Plea to Zarf

[Fosforo]

Please give us an other parser-based text adventure like this!

It has been a long time since we have seen any new commercial text adventures.
Is it possible that it's not even remotely profitable?

Although many text adventures are created in numerous periodic competitions (IF COMP, Spring Thing...), it is very difficult, due to their free nature, to find titles of adequate size and ambition like Hadean Lands.

[zarf_home]

I appreciate the thought!

When viewed purely as a commercial release, Hadean Lands was not profitable. It took me far longer than I expected to write it (four years!) The original Kickstarter didn't cover that time, and while it's sold very well for a niche text adventure, that's not the same as being a runaway hit. :)

It seems to be the case that large parser-style text games are not really viable as commercial releases. It's disappointing, but it's not exactly news -- that's been true since 1990. The good news is, there's lots of narrative and text-heavy games that *are* doing pretty well. Narrative RPGs like Disco Elysium or Citizen Sleeper, evidence puzzle stories like Case of the Golden Idol, Choice of Games titles, and visual novels are coming out regularly.

Anyway, I've never been very good at repeating myself. I've considered other formats for IF games, but nothing has quite gelled. If something does, and turns into a large game, I'll certainly put it on Steam!

Thanks for the comment. It's always nice to hear from enthusiasts even if there aren't very many of you.

[Fosforo]

Thanks for your candid response.

I'm very sorry that the revenues from Hadean Lands were not sufficient to cover all the time you invested, and all the more I thank you for giving us this gem that radically modernizes the genre without overturning it.

As for the alternative predominantly text-based options, I have tried some that you mentioned (I can't deny that Dysco Elisium is a great game but I can't bring myself to enjoy the titles from 'Choice of Games,' they are too limiting), but perhaps I'm too traditionalist, as I much prefer a text-based adventure based on a parser.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for LECTROTE (which is by far my favorite IF interpreter, excellent in use and also very interesting from a technical standpoint)
and for everything you have done to keep the glorious genre of text adventures alive !

[blossom]

Originally posted by zarf_home:

It seems to be the case that large parser-style text games are not really viable as commercial releases.

While this is true, I feel it's also slightly disingenuous... Surely you realize Hadean Lands is a niche within a niche. IF has trouble as it is, and I feel like the focus on alchemy for its puzzles doesn't help matters to attract newbies. Spider and Monkey, as well, is fairly obtuse with its sci-fi leanings. There's a reason The Dreamhold is labeled as your game for beginners.

[zarf_home]

Sure, but it's not like another Dreamhold-level game is going to pay the mortgage. If I'm going to spend time on niche games, I'm going to make a game that excites *me*. Like I said, repeating myself really isn't it.

[archcorenth]

If you're looking for other premium parser based puzzle games. I would recommend PataNoir, Thaumistry, Cryptozookeeper, and Jay Schilling's Edge of Chaos.

[archcorenth]

Also, probably not for you since you said you don't like the choice of games, but the games in the Vampire the Masquerade choose your adventure-like series are good.