http://www.pentadact.com A games writer in the UK who also sometimes tries to make things. Wed, 23 May 2012 10:02:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 http://www.pentadact.com/2012-04-21-release-dates/#comment-273912 Marcos Wed, 23 May 2012 10:02:40 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=4038#comment-273912 Troy makes an excellent point. A release date is a must. But here's the thing, you tell us, the gaming audience "whenever it's ready" and set the release date only for yourself and your team. The reason for this is because it creates a solid focus to finish it. I've been part of too many projects with the 'flexible' release date when truth be told, many other things intervened with the team members lives, most of it avoidable, that ended up having some people leave the projects because of the lack of focus and goal setting. Other projects came up that HAD deadlines, and guess which project went down in the hierarchy? There was no impetus to finish any of them and nothing to tie down anyone to any of the projects. It was open door policy all the way and I learnt my lessons the hard way with my involvement. Constraints, be they time, financial, whatever it may be, is conducive to fostering a higher level of imagination and creativity. Don't believe me, Google 'Constraints and Creativity', you'll come up with lots of examples that discuss this. Also, look at the Black Mesa project, a perfect example of a team that has been arse-farting about with a project that really should've been released 3 years ago. Their problem? No release date internally among its team. They've confirmed this in their blog. A deadline is a must, I can't stress this enough. You just keep it to yourselves, make it realistic (yet pushes the team all the same) and you don't need to tell any of us what it is. Besides, the game can be updated and refined with patches after release, nobody's perfect. And remember, that's perfectly ok :) P.s. I'd charge for this game, I'll pay for it. You'll do well on Steam, Desura and other platforms
A deadline is a must, I can't stress this enough. You just keep it to yourselves, make it realistic (yet pushes the team all the same) and you don't need to tell any of us what it is. Besides, the game can be updated and refined with patches after release, nobody's perfect. And remember, that's perfectly ok :)

P.s. I'd charge for this game, I'll pay for it. You'll do well on Steam, Desura and other platforms]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2012-04-21-release-dates/#comment-273424 Jetcutter Tue, 22 May 2012 00:46:59 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=4038#comment-273424 Glad to see things moving forward!! http://www.pentadact.com/2012-04-21-release-dates/#comment-272472 Nikolaj Fri, 18 May 2012 16:03:36 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=4038#comment-272472 "An idea I won’t talk about yet, because I’ll cut it if it doesn’t work or is going to take too long. It’s targeted very specifically at people finding the game too short or too easy." Level editor? =) http://www.pentadact.com/2012-04-01-press-release/#comment-272042 Noblaum Thu, 17 May 2012 05:07:45 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=4001#comment-272042 Wow. Imagine if they ruined Deus Ex by doing this... oh wait. http://www.pentadact.com/2012-04-21-release-dates/#comment-271469 zenak lith Mon, 14 May 2012 15:57:20 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=4038#comment-271469 Do a valve. Take absolutely ages but make it the best game ever. Also really looking forward to it. Also really looking forward to it.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2012-05-08-hey-youre-not-chell/#comment-271457 delusionsofnoir Mon, 14 May 2012 13:33:06 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=4096#comment-271457 If anyone's interested in playing my first Portal 2 level here it is. http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=68476714 -It's only my first and knocked up in ten minutes so please be nice! http://steamcommunit... ...d=68476714
-It's only my first and knocked up in ten minutes so please be nice!]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2012-05-08-hey-youre-not-chell/#comment-271317 Ezzer Sun, 13 May 2012 09:03:02 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=4096#comment-271317 Was I the only one who, after reading this post and then playing the level, went "That's it?" and felt slightly disappointed? http://www.pentadact.com/2012-04-21-release-dates/#comment-271028 FAM Fri, 11 May 2012 17:40:20 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=4038#comment-271028 Tom - from the very little i have seen of your game i am already eagrly awaiting its release. its original, clever, and it looks more polished everyday. youre doing a great job. Take YOUR TIME PLZ. I would not only pay for this game i generously would fund it on kickstarter. keep it up, you'll know when its done. http://www.pentadact.com/2011-05-27-what-makes-games-good/#comment-270868 Sly Thu, 10 May 2012 22:23:30 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=2141#comment-270868 Excellent piece of writing. 100 percent with you on Mirror's Edge - I really really want to just be there! The nicest, most amazing and coolest city ever (plus it doesn't ever rain there)! http://www.pentadact.com/2012-04-21-release-dates/#comment-270751 jonathan Thu, 10 May 2012 08:34:15 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=4038#comment-270751 you should definately charge for this game, its awesome, just flesh it out, polish it up and your good for an audience and some cash. http://www.pentadact.com/2011-11-28-gunpoint-trailer-let-me-talk-you-through-some-ridiculous-solutions/#comment-270748 Ray Thu, 10 May 2012 08:26:37 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=3734#comment-270748 I think this is a great idea and it shows creativity. If I were to see this on a site to buy i'd pay the max of five dollars for it. (more if there were an editor and more maps, maybe even downloadable user created maps readily available) You shouldn't need to put out a demo since the trailer video is really awesome in itself and shows what you can do in the game. Keep up the good work and improve to make it better and more in-depth with new upgrades and updates or abilities. Nice job! http://www.pentadact.com/2012-05-08-hey-youre-not-chell/#comment-270564 delusionsofnoir Wed, 09 May 2012 10:41:19 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=4096#comment-270564 Weird that we both had the same idea for a screen shot: http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197988297946/screenshot/542926886975650198 http://steamcommunit... ...6975650198]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2012-05-08-hey-youre-not-chell/#comment-270463 glue Tue, 08 May 2012 22:57:32 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=4096#comment-270463 Awesome :) http://www.pentadact.com/2012-05-08-hey-youre-not-chell/#comment-270460 Solid Jim Tue, 08 May 2012 22:45:26 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=4096#comment-270460 Is it okay if I plug the level I have made? I only have one idea for a level so this is unlikely to happen again. http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=68502673
http://steamcommunit... ...d=68502673]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2012-03-22-gunpoints-save-system/#comment-270004 LongShad Sun, 06 May 2012 16:36:34 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=3975#comment-270004 I think - best use save-triggers in safe areas, like in "Stealth Bastard". When player enter in safe-trigger (they place level-designer) - game is saving and safe-trigger destroying (saving run once). When player enter in safe-trigger (they place level-designer) - game is saving and safe-trigger destroying (saving run once).]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2012-04-21-release-dates/#comment-270003 LongShad Sun, 06 May 2012 16:28:03 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=4038#comment-270003 This is normal. I waste 2 months to make person who simply moving by the level, climbing on ladders and opens the door, but thought that by this time start job on AI. But i always say to myself - "If you will not be a fit, you're closer to that to give it up". http://www.pentadact.com/2012-04-21-release-dates/#comment-269878 Cipher Sat, 05 May 2012 21:42:07 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=4038#comment-269878 I have been following for a while, just wanted to say this is looking to be amazing. http://www.pentadact.com/2011-11-28-gunpoint-trailer-let-me-talk-you-through-some-ridiculous-solutions/#comment-269776 Nikolaj Sat, 05 May 2012 09:38:36 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=3734#comment-269776 Worth money. Just a little more levels... http://www.pentadact.com/2012-03-22-gunpoints-save-system/#comment-269739 Benjamin Sat, 05 May 2012 06:18:16 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=3975#comment-269739 "I guess this can work for a demo but for a final release you must move to a checkpoint based system: in 5-10 seconds i'm probably still idle thinking what to do next, so there's no difference between the saves or, as you highlighted, you are in the heat of action and you could die." Perhaps auto-save after the player takes a few significant actions, rather than geographical checkpoints?
Perhaps auto-save after the player takes a few significant actions, rather than geographical checkpoints?]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2012-04-23-the-tiny-planet-game-i-didnt-make-at-the-weekend/#comment-269600 lechip Fri, 04 May 2012 13:47:16 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=4075#comment-269600 What an awesome idea man, love the concept of changing the gameplay mechanics.