What a hectic last few days We've had...
Let me tell you all about it.
The game was all ready for a release on Monday.
We decided the first place to upload it would be Newgrounds. But wait, I haven’t tested the Newgrounds API yet… So then I attempted to test their API… and then disaster. The loader doesn’t work.
As those who have played may have already noticed, the file size of the game is only about 300 KB. This is because there’s a problem in including the pre-loader and the game in the same file because before the swf can load, about 60% of game components need to be loaded before the pre-loader can even show – meaning for 60% of the loading, you get a black screen. Wtf, Adobe?
Sorry, I digressed – BASICALLY, the game has to be loaded externally from TwoTowersGames.com, but now I discover that due to security reasons with Flash Player – the file is failing to load on ANYWHERE but TwoTowersGames.com…
I spent all of Monday trying to fix it while at the same time raging in a hot and stuffy room. Very frustrating.
Then comes Tuesday… With the previous problem fixed, I have yet to test the Newgrounds API (ads, medals and whatnot), and once again – disaster!!! Now I discover the Newgrounds medals aren’t working.
Despite this, I foolishly uploaded it anyway, and then I uploaded it to Kongregate.
Now usually, the moment after uploading your work to these 2 game portals is a euphoric feeling, as well as a nervous uncomfortable one, but this time was particularly stressful and I don’t remember a single moment of enjoyment. It was the beginning of yet another stressful day.
I spent the entire day in front of the screen, mostly spent waiting for compiling times or uploads to finish, trying to fix this problem with the Newgrounds API.
I couldn’t take a break. I had to work while I ate my meals. There was a lot to do.
Within an hour or 2 of uploading, we got our first glimpse of a score on Newgrounds and Kongregate… It was not a happy moment.
Newgrounds: 3.5 / 5.
Kongregate: 3.3 /5.
I was bracing myself for the worst, but when they were made reality, I was still a little shocked. I didn’t expect such mediocre scores for such a massive effort on my behalf.
Devastating.
Even so, I carried on trying to fix the problem with the Newgrounds API. I spent about 8 hours straight, and with the help of the very kind and helpful NG staff, Psycho Goldfish and Mike, we got it working.
So with that out of the way, it was time to check out the comments.
Looking at them, it was clear why the score was so low – many people couldn’t play it due to the lag, or were just put off by the lag.
I expected complaints on game performance, but I didn’t expect the volume of complaints that we got.
The game had been up on TwoTowersGames.com and received 15,000 plays prior to this, and we rarely received a comment on lag.
So up until now, I’ve been trying to reduce the lag by any means necessary, regularly updating any significant progress or bug-fixes.
I’m glad to say the scores are much better now on Newgrounds and Kongregate, but still not as good as we hoped them to be.
As I write this, Newgrounds is now 4.17 (130,000 views) and Kongregate is now 3.85 (100,000 views).
It’s already quite clear that the game is unlikely to do as well as Bunny Invasion did, but who knows… it’s early days and I’m still quite hopeful for its future.
Please do your bit and vote highly on Newgrounds and Kongregate. Even if you hate the game... please, do it for MY sake.
The last few days have not been pleasant, but your kind comments have been very uplifting. I just wish the ratings could reflect the comments a little more.
Oh well. Well, what about this?
Get the reference? No? Well then you're an idiot and I hate you.
Please play Wasted Youth, Part 1 if you already haven’t, or just look at my funny drawing of a banana with marker pen all over it and wonder what the fuck is wrong with me.
I hope it’s still okay to eat.
…
…
Yup, it is. Nom nom nom.
Potassium. Nom.
