Another "game when?" + Focus Change Feedback Thread

[Dam13n]

In term of "game trends" the new kid on the block is probably going to be survival/rpg games. It makes sense, the coming of age of the minecraft generation.

https://www.pcgamer.com/former-biow...victorian-crafting-survival-game-nightingale/

https://www.pcgamer.com/blizzards-survival-game-has-been-in-development-for-almost-5-years/

But Firefall, with its item decay system (I near the end suggested changing this with a consumable gem system, as to no longer have your entire gear break, only a gem needing replacement) WAS already basically a survival/rpg game.

Monster hunting is cool, but has no longevity. We had a monster in Firefall, baneclaw. Other than that the entire server could join, it wasn't very popular and nothing compared to the popularity of the invasions.

It was the chaos that made the fights fun, removing this in combination with the compulsive need to constantly obtain resources for personal and monetary gain would be removing what made Firefall work under the hood.

Yes, your shiny new car looks cool next to Firefall but it would eat its dust in a drag race.

I'm going to undermine my civil conversation a bit and shoot my own foot by perhaps brusing an ego, but I fail to see how "wow with guns" is an idea worthy of ridicule and mockery, but "Dauntless with mechs" is not.

 

[Daegoth]

I'm simply hoping this doesn't turn into another Star Citizen in terms of timeline and progression. I've been seeing a larger ramp-up in "sales" here recently with a lack of tangible progression,and it's starting to raise an eyebrow.

 

[reasonpolice]

The pace of this game's development is the exact pace of a scam. It honestly looks like these people do maybe 20 minutes of work a day? *just* enough work to keep the carrot-on-a-stick going and take people's money. They are basically selling NFTs at this point.

Grummmz' reputation is horrible. No one likes him. He "focus changed" Firefall directly into the garbage. Why does *anyone* still support this guy?

 

[Pandagnome]

nothing compared to the popularity of the invasions.

Those invasions where good fun and attempts to reclaim our zones back with others.

I've been seeing a larger ramp-up in "sales" here recently with a lack of tangible progression,and it's starting to raise an eyebrow.

I am hoping the up in sales is going to speed the process and finally begin to see more in future demos.

The pace of this game's development is the exact pace of a scam. It honestly looks like these people do maybe 20 minutes of work a day? *just* enough work to keep the carrot-on-a-stick going and take people's money. They are basically selling NFTs at this point.

Grummmz' reputation is horrible. No one likes him. He "focus changed" Firefall directly into the garbage. Why does *anyone* still support this guy?

The pace is slow i got to admit, don't think its a scam though. How long do they work is anyone's guess the proof will be shown in the work eventually.

Don't know about that statement of no one liking someone, even Cereal killers have some strange admirers!

 

[EvillNooB]

I'm simply hoping this doesn't turn into another Star Citizen in terms of timeline and progression. I've been seeing a larger ramp-up in "sales" here recently with a lack of tangible progression,and it's starting to raise an eyebrow.

only now? subscription to unreleased game was dead giveaway for me, as long as they have so much income, they have no pressure to launch on kickstarter, and to keep this income they'll focus on releasing more jpegs

don't want to be too pessimistic don't want to be purged from this forum without a trace xd but it's not looking good so far

 

[Pandagnome]

only now? subscription to unreleased game was dead giveaway for me, as long as they have so much income, they have no pressure to launch on kickstarter, and to keep this income they'll focus on releasing more jpegs

don't want to be too pessimistic don't want to be purged from this forum without a trace xd but it's not looking good so far

Good jpegs for Em8er comic would be a very expensive comic hmm

I'd like to see those art work come to life ingame, then folks can really start to have more confidence!

 

[Sy]

"Kickstarter by the end of 2021"

 

[Pandagnome]

"Kickstarter by the end of 2021"

My duppleganger in the alternate world mentioned it was a success

 

[farias]

My duppleganger in the alternate world mentioned it was a success

+------------------------------------+
|..PANDAGNOME: INTO THE PANDA-VERSE..|
+------------------------------------+
.
​

 

[Dam13n]

It still feels unwise to me at this point in development to switch focus. Especially since so much of the current demo is already in place. A wiser choice imo would be to polish the thumper encounter and if more or different content would be needed, build up on the horde mechanics, that are already down the pipeline.

If humanoids are already in the game, adding towers and a basic defense mission would not be too dificult imo. Compared to a completely new encounter.

It would be easier and at least equally as impressive (as a giant kajiu battle) to add to what is already there, is what i'm saying.

The cool part of Firefall in terms of encounters imo, was that it turned the horde mechanics up to 11.

Not only would a small invasion for example be easier to develop, it would probably look more impressive, have a higher replay value and the mechanics would be transferable between events.

 

[Sy]

I agree with the invasion mechanic.

I made a new post just pushing that idea:

https://forums.em8er.com/threads/base-raid-not-boss-raid.2382/

 

[Dam13n]

I agree with the invasion mechanic.

I made a new post just pushing that idea:

https://forums.em8er.com/threads/base-raid-not-boss-raid.2382/

Cool. I was starting to second guess it a bit.

The only real issue I could see with it is performance but the Amazone zone fixed this with harder hitting enemies.

Making it both an instanced event with 10 players and an open world event more intended as a set piece, as in, "now it can be cheesed with enough players but it shows the potential for the future when we scale it up" . Would be another.

Those are just some I can think off, there will be more creative ways, I'm sure.

 

[Dam13n]

No one take this the wrong way, as it is in no way intended like that.

But here is a pretty safe bet of what might happen, when a small isolated boss encounter becomes the primary focus.

The team will spent a lot of time developing it until eventually, due to budgetary and time constraints it becomes obvious that the "true vision" for the encounter will turn out not to be feasible at that time.

This is standard practice in game development.

Again, nothing personal.

Given that few of the improvements being made in this isolated event can translate over to a new one, you guys will have painted yourself into a corner.

I'm not saying this is going to happen, I'm just saying it isn't uncommon during development.


I'm a huge believer in applied Daoism, the core tenent boils down to always trying to find the path of least resistance.

"Wu wei, does not mean to not cut wood, it just means to cut wood along the lines where wood is most easiest to cut"

To paraphrase Alan Watts

 

[Sy]

But here is a pretty safe bet of what might happen, when a small isolated boss encounter becomes the primary focus.

The team will spent a lot of time developing it until eventually, due to budgetary and time constraints it becomes obvious that the "true vision" for the encounter will turn out not to be feasible at that time.

This is standard practice in game development.

...

Given that few of the improvements being made in this isolated event can translate over to a new one, you guys will have painted yourself into a corner.

I'm not saying this is going to happen, I'm just saying it isn't uncommon during development.

Your basic misunderstanding is thinking this is an isolated event. It is not, it is core gameplay.

 

[Dam13n]

Your basic misunderstanding is thinking this is an isolated event. It is not, it is core gameplay.

No, no. I understand that "Kajiu hunting" was going to be in the game in one form or another. What i perhaps should have said and meant by isolated event, was 4 person co-op instanced boss encounter.

A.i, i do not foresee many of the work being done on a 4 person co-op boss encounter translate over well to eventual, other parts of the game. If at one point it may turn out not to work as well as originally hoped. While a horde mechanic is a horde mechanic. A thumper, an incursion an invasion, even a death squad are all essentially horde encounters.

So work on one horde would translate over well to other similar open world encounters. While a lot of work done on the very specific instanced boss encounter may not.

 

[Sy]

What i perhaps should have said and meant by isolated event, was 4 person co-op instanced boss encounter.

Any instancing would be done for the Kickstarter for technical reasons.

The boss encounter being developed is for two gameplay essentials: The first is the encounter when escorting a thumper back to base, and the second is for a base invasion.

 

[Pandagnome]

Imagine if certain horde behavior could change with some numbers combining to form a single tougher opponent.

This could be tougher depending on how many combine and how many players are nearby.

Made me think of the replicators

These could charge like the ducks or similar to how the brontodons charged.

 

[Dam13n]

Any instancing would be done for the Kickstarter for technical reasons.

The boss encounter being developed is for two gameplay essentials: The first is the encounter when escorting a thumper back to base, and the second is for a base invasion.

You do realize the reason for this whole conversation right?

We Went Full Kaiju, You Said YES! So We Said, "Take 42% Off and Thank You!"

Two weeks ago we announced big changes to Em-8ER's demo and waited for the backlash. Before the announcement we saw interest in Em-8ER waning, sales slowing down, and we knew something was off.

In the months prior, we gave the problem a lot of thought. What was holding us back from growing the community? Why was it hard for backers to convince their friends to give Em-8ER a try?

It turns out, a demo about collecting resources isn't the best way to convince your friends to play. "Why are you collecting resources? Is that what this game is about, rock collecting?" We could hear the questions being asked by your friends as you tried to explain "the cool part comes later!"

Skipping Right to the Good Stuff.

Instead of having people wait, we thought "why not just show them the cool part, right now?" Seeing and PLAYING an epic mech battle vs a giant monster is certainly better showing your friend some rock collecting. Such a demo would speak to the very heart of Em-8ER, mech vs kaiju showdowns. We could take great action video clips and screenshots and post them everywhere for sharing with your friends.

You Loved It.

When we pitched the idea at the last Chief Chat, we were worried. But we were thrilled when you welcomed the change with enthusiasm! Sales and interest started to climb again! This was the action we needed to show and win over your friends and referrals! While the game remains the same, the demo would shift focus to the biggest fun and high energy moments that really sell the mech vs kaiju fantasy! Across the board, you all agreed, and we are both grateful and thrilled!

Let's Celebrate. Take 42% Off, On Us

We're so happy with the great response that we decided to have a flash sale for October. All skins, upgrades, newcomer packs and general store are at 42% off for the weekend! Our October darling, Darla, is also on sale in the General Store. All subsriptions are just One Dollar too! Click the links below and get some huge savings, on us, and thank you!

- Subscription Program (Just one dollar!).

- Newcomer Packs (buy or upgrade any pack at 42% off!).

- M3 Packs (You can still upgrade these!).

- General Store (Get the Darla Skin and others for a limtied time!).

Many Thanks!

Thanks once again for all your support. We're looking forward to sharing the results of our new demo focus soon!

Edit; I'm assuming you do given the other posts. Yeah, i would certainly hope that if the instanced encounter doesn't work out, the assets from this boss battle could be used in other ways. But making a good boss battle seems a lot more complicated than making a horde and that would then be the reason to make it instanced instead of open world.

 

[Pandagnome]

would certainly hope that if the instanced encounter doesn't work out, the assets from this boss battle could be used in other ways. But making a good boss battle seems a lot more complicated than making a horde and that would then be the reason to make it instanced instead of open world.

Boss battles can change the pace
Horde battles are fun depending on the types of opponents

Both together = more exciting /chaotic

Hopefully they can do that otherwise as you say they could already have a plan b,c because otherwise it could take even longer.

 

[Dam13n]

Boss battles can change the pace
Horde battles are fun depending on the types of opponents

Both together = more exciting /chaotic

Hopefully they can do that otherwise as you say they could already have a plan b,c because otherwise it could take even longer.

^^
That's my point.

The horde is more varied in its uses, you can take the pieces and arrange them differently to make various encounters.

For example, the knee biters a knee biters nest, the humanoids attack a tower with a win and lose state, etc. While the boss encounter is limited in its versatility. Especially if it starts off being instanced.