Dungeon Guardians 2 ?

[ManuTOO]

Hello,

I'm answering this message here https://steamcommunity.com/app/409450/discussions/0/3220528325741220590/?tscn=1661072716#c3427822455467965883 to avoid topic hijacking... :-)

Originally posted by BabyNinjajesus:

Manu; do you plan on making a dungeon guardians 2? this is the only blobber i can find in existence that has action bars and skill trees and i want more :(

Short answer :

At this stage, this is unlikely.

Long answer :

Since 2016 (ie: about 1 year after the game's initial release), I always have been 3 years away from possibly starting to work on DG2, in the best-case scenario.
So for nearly 6 years, I was 3 years away from possibly being done with my tennis games.
In the meantime, I got 2 kids, and a ton of sh*t coming my way (and into the world's one, too, hello Mr Covid >_< ).

Anyway, now, for the 1st time ever, I'm less than 2 years away from finishing my 2nd tennis game "Tennis Elbow 4" which was released on Steam on Early Access 1 year ago (the 1st one "Tennis Elbow Manager 2" was released in June 2019, already 3 years ago..!).

Unfortunately, financially-wise, the income from TE4 is much lower than expected, which means I won't have the financial freedom I was hoping for. It may change with the console releases, if I manage to do them, though, but I don't keep my hopes too up.

Financially-wise, DG1 performed well, even quite well considering it was my 1st game in the genre.

However, when you see sequels of "blobbers" ( = 1st-person grid-based dungeon crawler), they usually perform 50% less well than the 1st one, or even worse. This is not financially sound for me, especially as it's even not sure to reach that state.

Moreover, I'm not super sure I have DG2 in my guts. There's a lot more to be done on the tactical aspect, but dungeon-wise, I'm not sure I can do better or even as good as DG1 (or I'll do like everybody else : open world ! ).

So often, when I think about DG2, I'm wondering if I'd not try to do a top-down tactical combat game, whose exploration would be obviously less interesting & challenging than a 1st-person game. This would also allow me to implement all the ideas to improve the combat system of DG that I have noted since 2016.

But right now, what I'd really like to do is a tactical combat game with base construction, relatively realistic (ie: contemporain or slightly futuristic era). The market is probably 100 times bigger than the blobber's one, and although the competition is also much fiercer, I think I could manage to do something enticing & fresh enough for a good bunch of players. :-)

So if my current development speed doesn't change, I'll decide where I go within a couple of years, but DG2 is unlikely at this point, and if it comes, it'll be in a long time anyway, and maybe not under the form of a blobber.

PS: it's nice to know that DG1 isn't forgotten. :-)

[Scrof]

So I've been on a blobber binge recently and discovered DG after playing through Grimrock and Vaporum. And I must say, even as it may not look or feel the best, it's pretty darn good as far as good ol' dungeon crawling goes and I absolutely love the unique spin on combat and roleplaying-system (as a WoW vet especially - I'm like a fish in water, so satisfying), it's kinda ingenious even.

That said, a shame there won't be a true sequel anytime soon as you clearly have the talent for this type of game, but I personally don't hold it against you if you see the need to explore your creativity in other ways. Tactical combat is another one of my favourites, so I'm genuinely looking forward to what you can come up with next.

[ManuTOO]

@Scrof,
thanks for your kind words. :-)

[BabyNinjajesus]

Thank you for answering, if i knew how to program and create games i would make it myself, every other blobber ive found just doesnt have the same combat feel, the only thing even remotely close enough i could find was might and magic x legacy

in regards to this

>But right now, what I'd really like to do is a tactical combat game with base construction, relatively realistic (ie: contemporain or slightly futuristic era). The market is probably 100 times bigger than the blobber's one, and although the competition is also much fiercer, I think I could manage to do something enticing & fresh enough for a good bunch of players. :-)

Theres another team that branched out in a similiar way that made an incredible little game called Lords of Xulima, absolutely loved that game

they went on to make They are billions.

if you get even remotely the same kind of success, please dont forget about us blobbers :( i recommend your game on /r/rpg_games whenever someone asks for blobbers or rpg games to play, theres just nothing like it.

[Silt]

Blobbers has always been my favorite type of RPGs, been playing them since the Eye of the Beholder series (yup I'm that old). The Fall of the Dungeon Guardians is one of my favorites of the new blobbers that's came out since Legend of Grimrock rejuvenated the genre. I recommend the game as often as I can to folks. Bummer to hear there probably won't be a part 2. I also love me some tactical games. With as good as Guardians was, I have no doubt you'd excel in that genre as well. Good luck in whatever future games you make, but I'll still be hoping for a Guardians 2 at some point!

[ManuTOO]

@BabyNinjajesus,
oh, I hadn't noticed the devs of They are Billions did Lord Xulima before..! If I had 5% of their success I'd be already quite happy..!

And thanks for recommending the game..! :-)

@Silt,
Thanks for the vote of confidence for the tactical game, and for recommending the game on Reddit : I've noticed your posts quite a few times there and it always cheers me up..!

[Gryphon]

For what it's worth, I think blobber fans are such an underserved audience that you absolutely can be successful again. Though perhaps it would be better to simply make another blobber rather than a direct DG sequel, even if you keep the tactical gameplay the same.

As for whether you can make the exploration better or even the same... I actually feel like this is where DG had the most potential for expansion. Since tactically involved combat with active pause is (and should be) the main feature, it can never be the pure dopamin hit that is (for example) Diablo's combat. And that's fine, but even Diablo had environmental storytelling, story bits/events in its randomized dungeons and the town to help build atmosphere, provide motivation and break up the pace a little to keep the combat from getting stale.

Then again, I might be biased. I've long dreamed of a blobber that combined the intricate combat of (some) blobbers with the exploration of, say, Ultima Underworld. Or the Realms of Arkania Northlands Trilogy with proper blobber combat instead of the isometric stuff.

[Gryphon]

Anyway, you do what you think is best for your future, ManuTOO!

In the meantime, for anyone needing a blobber fix, here's one I rarely see mentioned, never mind recommended, even though I think it's pretty good: Starcrawlers.

[Dergin]

Manu, you have to look after yourself and your fam first mate :) I'm just happy to have this game. Regardless, if you decided to do add on content for this one, it would be an instabuy from me.

[ManuTOO]

@Dergin & Gryphon,
thanks ! :-)

[Role player]

Late to the party.
Best of luck with your life!
But yeah, this game is great and a sequel will always be well received!

[Babbles]

What are you doing?

[ManuTOO]

@Role player,
thanks ! :-)

@Babbles,
you're asking me, right ?
It's written in my post above, I'm working on this :
https://store.steampowered.com/app/760640/Tennis_Elbow_4/
... :-)