Andor's Trail

Read the comments on the android market for this game. A lot of people say this is a dead project and rate it one star. It's a bunch of bull.

Czar Kloos wrote:ctnbeh13,

when is your novel coming out??

Czar Kloos,

Funny you should mention that. My publisher's chief editor is reviewing with their legal dept. Something about it being a manifesto was mentioned.

ctnbeh13,

Adamite wrote:If the end game of each version is exciting or challenging enough, I'd imagine that a lot more people would keep hanging on and not uninstall the application, but rather get involved.

Adamite,

Please, do elaborate. Especially regarding the numbers of players who are uninstalling due to lack of excitement with the "end game". Knowing a little more about their contributions they are withholding for the same reason should be of equal interest.

ctnbeh13 wrote:

Adamite wrote:If the end game of each version is exciting or challenging enough, I'd imagine that a lot more people would keep hanging on and not uninstall the application, but rather get involved.

Adamite,

Please, do elaborate. Especially regarding the numbers of players who are uninstalling due to lack of excitement with the "end game". Knowing a little more about their contributions they are withholding for the same reason should be of equal interest.

I have no exact numbers to give you, but can only ask you to take a look at the comments left behind by players on the android market. I remember seeing posts from players here on this forum too. To me, it seems that most of them have completed all the content and have lost interest in the game as a result. Wouldnt it make sense to raise the difficulty or find another way to keep them busy?

They might only contribute by telling their friends about the game, leave a small post somewhere or not at all, but every small bit, as insignificant as it may seem, helps in the long run, doesnt it?

Adamite,

If you truly understand that Andor's Trail is an open source, work in progress that is being authored by one man (with some content contributed from probably no more than one other individual, at present), are you then saying his chief focus should be "dialing up" the "end game" rather than debugging current code and creating new content to contribute to the work that will become the full and final version of Andor's Trail?

Are you expressing your frustration and disagreement with Oskar's decision to release this game as open source, allowing the unique opportunity for any player to create levels or content for submission to be added to the game while yet being able to play it and get a "feel" for its current direction and story line?

You claim you read reviews in the Android Market about this game. Obviously you went ahead and downloaded and installed it after reading the disclaimer under the description. So, what were your expectations? I only ask this as they don't seem to have been met to your satisfaction.

ctnbeh13 wrote:Adamite,

If you truly understand that Andor's Trail is an open source, work in progress that is being authored by one man (with some content contributed from probably no more than one other individual, at present), are you then saying his chief focus should be "dialing up" the "end game" rather than debugging current code and creating new content to contribute to the work that will become the full and final version of Andor's Trail?

Are you expressing your frustration and disagreement with Oskar's decision to release this game as open source, allowing the unique opportunity for any player to create levels or content for submission to be added to the game while yet being able to play it and get a "feel" for its current direction and story line?

You claim you read reviews in the Android Market about this game. Obviously you went ahead and downloaded and installed it after reading the disclaimer under the description. So, what were your expectations? I only ask this as they don't seem to have been met to your satisfaction.

I think you are overanalyzing my responses and reading a lot more into it than there really is. If its due to the limited response, I apologize, as I'm replying through my phone and it takes much longer to reply than with a conventional keyboard.

As for understanding that the project is mainly developed by Oskar alone, I'm well aware of that. I'm not frustrated about any part of the game, I did read the description before downloading and it exceeded my expectations for a work-in-progress. I don't recall ever mentioning that it should be his chief focus, that he should abandon everything else for it, nor that my expectations were not met. In fact, I remember him mentioning that he would like updates to contain more than just one area of focus (eg. fixing bugs). I'm simply airing my thoughts and relaying my observations, which I'd assume is the reason he made this forum available to us in the first place.

I sensed a hint of bitterness in your response, so I'll just wrap this up with a have a nice day and hope you get better soon =)

Ah..., how far we've grown in our short time together. Your reply hinted of reflective thought, patience, self-discipline, and even mercy.

Over analytical, that's one variety of the term used by many to describe me. However, I assure you the process is quite the opposite. My mind perceives the "big picture", and then, without any conscious effort on my part, it is quickly deconstructed into its individual pieces. It's a mixed blessing.

I do empathize with the limitations of posting in the forum by way of a smartphone keyboard. I also agree with your view on the purpose of the forum, adding that it also serves as an excellent format for players to assist other players, relieving a considerable time burden from the developers having to address questions & comments, especially the repetitive ones. Which brings me to your detection of bitterness. How kind of you to understate the emotion I felt that manifested into a tension headache.

Based on what I've already stated regarding a new player vs. experienced, what I found most upsetting about your post was that you were speaking from the view of a new player, basing your reasoning upon it, to gain what an experienced player would want. What made it worse, for me, was your reference to an undetermined number of former players who were uninstalling the game and not getting involved due to lack of excitement & challenge. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I couldn't help perceive a "Fox & the Grapes" inspired act of manipulation to bring about this change you wanted into reality by creating an unrealistic concern over the games future.

If you weren't at level 36, your "as a new player of a game" perspective might have carried more weight.

Although I cannot recommend a way for you to experience more excitement from the game, challenge is a topic for which many ideas come to mind. For starters, try working on obtaining a RoLS. I'm fairly certain that players who have 1, more, or none at all, would agree that getting one is a challenge. A most excellent way for Oskar to leave this installment of the game, but that's my view.

Thanks again for the well wishing. I had a pretty good day, and am starting to feel better too.

Aside from the original issue, I sincerely feel you put an impressive reply together given the circumstances.

ctnbeh13 wrote:Over analytical, that's one variety of the term used by many to describe me. However, I assure you the process is quite the opposite. My mind perceives the "big picture", and then, without any conscious effort on my part, it is quickly deconstructed into its individual pieces. It's a mixed blessing.

Impressive indeed.

ctnbeh13 wrote:Based on what I've already stated regarding a new player vs. experienced, what I found most upsetting about your post was that you were speaking from the view of a new player, basing your reasoning upon it, to gain what an experienced player would want. What made it worse, for me, was your reference to an undetermined number of former players who were uninstalling the game and not getting involved due to lack of excitement & challenge. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I couldn't help perceive a "Fox & the Grapes" inspired act of manipulation to bring about this change you wanted into reality by creating an unrealistic concern over the games future.

You're forgiven then. My interest in the game at the moment is limited. What is of more interest to me is the community and its behavior, as I have dealt with that in the past through other games and will likely be doing so even more in the future, as my brother and I are developing an android game together. If you want to blame me for something, which you seem overly eager to do, it should perhaps be for not helping Oskar out.

As for the suggestion itself, again, I'd ask you to check the comments left behind on the android market. They have finished all the content and end up uninstalling, as they have nothing more to do. No, I cant tell you how many players that actually is, but its a trend nonetheless that should be paid attention to if the community is to grow as much as possible. Since it takes a while to develop new content, raising the difficulty of the later content that players hit, would keep them preoccupied for longer.

ctnbeh13 wrote:If you weren't at level 36, your "as a new player of a game" perspective might have carried more weight.

I consider us both as new players, as the game is far from finished and the current content can probably be finished in less than a day. Besides having killed the same monsters over and over again to reach the level we are at, we are not that different from those who have just started.

ctnbeh13 wrote:Although I cannot recommend a way for you to experience more excitement from the game, challenge is a topic for which many ideas come to mind. For starters, try working on obtaining a RoLS. I'm fairly certain that players who have 1, more, or none at all, would agree that getting one is a challenge. A most excellent way for Oskar to leave this installment of the game, but that's my view.

Yes, you must be enjoying it very much to have gained 3 RoLS and reached level 100 though killing the same monsters over and over again, though hardly challenging, but rather requiring an autistic degree of patience and dedication.

You must really stop quoting me, least I perceive myself more than merely a man, with undiagnosed autism. Your reply was worth the reading. I wish you and your brother the best in the development and distribution of your pending app.