Why do you follow The Way of the Ninja?

[Metanet Software]

So as you may have heard, we're getting ready to release the Steam version of N++, soonish. Hooray! We want to reach more people and help them understand why this game is so great. Marketing the N series has always been tough -- people do see the graphics and think it's nothing special. You really have to play it to understand why it's so good. We know it's very much a niche game, and we don't expect everyone to love it (especially because of the difficulty), but we think more people would enjoy N++ if they just gave it a try.

So we're hoping you can give us some insight, since many of you are people who play and enjoy the series (if you haven't played N++, please substitute in either N or N+): why do you play N++, and what keeps you playing? what made you try it in the first place? What do you like about it? What makes playing N++ fun, to you?

You don't have to answer all the questions, or in much detail if you don't want to -- even your gut feeling is great. But if you really want to psychoanalyze it, that's cool too ;) Bonus points if you can describe what you're feeling as you play, emotionally.

We're just trying to figure out how to talk about the game in a way that entices more people to play it, and see what they've been missing :)

thanks for your help!

[Metanet Software]

thanks Panda! and thanks Spark, that's awesome. We'll do the best we can to get N++ out as soon as possible :)

[ModBopBeat]

@Metanet You're most welcome for the feedback! One of the things I'm really excited about in the new one is that you added a lot more colors! I think a lot of people will see that and think..."Ehh. Big deal." But honestly. It's always been so ironic to me that we have PC hardware capable of so many crazy things that I could never have imagined powering up my NES at 3 years old...4K monitors and better color tuning than ever before...but we play games with such bland color palletes. It's almost like we've regressed in that way. Some 8-bit and 16-bit games from the origonal era of that art style...look so damn pleasing today because of the lack of color in so many modern big budget titles. I don't get it. Tech has advanced so much...I have the best computer I've ever owned in my life at the moment...and the best screen as well...but barely any of the big budget titles take advantage of all that. Or movies for that matter...but that's a different story. I mean...the way they did that recent Man of Steel movie?... *sigh*...I'm definitely with the guys that set out to add color BACK into it. Great video.
All in all...of course the miniamlistic graphics and lack of color you guys did had their place and was a statement at the time you did it previously...because it was a lot less common of a thing...but the greatness of all that is...a lot of mainstream gaming has followed what you did back then in a sense...and now you're rebelling against that...with color! :D It's actually an underrated thing for me in N++. In a weird...''deep'' hippie dippy sense haha.
I guess another thing I wanted to mention...hopefully without upsetting anybody...I was always kind of sad that Super Meat Boy kind of took the crown that should have been yours. You don't have to elaborate on any of that of course. I'm not trying to start drama. I'm just trying to say something that I feel personally. But I feel like restoring faith in the platformer was a lot of because of what you guys did and were doing. And it kind of happened without N gaining as much praise as it probably could have. I'm a pretty nostalgic guy. I think that's pretty apparent by my profile picture on here haha. (Yes. That's crazy me in that picture... The only American THESE days to be wearing a Nehru Jacket most likely... :P ) However, I feel like Super Meat Boy was kind of like the Family Guy of video games...that is to say...not much of an indentity of it's own...but more like a lot of referencial stuff. So that obviously tapped into a lot of people's hearts I suppose. The gameplay is pretty similar otherwise though and you guys did a whole lot to make the genre viable again not super quietly...but...toooooo quitely if you know what I mean. I'm really glad that in the end, that the guy from Sony (I forget his name. My apologies,) reached out to you guys and wanted you guys to do something new with N again. That's really cool. There's the pat on the back I suppose. :) As soon as I saw that...I had my doubts...but I was HOPING SO HARD that it'd come to PC. And here we are! :)
I'm also glad we have some comradery. That's really cool. It's cool that you guys asked us to tell you guys our experience. I feel it's important to get feedback like this. I wish more people did it. Not just asking for helping finding bugs....but really wanting to know the people who love your creations. All art forms could learn from that. Sorry for blowing the forum up by the way. I'm kind of wordy at times.

[Metanet Software]

no worries at all, Max -- we really enjoyed reading your comment: we know where you're coming from :) Hopefully N++ on Steam will be huge, and our story will have a happy ending : )

We think it's great to check in with fans and players -- you all have such interesting stories and insights. And maybe it will help us explain the game better to new players, too, so the community grows and continues to be rich and vibrant! Everybody wins ;)

[krassell]

I only played original N and Nv2, unfortunately. Still, I await N++ on steam with great anticipation. It's hard to explain why N feels so good to play. I'd say it's mostly due to balance. The game is hard enough to make you really hone your skill, but it's not hard enough for you to turn around and walk away (ok, let's be honest, there are few places where you've gone a bit overboard with difficulty, heh. "lemming run" and "slipping trip hazard" from v2 are two particularly nasty examples which will forever remain burned into my mind. Made them all the more satisfying to finally beat). The graphics are a balance of it's own: there's only things you need to see, and nothing else. Just enough to make it distinct, to grant it personality over tons of other platformers. True minimalism, with utilitarianism thrown in for a good measure. Time and gold amount are balanced to the point that a little fluke in gold supply or level duration will throw you for a loop, if you grow a bit too careless. The time spent on the level and size of levels are too, balanced. Enough to pique your interest, but not enough to get stale. Bite-sized chunks of raw platforming challenge that always leave you yearning for more.
I consider N one of main sources of inspiration for my current project, with which I want to give back to platforming genre for years of fun I had with platformer games, games that can loosely be described as platformer games, ROM-Hacks for platformer games, level editors for said games and people from platforming community. Thank you for creating these great games!

[aarona493]

You should ask NerdCubed to do a video on the steam release. He's spoken openly about how N is his favorite platformer. I'm sure he'd be happy to give you guys a boost.

[DieInStyle]

Oh my god,this game is coming to steam...so much memories with N flash.I used to play it with my friends,and they all loved it.The fluid plays and map designs,also the physics in this game makes it more more fun.For me is one of the best platformers,and sure I will buy it and recommend it to any person who loves platformers.Please hurry up finishing this game,I simply cannot wait for it..cannot wait to put hours and hours in this awesome game :D

[Spark7979]

Could you at least give us a general idea of how completed this game is?

[Metanet Software]

[FT]Xen0morph Ò_ό ☣: Awesome, you're definitely going to be happy with N++ :) The levels start easier (but there's still a challenge for those who have experience), and they get even harder, but we've made the best levels of our lives -- some of them are just *makes that Italian gesture where you kiss your fingers and then move them away from your mouth while opening your fingers" ;)
(http://www.instructables.com/id/Understanding-Italian-Gestures/step19/Kissing-hand/)

@aarona493: NerdCubed is the best! He actually did a video about N++ on PS4 that was just awesome. He really gets what makes the game great, and he did a fantastic job explaining it, too. I hope he does another for the Steam launch -- we'll try to reach out to him.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=nerdcubed+N%2B%2B&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=k_KEV5r-OIb3-AGXyIG4AQ

@shinra: Thanks! we'll do the best we can to get it finished asap :)

@Spark: We're almost there -- still aiming at launch by the end of the summer, but we won't announce anything official until we're more sure we can make that date. We plan on doing a beta, and a blog post update with more detail soon, so keep an eye out for that!

[emberfiend]

I am obsessed with games with freedom of movement (Tribes, parkour games) and n does inertia and jump tricks so beautifully and intuitively. The main reason I have played n for PC continuously for all these years is the feeling of mastery from knowing and perfecting its glorious physics engine.

[DieInStyle]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από emberfiend:

I am obsessed with games with freedom of movement (Tribes, parkour games) and n does inertia and jump tricks so beautifully and intuitively. The main reason I have played n for PC continuously for all these years is the feeling of mastery from knowing and perfecting its glorious physics engine.

Agreed with you friend,that is truly gorgeous.

[Spark7979]

Don't waste time with a beta. I'd rather wait for the full release (unless you want us to report bugs, add improvements.) Anything that speeds up the development! I'm very hyped for this game.

[e.bkapalka]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Spark7979:

Don't waste time with a beta. I'd rather wait for the full release (unless you want us to report bugs, add improvements.) Anything that speeds up the development! I'm very hyped for this game.

Every game goes through a beta phase. They can't just skip it

[Spark7979]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από e.bkapalka:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Spark7979:

Don't waste time with a beta. I'd rather wait for the full release (unless you want us to report bugs, add improvements.) Anything that speeds up the development! I'm very hyped for this game.

Every game goes through a beta phase. They can't just skip it

I know. I just don't want them to waste time releasing it. But anything that helps them I guess.

[Metanet Software]

thanks emberfiend, we're with shinra, that was beautifully put.

@Spark: the beta will help us figure out the minimum specs (which are hopefully broad) and find and fix bugs, plus test the server with various loads. It'll take time, yes, but we think it'll help us put out a better product overall, so it's worth it. We appreciate the sentiment though, thanks! We're so glad you're hyped :)

[Spark7979]

Yeah, i'm just playing through the original N at the moment.