Leaving/Refunding because of the humor. What was the developer thinking?

[ekidhardt]

It's a little hard for me to rationalize why the developers made a decision that would both affect the reputation of the company and future profits with the inclusion of an aspect which would 'appeal' to a small slice, and absolutely repulse the vast majority of players.

It must have been a unilateral decision by someone on the top of the food chain at the company--because it doesn't make sense at so many levels, other than at the egoic level of a developer in charge.

This perspective is nearly a shared universal experience between the dozens of game reviews that exist, with NOT ONE game review saying that the humor added to the game.

Here's some quotes for you by those who review games for a living:

1."You have to look to find the better aspects of its storytelling and find a way around the aggravating narration,"
2."Unfortunately, Breathedge is guilty of the things it makes jokes about, "
3."Breathedge is desperate to please with its jokes"
4." There are also some truly weak attempts at irreverent, provocative humor, like taking some dated-feeling jabs at cross-dressing. I'd say they might be funny to someone, but they're actually just… bad jokes."
5."it starts to feel less like a referential goof and more like an obnoxious lack of self-awareness."
6."the humour missed more than it hit for me."
7."the space exploration/survival is genuinely delightful, but workman-like approach to presentation and the humour drags the experience down, undoing the oppressive atmosphere with dated references and ‘gags’. "
8."Perhaps it’s because this voice is what actively progresses the plot, or perhaps it’s because it is tied to every bad joke in the script, but ultimately, the delivery becomes tired and monotonous to the point where it ultimately feels like background noise when it chimes in."
9."The humor also lacks any sense of comedic timing"
10."Annoying narration that only gets more so as the game goes on"

And so, I've stopped playing.

It just boggles my mind a bit that the developers would choose their ego over the success of their product. To spend years of ones life developing a product with other individuals with a key facet (the stupid humor) only appealing to this tiny fragment of the gaming market. To move forward and publish a game with the knowledge that the fruits of your hard work will be anchored down by some guy in charge who insisted that this was the best choice to make (because of their large ego, irrationally convinced that their sense of humor would appeal to a wide audience) rather than to make sound marketing decisions.

What about the poor artists of this game who devoted their time to make something beautiful only for it to become a failure due to some guy insisting on an inundation of his flavor of humor?

Onto better survival games--though, Breathedge folks, your core game is actually really pleasant, with beautiful art, and with a decent story that could be followed if it wasn't completely sunk by the stupid, low quality, humor. I hope that whoever made that decision at the company is replaced, because they largely ruined a very good game and the future financial success of others in the company.

[vine]

lel ok you don't like the humour, i do. you like rdr or gta, i don't. what does it tell about us? absolutely nothing apart from we like different things.
devs make games that they want to do, or play themselves, when they're indie. you must have swallowed too much corporate gaming i guess.. no pun intended but in all seriousness as you meant your critique of Breathedge.

[ekidhardt]

Yeah, we like different things, for sure. By the way, I'm pretty sure you don't know what corporate gaming is.

Let's be clear, developers, large or small, make games for PROFIT. Their purpose is MONEY. This game was made, to make MONEY. They choose the type of game they want, they choose to include the content they desire--but in the end, they want to sell their product, else they wouldn't make it or invest their life into it.

Following that train of logic, why would developers make a game that appeals to a small segment of their market at the expense of their own success? Imagine if Subnautica or Valheim was filled with aggravating, stupid, relentless humor at every corner. Would that help the game or would it cripple it? It would cripple those, and ANY game, just like it did this one.

For every 1 person that enjoys it, 50 people will find it grating and irritating to the point that they forget the rest of the game.

This isn't just my opinion, this is the overwhelming opinion of users and professional reviewers alike, and because YOU, and a tiny fraction of other tweens whose senses of humor never developed past 7th grade enjoy it, still doesn't negate the point that it crippled and sank their otherwise GOOD survival game.

[vine]

your statistics skills are.. awesome

[Hydroculator]

So you didn't like the humor. Fine, not everyone has the same taste. Normal people would refund the game, and move on. If you were able to get a refund, you played for less than two hours. Not a big loss.
But then there's you. You didn't like the humor, but felt that you had to somehow justify it by pouring through at least *ten* different reviewers to gather up quotes from other people that you agreed with? *Then* you wrote up paragraph after paragraph to whine about your disdain for anyone who has a different sense of humor than yours? That's kinda vindictive for someone who got their money back and had wasted less time than watching a movie.
Not to mention the complete distortion of reality you rant on about to attempt to justify your tantrum. 50 to one don't like the game? It has 87% positive reviews. Either you haven't been introduced to the concept of numbers before, or you just don't care about reality and just spew whatever comes to mind. I'm not sure which is more likely.
I find it interesting that you've played the game for 7+ hours. Firstly, why are you saying you refunded it if you played for 7 hours? Second, if you hate this game so much, why did you play it for seven hours? If there was something that I couldn't stand, like talking to people who completely invent their own reality and complain about other people's sense of humor, I wouldn't do it for seven *minutes*. much less seven *hours*.
I also find it interesting that you hold up Subnautica as one of the examples of a *good* game, yet you gave it a negative review. Now I'm really leaning to the idea that you just randomly say complete nonsense, and you're just lucky that whatever comes out actually ends up being sentences.

[Panterich]

What is the reason for that rage-spam of humor criticism?
Didn`t find it worthy to read whole. Seems to lack focus and be guided by rage of someone who has nothing better to do.
2 hours are definitely enough to see whats what and refund if it repulses you. Post a review and be done with it.

Originally posted by ekidhardt:

It's a little hard for me to rationalize why ...

The reason is stated in the game itself. Ironically, in a form of a joke.
I doubt it would be just a "little" hard for you though.

Originally posted by ekidhardt:

Following that train of logic...

No reason to follow the train that left wrong station in the wrong direction in the first place.

Originally posted by ekidhardt:

Here's some quotes for you by those who review games for a living:

Who are, to put it mildly, mostly trash, knowing nothing, either self-proclaimed experts, or by someone who has money to do that, forcing their opinion onto others, cultivating mindless sheeps not being able to judge by themselves and play the game without youtube. No, thanks, no thanks.

Originally posted by ekidhardt:

This isn't just my opinion, this is the overwhelming opinion of users and professional reviewers alike, and because YOU, and a tiny fraction of other tweens whose senses of humor never developed past 7th grade enjoy it, still doesn't negate the point that it crippled and sank their otherwise GOOD survival game.

Sounds like a jealosy for those who actually made something that could be sank. Unlike op, most users and those professional sofa reviewers.

[old.school]

I kinda got a chuckle at the humor when i first started playing too. The crap imposed by the developer thing, the jokes here and there. But then comes the realization that the jokes aren't just "here and there" but they're everywhere. It's just joke after joke after joke after joke after joke after joke. It got to the point where i just ended up tuning it out, not because it was all unfunny (only some of it was unfunny) but because it just never stopped. Which kinda sucks because if i start tuning stuff out then i might miss something that is actually funny. IMO if you cant make a good joke or a good gag out of an event then just make it serious dont try and force it to be funny just for the sake of trying to make it funny.

[MoreEvilSquid]

Originally posted by ekidhardt:

Yeah, we like different things, for sure. By the way, I'm pretty sure you don't know what corporate gaming is.

Following that train of logic, why would developers make a game that appeals to a small segment of their market at the expense of their own success? Imagine if Subnautica or Valheim was filled with aggravating, stupid, relentless humor at every corner. Would that help the game or would it cripple it? It would cripple those, and ANY game, just like it did this one.

Firstly: on why they would do this: Why would devs choose a niche rather than the mainstream? It could be because they're not corporate cucks perhaps?

Sure the humour is a bit juvenile at times, but it's mostly fitting for a Universe which contains a space hearse business running out of something similar to the old Soviet Union. And for a game containing an invincible chicken you can charge with electricity.

Secondly: this isn't an "otherwise good survival game". It's an "OK" survival game that devolves into a lame linear walking simulator through endless corridors towards the end. Luckily the jokes annoyed you so much you never got to experience that...

Out of all the things dragging this game down, the humour is definitely not at the top of the list (I would put the fact that you need to scan very specific objects before you can build them - and most of those only have one single object you need to find. As opposed to being able to scan all the other objects of that exact type).

[Tallman]

imagine comedy.

[ekidhardt]

Hydroculator,

" You didn't like the humor, but felt that you had to somehow justify it by pouring through at least *ten* different reviewers to gather up quotes from other people that you agreed with? *Then* you wrote up paragraph after paragraph to whine about your disdain for anyone who has a different sense of humor than yours?"

I lol'd at this one. "but then there's you...you.....researched. You gathered evidence. You used statistics and supported your arguments."---yeah, that's called making a good, evidence based, argument to support ones opinions. It's what is taught at school before forming an opinion, and to avoid ignorant opinions without evidence.

I ended up playing for 5ish hours? I tried to refund it. Despite the game being horrible, apparently there is a time limit. I have only ever returned one game in my 15'ish years on steam--and truly this game deserves to be returned.

I also try to be fair. I thought "I'm going to try and play through this juvenile humor to see if there is something worth playing". And I was wrong about that.

"I also find it interesting that you hold up Subnautica as one of the examples of a *good* game, yet you gave it a negative review"

This is one of those cases where if you actually did more than no research, you'd find that what you're saying doesn't make sense. You know there are two Subnauticas right? No you didn't. There is the original, and Below Zero. The original, was amazing. Below Zero, the sequel, was a letdown.

What really struck me though, from your post at least, was how curiously defensive you, and some others are about childish, juvenile, aggravating humor. I wonder if you took it personally because naturally if you like this kind of humor, you'd infer that you are also childish, juvenile and aggravating. And if you thought that, then you'd be reactive. ...oh wait, which is what happened :D


Panterich,
"Who are, to put it mildly, mostly trash, knowing nothing, either self-proclaimed experts, or by someone who has money to do that, forcing their opinion onto others, cultivating mindless sheeps not being able to judge by themselves and play the game without youtube. No, thanks, no thanks."


It's curious that amateurs find professionals threatening such to the point that even being a professional earns them the title of 'so called', by default. As thought you, the amateur who has never been paid to think critically, have the credentials, education or experience to evaluate their expertise.

How does an adult rationalize with a child that what their childish sensibilities find humorous is really just a stage they're in? That's where I'm at right now, know what I'm sayin lil bro?


Old School

" IMO if you cant make a good joke or a good gag out of an event then just make it serious dont try and force it to be funny just for the sake of trying to make it funny"

Yep, right on. Stay in your lane! Figure out what you're good at and proceed at full speed.

EvilSquid

" It could be because they're not corporate cucks perhaps?"

Or they're just young dumb developers? What's more likely do you think? Dumb developers with adolescent senses of humor and little business sense, OR highly experienced, mature developers who, after a lifetime in the corporate world got fed up with the bureaucracy, and decided to show the world by making a solid survival game with toilet humor.

That'll learn 'em!! haha :D so stupid.

"Luckily the jokes annoyed you so much you never got to experience that..."

Yep. Never reached that point.

Anyone who did not think the humor is a primary factor sinking this game is either 1. Someone who's sense of humor stopped at 12, or 2. One of the developers.

Let's face it--these guys sunk years of their lives into making a half way decent game, with nice graphics, and made a decision to include stupid humor which directly impacted their financial solvency.

[MoreEvilSquid]

Originally posted by ekidhardt:

EvilSquid

" It could be because they're not corporate cucks perhaps?"

Or they're just young dumb developers? What's more likely do you think? Dumb developers with adolescent senses of humor and little business sense, OR highly experienced, mature developers who, after a lifetime in the corporate world got fed up with the bureaucracy, and decided to show the world by making a solid survival game with toilet humor.

That'll learn 'em!! haha :D so stupid.

"Luckily the jokes annoyed you so much you never got to experience that..."

Yep. Never reached that point.

Anyone who did not think the humor is a primary factor sinking this game is either 1. Someone who's sense of humor stopped at 12, or 2. One of the developers.

Let's face it--these guys sunk years of their lives into making a half way decent game, with nice graphics, and made a decision to include stupid humor which directly impacted their financial solvency.

You are aware of how the games industry has degenerated for years due to corporate greed, right? If not then no wonder that comment of mine went over your head.

I like how you take offense at others making assumptions or "feeling threatened", then come out with "anyone who doesn't think the humour is the primary negative factor has sense of humour that stopped at twelve".

I guess you couldn't see past the humour, but if you could you'd notice that the game has other issues that are worse. I mean, the humour doesn't affect the gameplay, you can just ignore it if the game were really awesome. The gameplay, on the other hand - which is the primary reason most people play games, believe it or not - is what makes or breaks a game.

I seriously doubt their humour would be affecting their "financial solvency" - just because it's not to your liking, doesn't mean that the vast majority of people will hate it. And even if that were the case, good on the developers for not caring what the sheeple want, and going for something edgier.

I guess you don't like South Park either? Or Family Guy? Or American Dad? Many people would condemn those tv shows for having immature and/or offensive humour. And that's their business - the simple solution is for them to not watch them.

And the simple reason for you is to not play this game, if it offends you so much. Not sure why you felt the need to suggest that the humour is the one thing holding this game back. If anything, it's the one thing that makes this game entertaining, because the game mechanics are lacking (especially when compared to games such as Submautica, which has much better developed mechanics).

Oh and it's telling you mention quoting "people who review games for a living". So-called "professional" game reviewers are these days more of a joke, as many of them barely play the games enough to get into them. Which is why bog-standard shooters tend to score higher than almost all indie games or games that are different. "Professional" reviewers are part of the cancer of the industry. And even if it were not the case, reviews are always subjective in the end.

[old.school]

Originally posted by MoreEvilSquid:

I guess you don't like South Park either? Or Family Guy? Or American Dad? Many people would condemn those tv shows for having immature and/or offensive humour. And that's their business - the simple solution is for them to not watch them.

Are you sure that the OP doesn't like the humor because its "immature and offensive"? or is it because the humor has no timing, is non-stop and a bit overdone?

I've watched South Park and Family Guy and i dont have a problem with either of them. South Park doesn't go from one gag to another to another to another to another until the show is over. There's a bit of regular dialogue in there too where they just talk. Every episode usually has a "oh my God they killed Kenny" bit in there. And i seem to recall one specific episode where they kinda poked fun at themselves and had several "ohh my God they killed Kenny...oh wait he's ok" bits. But even with that there is still some regular dialogue and storytelling there. A South Park episode done in Breathedge style would probably have a line at the end of each line of spoken dialogue the character would say "ohh my God the killed Kenny" in it.

There's also the difference of South Park and Family Guy being shows you just watch and Breathedge being a game you play and actually have to interact with. Its like: oh i need the suit computer to tell me where to go but first i have to listen to some 'funny' dialogue. OK next the computer is gonna tell me what materials i need but along with that i need to hear some 'funny' dialogue. Oh sweet i just finished the chapter and the computer is speaking again so i guess that means i'm about to hear more 'funny' dialogue. It changes the experience a bit when your forward progress in a game is dependent on you having to listen to spoken dialogue.

[MoreEvilSquid]

Originally posted by old.school:

Originally posted by MoreEvilSquid:

I guess you don't like South Park either? Or Family Guy? Or American Dad? Many people would condemn those tv shows for having immature and/or offensive humour. And that's their business - the simple solution is for them to not watch them.

Are you sure that the OP doesn't like the humor because its "immature and offensive"? or is it because the humor has no timing, is non-stop and a bit overdone?

I've watched South Park and Family Guy and i dont have a problem with either of them. South Park doesn't go from one gag to another to another to another to another until the show is over. There's a bit of regular dialogue in there too where they just talk. Every episode usually has a "oh my God they killed Kenny" bit in there. And i seem to recall one specific episode where they kinda poked fun at themselves and had several "ohh my God they killed Kenny...oh wait he's ok" bits. But even with that there is still some regular dialogue and storytelling there. A South Park episode done in Breathedge style would probably have a line at the end of each line of spoken dialogue the character would say "ohh my God the killed Kenny" in it.

There's also the difference of South Park and Family Guy being shows you just watch and Breathedge being a game you play and actually have to interact with. Its like: oh i need the suit computer to tell me where to go but first i have to listen to some 'funny' dialogue. OK next the computer is gonna tell me what materials i need but along with that i need to hear some 'funny' dialogue. Oh sweet i just finished the chapter and the computer is speaking again so i guess that means i'm about to hear more 'funny' dialogue. It changes the experience a bit when your forward progress in a game is dependent on you having to listen to spoken dialogue.

My main point wasn't exactly about the quality of the humour as such - it's definitely over-the-top, it's pretty much non-stop, and there's a lot of jokey references to many things.

My issue with the OP is the attitude that in his view the devs shouldn't have made the game like this because the humour is "obviously" costing them vast amounts of money, and how stupid they are for making a game with this humour when "obviously everyone who writes reviews professionally agrees that this is the one thing that has destroyed the game".

Which is complete crap, because a) underneath the humour the game isn't all that fantastic anyway - and that's before getting to the last few chapters which were clearly tacked on quickly without much thought to gameplay, and b) developers should never pander to "professional" reviewers - who most of the time don't even put in the proper amount of effort to actually play most games, and seem to be dominated these days by the hyper-woke.

[Hydroculator]

Originally posted by ekidhardt:

Let's face it--these guys sunk years of their lives into making a half way decent game, with nice graphics, and made a decision to include stupid humor which directly impacted their financial solvency.

A prime example of your complete ignorance of reality.
The game has an 85% positive review score.
They have your money.
There are zero indications that their style of humor is costing them any sales.
But you don't really care about reality. Facts just get in the way of trolls.

So now I'm "Leaving this post because of the OP's trolling. What was the OP thinking?"

[QuantumMatty]

Who's ever working on the statistics for this game, you can mark me in the "I like this game" column because the humor is cute and everything else in the game is beautiful.

At times the game gets repetitive, but that is outweighed by all the other great things. Oh, the storage unit in the base building sucks, but not worth a bad review over.

[Drecx]

A really nice bait dude