How long is the campaign? Hours of content? Replayability value? Thank you

[GnomeSlayer]

Thanks

[Emi]

The game has 39 campaign missions and a sandbox mode. It can last many hours, depending on the player's skill.

[Powellinho.72]

Finally a good question to ask, not crying about cheevos.

[GnomeSlayer]

Originally posted by Emi:

The game has 39 campaign missions and a sandbox mode. It can last many hours, depending on the player's skill.

EDIT: The Dev has not answered my question and I feel bad for him and the direction this thread has taken.

Removing this game from my wish list due to the unclear and obtuse answers by the developer.

[SoulSteppe]

Originally posted by Emi:

The game has 39 campaign missions and a sandbox mode. It can last many hours, depending on the player's skill.

Thanks for the information too.

[OTBJIM]

"It can last many hours..." Generic answer that means nothing. Many hours could be 2 or 3, or 200 or 300, or anywhere inbetween and possibly even higher. Every single game on XBox Game Pass has an estimate of gameplay in hours, but the best the dev can do is "many hours"? Weak, and likely hiding the truth. But this sounds like the least of their problems considering the negative reviews for this "masterpiece".

[GnomeSlayer]

Originally posted by OTBJIM:

"It can last many hours..." Generic answer that means nothing. Many hours could be 2 or 3, or 200 or 300, or anywhere inbetween and possibly even higher. Every single game on XBox Game Pass has an estimate of gameplay in hours, but the best the dev can do is "many hours"? Weak, and likely hiding the truth. But this sounds like the least of their problems considering the negative reviews for this "masterpiece".

I agree with you.

I always like to know how long a campaign or amount of content in hours in a game there are and this should be a straight and easy calculation. There is nothing mysterious about it.

I am waiting for an update from the developer to answer my question.

[Emi]

It's hard to determine the number of hours - there are 39 missions. The first ones will take, for example, 10 minutes, but one mission can take 1.5 hours for someone. A skilled player will do it faster, but the game is still quite a challenge. There is also a sandbox mode, which you can play indefinitely and build your dream city.

[emp456]

Originally posted by Emi:

It's hard to determine the number of hours - there are 39 missions. The first ones will take, for example, 10 minutes, but one mission can take 1.5 hours for someone. A skilled player will do it faster, but the game is still quite a challenge. There is also a sandbox mode, which you can play indefinitely and build your dream city.

Imho it's hard to make an estimation as a player, but not as a dev or publisher as this is one of the basic questions and it's normally used in marketing. It's easier than it seems, devs and playtesters know it and surely can make a mid estimative (even a bit conservative, even "AAA" games do this even if it's not 100% true or depend on numerous factors) and then you can use it at the store page to say "the game has an incredible X-Y hour campaign!" (if it has some replayability, then you can use it that also)

But ofc if the answer is going to be disappointing then it's better to avoid using it in your marketing. And even if this is the case, i mean, interested potential players like us will always ask this, so you could have something prepared a bit more specific than "it depends" :S Imo!

[Emi]

Originally posted by emp456:

Originally posted by Emi:

It's hard to determine the number of hours - there are 39 missions. The first ones will take, for example, 10 minutes, but one mission can take 1.5 hours for someone. A skilled player will do it faster, but the game is still quite a challenge. There is also a sandbox mode, which you can play indefinitely and build your dream city.

Imho it's hard to make an estimation as a player, but not as a dev or publisher as this is one of the basic questions and it's normally used in marketing. It's easier than it seems, devs and playtesters know it and surely can make a mid estimative (even a bit conservative, even "AAA" games do this even if it's not 100% true or depend on numerous factors) and then you can use it at the store page to say "the game has an incredible X-Y hour campaign!" (if it has some replayability, then you can use it that also)

But ofc if the answer is going to be disappointing then it's better to avoid using it in your marketing. And even if this is the case, i mean, interested potential players like us will always ask this, so you could have something prepared a bit more specific than "it depends" :S Imo!

No, I simply believe it's better to tell it like it is rather than lie and throw out random numbers, which is something AAA games often resort to.

Since there are 39 campaigns, you can expect the entire campaign to take around 30-40 hours, plus the sandbox mode. However, there will likely be players for whom the campaign takes twice as long. There are also 3 different difficulty levels, which will influence the final playtime as well.

I’m aware that everyone here wants a specific, straightforward answer, but with games like this, it's hard to pinpoint because it's not a linear story-driven game. I’m opting for honesty, not sugarcoating things.

[emp456]

Originally posted by Emi:

No, I simply believe it's better to tell it like it is rather than lie and throw out random numbers, which is something AAA games often resort to.

Since there are 39 campaigns, you can expect the entire campaign to take around 30-40 hours, plus the sandbox mode. However, there will likely be players for whom the campaign takes twice as long. There are also 3 different difficulty levels, which will influence the final playtime as well.

I’m aware that everyone here wants a specific, straightforward answer, but with games like this, it's hard to pinpoint because it's not a linear story-driven game. I’m opting for honesty, not sugarcoating things.

Ok and it's nice from you but you already made an useful specific estimative: around 30-40 hours. Ofc it will depend on the type of player (i can probably add even more time to that estimation, i pause and think a lot in games that allow me and get myself immersed in many details) but it's more than enough and still honest with all the explanations you gave in addition. I don't think both (sincerity and giving info) are mutually exclusive

[Emi]

Originally posted by emp456:

Originally posted by Emi:

No, I simply believe it's better to tell it like it is rather than lie and throw out random numbers, which is something AAA games often resort to.

Since there are 39 campaigns, you can expect the entire campaign to take around 30-40 hours, plus the sandbox mode. However, there will likely be players for whom the campaign takes twice as long. There are also 3 different difficulty levels, which will influence the final playtime as well.

I’m aware that everyone here wants a specific, straightforward answer, but with games like this, it's hard to pinpoint because it's not a linear story-driven game. I’m opting for honesty, not sugarcoating things.

Ok and it's nice from you but you already made an useful specific estimative: around 30-40 hours. Ofc it will depend on the type of player (i can probably add even more time to that estimation, i pause and think a lot in games that allow me and get myself immersed in many details) but it's more than enough and still honest with all the explanations you gave in addition. I don't think both (sincerity and giving info) are mutually exclusive

Life in game development has taught me that some people often like to nitpick later, saying things like, "Oh, but you said the game would take 30 hours, and I finished it in 25!" And it all comes down to playstyle in such cases.

This absolutely doesn’t stem from any ill intent on my part—quite the opposite. I want to help as much as possible and provide the most accurate picture of the game as a whole.

[Buntkreuz]

I mean, you as a dev would make one playthrough and note down the needed time. That would be a good estimate and a clean baseline, as you know the game as its creator.
So if for example you as the dev need 30 hours to make one playthrough of the 39 missions, i can make a rough guess i will maybe need 40 hours.

I would assume any dev makes a playthrough before release, so how long did it take you to play through one time?
An estimated time for a playthrough is not binding you to anything.
There will ever be people nitpicking, no matter what you say.
But this question needs rather more info and precision and not a generic answer that just doesnt help at all.

You could phrase it like: "My playthrough took about X hours and i spent X hours on a sandbox level until i achieved certain goals and felt like i did everything on the map. It also has X difficulty levels for campaign and optional goals that only appear on higher difficulty, plus theres events and choices that can change how the campaign plays out. So it is possible to replay the campaign and get a different experience."

Thats precise enough for people to make a good guess and still be unspecific enough to not raise false expectations.

[GnomeSlayer]

Originally posted by Emi:

It's hard to determine the number of hours - there are 39 missions. The first ones will take, for example, 10 minutes, but one mission can take 1.5 hours for someone. A skilled player will do it faster, but the game is still quite a challenge. There is also a sandbox mode, which you can play indefinitely and build your dream city.

Lord in Heavens!
Heavenly father, forgive us for our transgressions.

I don't want to be mean but you are skirting around the topic.

Why can't you just give an average number of hours based on play test and you yourself being the developer should know exactly how long it takes to finish all the missions.

I am NOT going to buy this game and will remove it from my wish list.

[GnomeSlayer]

Originally posted by Buntkreuz:

I mean, you as a dev would make one playthrough and note down the needed time. That would be a good estimate and a clean baseline, as you know the game as its creator.
So if for example you as the dev need 30 hours to make one playthrough of the 39 missions, i can make a rough guess i will maybe need 40 hours.

I would assume any dev makes a playthrough before release, so how long did it take you to play through one time?
An estimated time for a playthrough is not binding you to anything.
There will ever be people nitpicking, no matter what you say.
But this question needs rather more info and precision and not a generic answer that just doesnt help at all.

You could phrase it like: "My playthrough took about X hours and i spent X hours on a sandbox level until i achieved certain goals and felt like i did everything on the map. It also has X difficulty levels for campaign and optional goals that only appear on higher difficulty, plus theres events and choices that can change how the campaign plays out. So it is possible to replay the campaign and get a different experience."

Thats precise enough for people to make a good guess and still be unspecific enough to not raise false expectations.

He is still not able to give a straight answer. I am shocked by the level of deception displayed here by the Dev.

[emp456]

Originally posted by GnomeSlayer:

He is still not able to give a straight answer. I am shocked by the level of deception displayed here by the Dev.

Well, she (i think is not "he") gave an estimate, after all, between 30-40 hours ofc depending on the type of player. That's a specific answer to your (and others like myself) question so imo it's all ok now, explained and cleared.