[Feedback] Tom's Hen House beta

[Roman Budzowski]

Hi everyone
Tom's Hen House is soon to be released so I would love to know what you think about it. WARNING! The game is not a match-3 clone ;-)

Download the setup (http://www.anawiki.com/download/Install-TomsHenHouse.exe)

Sreenshots:
http://www.anawiki.com/screenshot.php?id=1&screensPage=1
http://www.anawiki.com/screenshot.php?id=1&screensPage=3
http://www.anawiki.com/screenshot.php?id=1&screensPage=2
http://www.anawiki.com/screenshot.php?id=1&screensPage=4
more screens (http://www.anawiki.com/screenshots.php)

Tom's Hen House website (http://www.anawiki.com/game_thh.php)

For steering use mouse or keyboard (Home, End, Page Up & Down keys work best).

I am interested in:
- how does it work (especially minimum specs)?
- what do you think of mouse control?
- was it too hard or too easy?
- clarity of rules
- and overall feelings

I am specialy interested in propositions on how to improve the game :)

all the best
Roman

[Christian]

Hi,
the game has very good graphics.
I didnt use the mouse to play, only the keyboard,
but i think it would be best to use the mouse to play too.
I only played the egg catching level, and i couldnt stand it,
it was too easy, tedious, trivial, not fun at all.
The rules on this where really obvious.
The overall feeling was of playing a 5 year old game, i dont know if this was
your intention, if it was, maybe you can also put some number there, so that the games also teaches some math, it will add much value i think if you do that. I would need to know who is your target audience to be able to give you some advice on how to improve.

Overall, a very well done game, much production value, congratz.

[Roman Budzowski]

I would need to know who is your target audience to be able to give you some advice on how to improve.

Well, target audience are casual players and kids. For casual players (and some older kids) we designed career mode. The problem is that hardcore players may find it too easy and casual players may find it too hard :confused: I haven't tested it on many casual players so that is just a guess.
We have three difficulty levels but they are not very well balanced yet.

For kids there is relaxed mode where you can play all minigames without warrying about loosing a life (so simply there is no game over).

The trick is to make this game as much as possible to atract casual players, because the game will be launched on portals. It is already appealing for kids.

Overall, a very well done game, much production value, congratz.

Thanks :) Hope that at the end this will convert to sales :cool:

Any other comments on gameplay or game?

all the best
Roman

[Christian]

The problem is that hardcore players may find it too easy and casual players may find it too hard

I think that the problem here is that you use the keyobard instead of the mouse, thats what hardcore use, the mouse is what casual players use. It is hard to casual not because of tha gameplay challenge, its because they are not used to control things with the keyboard, and because its a game that is focused on speed of hands an eyes, wich is something that hardcore gamers love, and casual gamers are not interested in, casual gamers want to right away play the game, they dont want to practice their skills in the correct use of input devices, they want to play right away and have fun, the oposite of hardcore.

[Roman Budzowski]

I think that the problem here is that you use the keyobard instead of the mouse, thats what hardcore use, the mouse is what casual players use.

But you can play with mouse (or is it not working for you?).

they want to play right away and have fun

That's why first levels are easy and at leat those players that played said it is fun :)

all the best
Roman

[lakibuk]

Lovely graphics.
The gameplay is very shallow. It got boring soon (but i am not your targeted customer).
Reminded me a little of Betty's Beer Bar. But in BBB the player has to make decisions which make the game more interesting: Do i serve this customer right now or wash the beer mugs before etc.
The egg catching reminds me of the first game & watch games like these:
http://www.gameandwatch.com/screen/silvergold/manhole/index.html
Other things:
- Mouse control feels stressy. I always was in fear that a slight move of the mouse would change my position and cause the next egg to fall down. Keyboard control is a lot better.
- Game does not start after install (most other games do this).
- Right after i completed the first level i was taken to the egg shooting range. I expected some sort of story like the work was over, the village's egg festival started.
- Had problems to understand what the extras from the shop are doing. The explanations are not very helpful.

[Christian]

Appares that it didnt work fo rme.
Anyway, the important other part is that its a hand eye coordination game, and hardcores love than but not casual gamers, casual gamers like a more mental thing that a speed thing.

[Roman Budzowski]

Game does not start after install (most other games do this).

I don't know how to do that yet (and other thing's with INNO Setup, like uninstall, additional links in menu or on desktop) .

Right after i completed the first level i was taken to the egg shooting range. I expected some sort of story like the work was over, the village's egg festival started.

Thanks. It is so obvious to me right now that it is no wonder we didn't come up with it ourselfes :D

best
Roman