Starr Mazer is an upcoming hybrid point-and-click adventure game mixed with classic scrolling shoot ’em up gameplay. It sounds like a wacky mashup, but the game looks freaking awesome, which is why it was funded with room to spare during its Kickstarter campaign last year. While that full game is in the works for Mac and PC, a spinoff prequel of sorts called Starr Mazer DSP is in the works for both desktop and mobile. The full desktop version of Starr Mazer is being developed by Imagos Softworks, while the shooty portions are being condensed down into their own mobile game, which is DSP, developed by Pixeljam. I was able to sit down with the extremely energetic and entertaining Don Thacker of Imagos to get a lengthy demo of what to expect from Starr Mazer DSP.
As you can see from the demo, Starr Mazer DSP is a freakishly deep game already, and it’s still actually pretty early in development. You can expect more ships to choose from, more enemies, more weapons, more kick ass music, more pixels… just more of everything when the full game ships sometime in mid-to-late summer. In the meantime, definitely check out the Kickstarter page or the official website for lots and LOTS of information on Starr Mazer proper because that game looks amazing as well.
So the 'game' that I payed for previously will now be free, and I'll have to pay again to get a new verson of it that is an ACTUAL game? The initial version of Nimian legends should have been free in the first place. It should have been a tech demo, since the controls were horrible and the combat useless. The world was beautiful and the shapeshifting cool, but that just strengthens my point.
I won't pay again to get something that I should have gotten in the first place. Sure, it sounds cool, but an iOS game for double the price isn't worth it, at least not for me. Im sure that, to some degree, this whole situation will have a negative effect on the single dev economically and affect the sales somehow, which is too bad.
Yeah I'm sort of disappointed previous owners don't get the next one for free
I'm not. Not one bit. It's basically a new game. The dev undersold his game in the first place. What he has planned more than makes up for the new price. I'm gladly paying.
Hey LordShadowz! Thank you so much and hope everything is good with you:)
This is why free to play is so dominant.
somehow i'm not even surprise that these kind of comment will show up :p. for less then a buck and still supported but still we want something more without paying? heck ill drop 10bucks for this kind of support so the dev can continue with the development.
I told him I WANT to pay for his hard work. Thankfully, he is listening to those of us who like to reward hard work with support.
Sure, he could have left this version as a paid app, but that would upset those who realize they bought the wrong one or are upset the old one doesn't have a storyline. And he could replace the old app with the new one on the App Store, but then those who have older devices couldn't buy and play it.
He even fixed the old version's bugs and continues to support it. That's worth the money we paid already right there.
You should try to get a refund for that dollar you spent two years ago.
Seriously? Just support the guy geez!
The game costs like $2 or whatever lol relax
Dood, what affects the single dev economy more? Remaking an entire game in a whole new metal code base and then giving it away for free, or asking a reasonable compensation for such a massive upgrade in experience in a "game" intended to be all about the experience? Now I am the last to support dev chicanery, but this is a perfectly reasonable thing to expect that spending a year or more of your life improving a product must be compensated somehow. Wow you really come off as an unrepentant, self entitled app user... This dev would have to bow out after giving it away for free in a game that was an entry into the concept and has almost no AppStore visibility at this point. Did you really just tell him to give away all his work and leave the business?
Thanks for the support - yeah its been 5 years ive been working on this game, when i started it was a mac game then on the iPhone 4s but never released. I was in the hospital for a while (broke, sick, stressed, make sure you take time to rest and take care of yourself - im serious) and when i got out I pushed to finish it and get the original game out, which im glad i did. I dont have kids - so in a way this is my baby:)
That's the saddest thing I've ever heard! Just take my money! First that guy with cancer and now a guy with a starving game baby! And now Peter won't talk to Walter and he was just calling him his "Pop-pop" earlier that episode (Fringe)! Whhhhhyyyyyyyyy!?!?
I love that you watched Fringe! :)
Haha, finally decided I needed to finish it! But rewatching the old episodes since it's been so long is great too!
Also I love that other people love Fringe because it's got great writing! So back atcha!
True story: I passed John Noble in the street back when the show was still new (and it was never more than a cult hit, was it?) and I think I was the only one who recognized him. Kind of wish I said something, but I was too shy.
It's cool to see he's getting more parts these days, but nothing's like Walter.
Haha! I totes agree! I mostly only knew of him prior to Fringe as being Boromir and Faramir's crazy pop in LOtR, and he's Now playing Sherlock's pop in Elementary! AND I just read he also does some video game voiceovers (like he's The Worker of Secrets/Galath in Infinity Blade III (now I gotta play it!), and the Scarecrow/Dr. Crane in Arkham Knight!)
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.That's pretty cool that you saw and recognized him IRL! I'd probably be too shy to say hi to him too! Sure who wouldn't want to "freak" but you always wanna be respectful! Hard to know what to do...
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.WikiP agrees with you that it's a cult show, and I have some trouble getting people who I think would like it (like some of my friends that like X-Files but haven't seen Fringe!!! Just watch it already, you "people"), I think with it being all on Netflix and one of last big things Nimoy did, it'll hopefully keep blowing up (it better, it's so good!)!
My "starving game baby"... funny:)
It's kind of a morose analogy but an interesting one to dwell on.
Don't tell me what to do, Tasos!!
I will do my utmost to refrain from such actions in the future ;)
I don't follow the logic that it has to be a new app because it's using Metal now.
Well, if your device isn't running a more recent iOS, then you wouldn't be able to enjoy this piece of art. Thankfully, by allowing the old app to remain on the App Store, those who have older devices running older versions of iOS will still be able to play around in Brightridge.
Its because the HD version is metal only so i could use the advanced features to make a richer world. But i'm not allowed to update a non metal game with a metal only one beacuse then people who had already installed it on a non 64 bit device would not be able to install the 64bit update. So i had to make it a new binary (game file). I know, it sucks and i just wanted it to be a straight update. While there's not much i can do about that, what i should have done, and i just learned that in these comments, is to warn people much earlier on my original game that it was going to be free soon. I sell so few , like 5 a day or something after an initial rush, that i didnt think it would be an issue. But i was wrong about that. the lesson for me is when in doubt, be 100% transparent:)
Any phone after I think the i5 has access to Metal so i5 and older are SOL.
:/ pretty much
Thanks for the explanation.
I could be wrong, but I was under the impression that other games (like Oceanhorn) had done updates to start using Metal without releasing new apps. Maybe the difference is that they were already 64bit before the jump to Metal.
Maybe the difference is that Oceanhorn is Metal AND 32 bit? (im not sure) - The new BrightRidge is Metal Only. In part because its a very detailed open world, something I haven't seen a lot of on mobile, yet, and there has to be a lot of tradeoffs to achieve all of this on a phone. i got so much understandable but harsh hatemail last time because it was crashing on older devices that i ended up crippling the main app so it would run better older devices - the opposite of what i was trying to achieve artistically. so this time i decided to use metal only. Kind of like the difference between cross console games that run on last gen and next gen devices, and ones that are next gen from the start, which is how this one has been built.
Oceanhorn updated to utilize Metal but will check your device to see if you can use Metal, if not it'll allow you to play without the enhanced Metal graphics (Metal allows for enhanced shaders and shadows, i.e. the island and water looks more realistic with Metal and less cartoony). Plunder Pirates and Beach Buggy do this to. Vainglory started only allowing Metal but now allows even my Metal-less i5 to download and play.
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.As I understand it, programs written using Metal allow for code to speak to the Graphics processor almost directly whereas previously the Central Processor would have use a lot of its processing ability to speak to the Graphics Processor. Metal allows for more computational efficiency, so more graphical power can be "unlocked."
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.Ars Technica did a test that showed that Metal isn't always superior to non-Metal (OpenGL), it depends on the type of game and what's being rendered. Metal is great at adding additional "special effects" to environments (lens flare, shadows, complex lighting and ripple effects)but doesn't add more resolution (sharpness of the models, more bubbles, etc.), at least that appears to be how it's being utilized in the aforementioned games...
wow - thanks for the super informative write up. You sound like you have a knack for understanding programming details. Metal is probably good for BrightRidge. My style is what i would characterize a "messy" - kind of impressionist, it's the mist, dirt, dust and general mess that I think gives the world its style. I find that it is really RAM that allows you to boost textures, and CPU that lets you run more verts and better models. I guess metal just takes the overhead out of the remaining particle calculations.
Haha, I just wanted to see if I understood it like I used to. You guys are the actual ones who make the magic happen (perhaps I will too one day). Messy and impressionistic can be a good way to replicate something organic like nature (especially when it adds visual complexity making for a less sterile environment) so that's probably a good style for your game. Shelter uses an impressionist style (it's a little angular though), Okami does somewhat too, Tokyo Jungle doesn't, but visual choices are ultimately a matter of taste. Some people like the colorful cell-shaded style of Borderlands to the gritty browns and grays of Skyrim/Fallout.
Thanks - i had to google some of those games i hadnt heard of. Shelter looks beautiful, and theres a lot of mechanics similar to what i have in store for the BrightRidge quests. Tokyo Jungle looks cool too. Its amazing how many great looking games can slip by so many people. Why have i never heard of these? One of my favorite things about games is Art Direction - Borderlands has such a tight, uniform look - skyrim too, and my favorite art direction (not the content but the cohesiveness) is Diablo 3. When you make sure all the elements match and work together to reinforce an image its a beautiful thing:) I was inspired to messiness by Shadow of the Colossus (my favorite game). It kicks up low res dust and grass and it was fuzzy and low poly and totally beautiful because it relied on art direction and mood and flavour instead of polygons.
There are just so many games out there nowadays... I never played D3 long enough to really check out the art (so many things things to play and work to do) maybe I'll have to look back at it, I certainly like Blizzard's concept art (big fan of concept art in general tho). Shadow of the Colossus was pretty great. Titan's Souls is supposed to be an indie version of that (among many who claim that inspiration), the newer game "Jotun" is a lot like that with Norse mythology too.
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.Okami's main character Amaterasu has flowers that rise, bloom, and then disappear wherever she runs, it's a pretty cool visual. Kicking up dust, having footprints etc. all helps keep people immersed. I particularly liked SotC light emitting sword that points to where you should go mechanic. Pretty swanky!
Jotun looks beautiful! How inspiring. Tanks for the reminder about Okami's flower dust. You know id would absolutely love the opportunity to work full time on BrightRidge - there are so many bits of finesse and touches that i think would really bring the world to life. If i cant do that in the end though, i think i will spend my remaining days reading history books and experiencing some of these beautiful artistic games (ever try Journey? I wasn't into it till i tried it and blew my mind)
Haha, sorry, I spent my day working on my math (apparently it's supposed to be helpful for making games, that's the hope anyways). I have seen Journey but unfortunately as a primarily PC Gamer (with occasional forays into mobile), I just can't bring myself to get the Playstation (I used to have a 2), it's a bummer though because I'm missing out on Journey, Uncharted, Last of Us, Destiny, whole lot of awesome games, but I have so little time anyways it's hard to play them all haha!
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.I'll just address the other posts I read from here, if that's ok, ^_^ scrolling down on the app is kind of time-consuming, but thanks for addressing each of my posts, you're probably busy so it's not necessa.
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. The business aspect and the art aspect sometimes have difficulty forming a symbiotic relationship, I think it's possible but there's a good interview Colbert did with Jaron Lanier the "father of VR" where he talks about how we'll pay something for physical goods but we have trouble monetizing the things we take for granted now like people who work on wikis or do the auto translate software, and unfortunately the need to sell is sometimes crippling innovation. It can be a good motivator but sometimes it can also be too stressing to be helpful.
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. If you're worried about not having the writing muscle/chops, you're certainly looking into the right place to gain it, I still haven't fired-up the Witcher III (Ugh and I got it so long ago...), but I hear it's the pinnacle of good game writing so that sounds like the good stuff to look at (I think Stephen King said you have to have good writing going in to create good writing, so many writers try and read good books and consider it a part of good research to do what you're doing). I mean even just the mushroom circle thing sounds interesting. Maybe you're trying to rescue other wizards on the island or something (maybe you don't know why you're there could be like a The Prisoner type thing), and one stray wizard you find whilst exploring the island could be rescued from death via a mushroom circle dance (and you could gain more knowledge about why you're here from her/him/it, kind of like a giant Myst-ery, Amnesia the Dark Descent also does a good job of having lots of notes you come across that explain what's going on, sometimes even just giving people a tiny bit to go on like the show Lost may be preferable)...
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. It really depends on how dark you want to go. In my favorite kind of magic is a lot like in that show Fringe, it's powerful stuff but is also great when it has very strange/possibly deadly side-effects (you also have to try and keep things consistent, which, if you've ever seen the show Highlander, the creators said they just sort of wrote the rules while they went along but did their best not to break them (the creator also got the idea for the show while visiting Scotland, seeing an old suit of armor and wondering, what would it be like if the guy in there was still alive today!?) , sometimes creating limits in writing will actually help you to focus (instead of being overwhelmed with all the decisions of where to go from "here"). Some people prefer more whimsical magic/rules though, a softer approach. Both can be fun. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter utilizes both silly and deadly magic, often allowing people to enjoy the innocence of school/childhood coupled with the occasional horrors/more adult-themes of the wizard war and the outside world creeping in...
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. TV Tropes is a good site if you want to look into the bare bones of writing, it's maybe not great if you don't want to be able to analyze movies and things from them on, but it's got some interesting information (like what an "idiot ball" is and every instance of it ever).
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. At least that's all I can think of regarding writing, I think anything you put effort in should be great, because, hey, you tried and that should show, so bully for you! I still haven't written my game/book/whatever yet much at all, so I'll have to get back to it... Best of luck!
Ran out of space...
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.It really depends on how dark you want to go. *MY favorite kind of magic is a lot like *HOW "SCIENCE" IS in that show Fringe, it's powerful stuff but is also great when it has very strange/possibly deadly side-effects (you also have to try and keep things consistent, which, if you've ever seen the show Highlander, the creators said they just sort of wrote the rules while they went along but did their best not to break them (the creator also got the idea for the show while visiting Scotland, seeing an old suit of armor and wondering, what would it be like if the guy in there was still alive today!?) , sometimes creating limits in writing will actually help you to focus (instead of being overwhelmed with all the decisions of where to go from "here"). Some people prefer more whimsical magic/rules though, a softer approach. Both can be fun. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter utilizes both silly and deadly magic, often allowing people to enjoy the innocence of school/childhood coupled with the occasional horrors/more adult-themes of the wizard war and the outside world creeping in...
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. TV Tropes is a good site if you want to look into the bare bones of writing, it's maybe not great if you don't want to be able to analyze movies and things from them on, but it's got some interesting information (like what an "idiot ball" is and every instance of it ever).
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. At least that's all I can think of regarding writing, I think anything you put effort in should be great, because, hey, you tried and that should show, so bully for you! I still haven't written my game/book/whatever yet much at all, so I'll have to get back to it... Best of luck!
Ooops, I guess the app just truncates the message after a while, it looks normal (full message) on the web.
I liked the first and I am happy to dip again! Seriously though.. You have created such a huge and vibrant working game world that with a compelling story, fine tuned combat system, and RPG character development implementations this could be one of the most immersive and enthralling experiences on iOS!
Thanks Gurney - that's a wonderful thing to say!
Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. Except for fixing game-breaking bugs, I don't see that devs owe ANYthing to users. Paying X for a game is a reflection of wanting to play that game X amount. If that game later goes free, or if an expansion comes out for more money, there is no rational reason for that to affect how much you wanted to play, played, and enjpyed playing the game before.
What I'm saying is... you made a really cool game, and what you choose to do after that is your business, not anyone else's. Be as transparent as you like, or not; once the money was in your pocket and the game on our phones, your obligation to us was fulfilled.
I suppose that's true. Some have different expectations of a game's/dev's responsibilities. People certainly like it when people do things above and beyond their expectations. Currently, for example Apple isn't fulfilling people's expectation as far as fixing the whole Game Center bug thing (like you said, and I agree, this should be something they are responsible for, but other's think it's up to the app dev to fix, see also: iOS update breaking), nor are they taking the somewhat logical step of addressing/communicating the complexity of the problem in a visible way.
Thanks Korossyl:) I just googled the parable - what an interesting story, and it lead me to some beautiful artwork by Rembrandt illustrating it. I'm not very religious but I do remember when i was i grade 8, about 14,
i created this 5 foot long scroll for a history project that was an
illustrated timeline of the Bible. Theres a lot of good universal advice in these stories. I guess the thing that kept me sane (in addition to great feedback) is that I know i just want to create a good experience, and that my intent is good, so if i stumble now and then its not the same as if i had a malicious intent to exploit people. Exploiting others for our own benefit is probably what i dislike most in the world.
Why are they still charging for the old one if they're releasing a new revamped version soon? It's one thing to complain about it if you've had the game for a year or two. But if anyone buys it a few weeks before the new one comes out, not knowing a new one is in the works, they might have a right to be annoyed?
Perhaps they own a device that can't run Metal, and would still like to play the game.
Sounds like a lot more is changing than just Metal, though?
But if I'm not on iOS 8 or above, I can't play the new upcoming version. So I'd appreciate having a version for the lower-spec devices, hence the original version sticking around for that very reason.
That might be a good reason for keeping it available to those who already have it, or at least putting a warning at the top that a revamped version is coming soon.
But whatever, I've no stake in this. Just thought it would be a good way for the dev to show he isn't just trying to trick people into buying a game he's no longer supporting.
He fixed something pretty recent in it after I mentioned it to him. So, that supported me being able to still enjoy it. Personally, if I didn't have it already, I'd still want to support him even if I could only play the older version on my device. So, I'd rather buy it now than wait a few weeks until it's free.
That's all fine and dandy, and completely your choice to make. But anyone else who buys it between now and then should be given the information right up front so they can make the same decision of whether they want to support this app knowing a revamped edition is coming out soon.
It's weird to me that other developers have done similar things and got ripped apart here, but merely the suggestion that this developer make the old version free now or at least warn people clearly at the top of the app description, is apparently the same as thinking developers shouldn't get paid for their work or something.
I look at it as if you had two bottles of water. One has a single drop of urine in it and one is just a normal bottle of water. Which do you choose to drink?
Is it your urine or someone else's?
MYSTERY URINE. Might not even be human.
Do you know which is which, or is it Russian roulette style?
Let's make things interesting, it's Russian roulette and you are in the middle of the Sahara desert.
I'd chug both... I mean I've seen Bear Grylls(sp) drink his own, it'll cycle out.....and damn if I ain't thirsty!
I feel like I've inadvertently drank my own piss at least once in my life so I'm with ya.
Imagine the headlines that would have ensued if you had been a mainstream celebrity.... "Hodapp's Shocking Confessions : I Drank My Own Piss!!! (and I enjoyed every drop!)" xD
Is this really where you're taking this conversation?
The urine one of course:)
lol, the best analogy i've read in my whole life :D :D
I think people just work hard for their money and its upsetting when we feel its been wasted. I learned my lesson from this thread and i get why people are upset, it hurts a bit but its understandable and ive used the feedback to make the game free right away and with a proper warning at the top.
That's all I was suggesting and thanks for being so receptive to the feedback. :) I don't really know much about the game -- it just seemed odd to me that you're making the old version free, but only when the new version is out. $2 may seem like nothing to some, but others may scrape together their game money and wouldn't want to have to buy the same game twice in a matter of weeks just because they didn't know in advance.
I think a note at the top of the app description to let people know that they're buying an outdated version of the game will promote more loyalty in your customers, even if you never make it free.
2$ is a LOT of money for most people on the planet and it's easy to forget that. As someone who has frozen after having my power shut off during the cold Canadian spring i can empathize:)
good advice. I put a note at the top of teh app description that the game's now free in anticipation of the upcoming HD version. I already got some nice feedback and had about 30000 download yesterday which, even though its free, blew my mind. I like happy customers not because it means more cash (although cash is nice) but because it means im part of a system that's working the way it should, when people are treated fairly we all win:)
Its tricky because conventional wisdom paint IOS as an unfragmented system, but the reality is today the difference between an iPhone 4 and 6s is unbelievably huge - i see it realtime when i test the game and the new iPad is like at Xbox 360 levels:) I think what's good about what you said about the warning is that even as a dev working within this framework, there's ways to make it easier and a better experience for people who play and support the game. ive put a warning in the description in addition to making it free today.
Sure, a warning would be great. I imagine it didn't even occur to the developer though, I'd bet anything he doesn't even get more than a few downloads a day, if that. So the cynical view is that he's trying to be purposely misleading in order to fleece a few people for a few dollars a day, at the expense of his own reputation as a developer. The more reasonable assumption is that he just plain didn't think it would be an issue, which is understandable given the likely near zero visibility his current app has. The fact that he's even making a new version of this game at all is a very sure sign that this is nothing more than a passion project, as I doubt either of these games have turned any sort of profit. So yeah, if you want to turn something as minor as all this into some sort of moral outrage on the internet, then more power to you.
I never said he was trying to fleece people, but i said it's understandable if someone is upset that they bought the old version right before the new one came out just because they didn't know. I never made a big deal about it. I asked a question and everyone else turned it into a big deal.
Good news: the old one went free well ahead of the new one, so nobody would be buying the old right before the change.
Yes, because of the discussion here.
Yes, he was shamed into making his game that already doesn't make any money free. We did it!
One small step for man, one... giant leap for mankind who refuse to spend a dollar on video games.
Right, shamed. Keep blowing this out of proportion. Good job.
you just made me laugh Jared:) thank you.
Its all good in the end - it was going to be free anyways, doing it within a good time frame before the new one is golden advice
I think its more about about money in general, our lack of it, how hard we work for it, and truly decptive marketing practices than my game itself. Losing cash unexpectedly or making informed purchases that then seem like wasted time makes everyone upset. Keep speaking your mind, you helped me out and it's not your fault or mine that people (me included) are rightfully sensitive about the issue of cash.
you nailed it - it just didn't occur to me, and thanks for understanding, and if i could update a non metal binary with a metal only version i would. I sold so few that its not even a money thing thinking about a new HD version - i would have rather had everyone happy and been able to offer it as an update. But the power of these devices is moving so fast - even for me a lot of the time spent on this HD version was spent trying to keep up with Unity software upgrades:)
Do I have the right to be annoyed if I spend $ 4.99 on a game and the very next day it goes free for any kind of reason (Apple's Game of the Week, publisher/developer promotion, etc.?)
Do I have the right to be annoyed if I spend $ 1.299 on a TV set and then the following week it goes on sale for $ 799??
Short answer: yes, but being unlucky doesn't mean the developer/store/shopping center/whatever are being mischievous.
I think the price on the current game is lower than what it's worth. If I don't have it and don't know anything about future plans, I won't feel frauds don't if I then find out there will be a more complete game later on. We're still talking about a few bucks and the game as it is now just deserves more than the sum of the two games will amount to.
Not only should you be annoyed, you should let everyone know you're annoyed. I bought some pork chops yesterday at the grocery store, and today I drove by and saw they were on sale? As soon as I'm done working today I'm going to go give the manager a piece of my mind and ask, nay, DEMAND my money back.
And yet, if the pork chops were expiring tomorrow, I assume you wouldn't want to pay full price?
Not here to argue about how much it is and whether $2 is worth getting angry about. Fact is, it's a game that's expiring and the developer knows it's expiring. At the very least, stamp it very clearly with an expiration date? Not everyone visits sites to find out this stuff. Imagine if you had to check a company's website to find out when the pork chops you're buying expire.
They can do what they want at the end of the day, but they're still more likely to have loyal repeat customers if they're completely open about it all right at the top of the app description.
I would probably protest outside the store with some kind of sign if that was the case.
Right, because my comments are exactly the same as that.
There's no point talking to Eli when he gets in this mood.
I'm in a great mood, the weather is amazing for protesting my local grocery store. Teach those fuckers a thing or two about dropping prices.
When I move back to Chicago, we gotta protest outside the grocery store together!
Can I come? I camped outside for an iPhone 4 and raising hell for those NEARLY EXPIRED pork chops is equally valuable to me.
All are welcome. We are standing up for the little guys.
Maybe that can be the next Patreon meetup, Eli?
We could do a store protesting crawl. As I said, I'll bring the TimTams. I'll include a IPP for each one: that's In-Protest Purchase.
YES! AMAZING.
It's not expiring. It's very much playable. And Protopop spent a lot of time and effort into creating it. We should look at it like both apps should cost something. If he gives us one free at any point, people shouldn't complain. Either buy it now and support him and further development or wait and download it for free later. He's not scamming people. He doesn't make enough with this app to do that.
You're totally right, thats a well thought out comment. I can tell you that making people happy is a big part of my DNA as an artist and thats why im so happy to get this advice loud and clear from so many people in this comment thread. I mean i feel the same way and its a big reason i priced it so low (it was actually a dollar at the start) because i want to REACH people. Now I have another piece of good advice about how to make the experience more positive. thanks:)
@AppUnwrapper, I often watch your game review videos and for the most part really appreciate our contribution to the forum on a fairly regular basis. That said though, I have a hard time following your logic in sticking to your guns so much about how important this was for him to add an app description to an almost invisible title on the store. Almost anyone likely to buy it at this point would almost certainly be looking for current state of the game in mobile gaming forums because of how often games are broken by iOS updates etc... Additionally the conventional wisdom has long been that if you want to buy something, look into it first and shop around, once you have decided you like it, then buy it for the best price at the moment, but buy it then. There will always be a newer, more updated version coming and a sale could always be right around the corner, that's just the nature of the market. Buyers remorse is usually for those who ignore this.
The game is NOT expiring. It is remaining on the AppStore as a game that was both fun, interesting, and a tremendous achievement on iOS at the time it was released for a one-man dev team to create. The original game remained for sale on the AppStore (I know he has reversed it now and made it free, but I don't think that should be necessary) for a few notable reasons:
1) Metal upgrade of existing app would eliminate the ability to play it for non-64bit users who already purchased the game (doing something your stared position indicates would be bad for people who scraped together their money to buy it.)
2) The massive amount of work put into the new game is tantamount to a completely separate title and therefore is deserving of additional fair compensation (perhaps you would be happier if he put a 2 after the title?)
3) There was no actual chicanery on part of the dev as he has clearly expressed in this thread and it simply slipped his mind to make the note in the app description that another title is coming soon with upgraded visuals and many other new features since the visibility on the first game is almost non-existent and sales are low.
Btw, while I agree that adding an app description to announce the new title is forthcoming is a good idea, demanding that he make it free as well as make the announcement in the other app is a pretty petty and selfish position. Especially considering the effort to remake the whole gameworld with all these new features does not affect a person who may want to play this on a device which is incompatible to the new release.
They should still have the opportunity to support the dev for a game they may enjoy as much as I have.
Anyway, it's free now so moot point on some of this commentary.
That's what bothered me. *Expecting* some sort of warning in the original game's description, and without that warning eluding that the dev is doing something dirty or underhanded. Literally "tricking" them, which is bullshit. If I go to the iPhone 6 website right now, should I expect Apple to have a big banner saying "iPhone 7 coming later this year! It will be way better than the phone you're looking at now! Buyer Beware!" Or do car companies have a sign on a 2016 model saying "Hey, 2017 model in the works and it'll be way better, buyer beware!" Or literally any appliance or gadget? Or hell, even video games. When I bought Resident Evil more than 20 years ago, should there have been a warning saying "Hey we're going to remake this game *several* times as new hardware comes out, and charge your for it each time. Just a heads up!"
It's just ridiculous to expect that sort of thing and even more ridiculous to think that a dev is being shady by not doing something that's so abnormal. It's just another indicator of the entitlement complex of the mobile gaming audience. They expect the world for 99¢ including endless updates for free and don't you even THINK about trying to create a new app or take advantage of newer hardware and try to charge for it, because then you are being "greedy" and "tricking" your previous customers. Of course now the dev has read this whole thread and was made to feel so bad he put a disclaimer AND made the game free, so now he's not even getting the few pennies he'd normally be getting while working on the next new version of the game. The whole thing makes my stomach churn.
And again, I never demanded he make it free. He's the one who decided it should go free. I just suggested that if he's doing that, he should prevent future grief from customers who buy it not knowing a better version is being released soon. Leaving it paid with a little blurb at the top of the description would have been perfectly fine. I never even suggested the new one should be free. That was someone else.
No, you didn't demand it. You just accused him of tricking people, which ultimately led to him making the game free sooner than he planned, because he felt bad. Like in my comment above, nobody puts warnings on their products if they're working on new and better products. But for some reason you felt that it was shady that this developer wasn't doing that, and publicly called him out, which led to this entire ordeal. You can play your "Gee, shucks guys I was just trying to be nice" card as much as you want, but you continue failing to see the bigger picture here.
Sigh. Apparently I have to explain myself yet again. I didn't call him out. I got the impression from the article that he's working on an update in a new app and therefore making the old one free. I already saw people upset that they bought it a year or two ago and didn't get the update with that. I merely suggested that complaining about it after a year or two might be silly, but if people buy it between now and then without knowing, they may have a right to be upset. Just because $2 is nothing to some, doesn't mean it's nothing to others.
I then got pulled into some stupidity of comparing it to buying pork chops, drinking urine and protesting outside a supermarket.
If you feel so strongly that it's worth buying both games (or just the first if you don't have a new device), it could have been stated in the article. You also didn't even need to tell anyone about the game going free or the new one coming out until right before it does -- if you want to make sure the developer gets as many sales as possible. But to post an article about it and then say people don't deserve a warning makes no sense. Either people have a right to know or they don't. Why should it be limited to only the people who see the article?
Like I said earlier, it was still all up to the developer. I was merely suggesting that he already took steps to try and do it right, that either making it free sooner or putting the warning in the description would show people he's not trying to deceive anyone, and they would not have any reason to complain if they still buy the game with the clear warning on the top of the app description. Very different from accusing him of doing so.
Look what happened to Monument Valley when they added DLC that people (for whatever reason) thought would be free. They got ripped apart. Even The Silent Age got negative ratings because they dared to charge for the second episode after the first was 100% free. Why would a small developer want to open himself up to that kind of stuff when he can just put a little note at the top of the app description and cover his bases?
"Just because $2 is nothing to some, doesn't mean it's nothing to others."
I never said anything to that effect.
"If you feel so strongly that it's worth buying both games…"
I never said that, either.
"… if you want to make sure the developer gets as many sales as possible."
I most certainly did not say this. It's not my job to make sure a developer gets sales. It's insulting that you'd even suggest that.
"…making it free sooner or putting the warning in the description would show people he's not trying to deceive anyone…"
And not putting it is not a sign that he IS trying to deceive anyone. If someone feels tricked or upset over something they willingly bought, that is their own fault and no one else's. The product he's selling on the store is still a viable product, and delivers everything it promises it does. It's even still being supported, despite your claim that it's not.
"Why would a small developer want to open himself up to that kind of stuff when he can just put a little note at the top of the app description and cover his bases?"
So your suggestion is to placate this irrational feeling that someone is being screwed when a developer charges for a new and improved product, rather than suggest that the new work is worth paying for? That is the reason nobody wants to develop on mobile anymore, it's that entitlement complex that you're helping perpetuate.
A comparison is only good when it can be close enough to the topic at hand to be relevant. A digital product is different then a physical product. Buying a physical product that is very soon superseded may cause someone to return that product (if possible) so they can buy the new one. It's very hard to quickly change the packaging and makeup of an existing physical product.
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.Digital pricing, descriptions, and even content can be updated sooner and are often in flux. The whole idea of completely digital content is relatively new so our conception of what's fair is still modulating, especially as certain larger developers try to get away with giving away less for more (new Street Fighter doesn't have a "story mode" yet, MGSV was shipped unfinished, people can now pay to playtest games).
.
.Jared, you're correct that products bought years ago are out of the return and griping window and we shouldn't demand money back for them. Items purchased within that window however are usually allowably returned because otherwise some people may feel negative about the "buying experience" and through transference come to have negative feelings about the product or developer (this negative feeling doesn't take into account supporting small devs).
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.From my experience and opinion, AppU's explanation of what this particular dev may want to do to avoid that kind of negative feeling (as well as allowing people to know there's another game coming, therefore creating "buzz" and something to look forward too) is good advice. The effect is that it went free but I don't believe there was any sort of "shaming" that occurred.
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. The larger discussion has been great in explaining when a refund isn't appropriate and when it might be.
I responded to your other comment before I saw this. The original article did not give me the impression that the older game is being updated and that it is worth having both of them. It said the update is being released as a new app. I merely suggested that if he thinks making it free is the right decision, then why wait until the new one comes out? Most of my comments here have been merry defending my suggestion to people who blew it so out of proportion.
*merely not merry
Thanks Tuzzo - in the indie dev world verbal support is as good as gold. It provides the encouragement to move forward when passion and not cash is the main motivation:)
Thank you AppUnwrapper - You have a really good point. I hate it when i pay for software and then a minute later there's an update:) I didn't think about it and I should have made the original free like at least a month or something in advance. Well i learn from feedback and even though it's too late to turn back the clock I just made the original free - the price change should take effect shortly. And now i have some very good PR experience that will help me if I'm ever in this position again thanks to your feedback.
No problem! I'm sorry this got out of hand. I didn't even mean that you *had* to make it free. I think keeping it paid would have been fine with a warning. I just thought it was strange to expect people to do research to find out about it before buying, and it could cause bad ratings when the new one comes out. I was just trying to help you avoid that. Sorry if I gave you the wrong idea!
Thanks dev and AppU! And the rest! Now I can get a taste of what the game is like and decide if I want to see more after I canz use Metal. Otherwise I probably was not going to check this one out. Sorry too many other things on backlog to buy something I wasn't looking towards already that I won't play ...
totally understand - money's tight and its good when we make informed thoughtful decisions about our purchases. I can see how its frustrating when inconsistent marketing gets in the way of that or tries to trick us into parting with our cash. The free version early is a good thing because it lets you test it out:)
I really like this post! Thanks for clarifying your position and intent. It's just tough to see devs who really put their heart into it be picked apart by minor oversights which seems to happen more often than I'd like to believe.
Yeah, I never intended to suggest the dev's work isn't worth anything. I just got a sense from this article that it's not worth buying the old version knowing that the new improved one is coming out. If that's not the case, I apologize. But the conversation could have just gone like this:
"Hey, why isn’t it free now?"
"Because players with older devices may want to buy it."
"Then why not put a warning on the app description so they can make an informed decision?"
"That’s a valid suggestion."
The end!
Thanks - im glad you appreciate hearing from me - i like to keep things 100% transparent. I like to think its an oversight. I think in he back of my head i had an inkling that charging up to the new HD version had something off about it. When games go free they get a blast of exposure, so i wanted to time that with putting a link to the HD version in an updated free one and using that because i have no money for marketing. But i think if i listened closer to myself the annoyance of buying an app only to have it go free right after trumps my plan. Definitely not done on purpose and a good learning experience:)
Someone above put into words what you gave me - Good Marketing Advice:) Seriously if i was a big game company i would probably hire someone to tell me what yo let me know here. These comments are kind of like a big free beta for good advice (and harsh criticism but when its helpful its helpful, and you were right to speak your mind AND you helped me out:)
I will buy it again.
Agreed.
and thanks to you too - im doing the best i can - sometimes things like AI, environments or even marketing procedure aren't up to where i want them to be.
Thank you for your support:)
I'll wait until this new one goes free, no way to treat people who supported your game
Civil disobedience in 2016.
I supported his game. He asked a bunch of us who are active on his thread what we wanted him to do. A bunch of us said we'd more than happily buy it again, especially since he's poured so much of his time/resources into making more and making it better. That's how a bunch of us want to treat a solo developer who is passionate about his craft and customers.
Obviously this Troll fails at reading lol...
Things I don't understand:
1. Trump supporters
2. Homeopathy
3. Global warming denial
4. JavaScript
5. Getting mad that a $2 app you bought several years ago is going free because a better version is coming out
This is why you need to come join me outside the grocery store. If you can't make a stand on pork chop pricing what's the fucking point?
MAKE PORK CHOPS EXPENSIVE AGAIN
It's not fair I tell ya. All these fuckers coming out the store paying less than I did for the same thing! I won't stand for this.
Second.
As a trumpeter, JavaScript programmer that knows that global warming is only a scare tactic while I only inject myself with vile diseases as a preventative measure from getting ill....I'm highly offended and reporting you.
lol, so agreed, but its not even $2 for god sake. it less then a buck when its first out 2 year ago.
I remember:) It took some convincing from people on the forum and my friends to raise the price. Funny thing is once i did i got better reviews and less hate mail.
1. misinformed but also under constant barrage that "something must be done" (see also: agnotology, demagoguery, FUD, dog whistle, appeal to emotion )
2. Sometimes works, usually considered safe, sometimes comparatively is (especially among those who distrust modern medical establishment), modern medicine and homeopathic medicine exist on a spectrum though, each with it's own advantages and weaknesses (and charlatans)... (for more See Dr. Oz Last Week Tonight, fecal transplant)
3. Exxon knew of global warming in 1981 and actually funded its denial since then (The Guardian has run several stories on this, my fave is actually from an interview with On The Media)
4. No one really knows how it works, "the internet is a series of tubes" after all... (something about too much coffee and writing code? Khan Academy)
5. I think the people who bought this more recently are the ones who are actually unhappy with this (see below). AppUnwrapper was just trying to give good marketing advice really...
Trump/Drumpf is also the anti-Sanders. With higher inequality (usually economic, as money often equates to power, freedom, and also stability/security) you have higher instability and as a result political polarization (but you typically wouldn't have one without the other). When there's less inequality amongst people the need to become politically active is less dire, the stakes are lower. (See also: terrorism)
Good Marketing Advice - that's exactly it, i was looking for the words to sum up the value of his advice. Thanks:) (its kind of like a mini marketing class just reading over peoples experiences here)
So it's a sequel, not an update. You pay for sequels not updates. Boom. I just caused gaming world peace. :D
DLC packs could technically be considered updates... Theory denied, proceed with Internet anger!
If the core game Does't Look Complete then "DLC" prolly is shite (depending on what was "promised" and how much was asked for). A sequel/expansion isn't eXactly DLC but it can be. Everyone's definition of what they should get is slightly different but shooting for what is seen by most as fair is probably a good idea...
yeah i like the 'shooting for fair' concept. I mean we label everything and whatever this is it just is - i think my process is follow my instincts and create something i feel is artistic, that comes from inside, and then try to present it in a fair and accessible way. Thats why most of my games before were in flash because i wanted to be able to reach as many people as possible and the internet was a great way to do that.
That's cool! The internet is an amazing tool for reach and ubiquitous smart phones are a "handy" extension of that. A lot of my comments here were directed to a more general commentary on the state of things. This one was regarding DLC in games nowadays (also my comment on "some discussion are important" was more towards larger-scale discussions on equality etc. although this discussion is also important, hyperbolized ones, or "tiger vs. lion" perhaps not so much).
.
.Your philosophy of making something great first (to paraphrase) and then figuring out what's fair to charge, is a good one (the "build it and they will come" philosophy, which works best for games with some superior facet). Musgrave recently had a good tweet by a former large app game dev employee about how newer projects were so concerned with monetization at every level of game design, that they felt was essentially creating a kind of slot machine. A thing they did not go into games for...
Sorry, maybe I'm the one who's paraphrasing myself haha...
I think in the future there needs ti be a balnce. Business people are really good at what they do, but sometimes they leverage artists too far in the other direction and it becomes only about maing money, and i think a lot of people who do art get into it because it lets us create art. BUT we have to pay bills too so business advice is necessary. i just wish it would stop before exploitation and evolve into more of a synergistic think where artists earned more for their work. Anyways none of us know why we are here and what this is really all about, so it will take time to learn and find the best way to do things. But i will say games that touch my heart, that you can feel the message and the art behind it make for some really impactful experiences. I worry i dont have the writing muscle to make that ind of impact, but i think through my environment design and from feedback that i have been able to touch some people and thats something that makes me feel good.
I'm not even sure what it is - is it a walk simulator? An open world wilderness? Even a game? Whatever it is, i just put it out there and charged as little as i could because i want to reach people, and i hope some people like it:)
If you don't live in America... This is what you are missing out on...: people become offended at the most ridiculous things and blow them up into tsunami sized issues that everyone attempts to debate :) if this fight doesn't fit your needs, it's only Tuesday, there will be a plethora of things to offend by Friday
Well I mean some things debated are important...
I agree we all blow things up sometimes:) I think here its more about buying something that goes cheap or free soon after than about the 2$ amount per se. Most of us work for our salary, have little money and worry about cash, and when we feel moneys been taken out of our pockets we get rightfully upset because its kind of out of our control. I think 2$ is more than reasonable for all the work, but i get that i should have made the original free sooner before the launch if i want to provide the best customer experience which is what i'm trying to do). Anyways it's free now so lesson learned.
Wow! It's super exciting for me to have a write up on BrightRidge on Touch Arcade - a site I visit religiously:) Thanks Tasos for the support. My mom read it (she's my biggest fan) and it made her as happy as I am.
I read all the comments and it's cool that it sparked a conversation about prices. I'll write some more on the BrightRidge forum page, but I'm listening and here's a brief summary:
I just made BrightRidge free - i totally get what you mean about buying something twice. The description and the price change should go online however it is Apple processes that. I should have done that earlier and honestly just didnt think about it. It's a good lesson for the next time and i appreciate the feedback.
I know it sucks about the new game solution. Not being able to update the original game made me very upset too. The original game does not use Apple Metal, so it is available to purchase on any device. But in order to make the kind of improvements I wanted, i had to switch to Metal only. Apple will not allow devs to update a non metal game to metal only because it restricts downloads to users of 64 bit devices, so a lot of people who bought on a previous device would not be able to download the new update. It's as complicated as it sounds, but please trust me, i thought it out very carefully and tried to come up with another option. But it's kind of like trying to run an PS4 version of a game on a PS3.
I know my heart is in the right place, and I am just a guy who likes to create worlds. I have no budget, i have sold about 7000 copies in it's lifetime, and i am not doing this for the money. But I do hope to make some money otherwise I cant afford to pay rent and make worlds, and I don't want to stop. Thanks again to everyone who wrote a comment, positive and negative, and maybe I will see you in BrightRidge:)
you know you will always have my support and many others here, right?keep on creating something amazing man and yeah for sure we'll all meet on the brightridge soon! i know nimian will go big this time.
ps. this time im sure you deserve more than just 7000 freakin copies. heck some of the developer here in my country who made an app about cooking and consist of just a few photo slide (which i can rebuild exactly the same app in under 3 days) can have more than 10.000 copies (0.99) sold. which i can't even understand your game only sold for 7000 in lifetime.
I think part of it is the lack of quests. Some people love just exploring and some prefer a more structured environment. The quest update should be a boon to people looking for the latter. Also its a question of exposure, im not that strong at marketing but im trying to pay more attention to it this time. At the end of the day i decided that i am doing something i love and i will feel good about it and put it it there,and if i can continue to do it for longer id definitely enjoy that:) You've always been super supportive and its tentpole support like yours that has really helped.
In MMO terms, games with quests/missions/etc. are considered "theme parks" (like GW2, WOW, etc.). Games without quests/missions/etc. are considered "sandboxes" (like Minecraft before it added quests and a story). Usually a good MMO combines elements of both to allow people to inhabit and personalize/"make their mark" on the world (we're seeing this more commonly with player housing) as well as take part in the larger narrative (the traditional story).
Thanks for the bit of history. I always had the impression that MMOs have there own unique brand of gameplay and you kind of summed it up nicely. I think i lean more towards sandbox, in fact my ideal wold be a sandbox rich enough to generate its own emergent quests - something i do with the online Nimian Legends Empires game where the website generates its own quests procedurally. I have been bringing more procedural generation into BrightRidge but i find it benefits from a hand crafted touch as well.
I wish more devs were like that. This is the first time I heard about Nimian, so I did not have the chance to buy it. I downloaded it for free, and I will probably not be buying the next one since updating from 7.0 will break some other apps I cherish, so if there is any other way to support you with an honest dollar or two or whatever original Nimian costed, since I have a feeling that I got something I should and would have payed for for free.
Thanks YARRRRR:) I hope you enjoy it. I wish i had a lot of money so i could just work o this full time. There are so many ideas that i have to drop because I ave to take care of everything, but i do because i love making games, and im sure a part is also because like many artists we want to be loved:) Free or not if you enjoy it thats what counts most. And the games just kind of stay on the app store, so maybe sometime in the future if you update your OS you can check it out.
I love wandering through the beautiful world you've created, protopop. It's wonderful and peaceful and lovely. I'm delighted to buy the next version.
I think you are a really fine person, too. You surely deserve support and success.
I'm so glad you like the wandering. I think exploration is at the heart of what i'm trying to create. A lot of people have said they enjoy just relaxing in the environment. Im going to add some chairs and benches in there so people can sit down and enjoy the view:) Thanks for the compliments on the game and personally, and for your support.
Oh, I LOVE the idea of chairs and benches! That will be so cool! 😀
me too. One of my favorite recent games is Brothers : A tale of two sons. In it you can stop and sit on a bench every now and then and just take in the view:) I also made a game years ago called Nimian Garden and you cant sit in it but the bench is still there from a time when i had coded the ability to sit. I think being able to do mundane things in games is actually a big part of the future. Shopping, walking, sitting, loving, doing laundry, riding dragons - its all about creating experiences:)
I totally agree. I like your style. 😀
Wtf I bought the original one just a few days ago.. Come on man.. :/
hurry man, you should ask for a refund.
PCG?! What are you doing here?! This is a restricted area!!
:/ write me robert at protopop dot com and we'll fix that up
That's alright man. I don't do refunds anyways 👍
Any word from on the release date?
I submitted it to the app store a few days ago so its just a question of waiting to see if its approved:) Fingers crossed.
Paid for this in the launch window, happy to do so as well. Loved the scope of the game but was disappointed with some of the frame rate issues i had on 6+. Will gladly pay for the expansion after messing around with this update. Let the game go free, I don't care it was 2 or 3 bucks to an indie dev who very much deserves it. Supporting by paying early creates an opportunity for these devs to work tirelessly on massive updates like this one. Well done.
Thanks Xuchris11:) Yeah, i made a few hundred dollars a month which really helped for rent. I think a lot of devs are really in this because of passion, not cash, but cash definitely helps allow us to pursue the passion (so do late nights after our day job). I can't afford an iPhone 6+ so i haven't been able to test it on that. Hopefully i can get access to one soon and i'll see if I there's anything i can do about that. Thanks for the support and encouragement.
seem to have missed this original version, so will grab it, and perhaps if i like it, buy the new version, with the assumption that it'll be a fleshed out game.
That's great:) The original is now free, and its more of a walk simulator than a traditional game - It's not everyone's cup of tea, but if you like exploring try it out:) The HD version is the same but with a lot of visual and mechanical updates - but it will include a Quest update coming soon that will give more of a traditional game framework to BrightRidge
Awesome, I loved this game! Do we know pricing for HD? I am so in.
Thank you Chris! It's 2$ US on launch. Once the quests are added I'll probably charge 3-4$:) That'll be a free upgrade now that i've made the move to metal.
Just saw this--thanks for the heads up! I'll be keeping an eye open for the HD version.
I submitted it to the Apple store - hopefully it will be approved soon:) I also already working on a 1.1 terrain detail update and the 1.2 Quests update for the HD version.
Dear protopop: I'm just an outside observer of this thread with no stake in this. I must say that you are the calmest, most understanding and selfless respondent to let's just call it "customer feedback" I have ever seen. Anywhere. On the whole internet. Bravo. I hope your metal game is a smash.
I have to second this! Always great to have a conversation with devs! Especially when it's not one of those wine-slinging, "I'm not here to make friends, I'm hear to win" conversations! Although those too can be fun, I suppose... Hey, there's wine!
Thank you:) I love the chance to speak to people because its a great learning experience, and i get some kind of encouragement from the synergy of hearing how people feel.
Thanks glennlea - seriously that's one if the nicest things anyones said to me:) It was really great that Tasos was kind enough to write about BrightRidge because it started a good conversation here and i learned a lot about giving a better customer experience in like one day:) The version i just made free had 30000 downloads yesterday so I hope when the HD version comes out at least some people will want to upgrade. Maybe i will get a chance to work on these worlds fulltime, and its nice to know some people are enjoying and relaxing in BrightRidge.
It's a pretty game and I like the character models too! Reminds me of Ursula K. Le Guin's Wizard of Earthsea series: https://m.youtube.com/watch...
Great voice:) I don't know Earthsea but i can see what people like about it. Falcons and firepits - it paints a wonderful medieval fantasy picture. I like the idea of beautiful worlds that have an element of harsh reality to them, and the writing here is very expressive.
Haha, good ear! ^_^ That's Rob Inglis! My faves audiobook narrator (well, next to Ron Perlman), he also does a great job of The Hobbit/LOTR audiobooks (I was able to get them all at my local library). Ursula K Le Guin is kind of the female JRR Tolkien. I listened to the Earthsea Cycle (what the books of that series are called) while playing some of the more mundane exploratory quests in Oblivion. ANYWAYS, in Earthsea they have a variety of wizards like weather wizards etc. Some of them are shape-changers but shape changing in that world is dangerous because: "In the Earthsea books, Ursula K. Le Guin depicts an animal form as slowly transforming the wizard's mind, so that the dolphin, bear or other creature forgets it was human, making it impossible to change back. This makes an example for a voluntary shapeshifting becoming an imprisoning metamorphosis." (excerpt from the shapeshifting wikipedia page, regarding themes in shapeshifting from freedom to capture... with a pretty hot Mystique and some other cool images). <<< I don't know if any of that stuff will help germinate ideas for quests or a story (not that you may need it), but it's just what I was reminded of by the video in the article...
That's a cool concept, and creepy. It's like a form of magical Alzheimers where you slowly lose yourself. When i was a kid i used to look out for fairy circles - circles of mushrooms that if you entered them you would start to dance and wouldn't stop until you had died, or someone happened to pull you out of there without getting stuck themselves. You know, i am writing the quests now, and there are so many great alternative ideas to just combat that you can find in history and literature. I was watching part of the Witcher Devs "how they make ideas to reality" GDC video and they were saying just that, how you can find inspiration in the strangest places:)