Don't understand the appeal currently

[PovKetz]

So don't get me wrong, the concept of being a group of hired contractors who're called out into the wilderness to fix assorted infrastructure issues, only to end up at the mercy of assorted cryptids and beasts sounds cool as hell, and is why I checked out the demo. Unfortunately I don't think the game really delivers on either of those experiences, much less the two combined together. Before I go into that I do want to say that I fully understand that this is a demo, so of course it's going to have rough edges in terms of mechanics, visuals, etc. Lack of keybinds and other settings are also rough, but again, a demo is a demo.

Problem is I think that the demo has more than just a couple of rough edges. Biggest thing is the delivery of the contractor side and horror side of the game. The contractor stuff is mostly just alright? Couple of fuses, some circuit puzzles which are half decent but nothing ground breaking (plus the solutions seem to be on the whiteboard anyways I think?), and turning some valves to match the very clearly displayed pressure levels on the ipad before turning it all on. Plus taking the pipe off to clear the blockage but that's far from noteworthy. Again, far from terrible, but pretty simple and relatively bland. While it might lean a bit too much into the difficult side of things, an excellent source to pull from would be the game INFRA, where you play as an infrastructure inspector/engineer who has to repair and catalog assorted faulty infrastructure. Obviously I speak with no engineering background, but that game really makes you feel like you're restarting and repairing critical infrastructure.

So the horror. I'll be honest it's just about non-existent currently, at least from what I've seen. You're in the woods at night so the atmosphere isn't terrible, but outside a couple rats or other things, you don't even experience the horror aspects until right at the end, and then it's just a big hairy beast that chases you back to the RV (And apparently one-shots ya, though I didn't get caught so I couldn't say). On a side note I'm not even sure if I've beaten the game or not. Made it back to the RV with the pulsing artifact and locked it down so I think I did?

Finally my biggest issue and I suppose suggestion for the game, is the fact the contractor stuff stops when the horror begins. There isn't a single real threat until after you've done all the complicated stuff. Leaving just a single rush back to the RV as soon as the pipe is popped off. The fact the two main focus points of the game barely even interact is incredibly disappointing. There's no pressure while solving the puzzles, or worrying about attracting unwanted attention when switching on a generator. Also I'm sure it's already planned (I hope), but randomizing the location to some degree, like fuse spawns, the circuit puzzles (Even if it just cycles through 10 or so patterns), and different pipe pressures would go a long way. Course I assume there's a wide variety of contracts/locations planned, if not just one large map, but it'd quickly wear thin if it's the same every time

And that's really all the negatives I could say about the game/demo in it's current state. Except for the random bits of scrap and food. I truly can't say this any nicer than this. This mechanic feels wildly out of place when you're in the role of a hired contractor. Feels like both that and the inventory could be completely scrapped and the game wouldn't change at all. Especially when you only ever need to carry a flashlight, wrench, and ipad. With the occasional fuse of course. A lot of games, like Phasmophobia or Lethal Company, purposefully restrict the total amount of items you can carry to encourage comprises with what all can be carried, which is completely negated by the massive inventory in this game. Also purchasing goods from the shop with money earned from actually completing a job instead of scrapping 20 spools of copper wire better fits the game narrative.

There's absolutely more I could say about this, but it'd be less actual criticism and just an idea guy yappin' about what may or may not improve the game. Looking forward to how this game grows and changes

[Reaptor]

I think you have to take this for what it is. This isn't going to be a popular game, this isn't going to even be a good game. This is some little bucket list project from a guy who is bored of grinding long form video content on youtube. If this game even gets released at all, it will be half-baked, buggy, janky, and pretty barebones. The guy said likes games, so he probably wants to at least be able to say "Hey, I made a game".

I respect the desire to want to create something and put it out into the world and feel accomplished, but the people ♥♥♥♥ riding this game are completely out of touch.

[IvoryTemplar]

Originally posted by Reaptor:

I think you have to take this for what it is. This isn't going to be a popular game, this isn't going to even be a good game. This is some little bucket list project from a guy who is bored of grinding long form video content on youtube. If this game even gets released at all, it will be half-baked, buggy, janky, and pretty barebones. The guy said likes games, so he probably wants to at least be able to say "Hey, I made a game".

I respect the desire to want to create something and put it out into the world and feel accomplished, but the people ♥♥♥♥ riding this game are completely out of touch.

Bro really out here hate ****ing the hell out of Oompaville so hard that he's **** posting in other threads after making himself look bad in his own thread time and time again.

[Reaptor]

Originally posted by IvoryTemplar:

Originally posted by Reaptor:

I think you have to take this for what it is. This isn't going to be a popular game, this isn't going to even be a good game. This is some little bucket list project from a guy who is bored of grinding long form video content on youtube. If this game even gets released at all, it will be half-baked, buggy, janky, and pretty barebones. The guy said likes games, so he probably wants to at least be able to say "Hey, I made a game".

I respect the desire to want to create something and put it out into the world and feel accomplished, but the people ♥♥♥♥ riding this game are completely out of touch.

Bro really out here hate ****ing the hell out of Oompaville so hard

Here's your mistake.
I don't hate Oompaville and you have internalized this entire thing and made it into a thing about me not liking Oompaville.
I watch Oompaville. I put his videos on in the background and listen to his ramblings about random topics when I'm working on stuff, like a podcast.

You are so ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ fixated on this idea, that you've devolved and become vitriolic, throwing all rationale and reasoning to the wind. You have to convince yourself that you're "winning" in a race where you are the only participant. You have to declare that you've made me "look bad". When the only bad look here is you, acting the way you have been acting over a 10 minute demo. It's not that ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ deep, bruh.

I simply say this game is ♥♥♥♥ and it's going to fail. So remove it from your brain that you think I hate Oompaville, you parasocial weirdo.

[Punching Unicorns]

......wtf are you talking about? Tried the game on my yt channel and frankly, I find it to be LOADS of fun! Stop hating and try it

[Reaptor]

Originally posted by Punching Unicorns:

......wtf are you talking about? Tried the game on my yt channel and frankly, I find it to be LOADS of fun! Stop hating and try it

Are you jaded? It's 15 minutes of walking to a building, fix a pipe (with no monster during this time, mind you), and run back to an RV before generic scary monster (that finally spawns after fixing the pipe) kills you.

[IvoryTemplar]

Originally posted by Punching Unicorns:

......wtf are you talking about? Tried the game on my yt channel and frankly, I find it to be LOADS of fun! Stop hating and try it

Just ignore Reaptor. He's borderline illiterate.

[Reaptor]

Originally posted by IvoryTemplar:

Originally posted by Punching Unicorns:

......wtf are you talking about? Tried the game on my yt channel and frankly, I find it to be LOADS of fun! Stop hating and try it

Just ignore Reaptor. He's borderline illiterate.

You unironically called me a "lolcow" in the other thread. You are a terminally online neckbeard.

[PovKetz]

Listen lads, I haven't the slightest idea as to what you're going on about. Gave some thoughts on the game and that's about it. I have no idea who Oompaville is, or how he's related to this game, or why you're seemingly expanding your territory into other threads just to argue. But it's the steam discussions at the end of the day, so go at it I suppose.

I think the game has some pretty major flaws which might not be completely apparent in just the DEMO, but would only get worse if they carry over into the full game. It might not be that bad if the monster only shows up after completing a job in the demo cause it's a silly scare that might get the group screaming and running the one time you play it, but if that happens every time in the full game, assuming there's plans for multiple small locations rather than one big map, then it's not going to be very interesting. Might be fine if only the biggest bad shows up at the end, and smaller cryptids or beasts harass the players while they're completing their work, but having nothing at all happening during the contractor stuff is rather uneventful, especially when the "puzzles" you're suppose to be engaging with ain't exactly anything noteworthy.

If you view the demo as more of a vertical slice, like these are all the components that could go into the game, rather than how a level will actually play out, then perhaps it ain't as bad. still bland, but not terrible. I just can't imagine myself playing more than one single level that's similar to the demo level. Even if the location is different, and there's a different task. It just ain't very engaging

[Reaptor]

Originally posted by PovKetz:

Listen lads, I haven't the slightest idea as to what you're going on about. Gave some thoughts on the game and that's about it. I have no idea who Oompaville is, or how he's related to this game, or why you're seemingly expanding your territory into other threads just to argue.

I'll summarize it:
This game is made by a youtuber called Oompaville, a long form video content creator that mostly rambles about online drama, internet mysteries, and conspiracy theories. He made an hour long video to promote this game

Like you, I played the game and made a thread with similar concerns. I said I dislike the game and think it will fail to capture an audience.

However, this Ivorytemple guy has taken this personally because he views this as an attack on his favorite youtuber. He has convinced himself that I am attacking this youtuber. Due to this mindset, he has taken up his metaphorical sword and shield. He has been dropping toxic insults and massive ill-formatted comments, meticulously trying to pick apart everything I say piece by piece. It's unhealthy and unhinged behavior. He should not care this much that I don't like this game, but for some reason, it's just consumed him.
He is here now because he's been in every thread on this board, he noticed by comment here and he feels he has to defend the game and Oompaville against my "attack".

[Cheesy]

this is a demo...................................................................................................

[Faralo]

Originally posted by Reaptor:

I think you have to take this for what it is. This isn't going to be a popular game, this isn't going to even be a good game. This is some little bucket list project from a guy who is bored of grinding long form video content on youtube. If this game even gets released at all, it will be half-baked, buggy, janky, and pretty barebones. The guy said likes games, so he probably wants to at least be able to say "Hey, I made a game".

I respect the desire to want to create something and put it out into the world and feel accomplished, but the people ♥♥♥♥ riding this game are completely out of touch.

No matter the thread you keep popping up and complain about other's being emotional, how ironic

[Deuce Brickson]

Originally posted by Reaptor:

I think you have to take this for what it is. This isn't going to be a popular game, this isn't going to even be a good game. This is some little bucket list project from a guy who is bored of grinding long form video content on youtube. If this game even gets released at all, it will be half-baked, buggy, janky, and pretty barebones. The guy said likes games, so he probably wants to at least be able to say "Hey, I made a game".

I respect the desire to want to create something and put it out into the world and feel accomplished, but the people ♥♥♥♥ riding this game are completely out of touch.

its a demo obviously its not fully polished yet

[Cozy]

jesus christ is it like faux paw to say a demo is ♥♥♥♥ these days or something what is going on. This dude is giving actionable feedback and still all anyone can say is "its a demo >:( stop being mean" or drag in other thread drama around like its a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ air port baggage claim. For ♥♥♥♥♥ sake, you ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ nimrods he is trying to be NICE.

[Reaptor]

Originally posted by Deuce Brickson:

its a demo obviously its not fully polished yet

That's not a defense.
This game was barely an idea, it was a project by a Youtuber having a crisis.

A demo is supposed to get you hyped for the game. Well, you can see how that worked out...

[Boomstick]

I wish the game actually loaded so I could see what I think for myself it just says connecting to Vivox or whatever and nothing happens