ANN: The Odyssey Re-Released

[Danimal]

We finished this game at christmas but it really didn't do well. We realized that it really wasn't finished and went back to it for a couple weeks. After massive changes and much hair pulling we're releasing it again. Hopefully this time it will do better.

shot 1
shot 2
map
front screen

Download Game

Liquid Dragon Studios

[kimkallstrom1]

there's a short review here, in case anyone wants more information about the odyssey.

[svero]

This is actually a really cool original game that I spotted thanks to gametrove... I have a few problems with it.. some to do with level design, but its one of the more original and interesting titles I've played recently.

[terin]

Yep, I saw it on GameTrove too.

My 2 cents on it: Original, well polished, and totally mistargetted

What that means is, as a GUESS you are going to get a lot of praise for creating a good work of art, but like so many works of art, you aren't going to get paid for it.

Why is that? It looks like you designed a game for the casual audience without taking into account if the casual audience actually was capable of playing it.

I love the idea of the game in general, but the whole 'spin to control wind speed' and 'drag to create current' isn't really easy to do. The way *I* played it, at least, it required a small frenzy of activity to nagivate the ships around. Frenzy = bad.

Also controlling current, by design, is hard and frustrating. Frustrating = bad.

And the maze on level 2? Sheesh, just looking at it made me want to turn the game off.

Great game, hope it does well, but im my estimation it is time to get crackin on the next one if sales were your motive (which based on this post, they were).

My adivce: Stick to the "god shapes the world" theme, but make it more subtle and self-solving and drawn out. That is, if your target is a casual audience
-Joe

[svero]

>And the maze on level 2? Sheesh, just looking at it made me want to turn
>the game off.

Totally agreed. Big level design mistake.

In general I agree with Terin, that this'll be a hard sell without some revision. I don't see the game as being casual really. I see it more as an interesting puzzle game with unique control elements. I'm just not sure that they're used the best way possible. I kind of like the dragging of currents as an idea though.

[Bmc]

I'm going to also say

Interesting concept ... but just as I was getting the hang of playing that maze appears and I was like "F**k that" and turned the game off.

The maze is just an altogether bad idea.


Didn't Popcap give you feedback after you won that contest of theirs? I'm surprised they wouldn't of mentioned anything about the maze ... and how you could add some conflict without making the player too frustrated.

[Daire Quinlan]

I'd have to agree about the maze :-)
I played the demo with enjoyment until I hit the maze, played it for about a minute, and uninstalled the demo...

I liked the current dragging idea, However I don't see the point of the wind at all, maybe it comes into play on the later levels ?

D.

[Danimal]

We ditched the maze, that is the old version. Redid the level progression cyclops are level 4 now not like 20, got rid of all the text people had to read, added sparkly things to pick up, improved graphics, fixed wind meter to give you feedback, and lots of other things. You are all talking about the old version although most of it probably still applies and you're right about the missing the audience.

[terin]

So wait a sec- lemme get this straight You put the wrong version of your game on your own site? Haha... that's classic!

Let me know when the right one is up, I will take a second look at it.

-Joe

[Danimal]

No no, we finished this new version yesterday, which is when I posted this thread! The new one has been up since I posted this.