1966
TRPG2 / Re: I've found a bug
« on: March 03, 2010, 05:00:57 PM »
Yeah. That's a weird bug, but it's there for a long time. And I believe that Craig will not fix it (see his post above), since he's working on TSoG.
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1967
General Discussion / Re: Ads, not sales, is the key
« on: March 03, 2010, 01:57:35 AM »
Although getting the best of two worlds is quite hard, I think that the free demos might help spread the world about the games.
I don't know how the ad revenue works, so please correct me if I'm wrong. A free playable demo of about 10MB to 20MB can be put on popular websites that might generate some add revenue. And, evidently, the demo itself would work as an add to the full game.
I was shocked when Craig decided to sell TPA2. And I would have preferred that TPA2 would be free (as I guess anyone else wanted, even Craig). But everyone has to make a living, and from Craig's (brief) comments, it was clear that the sales of TPA2 generated more revenue than the ad revenue from all the other TRPG games (again, please correct me if I'm wrong). Therefore, I understand Craig's choice on selling his games from now on.
Excluding minors from the market is indeed a problem. I don't really see a nice way out, other than the minors asking someone to give them the game or to buy it for them.
Another problem raised is related to the way the games are sold. Most online stores aren't (fully) trusted, at least in the country where I live. Not because they trick people but because the direct human contact is missing. The problem may be bigger in this case because we aren't buying a CD (or something else physical) - we are buying a link to be able to download. So, again, it's another layer of virtuality that may give people some discomfort on buying.
I haven't any good alternatives to the way it's done. Selling CDs will increase dramatically the costs (the CD itself with the case + shipping costs, including personnel costs). Selling on well known stores (that might benefit of higher trust from the consumers) may also reduce the margins, particularly since there might be some attempts of price squeezing.
About ads. I must say that ads annoy me (and I hate those blinking ads). So, I was happy when I found out that Firefox has Adblock Plus. As more people do what I do, the revenue of ads will be lower. Ingame ads might be an alternative, provided they aren't all over the place. I can accept a preloader ad (no blinking, please) and a couple of discrete ads in the main menu or in the high score table or in the middle of the game. More ads than that and I might feel too much pushed around and end giving up on the game.
I don't know how the ad revenue works, so please correct me if I'm wrong. A free playable demo of about 10MB to 20MB can be put on popular websites that might generate some add revenue. And, evidently, the demo itself would work as an add to the full game.
I was shocked when Craig decided to sell TPA2. And I would have preferred that TPA2 would be free (as I guess anyone else wanted, even Craig). But everyone has to make a living, and from Craig's (brief) comments, it was clear that the sales of TPA2 generated more revenue than the ad revenue from all the other TRPG games (again, please correct me if I'm wrong). Therefore, I understand Craig's choice on selling his games from now on.
Excluding minors from the market is indeed a problem. I don't really see a nice way out, other than the minors asking someone to give them the game or to buy it for them.
Another problem raised is related to the way the games are sold. Most online stores aren't (fully) trusted, at least in the country where I live. Not because they trick people but because the direct human contact is missing. The problem may be bigger in this case because we aren't buying a CD (or something else physical) - we are buying a link to be able to download. So, again, it's another layer of virtuality that may give people some discomfort on buying.
I haven't any good alternatives to the way it's done. Selling CDs will increase dramatically the costs (the CD itself with the case + shipping costs, including personnel costs). Selling on well known stores (that might benefit of higher trust from the consumers) may also reduce the margins, particularly since there might be some attempts of price squeezing.
About ads. I must say that ads annoy me (and I hate those blinking ads). So, I was happy when I found out that Firefox has Adblock Plus. As more people do what I do, the revenue of ads will be lower. Ingame ads might be an alternative, provided they aren't all over the place. I can accept a preloader ad (no blinking, please) and a couple of discrete ads in the main menu or in the high score table or in the middle of the game. More ads than that and I might feel too much pushed around and end giving up on the game.
Most people don't care about supporting the developer that much if they can cut it cheap.Unfortunately, I think that I'm included in that category. I hope that Craig is successful but there is a (low?) limit to how much I'm willing to spend. I just hope that my bug tracking and suggestions are helpful.
1969
Forum Games / Re: World Domination
« on: March 02, 2010, 05:54:18 PM »
Australia: 12
Canada: 13
Mexico: 10
Brazil: 11+
New Zealand: 13
Belgium: 12
Slovakia: 11
Turkey:9
Nigeria: 10
Kazakhstan: 9
Thailand: 15
Kenya: 7
Maldives: 98-
Canada: 13
Mexico: 10
Brazil: 11+
New Zealand: 13
Belgium: 12
Slovakia: 11
Turkey:9
Nigeria: 10
Kazakhstan: 9
Thailand: 15
Kenya: 7
Maldives: 98-
1970
General Discussion / Re: Email available
« on: March 01, 2010, 08:39:29 PM »
Oh! OK.
Thanks for the quick reply.
It would reassure me if I couldn't see my email next to my posts when I configure my profile to hide it. But I guess it's the way it's done.
Thanks for the quick reply.
It would reassure me if I couldn't see my email next to my posts when I configure my profile to hide it. But I guess it's the way it's done.
1971
TRPG2 / Re: Revival by Nelis
« on: March 01, 2010, 08:36:33 PM »
I was not thinking specifically about the main character.
Perhaps in the case of the main character, the one responsible for rewinding the time is Malignus (the Spriggat)...
Perhaps in the case of the main character, the one responsible for rewinding the time is Malignus (the Spriggat)...
1972
General Discussion / Email available
« on: March 01, 2010, 08:30:56 PM »
When I post and in the members list, I can see my email even after I chose not.
In my Profile > Account Related Settings, I checked the box "Hide email address from public?"
So, I thought that my email shouldn't show, but I can see it.
I was wondering if I'm the only one to see it or if anyone else can see it too. Can someone confirm it?
In my Profile > Account Related Settings, I checked the box "Hide email address from public?"
So, I thought that my email shouldn't show, but I can see it.
I was wondering if I'm the only one to see it or if anyone else can see it too. Can someone confirm it?
1973
TSoG Bugs / Re: Gaps in and bugs in enemy AI
« on: March 01, 2010, 08:04:12 PM »
The "corridor blocking" gap referred by Alan exists since TRPG2.
I think that the AI could be programmed to overcame that problem in 4 ways:
- The deterministic way would rely on an unit advancing preferably on the direction where the distance is bigger;
- The probabilistic way would rely on tossing a coin when 2 paths are available;
- The (occasionally) random way would rely on, from time to time (or with probability 20%), an enemy would move in a random direction, while the rest of the time the enemy would use the regular AI with one of the above 2 choices, if necessary.
- The hard way would imply a (shortest) path finding algorithm by the AI.
The hard way would be the best way, if not for the fact that it's hard to code and potentially slows down the execution time. The way that the Telepath World is made (deterministically) is more consistent with the first option. However, the second option may result more often in the enemies finding a way out.
I think that the AI could be programmed to overcame that problem in 4 ways:
- The deterministic way would rely on an unit advancing preferably on the direction where the distance is bigger;
- The probabilistic way would rely on tossing a coin when 2 paths are available;
- The (occasionally) random way would rely on, from time to time (or with probability 20%), an enemy would move in a random direction, while the rest of the time the enemy would use the regular AI with one of the above 2 choices, if necessary.
- The hard way would imply a (shortest) path finding algorithm by the AI.
The hard way would be the best way, if not for the fact that it's hard to code and potentially slows down the execution time. The way that the Telepath World is made (deterministically) is more consistent with the first option. However, the second option may result more often in the enemies finding a way out.
1974
TRPG2 / Re: Revival by Nelis
« on: March 01, 2010, 07:44:56 PM »
I agree that Nelis is way more powerful than Luca. And the fact that Nelis is alive while Luca isn't is another reason to believe that their revival isn't equal. And I picked some ideas around here to start the discussion (in particular from the Noctus still alive? thread).
1. I also think that it's likely that Nelis can revive someone dead for about a week. Perhaps going up to a month may be reasonable.
2. The state of the body (or even its presence) don't seem to make much of a difference. So it may be possible that the revival consist of building an entirely new body. As opposed to fixing the dead body, more in line with the way I imagine Luca reviving a team mate.
3. I also think that the person must be killed against his will and without being prepared to die.
4. This is a tricky one, but it may not be crucial to build a theory. I'll think about it later.
And I remembered three new points to address:
5. What factors may facilitate or impede the revival? Perhaps distance and surrounding materials (dying in a forest or in the lake or in the caves) have a role. Can the attempts of revival by Nelis be deflected by a powerful psy? Can orbs affect revival? And what about resonance crystals (or some other type of crystals).
6. Where does the revived appears? Near Nelis or can she place him somewhere else?
7. What does the revived remembers?
I'd like to hear some (made up) theories about how the revival works. I'll think about it and I'll try to post something more soon.
1. I also think that it's likely that Nelis can revive someone dead for about a week. Perhaps going up to a month may be reasonable.
2. The state of the body (or even its presence) don't seem to make much of a difference. So it may be possible that the revival consist of building an entirely new body. As opposed to fixing the dead body, more in line with the way I imagine Luca reviving a team mate.
3. I also think that the person must be killed against his will and without being prepared to die.
4. This is a tricky one, but it may not be crucial to build a theory. I'll think about it later.
And I remembered three new points to address:
5. What factors may facilitate or impede the revival? Perhaps distance and surrounding materials (dying in a forest or in the lake or in the caves) have a role. Can the attempts of revival by Nelis be deflected by a powerful psy? Can orbs affect revival? And what about resonance crystals (or some other type of crystals).
6. Where does the revived appears? Near Nelis or can she place him somewhere else?
7. What does the revived remembers?
I'd like to hear some (made up) theories about how the revival works. I'll think about it and I'll try to post something more soon.
1975
Forum Games / Re: King of the hill
« on: March 01, 2010, 07:03:10 PM »
Ah! But that was just a trick from me!
I knew you would try the same old routine, but this time I was prepared! I'm deader than ever, so, my four stomachs are so decomposed that they can't hold any pills in them any more. I pretended I gave you the control because I knew that at night you would go to your room at the zoo to go to sleep. So, I used some very special dead cow butter under your room (you know, the one that's near the top of the hill).
I quietly get out of the cage (that you didn't lock because you though that the pills would do their work) and make a gentle push in your room, that slides down the hill.
Hence, now it's: my hill.
I knew you would try the same old routine, but this time I was prepared! I'm deader than ever, so, my four stomachs are so decomposed that they can't hold any pills in them any more. I pretended I gave you the control because I knew that at night you would go to your room at the zoo to go to sleep. So, I used some very special dead cow butter under your room (you know, the one that's near the top of the hill).
I quietly get out of the cage (that you didn't lock because you though that the pills would do their work) and make a gentle push in your room, that slides down the hill.
Hence, now it's: my hill.
1976
Forum Games / Re: Fazan game
« on: March 01, 2010, 06:48:31 PM »
theme
You're welcome. By the way, there are a few other words starting with er (other than my nickname ).
The forbidden endings:
*ia, *fy, *ic, *ky, *ly, *ll, *on, *ty, *um, *us, *xo
and all the other two consonant endings that don't start a word.
You're welcome. By the way, there are a few other words starting with er (other than my nickname
).The forbidden endings:
*ia, *fy, *ic, *ky, *ly, *ll, *on, *ty, *um, *us, *xo
and all the other two consonant endings that don't start a word.
1978
TSoG Wish List / Re: New Enemy Ideas
« on: February 28, 2010, 07:34:52 PM »
The suggestion about the wooden golem has similarities with the canon golem... either one is a good idea IMO.
Before I read this thread, I replied to the post by im2smart4u about his Bug Theory. At that time I was thinking about a bug similar to the proposed Void Bugs (I called it Soldier Bug). So, I must say I'm in favour of it's existence. About the name, a few more came to mind: Murk Bug, Darkness Bug, Crypt Bug, Obscurity Bug, or just Soldier Bug.
Before I read this thread, I replied to the post by im2smart4u about his Bug Theory. At that time I was thinking about a bug similar to the proposed Void Bugs (I called it Soldier Bug). So, I must say I'm in favour of it's existence. About the name, a few more came to mind: Murk Bug, Darkness Bug, Crypt Bug, Obscurity Bug, or just Soldier Bug.
1979
TSoG Bugs / Re: How to post about bugs!
« on: February 28, 2010, 06:41:24 PM »3) [...] (you can find a thread explaining how to make screenshots here, for instance)I think the link is missing. Since I'm feeling too lazy to write one
, I'll post a link to the WikiHow about How to Post a Screenshot in the Forums.
1980
TSoG Walkthroughs / Re: Initial Recommended Character Stats
« on: February 28, 2010, 05:38:11 PM »
I also start with 11,1,12,12 and I use Duvalier as a (second) healer until I'm able to train him.