Age of Decadence

[Starwars]

I just don't think Troika spent too much time developing the combat engine, whereas you can see AoD has taken on that as a major part of the game and a real labor of love.

 

This was something that surprised me about the demo. Because combat is not really the focus of the game, and just one of many paths you can take through it, I did not expect for it to be this strong. I think combat systems in general are pretty weak over the board in most RPGs, even ones that focus more on combat. So it was fun to see that this had obviously received a lot of attention (and still does as there are still tweaks being made and still a few things not implemented in the demo).

 

A few months ago I would've likely been in the "release the goddamn game" camp, but now I'm glad they're taking the "Blizzard route" and tweaking away until the game is really strong. The potential is definitely there.

[Radek Smektala]

The demo is really fun, isn't it? I usually avoid fighting like a plague in RPGs, playing diplomats in the three or so games that allow it, so the amount of enjoyment I got out of the combat demo comes as a surprise.

 

I played a two handed axe guy. I probably could have been smarter on how I spent my money. I got past the three raiders, but the next guy took me apart a couple times and I stopped there.

 

That only goes to show how varied the character builds can be. I wasn't able to get past the barbari for the longest time, but took down the next guy in the first try, with plenty of health to spare. I believe I was attacking his hands, lowering his AP in the following round, and also keeping close to him the whole time. That way, he couldn't hit me with his trident, and whenever he tried to disengage, I got an opportunity attack.

[Wrath of Dagon]

New version of the demo available: http://www.irontowerstudio.com/forum/index...pic,1259.0.html Supposed to be a lot harder.

[Tigranes]

I thought i was done with this combat demo, but if it's a lot harder I'll have to give it a try, good stuff.

 

Now, if only they'd let me donate money instead of buying silly merchandise...

[Wrath of Dagon]

I thought i was done with this combat demo, but if it's a lot harder I'll have to give it a try, good stuff.

 

Now, if only they'd let me donate money instead of buying silly merchandise...

If you go under Patron in the store, they have donation cards and if you buy those, almost all the money goes to ITS.

[Tigranes]

Oh, I'll check those out then. I think I only saw mugs and shirts.

[Wrath of Dagon]

An interesting interview about the Lovecraftian game Iron Tower is also working on: http://www.criticalgamer.co.uk/2010/02/08/...udio-interview/

[Bos_hybrid]

Now, if only they'd let me donate money instead of buying silly merchandise...

 

You what? Why would anyone donate to a video game company? You show support by buying their game, hell buy it twice if your obsessed, but donate?

 

If you go under Patron in the store, they have donation cards and if you buy those, almost all the money goes to ITS.

 

What?

Edited February 9, 2010 by Bos_hybrid

[Wrath of Dagon]

Now, if only they'd let me donate money instead of buying silly merchandise...

 

You what? Why would anyone donate to a video game company? You show support by buying their game, hell buy it twice if your obsessed, but donate?

 

If you go under Patron in the store, they have donation cards and if you buy those, almost all the money goes to ITS.

 

What?

They're asking for donations to help them advertise the game, so that it has a better chance to be successful and thus enable them to make more games. Of course if you're happy with the mainstream crap, there's no reason to be concerned about it.

[Hurlshort]

This company doesn't have a publisher paying the bills, so they are basically using their own money to fund the projects. Given that it is also not a genre that is considered commercially viable, there is very little chance they will attract a publisher anytime soon. So relying on donations seems pretty reasonable.

[Wrath of Dagon]

Actually they've had lots of interest from publishers, but the strings attached make it not worthwhile. They might still get a publisher for Eastern Europe, since the distribution model there is different.

[Tigranes]

You what? Why would anyone donate to a video game company? You show support by buying their game, hell buy it twice if your obsessed, but donate?

 

I liked the combat demo. I liked how they're releasing it even though a real demo will come later, and how much support (3 versions?) there is for it, and I was surprised at how well done it was. Value can be determined in ways other than the market model: that is how the market changes. After all, this system was set up only because quite a few people asked to be able to donate.

 

Hurlshot, that's the impression I used to have as well, but its surprising how much interest they get from publishers.

 

edit:

 

If you go under Patron in the store, they have donation cards and if you buy those, almost all the money goes to ITS.

 

Checked that out, but there are only $25 and $50 options and I didn't think it was worth 25USD (counting exchange value). Oh well, I'll do it when they let me donate the amount I want.

[Hurlshort]

That is good to hear about the publishers.

[Hell Kitty]

but the strings attached make it not worthwhile.

 

What's the issue?

[Wrath of Dagon]

I think one of the problems was that if you go retail, you have to price downloads the same as retail, which would increase the download price since the cost of retail is a lot more. Another issue is retail is doing fewer and fewer PC games, so the benefits are much smaller than they used to be. There're probably others, but I don't know.

[Purkake]

You know that you can get a publisher and not go retail, right?

 

Also what's different about distribution in Eastern Europe? I don't know if Estonia goes under that definition of Easter Europe, but there's nothing particularly special about game sales here.

Edited February 10, 2010 by Purkake

[Wrath of Dagon]

I don't think publishers would be willing to finance a small indie studio. So for them, the publisher mostly would provide retail and may be some advertisement.

[Purkake]

Stardock or Steam? They have been publishing indie stuff for a while now.

Edited February 10, 2010 by Purkake

[Wrath of Dagon]

That's not really a publisher, that's digital distribution and it's not exclusive, unlike a publisher. Don't know what their plans are wrt to that, but would make a lot of sense, especially if they could do a promotion at some point.

[Purkake]

And the Eastern Europe distribution model question...?

[Wrath of Dagon]

Something about them not liking to pay in dollars.

[Purkake]

And that constitutes a "different distribution model"?

 

[Wrath of Dagon]

I think it forces you to go retail, and deal with a third party instead of direct.

[Purkake]

We don't have Euros here, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Switzerland and a whole bunch of other countries don't have Euros but are all happily using Steam...

[bhlaab]

You what? Why would anyone donate to a video game company? You show support by buying their game, hell buy it twice if your obsessed, but donate?

 

You realize that it costs money to make games right?