- Jul 29, 2017
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Welp you tried. Not sure how the kickstarter will go so for the time being this game is finished. I enjoyed it more than I didn't and I say thanks for sharing this story .The future of the project Vis and Mad King games.
Hi mates! I hope all is good with you!
There is a time in our lives when for the sake of sanity, we take a few moments and think of what we achieved and what we will achieve, while keep walking on a certain path.
So I did the same with Vis. Since I first had the idea for the game, back in 2019, I wanted to deliver an experience that would at least rival the one that Dragon Age managed to inflict on me. I wanted to create a world where experiencing a micro world would lead to a macro. Based on an entire plot that would question existence itself.
So I took this quest, I bought a small boat and set sail for the unknown waters. As I was navigating, I encountered good weather and bad. Even, sometimes I've encountered monsters that I would have never thought existed, and yet we fought back. But with every storm and every fight, I would lose sailors, and I am here at this point, where I know there is still so much, until the end, that I think to myself if I should sacrifice more. I realize, that the boat and the gear are insufficient for the journey. Therefore I have to go back.
Coming back to more, modern words, I have gone through perspectives about the future of Vis. Since it started I sacrificed so much free time and to some extent, mental health that it steadily transformed from passion to a job. And I ended up in this place where I finish my daily job, sign out and then sign in to my second job, Vis. In time, this type of approach erodes your will. Also, since I started increasing the quality of the renders, I managed to add more time to the vis development. A time that only I would sacrifice. And then, the question came: "Is it worth it?".
To have an idea, in the current pace and funding to deliver the whole story, just with this character, I would need three more years, at least, to finish it.
Initially, I would say yes, for the remaining fans, but as the months passed, the numbers were in a continuous dive. And so the question doesn't get an answer.
On the other hand, as I mentioned above, the project has become more and more demanding. I started spending less time with the family, I started sleeping less, around 6 hours at best, and it also affected my performance at my current job. So I decided I needed to bring back my passion for developing games.
So, I came to this conclusion.
1) I will put Vis and Vis origins on hold and I will create a Kickstarter campaign. I think that what I have released until now could be a good demo for players to understand the world I would like to invest in. Every cent from Kickstarter will represent the budget for the game. My dream is to create e 3D RPG world, hopefully with character creation, where the player can free-roam, take side quests and have the main campaign. I know it's a big dream, but at least I won't try and deceive myself into thinking that I can create it using Renpy.
2) I will continue the game development. I was planning to start developing a game, a modern-themed one, after Vis, but given the decision I made, I will start the game dev now.
It's hard to bring this news to my current patrons and game fans, but I think that for the sake of Vis, my sanity and yours, I must reconsider my plans.
I will start creating the Kickstarter campaign, for Vis and after that, I will start revealing the characters for the new game.
Thank you for understanding. Also, I would like to add to what you wrote that I reflected on the fact that maybe the medieval fantasy genre is slowly dying.Welp you tried. Not sure how the kickstarter will go so for the time being this game is finished. I enjoyed it more than I didn't and I say thanks for sharing this story .
I feel like once you tried to introduce the sandbox elements is when things started to wrong. Long delays in development and then incomplete game mechanics. Had it stayed just a VN maybe we would be further along in the story, but it's clear your vision for the story was meant to be more than a VN.
Anyway I wish you luck in your quest to create your vision for Vis and if it ever comes to pass hopefully I'll be able to check it out.
I disagree with this. I think it exist enough (commercial video) games that are successful that this isn't the case.Also, I would like to add to what you wrote that I reflected on the fact that maybe the medieval fantasy genre is slowly dying.
Thank you. Related to the vacation, it didn't help. I had almost a month of vacation, this year and it was good for a few months but then I was back at it. The lore that I wanted to deliver, was and is complex, therefore it requires a rested mind and adequate attention.I disagree with this. I think it exist enough (commercial video) games that are successful that this isn't the case.
I can understand your reason and thinking, doubt yet what the Kickcstarter campain will do to help in success for this game.
Some thing that goes through my mind:
Why don't take a vacation on "being" game dev for some weeks or months?
Put Vis on the side, go for Vis Origin and tell us some background or character story from the Vis universe (in simpe VN, some could even be KN).
Regardless I wish you good luck and hope for your success.
I thought the same as c3p0 (that you should take a vacation, ITroy had a burnout as well with To be a King, and took some time off, recharge, and he is currently back at it continuing his game with renewed passion).Thank you. Related to the vacation, it didn't help. I had almost a month of vacation, this year and it was good for a few months but then I was back at it. The lore that I wanted to deliver, was and is complex, therefore it requires a rested mind and adequate attention.
Related to the fantasy genre, yes there are some games, still. Most of them were released in the 'golden age of gaming' and have built their success over time and they have a brand awareness that guarantees their fanbase.
But, in my opinion at least, can't compare this period with the one when Elders Scrolls, Dragon Age and Mass Effect (I know it's not medieval) were released. And if I look at TV series or movies, we have now Witcher and LOTR which I assume will be for another season and that's it. The last is GOT which is still standing.
I am not contradicting anyone, I am just brainstorming right now.
Thank you for your feedback.I thought the same as c3p0 (that you should take a vacation, ITroy had a burnout as well with To be a King, and took some time off, recharge, and he is currently back at it continuing his game with renewed passion).
But hearing you say it didn't work, oh well.
With Kickstarter, tbh, I'm skeptical as to whether it will generate more than what you would have been earning with your current patreon (though who knows, I could be wrong).
I do find it that you may be setting a bit of dangerous precedent to yourself though, with Vis Origins originally started and put on hold. Sandbox mode started on Vis and then put on hold. Now, both Vis & Vis Origins being put on hold.
Now, noone can ever fault you for trying to build the game that you wish to make, but I fear you're running the risk of being apparent as a dev who starts things yet never sticking his gun to see things through with the continuous "on-hold" pattern.
So despite people liking your game, people may be more hesitant to put money towards your kickstarter due to this.
Not to mention from what I seeing from you, it seems you're thinking of a full 3D RPG game in the veins of Dragon Age, infused with Kingdom management of some strategy games (given your sandbox element, and you saying previously you love those types of games).
Seems like a very titanic feat to accomplish, and while it would purely awesome if you could achieve it, I have a feeling you might run into a lot of difficulties/obstacles to achieve that (I mean I think it's even rare for AAA game companies to pull that off well).
That gets me thinking perhaps it might be best if you tempered your expectations/re-adjust your goals so the game becomes something which is more achievable.
But on the other hand, I do like to root for devs when they achieve their goal and something awesome comes out as a result of it.
So yeah.... a lot of mixed emotions (for me) with this announcement.
Regardless, I do hope for the best in the development of your game.
Medieval Fantasy, or Medieval genre is one the best genres imho for VNs, it is a thin line between a good story and a cringe one, but nonetheless worthy it, they're scarced but not dying, I just wish people would venture more into it, but I can count in one finger my fav Medieval VNs, and VIS was one of those.Thank you for understanding. Also, I would like to add to what you wrote that I reflected on the fact that maybe the medieval fantasy genre is slowly dying.
Hi,Just to be clear, the game is now abondoned right? There won't be further updates I assume.
Hi Mad King,
I'm sad to see that you feel Vis reached a point where you questioned if it was worth it. Like I told before, it's one of my all time favorites here, even considering the twist and turns in development. I really liked the characters and story and would very much like to see it develop to completion. I also think (just like c3p0) that the medieval fantasy genre isn't dying (that would be a long discussion)...
Because of all that I'd like to share some thoughts.
First of all, the scope of the fantasy setting you created should be enough to absorb you for years. Like you, I loved Dragon Age: Origins, even after being a "veteran" of fantasy games and literature. But, before launching DA:O, David Gaider spent years developing the setting, writing the story and preparing it to be transformed in the game we know, which was accomplished by a whole team. You were writing, rendering, perhaps coding too, interacting with the community... No wonder you started feeling some form of struggle!
On second hand, your vision for the project changed when you adapted to different feedback... First the simple VN + the complex VN; then the VN-Sandbox; then the VN or Sandbox; then just the VN. I understand you were fighting to materialize your dream vision but the form it was taking was making you unhappy.
Finally, the costs. You had to pay a programmer (which I believe it was also a problem at some point) and you had to pay for assets (and Vis is very demanding on quality assets or it will easily miss the mark) and then you had to go to your job to pay for all that...
For me, personally, a good VN would be more than enough. I know your dream is the complete 3D open world game but, will it be possible? I'd like to see the story till the end. Really would. And even feel (unlike GetOutOfMyLab who I respect a lot), that I should have supported you, even though it most certainly wouldn't have made any difference...
I don't know what you should do, but one idea of what you could do is very simple. Take a break from development but dedicate yourself to writing. Advance the story, further develop the characters, the branching paths until the ending or endings, mature the whole thing until you have the most polished setting and the story complete. This story is your passion so I'm guessing you'd be happy to leave it written. Perhaps publish it as a book (you probably still won't make money that way) and then come back to game development, if you still feel like it.
In the meantime, you can decide if you really want to go for the 3D open world game or settle for a quality VN, which you have already proven you can do.
Whatever you decide I'll be wishing your success, and hanging around here, waiting for good news.
Take care.
This game is on hold, tbh I don't have high hopes, Vis renpy version is abondoned.I am encouraged by NTR content and very nice graphics, we have some ganbang available or at least MMF threesome?