Hi,

Do you think that a mario style platform game will sell without special actions like:

-swimming/diving in water
-climbing/jumping on ladders and ropes

But with actions like:
-jetpack in one level (not sure if this will work well enough in the gameplay)
-jumping from moving obstacels.
-springs to jump from.

jumping on enemy heads, so they are "destroyed", in every level
Every world got his own enemies. But this is of course a main action.

some levels are using hidden places to discover points.
About 4 worlds, each 5 levels. So total about 20 levels.
Shareware version use possible 2 or 3 levels. The game will be a 2D side scroller. The character uses a bit 3D effects. But the enemies and the levels are all 2D. The graphics will be colorfull, but it will be not state of the art. Will this be a problem? I know that Dan MacDonald game testers told that his game will be difficult to sell, because of the graphics quality wasn't high enough. Thats why he hired an artist to change the art. The graphics of Charlie Duck are a bit close to my graphics style http://www.wieringsoftware.nl/charlie/ His game sells well.

Sounds pretty straightforward to me.

It'll all be in presentation and execution.

I think that there is a market for nostalgic side-scrollers. If the gameplay is fun without the different actions, that should answer the question.

If the actions you are limiting your game to get repetitive too fast, then you know you have a problem. For instance, I think Super Mario Bros (the first one) would have been fine without the water levels, since they were rare and didn't add much to the game. I mean, I liked the change in pace, but it wasn't necessary.

Seems to me that you have something to change the pace, so it shouldn't be a problem to limit the actions to what you have listed.

As said above, it is a matter of how you market it of course. Tell people it is an awesome brand new state of the art game, and you will definitely disappoint. Tell them it is a side-scroller that classic gamers will love, and you might gain a few supporters (of course you might immediately turn of gamers who think that your game is old-school and therefore sucks, but you can't win them all).

Yes, there are certainly lots of people who love this type of game, but it depends very much on your graphics and overall presentation, and (very important) level design. I don't think the number of actions makes much difference, as long as it is fun to play through and explore your levels and there is enough variation. Good music and an interesting story may also help, but from my experience a game can sell fine without either.

Screen shots from your game should look interesting enough to make people want to have it right away (like that mysterious platform game on the Vol. 2 CDRom (http://www.garagedeveloperinternational.com/profile/cdroms.html) with the rainbow) :)

Originally posted by johnson
Hi,

Do you think that a mario style platform game will sell without special actions like:

-swimming/diving in water
-climbing/jumping on ladders and ropes

But with actions like:
-jetpack in one level (not sure if this will work well enough in the gameplay)
-jumping from moving obstacels.
-springs to jump from.
That all depends, is the game going to be fun.

Seriously, I have played games that have a lot more bullet point features than Charlie the Duck that are a lot less fun to play.

In my game I have pole climbing, standing on moving objects, and springs. I also have a few other goodies. I think the real work in making the game fun will be in level design. I made a level two weeks ago whch I am quite pleased with, but level making isn't a speedy process if you want to make them really interesting.

[as as sidenote: I may release a one level feedback version of Gus the Gray shortly exclusivly to Dexterity forum members. I think I've got gameplay, but who's to be sure]

[two hours later. Hmm, doesn't get posted without pressing the submit button]

I agree with all the above. It sounds like it could be great, but it depends on whether you can make it great or if you mess it up. Certainly I think lots of people love this sort of game.

Looking forward to seeing how Gus has come along, Lerc!

Originally posted by Anthony Flack
Looking forward to seeing how Gus has come along, Lerc! Heh,

I just got this from my artist.

http://www.screamingduck.com/Cruft/Exit.gif

and a simple guide as to how it should look
http://www.screamingduck.com/Cruft/Exit%20Animation.gif

Eeek. Some assembly required. I just asked for a door.