Update Preferences

[N7Shepard]

So I've been a member here since April and in that time I found a number of games I liked the look of and enjoyed playing them as updates came out. However, after playing the latest Episode of Being a Dik I've been finding it hard to enjoy the smaller updates from other games and have found myself skipping updates in order to play a couple at a time for a longer experience. This has just made me a little curious on what people here generally prefer. Would you rather have steady monthly updates that are smaller in size or would waiting 3 or 4 months but having much larger fleshed out updates similar to Being A Dik or City of Broken Dreamers be better?

Also, for Game Developers, what is your preferred method?

 

[MaxCarna]

I think that deliver one version per month match pledges charging per month, for every value spent there is a reward associated.

In if you think about it, if the developer deliver one version per month, it's completely up to the user decide if he want to play again every month, or wait 3 or 4 versions. The developer shouldn't decide on behalf of the user.

 

[おい！]

So I've been a member here since April and in that time I found a number of games I liked the look of and enjoyed playing them as updates came out. However, after playing the latest Episode of Being a Dik I've been finding it hard to enjoy the smaller updates from other games and have found myself skipping updates in order to play a couple at a time for a longer experience. This has just made me a little curious on what people here generally prefer. Would you rather have steady monthly updates that are smaller in size or would waiting 3 or 4 months but having much larger fleshed out updates similar to Being A Dik or City of Broken Dreamers be better?

Also, for Game Developers, what is your preferred method?

So who's account are you using?
Personally I do not worry about such things myself, some of the games I have downloaded recently for the first time are at version 0.07/0.08 and other games I may wait for 2 or 3 updates before revisiting them.

 

[Akamari]

In if you think about it, if the developer deliver one version per month, it's completely up to the user decide if he want to play again every month, or wait 3 or 4 versions. The developer shouldn't decide on behalf of the user.

A developer is responsible for how substantial the update is and the way it is presented. It's the showcase of his work and he will be judged for it. Personally, I don't find small updates satisfying. It depends on the game, of course, but generally speaking one month is too short a timeframe to produce an update of such quality and substance to get a blast from playing it.

Sure, a patron can skip an update, but that creates a pressure on him to play it anyway, even if he knows it would be best for him to wait, because he's putting money in the project. There's also the thing of being behind everyone else who do play, thus making it difficult to avoid spoilers, if one wants to follow the development closely.

That said, there should be some kind of balance in it. 3 months or more between playable updates is too long a period in my opinion. If I were a dev I would strive to make it under three months or offer refunds if it takes longer.

 

[JRD]

I've never really cared one way or another, I view the development of a lot of these games as art instead of just being a product. Personally I don't feel it's right to push devs/artists to hold to a schedule, especially if I enjoy what they create. Yes, the final outcome can be marketed as a product, but supporting the process of creation is a choice.

Faerin (Man of the House) usually delivers high quality updates on a regular basis, then there are others like Jikei (Mythic Manor) who releases updates every few months - and I gladly supported both of them. I've always felt update size and schedule are the creators prerogative. Some devs are amazing artists, writers and coders. The individuals who are solo amaze me - I mean, I sure as hell can't code and on my best days the most I can do is draw stick figures...

I was a long-time supporter of about 7 projects till Patreon stopped accepting pre-paid cc's for some reason. If that decision is ever reversed I'll definitely be supporting most of them again, regardless of scheduling. But if I felt a dev was constantly delaying releases for more than a few months with no communication then I'd first pause support, then quietly cut it entirely.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[anne O'nymous]

It all depend of the game. For games that have a strong story, I prefer to wait a long time and have substantial content. But most of the games don't fall under this category and are more an entertainment than anything else. And in this case as long as the update stay entertaining, I don't care if it lasted just 10 minutes.
But it's probably because I automated the downloading and install process. If the update last less than the time you had spend to launch the download then install the game, then I fully understand that people can be frustrated.

 

[N7Shepard]

I find lately that I really enjoy the Episode style of updating. Rather than adding a few scenes here or there the update consists of a set length episode. While Being A Dik is one of the larger examples I really enjoy Where the Heart Is by CheekyGimp and HeavyFive by Nottravis. While these are smaller games than DPK or Philly make I've never been really disappointed by an update and both have great story progression. On the other hand, it seems to be much harder to make a good Sandbox type game with the content spread out so much and maybe miss able all together if you don't go the the right places at the right time.

 

[Nottravis]

The individuals who are solo amaze me..

The power of Jaffa Cakes goes a long way *nods nods*. Oh, and smokes and coffee and being ever so slightly bonkers too, probs

...and HeavyFive by @Nottravis. While these are smaller games than DPK or Philly make I've never been really disappointed by an update and both have great story progression

Thank you. Really pleased you enjoy my work

But to answer your original question....

Also, for Game Developers, what is your preferred method?

Fairly obviously I'm in the complete episode camp. I confess I like to think of the H5 Chapters as a bit like being TV episodes and that the aim is, regardless of path you go down, you get a complete little story each release.

But the "monthly" vs "complete" thingy is something I've struggled with myself from the other side of the fence.

I'd adore being able to release monthly (and indeed that was my original plan) but I just don't have the hardware "ooomph" to kick out the number of renders I need (makes her game on a 1060 potato). Interestingly, I've been kicking this around with my patrons myself of late as I feel rather uncomfortable taking cash in a month when I don't deliver something and so raised with them this issue. i.e. would they prefer a complete chapter as envisaged when ready or part chapters every month.

It was overwhelmingly in favour of the former.

Also! Please, please, please tell me you called your MC, Shepard...

 

[Oshitari Azumi]

This is coming solely from the perspective of a consumer, so please that that into account, as my opinion is very...eh...
I voted for smaller/less monthly updates personally, and I haven't played Being Dik, but i can understand why people would like a larger piece of game to chew on even if it takes a long while. The main reason I chose the smaller updates, though, is just because I feel like that prolonged silence could possibly be detrimental as fans may lose interest with the game and give up on it. But then again, people always want something new to toy around with, and not just subtle things like the game playing smoother but actual gameplay that can be seen.

TL;DR: I chose smaller/less monthly updates as I think having the developer post more often and communicate with their audience more frequently is more important than just putting out one big update before retreating again to make more, but I haven't played a game like Being a Dik with, what sounds to be, large updates with lots of meat, so take this with a megaton of salt.

 

[Nottravis]

...as my opinion is very...

...totally valid. Totes

The main reason I chose the smaller updates, though, is just because I feel like that prolonged silence could possibly be detrimental as fans may lose interest with the game and give up on it.

Yeppers. This is my big worry tbh. As a small new dev the biggest thing/fear for me is how do I keep momentum and interest going sufficiently to be able to claw my way up the equipment pole to be able to compete with those who are already IT rich? It's a tricky one to pull off for sure.

 

[Oshitari Azumi]

...totally valid. Totes



Yeppers. This is my big worry tbh. As a small new dev the biggest thing/fear for me is how do I keep momentum and interest going sufficiently to be able to claw my way up the equipment pole to be able to compete with those who are already IT rich? It's a tricky one to pull off for sure.

Haha well I get how that's a concern for anyone whether you're making a game just for youself, and audience, or if it's a triple A title. I just feel that as long as the devs are willing to constantly communicate with their audience, then I can wait no matter if it's a slight delay, or even just waiting bi-monthly or something for a larger content drop. After all, it takes a really special game to hold my attention even if the game get's put on hiatus indefinitely or just abandoned (such as Slavemaker 3 and Free Cities, respectively)

 

[Akamari]

I find lately that I really enjoy the Episode style of updating. Rather than adding a few scenes here or there the update consists of a set length episode.

I'm totally in favour of episodic format. It tends to have a beginning and an end to each episode making the update feel more compact and orderly. It's much better than just "random" bits of content glued in at different places.

On the other hand, it seems to be much harder to make a good Sandbox type game with the content spread out so much and maybe miss able all together if you don't go the the right places at the right time.

Yeah, I think the main problem sandbox games tend to have is a poor way (or none at all) of informing the player what to do and where to go. One thing you don't want as a player is to spend precious time searching for next triggers. A good hint system (such as icons showing a location has an event with certain characters or the MC/narrator making suggestions) is crucial.

 

[Akamari]

I just feel that as long as the devs are willing to constantly communicate with their audience, then I can wait no matter if it's a slight delay, or even just waiting bi-monthly or something for a larger content drop.

Yep, communication is everything! Longer periods between updates are perfectly fine as long as one can be regularly informed about the development. No silence, no worry.

 

[Oshitari Azumi]

Yep, communication is everything! Longer periods between updates are perfectly fine as long as one can be regularly informed about the development. No silence, no worry.

Yep yep! Too bad that one of the developers that I won't name basically sucks at this and they drop infrequent updates that are just usually tiny bug fixes. -_-

 

[JRD]

I find lately that I really enjoy the Episode style of updating. Rather than adding a few scenes here or there the update consists of a set length episode. While Being A Dik is one of the larger examples I really enjoy Where the Heart Is by CheekyGimp and HeavyFive by Nottravis. While these are smaller games than DPK or Philly make I've never been really disappointed by an update and both have great story progression. On the other hand, it seems to be much harder to make a good Sandbox type game with the content spread out so much and maybe miss able all together if you don't go the the right places at the right time.

I'm 100% with you on this. If the dev wants to take their time to release what they feel is a good product, then by all means they should do so. Can't please everyone!

On a completely personal note I really enjoy open-world sandbox games. PornEmpire and Holiday Island are 2 examples that I feel are at the top of their game. Sure, the gfx in PE is a bit basic, but the coding involved to integrate the story, unique characters, attribute management, pacing, etc is rock-solid and PEdev/mbmb is very good about communicating both here and on Patreon. HI isn't as open-world as PE, but again, the level of difficulty integrating all the hidden scenes, renders (and the renders are very well done imo), scene timing, attribute/skill levels, etc blows my mind. I feel the hidden events/scenes in games like these adds replay value. But doing all that takes time and effort. Which probably means slower update cycles.

Again, this is just my opinion.

 

[Akamari]

Yep yep! Too bad that one of the developers that I won't name basically sucks at this and they drop infrequent updates that are just usually tiny bug fixes. -_-

Yeah, that is too bad, it seems that many devs don't realise how much loyalty they could inspire in their players by just keeping them in the loop of what's going on.

I'm rather fortunate that my top favourite dev is fantastic in that area. I'd wait as long as necessary for a game update with her lengthy and detailed development updates, sneaky peeky renders, and frequent interactions with her fans.

 

[Oshitari Azumi]

Yeah, that is too bad, it seems that many devs don't realise how much loyalty they could inspire in their players by just keeping them in the loop of what's going on.

I'm rather fortunate that my top favourite dev is fantastic in that area. I'd wait as long as necessary for a game update with her lengthy and detailed development updates, sneaky peeky renders, and frequent interactions with her fans.

Imma take a stab to the developer being the one in your banner? If so, then I may check it out too. Decently interested in a sci-fi game since there doesn't seem to be many that really catch my eye nowadays...

 

[Synx]

Sandbox games and version development/release schedules don't really mix together. For a good sandbox experience you kind of need to release a complete zone filled with pretty much everything into it at once. Otherwise you end up with those games which adds 5 hidden pictures to an existing zone, almost impossible to find without a walk through.

But that takes time. A lot of time. And like some others already said, most people have an upper limit of an acceptable release schedule, which seems around 3 months. That just sounds to little for a sandbox game (for a good one).

Anyway I personally prefer a monthly update for newer games so I can see they are still actively involved before I would support them. For established games/publishers, around 3 months is my limit

 

[Akamari]

Imma take a stab to the developer being the one in your banner? If so, then I may check it out too. Decently interested in a sci-fi game since there doesn't seem to be many that really catch my eye nowadays...

Yep that's the one. She also happens to have two posts little bit above.

 

[Oshitari Azumi]

Yep that's the one. She also happens to have two posts little bit above.

Lol maybe if I wasn't stupid I would've clicked on the banner and checked for myself. XD