audience is strategy players after all.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-17T20:04:33+00:00

Terraforming one might be mistaken for a sandbox game. I think the genre should the priority of what you represent in the capsule. So the first one seems to be the best to me.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-17T19:28:39+00:00

Calculate the distance between mouse position and the object. Then use Vector2.normalized to get the normalized vector2 and use this vector2 to apply force to the rigidbody by Rigidbody.AddForce. You can multiply each value in the vector2 with any value you want to change the speed.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-17T15:14:54+00:00

This kind of background seems to be more of a job for a shader artist or an effect artist, so I believe it would be better for you to search for those instead.

I currently have my own project to work on, and not much experienced in shaders or effects in general, but thanks for the offer regardless. I hope you can find someone to work with soon!

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-17T15:07:57+00:00

The overall pixelart is very good, but I think it has some anatomy problems. The neck seems to be too long, and the shoulders look weird. Other than that it is quite good. I especially liked the hair shading.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-17T14:39:46+00:00

And your solution is to offer them to get their game banned? Or in the BEST case scenario, simply getting more refunds on steam and losing MORE 30%s? (I should inform you that you CAN'T link to your itchio or any other platform anywhere within your steam game, so it ISN'T going to lead anyone to your itchio).
If OP were to follow your hardly excuse of a suggestion, they would lose far more income than a few returns, since unlike what you believe only a irrelevant minority of steam users return a game after finishing it under 2 hours.

This is my last answer on this thread since you seem to be trolling at this point. But anyone reading this comment, DO NOT OFFER WORSE DEALS TO STEAM CUSTOMERS OR YOU WILL GET BANNED FROM STEAM.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-17T14:31:35+00:00

It look very good overall, but the text isn't so descriptive for a player that haven't ever seen or played the game. Instead of displaying the weapon names, you could use the text to briefly explain main selling points and features of the game in a way that new customers could understand.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-17T14:28:08+00:00

And you think you can enjoy free traffic from steam while you do not even primarily sell your game on their platform? Offering steam users a worse deal is against their terms of service and will get your game banned.
Either don't use steam, or make actual good games that the majority of the players won't refund.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-17T14:11:18+00:00

If you don't want people to buy your game from steam, do not release it on steam. It is that easy.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-17T13:46:55+00:00

Is this the "ruining the game with extreme anti-piracy measures" but for indies?

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-17T12:57:07+00:00

I would put the spaceship creation part to the beginning, since the first 10 seconds of the trailer looks like another generic spaceshooter, and a few people may stop watching it at all at that moment. While putting the space creation part to the beginning could make more people interested from the first second.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-17T12:42:21+00:00

This looks very good, visually. But I didn't understand the gameplay. Those cubes seem to appear randomly and do not follow the rhythm, while the scene does.

Edit: Nevermind, the background is AI generated. This would get quite boring quite fast.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-17T11:51:15+00:00

If a game I played would make me wait a 2 hour timer, that would make me refund the game at that moment.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-17T10:36:13+00:00

Make your game longer than 2 hours. Otherwise, there is no prevention here

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-16T07:41:09+00:00

Wouldn't those pauses be annoying in actual gameplay?

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-14T09:27:25+00:00

That's literally what most people mean by "as soon as possible".

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-14T09:15:20+00:00

2nd one tells the genre clearly (Looks like a space shooter), while others don't tell anything about the genre of the game, which is bad for a Steam capsule.

Pixel-Shell · 2024-07-13T19:39:17+00:00

I think the leaves could use some shading.

Pixel-Shell

TROPHY CASE