What Does it Take for you to Click "Download"

[Clest]

Well firstly, nowadays I hardly click on project topics, there are the ones I am waiting for so I usually check em about releases and will D/L then.

Also I will check any topic of a comission client and probably download whatever they have.

Also I will most likely download anything futuristic, sci-fi, sci-fi/fantasy, heavily steampunk, or just which has cool mechs, starships and all that. Only exception is when it is really bad and I see nothing going for it in the topic.

Now if it is not, then my standards skyrocket: it will have to be very interesting, have at least edited RTP or rips, an interesting and specially COHERENT system (I don´t give a damn to shitty limit break bars if you don´t have a nice in game explanation of the system) and of course, an interesting setting and characters.

Still I will look into reviews from others probably before d/ling :P

 

[Volrath]

Usually projects I download already have developed a reputation. I realize this isn't necessarily fair. After all, if everyone chose like this, nothing would ever get downloaded. Still, there's a lot of projects to choose from, and only so much time available to play them. Another consideration is if they're made by a member whose work I have admired in the past...though most of my contemporaries haven't been so active in RM lately.

I don't download games unless they were made by someone who I consider a friend on irc. And only then when they specifically ask.

I'm hardly ever on IRC, but when you gonna play Arc IV d00d?

 

[sixtyandaquarter]

You know speaking of arcs/chapters.... I've never played motw :x
I haven't even downloaded it D:
I've always thought to myself "Man, I should download that game..." but I never get around to it.  And originally there was a reason for that.

That's another deciding factor in if I'll download something.  The size or volume of it.  I don't like chapters.  I don't.  If I see a game with chapters, generally I'm going to walk away.  There are only one or two projects I even looked at, and only one that I ever downloaded and played that had chapters.  It's like to me, reading the first 4 chapters of a book, and then losing it.
By the time I find it to read the next chapter, I might as well play it all to begin with.

It's an illusion really.  While for example other projects are the EXACT same thing, they don't title it chapters, arcs, or episodes.  The wording just has this connotation to it that just turns me away from games.  Now like I said it's the exact same thing if you have a game, and you put out demos for it bit by bit as the story progresses.  But the lack of the wording of "chapter" or "arc" or "episode" makes it feel easier for me to follow.  I'm not sure why.


I actually was going to post about features, but then I read Volrath's last post to Despain and it reminded me of the above.  The below has nothing to do with what I had typed previously above this statement.

FUCK features.
I do not want to see a list of features.  I don't.  It looks forced and attempted.  Show off a few key features that's fine, but do I need to see EVERYTHING in your game as far as mechanics go?

Everyone's so keen on keeping spoilers hidden.  Which, fine- I'm good with.  But I'm about the gameplay.  You won't give me enough info about a character - the LEAD character at that, to feel somewhat able to connect with him or her from the start, but you'll tell me all the information about your battle system or what not.  Bull.  Stop.  Don't do it.  It makes me think you're all flash and pizazz and under a thinly veiled pile of crap story, plot, and characterization all you did was try to make the turd feel good in your hands.

Look at features like you look at plot or characters.  Give enough information to create an aura of importance or a hook if you will, and leave it at that!  You shouldn't or wouldn't tell me about every character in your project will you?  Would you?  And if so, every NPC?
So don't go feeding me every single feature both small and large.

And while I'm all about gameplay, it's not always gameplay or bust.  If I want story, and all I'm getting is features I'm out.  I'm gone.  Bye.

 

[ArtBane]

I agree with you sixty oddly enough. I been meaning to play Quintessence but I don't like the idea that I'll get eight chapters in and then have to wait for the remaining bite size chapters to play. I rather just play it all through at once so I'm waiting for Reives to finish the game. I suspect MotW will also get a lot more attention once it's finally complete.

 

[Calibre]

It seems to be coming more and more of a trend for people to generally not play rm games here, myself included.  To be honest, at the moment, a game would have to be literally WOW for me to download it, but I did download many in the past.

It's getting a sad state of affairs in a way, it feels like it to me anyway... I don't feel too positive about carrying on making a game if it stands little chance of being played by many people.  I know people make games for different reasons, but I don't get satisfaction from making my game but rather from others playing and appreciating it.

 

[GrooveMan.exe]

A quick scan of the plotline. First mention of a giant war, hell, knights, or dragons, and I'm not clicking. Go and appeal to someone else's generic fantasy fetish~

If the game offers an alternative battle system, a modern setting, or an artstyle/soundtrack that oozes 'fresh', then I'm all over it.

Y'know those '3 types of gamers'? I'm the Johnny; I adore customisation.

 

[Sonata]

I didn't mention it before, but poster's reactions are a large factor for me. Often the thread starter will not be completely honest about the game's quality, however other members opinions don't lie.

Another factor that I've seen alot in this thread, is "Who's game are you downloading?". If the game was posted by a well-known member or someone I respect, most likely they have put alot of effort into it and it will not disappoint.

 

[Actingman00]

Basically I will download it if it's by a user I see alot and respect or one of these users likes it.

It also must be laid out well, if the thread isn't laid out well then I don't even bother.  I also love screenshots and if these appeal to me, and the user is respected then I might download it and play it.  Although to tell you the truth RM games kind of bore me.

 

[Nuberus]

Features, and only features. I don't care about screenshots or characters. Which features I want depends on my mood, but there are some things that kill it, and a couple have been mentioned before:

Lastly, if it is an ABS, I won't play it. I hate ABS's. I haven't found one yet that wasn't horribly broken, or laggy as hell, or so convoluted in the keys required that I can't play it on a gamepad.

BTW: Intros should be under 5 minutes long. Sorry. Pet peeve. If an intro runs long, it better be awesome as hell to keep me reading.

I don't want to read a novel or watch a movie. I want to actually play the game before I die of old age. The whole point of a game is that I participate in the unfolding of the story rather than passively observe it.

RTP is fine with me, but I'm clearly in the minority here. And one more thing: I never download anything that features puzzles. Not because I don't like puzzles in general. It's simply that I'm retarded and have never gotten past the first puzzle of any RM game ever.

 

[Cruelty]

i rarely open threads in the project forum anymore because this community, as a whole, simply doesn't have many ideas that interest me.


lol at all the polejockin tho

 

[Gabriot]

Wow well I guess I'm not near as picky as all of you.

I don't care if it's a generic medieval fantasy style game... If it has a well written plot teaser and some screenshots that prove to me that the game isn't just thrown together, I will usually give the game a shot.

Features are nice, but honestly features don't make the game for me, it's all about the story.  It's a role-playing game after all, right?

The only turn-offs for me are ABS(because they are all broken as hell/not fun to play usually) and bad-grammar.

 

[Sailerius]

Interesting story and characters.  Nothing else matters to me.  Even if it has amazing gameplay and beautiful graphics, if it doesn't have a compelling story, I'll probably be done with it in ten minutes or so.

 

[Fireworksinc]

If the game file size is too big, I definitely won't download it unless from the screenshots and summary it looks super incredible and has been given a lot of good comments.  I agree that turn offs include bad grammar, spelling and punctuation, but the story isn't really that important to me.  A good story is a plus but not a necessity if the gameplay is fun.

 

[sharksweetheart]

.

 

[Gabriot]

I'm a sucker for undead as well, but I'm actually a sucker for rivaling kingdoms and dragons as well (apparently no one on this forum is either... what the heck?).

I don't know... to me the purest form of an RPG is a medieval epic with lots of magic and creatures and warring kingdoms.  It never gets old for me as long as they are done right.

 

[Mimi Chan]

I download all I can so that:
1. I can learn from their mistake.
2. I can use their idea and expand it to make my game more appealing.
3. Inspiration (if its a really good game)
4. A good laugh (for the other not-so-good ones)

I am more into the gameplay than story seeing I finish a lot of Japanese games (super robot wars, grandia, etc.) even though I can't barely understand the story, I am having fun with the gameplay and that is enough to warrant my interest.

 

[dadevvtsvre]

I look at the screenshots.

If I like what I see, I might read some of the story and plot.
If I like that, I might read the character info.
And if I like that, I download the game.

I don't download games very often, though. But if the screenshots look uninteresting to me, good luck gettin' me to read the rest.

Although sometimes, if the screens look horrendous, and everything else is as well, I'll play the game to get a good laugh out of it.  :lol:

 

[Fayte]

I agree with some of what people have been saying.

1.) I agree with sonata about being a "Screenshot Whore". What I'm looking for is the battle system. If the game has a front-view battle system or ABS then I won't play it. I'm actually the type of person that likes to level grind, and if your battle system doesn't look good, then it's not worth it.

2.) I really agree with Venetia, I honestly HATE it when I'm force fed the background of the game in the intro. It's really annoying to see every game start off with "1000 years ago...." but if it does, it won't stop me from playing it so long as I'm still 18 by the time the intro ends. e_e

3.)I agree with Grooveman, I usually don't read all of the plot, but if I skim through it and it talks about all of that generic fantasy dragons and war and knights crap, I'll pass.

Lastly I've read a few posts about members only looking at threads if they know the person. Don't you think that that's a little unfair? I mean there are probably people out there who you don't know that may have a project with a deep and compelling story, amazing features, and gameplay that would blow your mind away, but you would never know because you don't know them. that's not right =/

 

[Hevendor]

I'll probably only download if it's not an RPG and/or made by hima.

To be honest, none of the XP RPGs are worth playing, except maybe MotW and Quintessence. Since XP, the whole creation process is reduced to copy, paste, release. The ones that actually get released. I find 2k3 games to be of much higher quality.

 

[Sonata]

Since XP, the whole creation process is reduced to copy, paste, release.

What do you mean by that?