Game length is 2 hours?

[lo]

I was about to defend this game, so I read some negative reviews.. ready to retort on my small experience so far. and there saying the game is 2 hours. is this true? If so I can't really argue with a negative review of a game of 2 hour length. thats 1 dollar range

[Shadowspaz]

Originally posted by Serenis:

thats 1 dollar range

Well that's the issue right there. Are you equating the value of a game strictly to the playtime?

I mean, many people do. But if you want to defend the value of the game, I'd say that the levels are structured brilliantly, the puzzles explore several creative uses of the weapons provided, and the storyline is just a fun, fantastical, "hero's journey."

Add in the plethora of additional game references, the self-awareness of it all, the tone, and the ending (As a developer myself, I absolutely loved what they did with it), and you have a very well crafted little package. It feels alive.

There's much more to a game than how long it takes to complete.

[lo]

so its 2 hours ?

[Quiquekun]

Thanks a lot, Shadowspaz :)
It really depends of your skill. Some people take 8 hours to finish the game like they say on some press reviews, some other people take a couple of hours.
It also depends if you wanna complete the 100% of the hidden collectables, the achievements or the IronMan Mode you unlock after you finish with it.
As a player, I agree with Shadowspaz here. I prefer super-polished, well crafted and polished experiences rather than just something that stretches out in time like bubblegum just for the sake of it. But we knew what we were getting into, so it's really your decision!

Thanks a lot.

[Brother PaciFist]

Thank you op, you saved me some money. From the description i thought this would be some kind of metrovania game, but it is something weird. 2 hours playtime. No thank you. I will refund it.

[Razzle]

Wait ...really ?
Like legit 2 hours and thats it no replay-value ? ...I mean the art-style is so good but was that your entire focus on the game's development ?

I can't really afford to pay that price for a game i'd finish in 2 hours then never play again ....

[Shadowspaz]

Originally posted by Quiquekun:

But we knew what we were getting into, so it's really your decision!

I suppose this means that sales will be likely be pretty profitable, at least. lol

It's pretty awesome how much PR AdultSwim is doing for this game, too. Virtually all of the games they publish are amazing, and I haven't seen them promote a game this much in a loooong time.

[Smauky]

When we make a game we dont think about how profitable will be, we just have an idea for a game, and try to make the more polished/fun game as posible. We worked on this game for 3 years, so its not that we just want to rush a "little game" to try to become rich XD

We like both long and short games like Limbo/Inside, on my country i pay this game cost more or less just watching a movie at the cinema and eating some popcorns, and i dont think about how lenght its the movie, or if i will be able to come back with the same ticket, i just think about how i liked/disliked the movie, but of course not all ppl like to expend so much on a cinema, its just a matter of taste.

Our previusly game was a mobile 20h+ game, so its not like we just want to make short games, each game lenght depend on lot of things.

AdultSwim its doing a great job, they supported us since begining, gived full creative freedom, and help us in every way we needed, so yeah, we are glad to work with them.

[Shadowspaz]

Originally posted by smauky:

When we make a game we dont think about how profitable will be, we just have an idea for a game, and try to make the more polished/fun game as posible. We worked on this game for 3 years, so its not that we just want to rush a "little game" to try to become rich XD

Oh, of course. But especially with a three year investment, you'd want a good return on that.

Are you guys developers full-time, or doing this on the side?

[Quiquekun]

We are full-time developers, but on this case, having something entirely different to surprise the players at every step of the way (if you take a look, we don't repeat your challenges along the way) plus the made by hand backgrounds needed a lot of work and prototyping. 3 years of hard work and prototyping to be specific.
We are learning now most of the players value more duration rather than quality or intensity, so lesson learned. That's how the market is at the moment and you have to follow the rules.

We simply like to do things properly and not releasing a buggy mess fast. But hey, I'm personally a very different kind of player and I don't appreciate to play something watered down for 200 hours. But that's only me again.

[Shadowspaz]

I'd imagine this is the kind of game that would do really well at conventions, and I'd be surprised if this release doesn't get your name out there more. Short or not, the team has proven that they are very capable designers.

Speaking of which, are you guys showing at GDC this year?

[Quiquekun]

Thanks for the encouragement. Yeah, we probably learned the lesson the hard way. It usually happens when you come into a new platform and a different audience at that.
As you say, we hope this game put us a bit more out there at least for our next offering.

And no, we won't be at GDC, sadly.
Thanks!

[KRiSX]

game length doesn't have anything to do with quality of a game... stop being self entitled morons...

if its a tight experience that plays well and is fun it doesn't matter if it potentially only lasts 2 hours... hell the story mode of Superhot can be finished in roughly 2 hours and its an amazing game that doesn't outlive it's welcome...

i'm going to try this out, hopefully it plays as well as it looks

[Ronin Gamer]

So I assume we are getting a bunch of people that prefer those giant open world sand box games filled with repeated fetch tasks and similar missions over and over again just to pad out time. I really don't understand how that's considered fun.

Obviously it's up to every person if they decide to put their money down on something or not, but I'd rather have more games in the industry of quality standard and not quantity standard. I've played many games that aren't super long and have stuck with me for a long time.

Journey if people remember that one, I played that game 1 time. The feelings and struggle that game provides only to at the end of it realize I lost my partner somewhere climbing the last bit of the mountain and I'd be walking through by myself. That was a hell of a feeling. I decided I only ever wanted to play it once to preserve those feelings and memories I had while playing it. And I don't regret paying for it or playing it.

Again, eye of the beholder, but not everything needs to come down to pure number crunch hour value.

[Michel Baie]

Originally posted by Ronin Gamer:

So I assume we are getting a bunch of people that prefer those giant open world sand box games filled with repeated fetch tasks and similar missions over and over again just to pad out time. I really don't understand how that's considered fun.

Obviously it's up to every person if they decide to put their money down on something or not, but I'd rather have more games in the industry of quality standard and not quantity standard. I've played many games that aren't super long and have stuck with me for a long time.

Journey if people remember that one, I played that game 1 time. The feelings and struggle that game provides only to at the end of it realize I lost my partner somewhere climbing the last bit of the mountain and I'd be walking through by myself. That was a hell of a feeling. I decided I only ever wanted to play it once to preserve those feelings and memories I had while playing it. And I don't regret paying for it or playing it.

Again, eye of the beholder, but not everything needs to come down to pure number crunch hour value.

True.
But I won't defend this game lenght.

It's not really about the number of hours (even if two hours is short), it's just there's so much more that could've been made with the game.
Add some more powers and puzzles, and suddenly the game wouldn't feel that empty.

Heck, let's have a look at another, comparable game.
Shantae : Half genie hero (the last one).
There's only a small handful of levels, and still the game clocks around eight hours to finish properly once (as in, collecting everything necessary to get the good ending, not getting all achievements).
They did it by making the player revisit each level multiple times, looking for collectibles and using new powers. And because of those powers, it doesn't feel boring. even though the player is redoing the same levels.

Rise and Shine though?
Tthe game have powers.
It also have puzzles.
And barely use either.
It's just a straight line to the end, with no real incentive to find hidden stuff.
And it still manage to have frustrating parts in that short time.

[Kashra Fall]

A game's length is irrelevant if the game is good. However, the price has to match people's "Feel" for the game itself. Some may feel the price shown is too expensive for a 2 hour experience. My basic rule is 1 dollar for every two hours. Normally with triple A titles, this doesn't even come close half the time. It's one of the reasons I've stuck with indie titles recently. While I do love Adult Swim games because they are unique and fun. People will only buy what they feel is worth the money and sadly, now adays. Length is linked to cost. You have to remember a wide majority of the player base will buy it, play it once and be done with it.

Nothing is stopping someone from beating the game and refunding it if it can be done in 2 hours or less for instance...then no profit is made at all.