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To everyone who thinks the episode is too short and with not enough puzzles

Started by Cez, July 11, 2010, 02:01:20 AM

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snabbott

As far as I know, releasing a small episode didn't have anything to do finding technical issues, though it's true that we can work on making sure they are fixed before future episodes are released.

As César has stated, we knew that the shortness/lack of puzzles and interactivity would be an issue - perhaps it wasn't commmunicated as well as it could have been. I don't know what they could have done differently, though. This really is the most logical breaking point, and adding additional gameplay would have delayed the release substantially. I can tell you that there is a lot more to do in the future episodes and that they are less linear.

I think having the first episode "out there" is going to be very motivating to the team. I also think they will use the less positive feedback to make the remaining episodes better. I look forward to seeing what they come up with!

Steve Abbott | Beta Tester | The Silver Lining

wilco64256

I've got to agree that it must be super nice to actually have something out there for people to play, especially after everything you guys have been through to get this project done.
Weldon Hathaway

daventry

Wasent Part 1 of KQ7 just as Short, i think i remember a Level that was even Shorter then Chapter 1 of TSL  ???

Besides, TSL is using the way of KQ7 in Parts and Episodes, like saying they are using the KQ7 Engine ;)

Centaur444

Quote from: snabbott on July 12, 2010, 10:04:36 AM
As César has stated, we knew that the shortness/lack of puzzles and interactivity would be an issue - perhaps it wasn't commmunicated as well as it could have been.  

I agree that communication and a misunderstanding of what we were getting was a big part of why some, including me, were a bit perplexed/disappointed by the episode.

QuoteI don't know what they could have done differently, though.

What could have been done different was to communicate better.  After 8 years of over-promises, and then two cease-and-desists were successfully fought off, we were all joyous that the game was gonna be released.  And then forums were set up with "hint" sections, and an 11 day (or so) countdown was started.  11 days!  10 days! 9 days!  8 days!  7 days!  6 days!  5 days!  4 days!  3 days!  2 days!  1 day!  And then... come on in everybody!  Download this game we've been working on for 8 years!  It's a King's Quest game!   Yah everybody, come solve the puzzles and go to the hint forum if you have trouble, let's have a blast everybody!

Oh yah, by the way, you won't actually get to do anything in the first episode.
And we could have told you beforehand about that (that this was an intro), and oh yah, by the way there are 3 pages of hoops to jump through first where you need to sign up (no big deal, but again we could have told you that beforehand)

I don't mean to be insulting here.  It's just that communication would have much better helped to tamp down the expectations so that we knew what we were getting.  And also perhaps labeling the first episode an introduction.  It is much easier to beat lower expectations (through good communication) than to live up to 8 years of hype and wondering and the high expectations that come with it.

jsali001

I thought episode 1 played great and looked spectacular although I was a bit shocked when I realized it was over already. Can't wait for episode 2. Is there a time frame for the episode 2 release yet??

wilco64256

Weldon Hathaway

jen

My thoughts on the episode:

Yes, it was short, but in most books, the prologue is usually short as well, so in a way, chapter one was just that, a prologue.

I had seen on here that people had mentioned that it was a short game, which honestly, bummed me a bit.  I figured it would it would basically just be the demo that we had been a ble to download/play, but to lessen the bumming, it was a little different, and went a little longer. In a whole, I think this game was phenomenal, major kudos to all who partook in the creation.

As someone who has been play KQ games 1-7 for ten years (my younger cousin hooked me on the series with game six back in the late '90s, and I ventured into the others *aside from #8, which the premise never honestly appealed to me*, I was super-bummed when I read news of the C&D, but when I learned of the release through a message on Facebook, I literally did a happy-jig and Saturday I was counting down til I could download Episode 1.

In closing, major thumbs up, crew.  I anxiously await Episode #2.



[Sidenote:  jsali001, last night someone asked your same question and I forget who replied, but there was a quote listing sometime late summer, though I don't recall the precise wording.  Personally, I'm hoping either on or before October 21st (that would be the most exciteful birthday present to me if that ends up being the case]


dutchdevil83

ok guys first of all i want to say you all did a great job by releasing this game, but don`t
you think after 8 years of waiting, playing one episode is a bit short. I actually played for 25 mins?!
I find this more like a second demo to play with. I rather waited a year longer to play the whole game then wait 8 years for a 30 mins demo.

I`m also afraid we have to wait another year for the second chapter to come.

I hope i`m wrong about this timeline and you all can make the game available in a shorter period of time.

spinz

what can i say, nearly half a decade after the demo's release, we have the demo again. With 10 more minutes of cutscenes.

jen

Quote from: dutchdevil83 on July 12, 2010, 12:18:40 PM
ok guys first of all i want to say you all did a great job by releasing this game, but don`t
you think after 8 years of waiting, playing one episode is a bit short. I actually played for 25 mins?!
I find this more like a second demo to play with. I rather waited a year longer to play the whole game then wait 8 years for a 30 mins demo.

I`m also afraid we have to wait another year for the second chapter to come.

I hope i`m wrong about this timeline and you all can make the game available in a shorter period of time.


It has been mentioned on here that all five episodes will be released within the rest of the year, so unless the cast/crew of the game gas a major setback, I don't see it being a full year until the next episode.

Also maybe this will help you, copied from another thread:
QuoteFrom the TSL FAQ:

9.  WHEN WILL THE NEXT EPISODE IN THE SILVER LINING BE RELEASED?

We are looking to release the next episode of The Silver Lining sometime this summer.  Please keep in mind, however, that this is not set in stone, and ultimately the next episode will be released when it is ready. 


StormSpirit86

Well, I agree it's a short episode (more like an interactive introduction), and I can understand players feeling a bit disappointed, mainly because after all the wait we all expected a solid episode with lots of puzzles and plot development, so it hasn't made a very good impression to most players, but I have faith that we are going to get more deep into gameplay from the 2nd episode. Personally, I'm waiting for the second episode, because Episode 1 hasn't satisfied my TSL appetite. If it had had more puzzles it would have been a 10/10 game.

Anyway, can't wait to play the 2nd episode! Hope it is released soon!

And by the way, I recall reading that the other episodes were 90% completed, so I expect (and hope) the next will be released on August.
Do you like retro games? If you do check my YouTube channel, you might like it! :)

http://www.youtube.com/user/StormSpirit86

spinz

Quote from: StormSpirit86 on July 12, 2010, 12:48:17 PM
And by the way, I recall reading that the other episodes were 90% completed, so I expect (and hope) the next will be released on August.

i recall reading alot of things, and thats the problem.

Darkbulb

IF it is true that the next episode will release this summer it makes the decision to separate chapter and 1 and 2 even more questionable. After 8 years why not wait another two months and release something a little bit more substantial.

I don't think I will ever understand the reasoning behind releasing this intro/interactive demo as the first episode. It's not as if 2-3 more months after 8 years would mean a lot and you would had released something that could potentially have met the expectations people have (see some of the puzzles, non-linear quests, etc).

daventry

I wonder what in Episode 2 is 90% Complete if we cant have it now to keep the Complainers Happy and then wait for a Patch on Episode 2.

2 Months Later we can have Episode 3 with Another Month Episode 4 and by December/January Episode 5

The strange thing is, even if we do get Episode 2 and its Buggy as Hell, People will Still Complain and call KQ/TSL Bad.

So my Advice is, Button your Lip (Complainers) the Game is Short and Chapter 2 will probably come in August at the Earliest, because theres not a chance in Hell they are gonna work an All Chapters thats 90% Complete and then Release them All in December, that would be Overkill.

wilco64256

I think it was Cesar who said on the podcast show yesterday that the remaining episodes are about 90% done, so that's a fair thing to rely on.
Weldon Hathaway

Darkbulb

Quote from: daventry on July 12, 2010, 01:32:06 PM
I wonder what in Episode 2 is 90% Complete if we cant have it now to keep the Complainers Happy and then wait for a Patch on Episode 2.

2 Months Later we can have Episode 3 with Another Month Episode 4 and by December/January Episode 5

The strange thing is, even if we do get Episode 2 and its Buggy as Hell, People will Still Complain and call KQ/TSL Bad.

So my Advice is, Button your Lip (Complainers) the Game is Short and Chapter 2 will probably come in August at the Earliest, because theres not a chance in Hell they are gonna work an All Chapters thats 90% Complete and then Release them All in December, that would be Overkill.

Your post comes across as very entitled and elitist. I wish it was clearly stated that people could only post positive feedback and atta-boys.

If people ARE allowed to air concerns and disappointment you may want to reconsider making posts like that in the future.

daventry

Not quite sure what it means, but i meant that why Complain about it as if expecting to see Episode 2 Next Week  ::)

Yes Chapter 1 was Short, even Cesar Admitted that it was their Biggest Fear of Releasing, so why go on about it  :P

We arent gonna get a Patch with Extra Scenes and who knows, Chapter 2 might just be Around the Corner in August.  :suffer:

spinz

Quote from: daventry on July 12, 2010, 01:32:06 PM
So my Advice is, Button your Lip (Complainers) the Game is Short and Chapter 2 will probably come in August at the Earliest, because theres not a chance in Hell they are gonna work an All Chapters thats 90% Complete and then Release them All in December, that would be Overkill.

i wonder what % "chapter 1" was when it was first released in 2006. And yeah releasing more than a couple hours of content at a time would be "overkill"...wait...what?