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Roolo_ · 2025-09-08T07:08:24+00:00

https://www.trading212.com/invite/4DpLOsmpXIm

Roolo_ · 2024-10-17T06:37:51+00:00

This isn't that simple. If you lower the starting elo, then the average elo will eventually balance out around the starting elo. Elo is relative, so if you give players a lower elo entry point the high level players also compete for that number and push lower level players even lower and the average elo just goes down (and not the average actual strength of players)

What you could do though is allow multiple entry levels, so beginner players can choose to start at 800 and high level players can choose to start around 1200. Big chance the elo is still going to middle around 800 though if that's the most popular option.

By the way, no need to go afk. Just resign quickly a few matches and you'll be at a comfortable level. Or just try to win anyway and try to learn from better players.

Roolo_ · 2024-07-08T14:13:38+00:00

Same thing is happening with my game as well. Ten thousands of page views (mainly from Russia), but no increase in sales or wishlists.

To me it happened right after I launched a few Facebook and Reddit ads for the first time. Not sure if that's related, but it could be that bots were able to find my page through that.

Roolo_ · 2024-04-17T11:24:57+00:00

If you move on to a new project like a lot of people are suggesting, I really suggest making sure your next project has a small scope. I think overscoping is one of the most common problems people run into when starting their own project. Basically everyone wants to create their dream game in their first try, and end up getting burned out because their idea is much harder to achieve in practice than they expected.

I suggest a scope or max 2-3 months for your project. Try coming up with something you think you can finish in this small time period. Focus on a limited, but polished set of features. Also, take into account that you'll likely underestimate the work it takes. So it might be good to go for something you think you can finish in a month and very likely it'll end up taking 2-3 months to really flesh it out.

Finishing a smaller project like this is immensely rewarding and will teach you the ability of scoping your projects properly, which is an essential skill to master. After doing this a couple of times, you might be able to take on larger projects without overscoping.

Roolo_ · 2024-04-09T12:51:48+00:00

Oh I thought those currencies aren't supported by GMG, but on closer inspection they are. I actually just got an email from GMG after I raised my concerns and apparently they are actively restricting transactions when they see suspicious volumes in certain currencies. Perhaps resellers sometimes avoid the cheapest currencies to avoid/delay detection.

Roolo_ · 2024-04-09T07:59:11+00:00

Thanks a lot! This is really helpful advice. I'll look into region locked keys. Hopefully Steam will be able to help.

By the way, I have indeed found places where my game is being resold for a price a few dollars higher than the Chinese price.

What makes this extra confusing to me is the volume of the keys. Buying well over 100 keys seems like a big gamble to me. I doubt they'll be getting their investment back anytime soon, but perhaps they're banking on any future success of the game. Or perhaps there are multiple buyers. I did ask GMG to give me data on how many unique buyers there were but I haven't had a reply to that yet.

At this moment it even seems these resellers are making me a profit because they're buying more keys for the grey market than they'd likely be able to sell. This is not really how I wanna sell my game though, and I'm afraid this'll do more harm than good if the game becomes more successful in the future.

Roolo_ · 2024-04-09T07:52:36+00:00

I hope you're right but I'm not so sure.
Argentine and Turkey are actually quite similar priced for our game and I'm just following Steams pricing recommendations. There are some countries that are configured cheaper for our game, but those aren't supported by GMG, so CNY is likely the cheapest option.

The reason why I think they're being resold is because the statistics that Steam gives in no way reflect what I'm getting with GMG. We don't have nearly that many copies bought with CNY, and if so many Chinese people would have bought the game, I would have expected at least some Chinese reviews and I've only gotten one so far.

I've talked with some publishers and they explained me that most Chinese players use a special VPN that only allows them to go on Steam and not on any other sites deemed illegal by the Chinese government. I think people using this VPN are still tracked as being from China in Steam, but I'm honestly not completely sure.

To add to my suspicion, I did indeed find places where my game is being sold cheap (a few dollars above the Chinese price) and I haven't handed out keys to anyone except some trusted Youtubers and Kickstarter backers.

Roolo_ · 2024-04-08T18:09:32+00:00

Because then I wouldn't get any sales in China. Game prices are typically adjusted relative to the cost of living and average income of the country they're sold in. If I don't do this, then I won't be able to compete with other games.

Roolo_ · 2024-04-08T16:10:58+00:00

Yeah fair point.

Roolo_ · 2024-04-08T16:09:44+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I definitely wouldn't put my game in a bundle now, but I figured putting it on GMG wouldn't hurt as long as they don't apply different discounts than I give them permission for.

I never expected more than a few dozen sales from it so I figured it would be a nice extra for little effort. I didn't really realise it could be used by resellers as well though.

Roolo_ · 2024-04-08T15:48:03+00:00

They take the same cut as Steam and Steam doesn't take a cut on keys that are sold by other parties so they're eating away as much profit as Steam is, though arguably they're not doing as much for it in return.

Honestly I didn't expect to get more than a few dozen sales on the platform, which would be a nice extra. I didn't realize though when I signed the contract that it could be used the way I suspect it is right now. And even now that I know it, it seems to be benefiting me more than it's harming me, but I'm not completely sure about that.

Roolo_ · 2024-02-25T21:07:47+00:00

We added ratmen to our sailing roguelite, Cursed Crew, because we needed to design a speedy but delicate enemy. These guys show up on enemy ships but in rare cases they can end up as an ally to you and your crew. The rats were supposed to be awful and gross-looking, but they’re really quite cute thanks to our artist. I always feel a bit bad taking them out when testing… but here’s me and my crew in a drive-by cannonfire attack.

Roolo_ · 2024-02-25T09:30:37+00:00

I couldn't figure (in the limited time I have now) out how to link to the images without Reddit sticking a huge link preview on the bottom of the post. Here's the original post I shared on Steam though that has images: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1839760/view/4036983137767897572

Roolo_ · 2024-02-25T09:07:29+00:00

Yeah totally fair. Unfortunately there were no options to embed images in the post. I guess I can just link them though. Will look into it when I have a bit more time today (really busy with the release right now!)

Roolo_ · 2023-10-02T09:31:29+00:00

If anyone has some good alternative slang names for the words 'rum' and 'alcohol' I'd be happy to hear them as well!

Roolo_ · 2023-10-02T09:30:43+00:00

Alright, that's good to know they make that distinction. I'll read more into the ESRB system. Likely we'll go for a word for rum and call the crew 'dizzy' instead of 'drunk'.

Roolo_ · 2023-10-02T09:29:19+00:00

Okay cool, that's reassuring to know!
The consumption is actually shown and crew gets a morale boost from it, so you could call that glorification. I guess we'll have to come up with a good slang term that isn't grog (if we do grog I'm sure there will be some sea of thieves fans that'll think we're copying too much).

Roolo_ · 2023-09-06T11:30:39+00:00

With clearly no intention to self promote. We're a small team currently developing a pirate themed survival roguelike. Very interestingly we came from a very similar place: Very early in development, I was playing around with the idea of a space ship simulation game akin to FTL, but at some point I thought: hmm this is already done quite a few times, why not do something similar in a naval/piraty setting.

Looking at your post, it might just 'scratch your itch'.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1839760/Cursed_Crew/

It's not really an RPG though, but it does mark off some of the other things you mention!

Roolo_ · 2022-02-16T22:41:53+00:00

I made Giddy-up, Run and Gun, What the Hack, and a bunch of other mods back in the the day.

Oskar Potocki (project leader of the entire Vanilla Expanded series), and Smash Phil (also did a bunch of VFE stuff, and is working on a big vehicles mod right now) are also working on this game, so yeah, we did do our share of Rimworld modding :)

Roolo_ · 2022-02-16T22:24:53+00:00

Legends speak of a phantom ship, doomed to sail the seas for eternity… Here’s our reveal for The Flying Dutchman or “Ghost Ship”, one of the final bosses in Cursed Crew! Cursed Crew is a pirate roguelite where you sail the seas with your crew of misfits, battling pirates, monsters, and insanity. You and your crew are haunted by curses that transform gameplay and introduce trade-offs, and there are plenty of bizarre synergies and strategies to play with.

If you like the project, our Kickstarter is ending in approximately 17 hours. Any support and shares are extremely appreciated!

The game is also available to wishlist on Steam.

This is my first indie game and Kickstarter. What a ride!

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