Though I haven't played AWAM in year(s), I can still tell the game is being bogged down by minutia. Even L&P have stated as such at times. It's fine here and there occasionally when one is "trying something out", but not to the point of stagnation or all the time.
I've followed the game's thread on and off, and I still feel like I haven't missed much of anything since I last played. I don't want to disparage L&P on what is clearly a passion project, but the game really needs significant, forward progress with its plot.
That's a direct quote and one heck of a pitch! It's straight-forward, earnest, and has clearly defined goals. I'm all for it! It's what brought a lot of fans to the game. From this and other details (i.e., "showing too much [too early] ruins the suspense") I get that it's going to be a slow burn game with wonderful CG pieces to illustrate its well-crafted story. Fantastic! Let's do it!
But, and with all due respect, there's a world of difference between "slow burn" and "no burn". And, what ever happened to the "lust and passion" part that's emphasized by the author in the statement above? I mean, yeah, we get a lot of build up, a lot of tease, a lot of insight to the characters, subtle hints at possible consequences, but little in the way of actual payoff, imho. It's just too much for too little. One of the funding goals of the project was to hire someone that would assist with the project. It appears that has been left by the wayside, unfortunately. I don't know about you guys, but if L&P ever decides to look for someone, then I hope it isn't someone whose sole purpose is being a coder, or a writer, or even an artist. I'd like to see someone that is primarily an Editor.
An editor can help refine the story, cut away excess fat, point out things that's unnecessary, and help drive and push that plot forward. Someone that can organize, look at that "big picture", and help adjust the flow and pace of the story. Authors can sometimes get too close to their "baby". Sometimes they are unable or unwilling to see things in a different perspective that can point a light on decremental portions of a project. For instance, if you wanted to read a book that is about a knight that slays a dragon, but the author extensively wrote thirty-seven pages about a houseplant in great detail in the knight's father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate's home that absolutely has nothing to do with anything about anything with the dragonslayer story, then that would be something that must be culled from the book despite any objections by said author.
Realistically, I don't see this happening, of course -- hiring an editor, I mean. In fact, I don't see L&P bringing anyone on at the moment. I certainly do not mean to come off as overly critical or harsh in any way. *Sighs* It's just that I want to see things moving forward, with purpose, towards that finish line in the distance. However, I feel like this game is drowning its audience under the weight of, well, just too much unnecessary stuff really. Sometimes less *is* more.
Not everyone will share this view about reducing waste and being more efficient, of course, and that's okay! You can disagree and say more (without any reduction of renders or dialogues) is better because it's more "aesthetic and realistic". Those on this side of the fence will still respect you. Just putting out some thoughts, that's all. We can all agree that we all want to see this project succeed though, yes no? Be safe, folks! Stay excellent to one another.
