Completely Honest Game Critiques.

[GermanyXItaly1000 16]

Although I see Omar has already does something like this, I thought it would be fun to do one as well. Since returning to GDU, I want to do something to contribute to the community again, so I'd like to play other peoples' games and give feedback.

 

Like Omar's I will do either demos or full games. My goal is to help the developer, so I don't mind whether it's unfinished or not. I will test out any games made from any engine, though I usually expect to see RPG Maker games. Anyone who is a member of GDU can submit their game to completely honest critique.

 

But I'm not a nice and awesome guy like Omar. Whatever I say will be honest blunt. Whatever is wrong with the game, I will point out right away. I'm not looking to hate on or flame games, only to honestly tell them what can be done better. Everything I say is constructive criticism and not with bad intention.

 

The information needed is below for you to submit your game in a reply.

 

Game Title: 

Estimated time in game:

Engine used to create game: 

The link to the game (I prefer to have the game on a GDU page):

 

Keep in mind that when you enter your game for review I will take as long as necessary. It can be a couple days to a full month. Since I'm busy I might not get to it for even longer. But for now since I have nothing to do I can play more games.

 

The things I will tell you about your game:

• What's wrong and what you need to fix
• Whether your game is enjoyable in terms of character/story progression (if your game has it), graphics, presentation
• What you need to improve (whether in mapping, dialogue, story, etc).

The things I will not tell you about the game is only a rating, I don't trust myself to rate games.

 

Hoping to play some of GDU's games, it's been a while.

~Naoto

Edited July 11, 2015 by GermanyXItaly1000

[Polraudio 122]

Not all games have a story and are an RPG. How would you like to try a different type of game(Mine Clicker)? Even knowing the game is commercial id like someone to give it a go and see how well it is. Id have to give you a link in a private message and you have to promise not to give the link to anyone else.

 

Game Title: Mine Clicker

Estimated time in game: 8-Unlimited Hours

Engine used to create game: Unity

The link to the game (I prefer to have the game on a GDU page): Will send in PM if you agree to above terms.

[GermanyXItaly1000 16]

 

Not all games have a story and are an RPG. How would you like to try a different type of game(Mine Clicker)? Even knowing the game is commercial id like someone to give it a go and see how well it is. Id have to give you a link in a private message and you have to promise not to give the link to anyone else.

 

Game Title: Mine Clicker

Estimated time in game: 8-Unlimited Hours

Engine used to create game: Unity

The link to the game (I prefer to have the game on a GDU page): Will send in PM if you agree to above terms.

 

 

I did mention I would look at any games, but I put "story progression" in the things I would mention, I should remove that. :P 

 

Looking at this, it actually seems interesting. I haven't played many Unity games lately (I tend to avoid those with the number of strange simulator games coming out lately). I know there are some good ones.

 

So I'd like to give it a try. Pardon if I'm not good at critiquing it, as I'm not used to critiquing games that don't centralise around story and plot.

[Polraudio 122]

I sent you a copy of the game in a PM. If you have never played a clicker game before welcome to clicker games. And if you find them fun 2 hours will go by and feel like 5min xd. Theres alot to the game since there's a prestige system that you can find in the settings.

[GermanyXItaly1000 16]

Game Title: Mine Clicker

Submitter/Developer: Polraudio

Estimated time in game: 8-Unlimited Hours

Engine used to create game: Unity

 

NOTES: It should be noted that this game is only an ALPHA version and is not a complete game.

 

When I first opened this up, I expected it a Minecraft-style "mining simulator". With the abundance of ridiculous games lately, commercial products like Grass Simulator (don't ask me why or how anyone could make a conscious decision to make something like that cost actual money) have lowered my expectations for Unity games. I should probably not feel this way. But when you try so many games and find constant disappointment, you begin to automatically expect it.

 

When I launched Mine Clicker I was surprised. Simple 2D graphics sprawled across the title... simple, not anything grand. It pitched two future modes that you can play in, which I will cover in the post later... I selected a level and was unexpectedly greeted by grey screens and text--and my first impression was "This is not a game." No 3D graphics? No running around like a lunatic and scrounging around for items? Not even anything remotely similar to Minecraft. It was perplexing.

 

(Later I realised that the description said clicker game, and I'm an idiot. I'm not familiar with these words.)

 

"That's a lot of information" was what I thought as I stared at the enigma that is Mine Clicker. Like I said... Grey screen (with some interesting lightning bug effects in the background that makes it a little more alive, something I'd be glad for later) and white text. At first glance, I disliked it.

 

But the text, though it seems a lot at first, is purely instructional. Easy to read, understand, and apply to the game... though I did still dislike the sudden change from story-based RPG to something that seemed not so much a game as a "click your mouse as fast and long as you can" simulator.

 

For the last thirty minutes I've been preparing a rant about this game. How it preys on how the sheer satisfaction of clicking and seeing numbers rise. The way it takes advantage of just how much people like to click all the long, damn day. How story-less it is, and how mindless. I would compare it to games like Candy Crush or Cookie Clicker. In fact, it does have some similar functions to the latter, where you can get the game to do some of the clicking for you as well.

 

But I realised in the end that clicker games offer very little in the ways of story and plot in the first place. And this type of game is designed to be addicting. The more it draws you in to its hours of clicking, the better. If it doesn't make you addicted, then it's not much of a clicker game.

 

At the end, I clocked in with 55 minutes and 7 seconds of playing. And I had to actually force myself away from the computer.

 

I spent about half an hour preparing in my head the angry rant about this game and how the damn clicking is all there is to it, but in the end the clicking is what matters. I'd say I absolutely hate this game, but this thread is supposed to advocate complete honesty. So the only thing I can say that I truly hate about this game is that I like it.

 

Congrats, Pol. You've earnt my rage/mild-respect for eternity.

 

But that's not all I have to say about this game. Within a few minutes of playing, I found myself more fascinated than skeptical of the idea of a game like Mine Clicker. It's not so much Candy Crush or Cookie Clicker, as it demands some attention to not only how much you've clicked, but also to spending. The game does like to prey on the fact of how much a cheapskate I am. You can earn money by selling what you mine, and you can hire people with the money you make. Simple, but something different and promising.

 

Now, for the future of this game. As stated, this game is an ALPHA. There's still much to be developed, seen, and played, and I'll try to keep a short description here. 

 

The game pitches two modes: Classic and Management. Classic is your typical clicker game. But the one I'm really interested in is Management. If what the Alpha offered is a watered-down yet engaging simulation of "make money and pay by just clicking a lot", then Management is probably going to be "put yourself in the shoes of a real life mining company CEO (by also clicking a lot)". If what I'm correctly understanding what I'm reading, you have to actual handle workers. Not only do some of the work yourself, but watch over a group of others who will in turn do work for you.

 

That's the part that's got me piqued. Although not added into the game yet, the idea is an interesting and different way to make a clicker game, and it offers a lot more of an experience than just sitting at your iPad and tapping on a pixelated cookie a billion times for hours on end.

 

Now, here's for the part where I sit and tear the game apart piece by piece. Or at least attempt to, because this game type is not exactly my thing. But I'll do my best.

• It's not that much of an experience.
  I could sit through in one sitting and be done with it, although that sitting may be 4+ hours. But that's completely understood, as this is an alpha... and that's what a clicker is supposed to be anyway. But I feel like much more can be done to make it a better and more engaging experience. I'd like to see more done with it in the future, and I know Pol has a lot planned.
   
• It's mindless and uninteresting when you reach a certain point.
  Again, this is an alpha, and Pol has more planned. But I hope that there can be more realistic or complicated things mixed into the gameplay, especially in Management mode. I'm not sure what could be put in to enhance the experience, as I'm not familiar with this type of game. Things like taxes and budgeting crossed my mind, but I honestly have no idea how that would work in what you're making. It doesn't have to be exactly that, but something along those lines that would add a little kick into the game and maybe get the player's brain to work a little, but allow them to have fun.
   
• I may just be nitpicking, but those sound effects get on my nerves.
  Not often, but as Kitsuki says, I can get slightly salty sometimes. Clicking for 55 minutes straight with the same repeated sound effects is a little much for a person like me. That being said, I'm a music-nut who likes things like classical pieces too much for his own good. But a little background music, perhaps simpler to fit the mood of the game, would be nice to throw in. Something soothing and unobtrusive, maybe just once in a while, that doesn't grind someone's nerves if they have to hear it for hours.

That being said, this game is an alpha. Furthermore I'm not experienced with these types of games and cannot give a lot of input like others might be able to. So this is basically just the review and opinion a player and the audience of the game... which is useful as well, I guess.

 

I think I have a lot more to say, but that's most of what I can think of off the top of my head. I would definitely recommend giving Mine Clicker a go if clicker games are your thing, or if you're looking for something new to do and wouldn't be opposed to giving Pol's game a go.

 

I would buy this game in the future and probably will. Not now because I don't exactly have the means, but I would definitely pay to have a copy of what this game could be.

 

That wraps up Mine Clicker. The clicker experience that left my interest piqued, but also left me furious because I actually enjoyed it for all of those 55 minutes. And most of me still doesn't know why.

 

~Naoto

 

[Polraudio 122]

Thank you for that review(everything went better than expected). Altho with 55min you only experienced a fraction of the game(theres upgrades to make everything go much faster and easier.). Most of the problems you were having will be fixed in the massive overhaul we are currently working on. We are adding a year, month, and week system along with having to pay your workers with money and tools every month. the ugly menu's will be replaced with objects and separate rooms for doing skilling. You can also lose the game in the overhaul and take out loans that are to be paid off over time. there will also be a credit score system where you are rewarded for being on time with payments. The main game will be more like management mode but management mode will be far far more complex and have more content.

 

Once we release the overhaul will you be up for reviewing that one?

[GermanyXItaly1000 16]

Thank you for that review(everything went better than expected). Altho with 55min you only experienced a fraction of the game(theres upgrades to make everything go much faster and easier.). Most of the problems you were having will be fixed in the massive overhaul we are currently working on. We are adding a year, month, and week system along with having to pay your workers with money and tools every month. the ugly menu's will be replaced with objects and separate rooms for doing skilling. You can also lose the game in the overhaul and take out loans that are to be paid off over time. there will also be a credit score system where you are rewarded for being on time with payments. The main game will be more like management mode but management mode will be far far more complex and have more content.

 

Once we release the overhaul will you be up for reviewing that one?

 

I did manage to upgrade a few things, but it's certain I spent a lot longer in that game than I was supposed to. I was putting off other things that I usually don't :P So that's how you know you did a good job reeling me in.

 

That sounds interesting, and I would be ecstatic to see the full version. There will be a lot more to say about that mode in the future, when it's at its best. Hopefully then I'll be able to pay for a copy of my own.