I TOTALLY agree, my friend, and for the exact same reasons! I had a serious WTF moment when I saw the new name in my watched videos. I nearly set my profile to "Ignore thread" wondering what the hell was going on until I happend to recognize a couple of the LI. The LI here are pretty much unmistakably HOT!!! As in perfect, gorgeous goddesses!
If it weren't for the amazing ladies, I would've just chucked this title in the recycle bin just for changing the name this late in the game. Once you name a story, THAT is the name! No more "working title" bullshit that get's changed before release. Once you release a title with a name, THAT is the name of the title. Even the file names are still Tainted.
This was a fucked up change. I may need to rethink if it's even worth playing this one if the story is THAT damned malleable. My favorite devs write the ENTIRE story out as part of their preproduction process or even well in advance of preproduction. The story is written and named before render one is completed. Those are the stories and devs I respect and enjoy most. This naming and story writing by committee, by popular vote is bullshit. The last title I found was going that direction, I dropped it like a hot rock that was burning my fingers off. If you don't know the story you want to tell then you don't have a story. If you don't know how your character should appear and act in any given situation within the context of your story, you do NOT have a proper character.
Mot, my friend, You've already started this title. So, please let me know how this turns out. At this point, I may or may not play this one. IDK... I need to know if this is going the story by committee route, please. The last title I had to drop for this reason had me wrapped in for 60+ hours of gameplay before I figured out that it was only getting worse, not better. I'd much rather put that time into a game I may just enjoy rather than some flip flop, can't decide what to put out without a vote bullshit.
Thanks, brother.
Adventure ever on, Phat
First the story is not only written for season 1 but for all the 4 seasons of this story,
I even outlined a few possible sequels and spin-offs for the future but this story has been complete before the first frame.
The name and art are pure marketing - and the release here on f95 is "early access" it is not the full game, or the initial release, and I've said so at the start several times. You guys are helping me develop the game in the form of feedback, comments and opinions, and I respect and appreciate all of you.
Both the story and the characters are designed complete with personalities but there is enough flexibility to add or change their reactions and you guys have seen it several times - for example the whole forced-sex scene with Jezz for instance (which was a great insight here on f95) it took lots of thinking, then fixing up the dialogue branches, adding a few more frames and it was good to go, I hope you agree that the new version is better.
Second - marketing is a separate department in game companies from the game development and games (and movies) are in the end a business, i.e. they must generate income.
This is how the game business generates income:
1. Marketing is for acquisition - i.e. getting people to see the game / play it (click to see then buy it)
2. The content is for retention - i.e. to get people to stay (not ask for a refund and give good reviews)
3. And the DLC, sequels and future episodes / seasons are for retention - i.e. get these players to become a community.
Without marketing - none of this is relevant and is why so few games are able to even exist - at the very least they should cover their cost, if not make a little profit.
Our old title (as much as I liked it) - did not work!
People in general had no idea what it meant and we had a tiny community of about 50 Patreons and about 300 followers.
That's not viable in the long run.
After the name change and art upgrade - our community has grown 2x!! in 2 week - (compared to almost 6 months with the previous title) and that's without releasing ep3 which will have tons of improvements - to include most of the feedback we had here on this very thread, and other places.
THIS IS NOT BY COMMETTE!
I'm taking in all the feedback and making decisions according to both business and story.
Might be hard to understand but without the funds I will not be able to keep doing this - at all!
Like not even 1 frame after season 1 will be out.
My goal - and I've said it from the start - is to gather feedback here and launch the best game on steam!
So again - this is early access - and everything including the title is WIP. (it still is even after we launch).
Its ok if a few people will get upset and I understand that, but compared to thousands of people that will actually click on the game and buy it because the title makes more sense, understandable and projects sexy, fun, and interesting experience.
Yeah it was a tough decision but I had to do it.
I asked people what Tainted means - only 1 our of 100 was able to tell me!!! - AND he was not from north America!
This was bad!
Which means on steam when we get tons of traffic, most people will see it - 99% will go "HUH" and just keep on scrolling.
When I showed Lilith Rising to people - they ALL had a silly smile on their face and said "NICE" when does it come out!
Now with the new title if people will see it - most will say - ooooo that looks interesting.
That's the difference.
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STORY OR CHARACTERS!
Marketing is not Game development
Between us - I HATE marketing!
It's been super stressful few weeks, with this marketing push, but I'm very happy with the results.
And very happy with the direction.
I truly hope you'll stay with me for the next bit.
But it will be your choice.
