Lunar Online (Mech RPG)

[incarnate]

It's in alpha testing, but certainly playable; It'll be a nice break from all those open-source exofusion clones!

We NEED players!

http://trickznstuff.net/rpg/

[karnedge]

Requirements:
- Internet Explorer 8+

Ha, that's funny.

Please press the back button and fix the following errors that have been found to complete your registration.

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When I logged in, it gave me errors as if I did the registration. It sent me to: http://trickznstuff.net/rpg/register.php?process= as the homepage for login

Like Harkins mentioned, the newly assembled mech has 0 HP. Also the refresh is kinda annoying (the blinking tab).

When you click on the mech's name and rename it, it gave me the dialog asking me if I wanted to resend the information (as if I pressed my browser's back button where I just submitted a form).

I am on FireFox 3 btw.

I bought a Flamethrower, then when I tried to equip it, it then told me that I had to be level 10 to use it... You should possibly make warnings beforehand so I don't waste credits so early hah. And there doesn't seem to be level requirements listed in the shop at all so I had to use my fists.

I lost my first battle to a Mutant Sabertooth... apparently wolverine's brother is much stronger than me and faster! The sabertooth attacked me 4 times in a row for every attack I made. Maybe this is suppose to happen but I don't know.

Looks promising!

[Harkins]

That's weird, I bought a flamethrower and was able to use it.

The manual talked about fighting NPCs and training sounded useful, so I went into it. I had the flamethrower and fists, and flamethrower was obviously better. So I did flamethrower whenever I could and fists otherwise, no actual thinking involved. The NPC beat me a few times and I blew the last of my cash on repairs. I don't think I got anything out of fighting the NPC and now I have no money.

Do stats refill on their own? If not, I think I got a game over.

But I agree with karnedge, there's potential for a fun game here. Give me a decision to make in combat, make me react to what the opponent does rather than just always using my strongest attack.

And polish the new-player experience a bit more -- why not attach all those default parts and give them a basic weapon? Then you say "Welcome, pilot -- we need you at the front, now! Quick, what's the name of your mech?" and they customize that and then "Now, do you want the mech with the Flamethrower or the Bazooka?" and they choose that, making the mech their creation, and then toss them into a fun battle THAT THEY CAN'T LOSE. A good first 5 minutes can guarantee you another 2 hours.

Also, the rankings link in the nav is 404.

[incarnate]

All valid suggestions and critiques.

- Rank D things can be immediately equipped, while Rank C items require level 10. There are a lot of things that are a bit unclear if you don't read the manual, and it isn't too newbie friendly, I do plan to fine tune these things though.

- Newly assembled mechs are meant to have 0 HP, as the only other option to prevent abusing the hp increase was to REQUIRE mechs to be at full health before unequipping, or giving each individual part an hp value; For now, I opted for the first choice.

- There are a few kinks with firefox compatability I need to work out. The side chat sending a message doesn't clear the text box and in the window firefox doesn't break strings without spacing.

- Some of the thinking involved will be pre-mech set ups, and going in with one weapon (there are 6 equipment slots) isn't a great idea as Fists are the default weapon meant to suck (Yeah, I know you probably didn't know this). I don't want to get into the mechanics of battle here, but it's a bit more deep than what you described.

- END recovers at the rate of 2 per hour, HP/EP can be refilled at the repair shop. Yes, it's meant to be a slow/side game that takes up only a little of your time each day.

- The rankings page is unfinished.

I really appreciate the responses, guys.

[Delifisek]

Hard to play. Interfaces confused. How can I configure my mech ? I buy mg thing and I can't fit the my mech.


you need more graphical user interface. drag and drop capability mech designer will help.

regards

[Hypemaster]

Mecht thing looks nice but, it confuses me a bit. Having hardtime finding out what weapons i can use.

Also found a bug:
When i go explore and find a Mutant Sabertooth it goes to 'combat view' it says 'Starting combat... ', nothing happens, when i press use it says: ERROR
1: You are not in an NPC battle! After that i tried again and then it worked again, dont know why it dident work the first time.

With a bit of work and more userfriendly this can be a nice mech game.

[Chris]

KckKryptonite? The world is so small

- You are wasting your talent. Why don't you make it more gfx intensive? If I had your artistic skills I would chose that route. By the way, is the picture on pilot page also made by you?
- It is identical to all mech games around. Sure, compared to exofusion it looks original, but you need to expect mech lovers to be your target audience and they will know all these games. I'm not into this genre so can't give exact advice but check GearHead, it is supposed to be the best mech game according to some mech maniacs.
- As for getting more players I suggest votesites and SEO, but first fix the things people mentioned in the posts above.

[incarnate]

- Delifisek, configure you mech by going to "Hangar" > "Equip". Drag and drop does sound nice, I personally don't like AJAX, but I'll consider it.

- Hypmaster, I wasn't able to recreate that bug, any more specifics? What browser and version of it are you using?

- Chris, compared to the bbgs that run off exofusion/gamerfusion code, it is original. I'm not sure how it's "identical to all mech games around". Could you list the other mech PBBGs that are similar? It's not so much a genre in it self, rather a theme.

Though I do have plans to make it more n00b-friendly and adding better GUI's.

[Hypemaster]

i think i recreated it. After the battle is done and it says you lost (wich happens to me all the time) then pressing the back button
i get starting combat... again and then pressing use gives me the error. You should make that if i press back button in browser and i'm not battle anymore it just redirects me to somewhere else or something, just and idea.

I use firefox 3.0.11.

[incarnate]

That's not an error, that's just your browser cache, but I'll keep that idea in mind.

[Chris]

I don't play any mech games so I can not list them. But after the usual checking top games (among them mech games as well) it gives me familiar feeling (especially the picture next to each location. I don't know why but locations in all mech games I saw had picture next to them, on the other hand all games of other genres do not had pictures next to locations. I find it very funny since "locations layout" should not be connected to any theme or genre but it is ) You would need to ask mech maniacs for more info about originality, I just point out that it might be a problem.

One thing that really puzzles me is why in mech games there always are these fantasy like parts inventory systems? In SF you don't have such limitations as in fantasy so no need to hold it back. I would do it this way:
Each mech frame has several slots, each slot has type (weapons, aux, mechanical) and class (A-F). In A weapon slot you can install "High energy particle converting beam" or anything else, while on F wepon slot a mere "Machine gun" can be installed. In aux slot you can install part that add "High Energy" attribute, if your mech has High Energy attribute you can install Heavy Energy Weapons, some mech frames come with this attribute by default. Another aux part (installed on B+ aux slot only) inceases the class of all weapon slots (so you can buy mech frame with B weapon slots only and then use this part to change them to A, or you can buy a pathetic mech with plenty of F wepon slots, then install 2 of these parts on aux slots to get a battlestation full of C class weapons).

[incarnate]

Well if you look past the aesthetics (which, fyi, is not final) I think you'll find it pretty unique as far as mech PBBGs:
- battles are not one-click
- shops restock hourly with random items
- level is not as important as it is in other RPGs

The way you would design a mech game is different from mines, that's great; but I'm not sure what you mean about the fantasy aspect of the game, yes the game is non-fiction. Though a mech game based in reality is a contradictory idea in itself.

But thanks for the feedback, you have given me some ideas

[Harkins]

- battles are not one-click

Now you just need to make some of those clicks actually mean anything. In the battles I fought one click would have been convenient and wouldn't have in any way limited the choices or fun I was having, because I didn't actually have any options for which click to make.

- level is not as important as it is in other RPGs

This is good.

[incarnate]

Now you just need to make some of those clicks actually mean anything. In the battles I fought one click would have been convenient and wouldn't have in any way limited the choices or fun I was having, because I didn't actually have any options for which click to make.

You have to buy different weapons. The options you have are based on how you equip your mech.

[Harkins]

I know that. I mean, in battle, is there ever a reason to use any weapon other than the one that does the most damage? There's cooldown, but that means I just use the strongest weapon not currently in cooldown. There's no game there, that's not a decision. Your battle has many steps, none of them fun.

[incarnate]

is there ever a reason to use any weapon other than the one that does the most damage?

Yes. There are decisions and foresight involved, including pre-fight setups. Using you're strongest weapon is not always the best option. If you can't pick up on the intricacies, that's fine; but stop stating your opinions like it's fact.

[karnedge]

is there ever a reason to use any weapon other than the one that does the most damage?

Yes. There are decisions and foresight involved, including pre-fight setups. Using you're strongest weapon is not always the best option. If you can't pick up on the intricacies, that's fine; but stop stating your opinions like it's fact.

Harkins isn't stating opinion as fact, he pointing out what the average user sees in the game. This is constructive criticism. Obviously, he doesn't see how not using the strongest weapon is not the best option.

Your remarks make it seem as if you're calling him less than intelligent.

[jannesiera]

is there ever a reason to use any weapon other than the one that does the most damage?

Yes. There are decisions and foresight involved, including pre-fight setups. Using you're strongest weapon is not always the best option. If you can't pick up on the intricacies, that's fine; but stop stating your opinions like it's fact.

If the player can't see that, then it's YOUR design flaw.

[incarnate]

Harkins isn't stating opinion as fact, he pointing out what the average user sees in the game. This is constructive criticism.

Sorry, I don't see anything constructive about his post which just came off as sardonic. All I picked up from it was he played for 5 minutes and didn't get it, which is fine.

Your remarks make it seem as if you're calling him less than intelligent.

Really?!

If the player can't see that, then it's YOUR design flaw.

Yes, not a flaw so much as a filter

[Scion]

I would go a step further and say that harkins is propbably not your average user....none of us here on this forum could be considered average users....

The point Id like to make is that if something in a game is ot obvious to one of us then its likely to be a complete mysterium to the average user.

If alternative options become available once you have bought and equiped other stuff then you need to ask yourself how will a newbie know this....perhapes equiping the starter setup with two weapons so that they can see that they offer different choices is one way.....im sure there are plenty of others...just remember they have to experience it in game....dont rely on them reading the manual.

Also if you are doing something different remember that most of your players are still conditioned to think in terms of all the other games out there, and are likely to assume the game operates the same way as them....including what strategies are best to use.

finally i dont see anything sardonic in harkins comments...there really isnt any need to go get all defensive...after all you did come here and ask for our opinions....get deffensive and upset over peoples comments is just stopping you from making the most out of this opportunity.....why did harkins not see these intricacies.....why did he say it could be just as much fun with a single click battle? could you automate some of the 'non-fun' actions for players....dont forget if you dont they will using macros....

[jannesiera]

Harkins isn't stating opinion as fact, he pointing out what the average user sees in the game. This is constructive criticism.

Sorry, I don't see anything constructive about his post which just came off as sardonic. All I picked up from it was he played for 5 minutes and didn't get it, which is fine.

Your remarks make it seem as if you're calling him less than intelligent.

Really?!

If the player can't see that, then it's YOUR design flaw.

Yes, not a flaw so much as a filter

Please, don't get upset. Any criticism given on this forum is to help. It's okay to not agree, but accept that the ones who give that critisism do that to help. It's important that you learn how to deal with this.

I have a blog about the development of my game. There are never (much) comments, but I just found out I got 2 comments.

Anonymous said...
Stop production, no one will play this useless shit. If I want to get bored, I'll read the dictionary

Anonymous said...
Please, stick to college. There are enough cookie cutter games like this that look and play better. Did you take the screenshots when you were drunk?

This hurts, offcourse, but I'm not going to react. I say he might even be right. I myself have the impression that my game can be boring. But for that reason I'm not going to stop. That is because it's a hobby and I like making it, so as long as I enjoy it there is no reason to stop. Second, it might be boring, but it IS an experiment. By launching it I'll learn much.
The fact that he's "Anonymous" and very rude is why I won't listen to much to him either. If some one on this forum would say that, I'll be more carefull, because THEIR opinion MATTERS.

[karnedge]

I agree with jannesiera here, we offer our knowledge, insight and opinions to help. To completely disregard anyone here is showing your respect towards a potential userbase for your game. As for my comment on harkins giving a view from the average user meant that he can see things through someone else as I've seen in his blogs and posts.

[Harkins]

Sorry, I don't see anything constructive about his post which just came off as sardonic. All I picked up from it was he played for 5 minutes and didn't get it, which is fine.

I didn't mean to be a dick. You're right, I played it for 5 or 10 minutes and didn't get it. If there's deeper gameplay, that's great. Try to feature it earlier, though, because you don't get much time to make a first impression and really hook a player. It doesn't really matter if it's there if a player doesn't have a reason to stick around to see it, it may as well not exist. So I wrote to state facts from that perspective.


MystressNyx edited to fix the quote within a quote for easier readability.

[incarnate]

- Scion, I didn't read most of your post but I wasn't defensive or angry, if that was the tone of my post it was unintentional.

- janne, I wasn't upset at anything; in fact I want constructive criticism, but there is a fine line between that and outright flames, which are uneeded. I don't know who left those posts, I haven't visted your blog.

- karnedge, I respect the opinions of everyone here, but if I want to disregard statements that don't help, then I'll disregard them. Harkin's post sighted "There's no game there, that's not a decision. Your battle has many steps, none of them fun." doesn't help me much. I'm fine with crude remarks, but don't tell me it's otherwise, though if I somehow missed the knowledgeable insight from him, I'm sorry.

- Harkins, your opinion is fine, I don't have to agree with it. I believe everyone has equal credibility, you aren't the end-all like you seem to believe, because you still insist your perspective as fact. I see what your saying and I agree I need to make it more n00b friendly to cater to certain demographics.

[Harkins]

If I seem to think I know everything, it's just that I leave out all the IMHOs because pretty much everybody on a forum is talking from personal experience and opinion all the time.