how many content should be included in the first version?

[pussydestroyer199]

I just started creating my game, but I want to know how many images, animations, and choices should be included in the first version.

 

[Count Morado]

This has been asked many times - doing a search would have answered your question:
https://f95zone.to/search/407084403...]=72&c[nodes][1]=9&c[title_only]=1&o=date&g=1

https://f95zone.to/search/407084560...]=72&c[nodes][1]=9&c[title_only]=1&o=date&g=1

And it has been answered many many ways by many many people with many many different opinions.

The bottom line is: Your first release should be the length you think it should be.

What I mean is - if you were to find a v0.01.0 release ... what would YOU expect in it. Whatever that expectation is, then make your v0.01.0 that length. Because there is no consensus and there is no right or wrong answer... EXCEPT for one definite wrong answer - never releasing it is always the wrong answer. Always.

 

[Nadekai]

... Enough content to captivate potential customer's attention ...
... bonus point if you leave it at a cliffhanger ...

 

[♍VoidTraveler]

First release should containt at least 3 days worth of content i'd say.
Most mf's here don't make even one day worth though, which is pretty pathetic imo...
And then 'surprise pikachu' when people start writing 1 star reviews talking about how there's zero fucking content in there lulz.

 

[Insomnimaniac Games]

First release should containt at least 3 days worth of content i'd say.
Most mf's here don't make even one day worth though, which is pretty pathetic imo...
And then 'surprise pikachu' when people start writing 1 star reviews talking about how there's zero fucking content in there lulz.

Well, now you've got me curious. What's the context of "day" here. In-game days? IRL days? Because one guy could play an hour a day for three days, and another could play three hours in one day. Did you mean hours of content, not days? I am confusion.

 

[♍VoidTraveler]

What's the context of "day" here.

I mean real days, which means i recommend 72 hours worth of content for first releases.
Heck, at least 24 hours would already be vastly better than majority of first releases here.

 

[Insomnimaniac Games]

I mean real days, which means i recommend 72 hours worth of content for first releases.
Heck, at least 24 hours would already be vastly better than majority of releases here.

You want 72 hours of content on first releases... dude, that's the length of Persona 5. I think you're being sarcastic, but it's you so I really have no idea.

 

[♍VoidTraveler]

You want 72 hours of content on first releases... dude, that's the length of Persona 5. I think you're being sarcastic, but it's you so I really have no idea.

Okay fine then, let's say... 10% of total length.
So if total game length planned is 100 hours then 10 hours first release sounds reasonable to me.

Also if it's some tiny-ass game length-wise, then i suppose it doesn't really matter.
But then there would be no point releasing it while it's incomplete unless you want to milk.

 

[Insomnimaniac Games]

Okay fine then, let's say... 10% of total length.
So if total game length planned is 100 hours then 10 hours first release sounds reasonable to me.

Also if it's some tiny-ass game length-wise, then i suppose it doesn't really matter.
But then there would be no point releasing it while it's incomplete unless you want to milk.

Alright, now I KNOW you're being sarcastic.

 

[♍VoidTraveler]

Alright, now I KNOW you're being sarcastic.

Well... consider that many 'games' here never really finish at all, and just stay in their forever-milking developing states.
Three days worth at the start suddenly seems like chump change in that case.

 

[Jaike]

If you really want to put a number on it, I think half an hour is about the minimum unless you're releasing a complete or nearly complete short. That's average reading or playing speed, so it's still subjective. What's more important is that you feel it's enough to get a sense of your project, and if you want to draw backers, that it's long enough and has enough of the "right" content to convince people in your target audience that you're serious about it (don't expect many backers after the 1st release). Sort of combine Count Morado's and Nadekai's answers.

 

[Syr96]

I would definitely recommend that you aim for about 1 hour of gameplay (in the case of a visual novel), so that you have enough time to calmly introduce the premise and the main characters. This should be around 300-500 images.
Furthermore, I would strongly advise you to have 1-2 additional "updates" pre-produced. For your game to gain recognition, it should ideally be updated at regular intervals. To manage this time-wise, it makes sense to have some content pre-produced. This will reduce stress for you and keep your project in people's minds, as they will see it more often with regular updates.

 

[Doorknob22]

If you really want to put a number on it, I think half an hour is about the minimum unless you're releasing a complete or nearly complete short. That's average reasing or playing speed, so it's still subjective. What's more important is that you feel it's enough to get a feel of your project, and if you want to draw backers, that it's long enough and has enough of the "right" content to convince people in your target audience that you're serious about it (don't expect many backers after the 1st release). Sort of combine Count Morado's and Nadekai's answers.

This. And to give you even more numbers: I estimate that an average sentence takes roughly 3-4 seconds to read and click space. This gives you a very-very-very-very rough estimate of about 600 lines of dialog for a minimal first release. And yes, you can "cheat" by having a 1-2 words "lines" but you'll only be cheating yourself.

Good luck!

 

[ModernGamingIs_Trash]

I would say at the very least 1 content of sex. It would find it to be a mistake if you created a demo with no sexual content in it. I think even 1 is too low for it's first release.

When I first made my game, I actually had majority of the game done and released in it's first version. You don't need to do that. I was doing video games as a hobby. Since, I've made 9 free game projects, all without funding or profit.

Most of the games I made when releasing it's prototype had a large amount of content and sex content. You don't need to do that. Gamers will find some stupid shit to say anyway.

 

[Jaike]

I would say at the very least 1 content of sex. It would find it to be a mistake if you created a demo with no sexual content in it. I think even 1 is too low for it's first release.

That depends entirely on the genre, the crowd they wanna target, and maybe the kind of story. If it's pure goon fodder, yes sexual content's a pretty good idea and 1 scene may not be enough. But for an ordinary vanilla experience it isn't always a bad idea to wait, the stairway to heaven is a trope for a reason. If it's story-focused, it's best that it actually fits the story whatever gets added.