Recent posts by torncanvas on Kongregate

Topic: Kongregate / Kreds Discussion

Yeah sorry Hypocrisy, I just really don’t like sarcasm sometimes, so I lashed back. My bad. Bygones?

Topic: Kongregate / Kreds Discussion

No I think he was, at least at some level. Hiding behind a veil of sarcasm doesn’t change things.

Topic: Kongregate / Kreds Discussion

I am fully aware, and I am confident that he was being serious. Maybe math will speak more clearly.

Let’s assume that in order to earn a Kongai card, you have to visit a Kongregate webpage 1000 times. So the value of that card is now $1 (plus some smaller amount for the sponsor of the game, if any). Now Kongregate adds the ability to buy cards. That card can be bought for $1. So the “earner” in this case, exerted $1 of effort and saved $1 by not buying the card. Where’s the problem?

The problem is that there is a perceived value in the rareness of how many people have that card. There is no real dollar figure for that value, though. A way to alleviate this issue is to make the cards (earned vs. bought) look different. Kongregate chose to put a K on the card that’s bought. Saying that earned cards are now useless, however, is simply not good reasoning. The only reasonable thing you could say is that the cards should look more different than they are now. That would be a reasonable suggestion, but only a few people have suggested that.

Well I suggest it, too. :) Make the cards more different.

EDIT: Great post fweilun, that’s a very good rebuttal. I’d agree that it isn’t fair to the “earners” to get the cards immediately. Tough call, though.

Topic: Kongregate / Kreds Discussion

…just because I’m better than some rich kid…

Yeah…that’s a bad attitude HypocrisyIsFun. You shouldn’t think that at all. What makes you better? Certainly not your bitterness. Also, very, very few people will be in the situation you’re thinking of. Instead, most people will have spent their time at a job, and use the compensation from that job to pay for those things (by things I mean Kongai cards, since badges aren’t going to be sold). So they spent time earning those items, too, just not by playing the game. And since they spent their time at a job, they won’t have as much of that time to spend playing games to get those items.

People pay to collect things all the time. Therefore, using the reason that adding a way to buy items that were once only earned by playing somehow makes them useless is really bad reasoning. The very fact that they can sell collectible things that people will pay for proves that they have value.

Topic: Kongregate / Kreds Discussion

Well for the most part, the tip jar discussion seems to be headed in the direction of a general “this is a good idea.” I’m glad to see that. I think it’s an awesome idea because it’s optional, takes up a small amount of space on the webpage, and directly supports the developers who make games people think are well-made. This money can go to making more games that are good. That’s a good thing, and I’m glad almost everyone agrees.

The argument “most developers don’t deserve tips” is a pretty crappy argument, and can be seen as circular logic. Let me give you the other side: A good reason some of them don’t deserve tips is because the developers are not getting paid to make the games better. There is no incentive! The Tip Jar has just become an incentive.

On to selling virtual items…

1. I’m surprised no one has mentioned this yet. The technology that drives the games on this website has the capability to support some really good games. I mean games that are fun, and have good graphics, and have good sound. These games can rival those on XBLA. These games cost money to make. I’m talking about $40,000 – 250,000 to make. Being able to sell virtual items (which can also be earned for free) will support the development of these types of games. Isn’t that what players want?
2. We lost money making our game, even though it was still funded. Not only that, but we wouldn’t have been able to redesign the gameplay twice if we didn’t have funding. Virtual items (which can also be earned for free) will hopefully be able to recoup the effort it took making the game more fun. Having the game be more fun is a direct benefit to players.
3. I like the stance that developers don’t have to make games. That’s absolutely right. Some developers choose to make games as a means of expressing themselves. This expression has value because it’s a form of art. Therefore, it’s good to have a system that supports the kinds of expressions that are of a higher quality, because it will help to ensure there will be more chance for expression. Being able to express something helps the artist, and many times can deeply affect people who experience the art.
4. Giving money to developers who make good games will foster an environment that gets you more good games. Period.
5. There is currently no better system that fairly allows some players to play the game for free, while also allowing other players to pay for development.

Topic: Kongregate / Zening Sneak Preview

Very cinematic. Lookin’ forward to it!

Topic: Kongregate / Dinowaurs Beta Testers Wanted

Hey guys, we just want to say you can still get in and we want to let all of you in to test as soon as we can. We’re waiting it out for some new server hardware and then we’ll be ready for you. Don’t worry, the beta is still happening and you haven’t missed it. Thanks for your patience and support!

Topic: Kongregate / Dinowaurs Alpha Testers Wanted

Awww, that’s mean. It’s for reals! We need testers!

Topic: Kongregate / Kongregate's Premium Games Announced

For anyone who wants to know more about Dinowaurs, we have a simple website up to explain the game in a little more detail. And there are more pretty pictures. Enjoy.

http://www.dinowaurs.com/

Topic: Kongregate / Kongregate's Premium Games Announced

We’d love to offer 100% of the gameplay experience for free for our game, but it’s tough to decide if that’s a good idea in the end or not. Maybe too many people would just play and not pay anything, which means the game wouldn’t make enough to be a good investment. Offering slightly less than that might entice more people to pay to get all the gameplay experience, but then you risk annoying the players that want all the gameplay for free. So you have to guess what amount of gameplay will make sure everyone has fun, while bringing in enough revenue to make the whole thing worth it for Kongregate. After all, the PDP should do well enough to become an established program. And how do you guess that, you know? Who knows what will happen. It’s a tough thing to decide.

Topic: Kongregate / Kongregate's Premium Games Announced

Yeah, iTunes is a great way to look at it. It’s only a matter of time before someone lets you buy individual levels of different games anyway…

Topic: Kongregate / Kongregate's Premium Games Announced

If you knew the numbers and deals for a typical AAA title, you’d be jumping for joy at what is being offered here.

I don’t think it’s a good thing to get caught up in the money, though. This is about making your own games and getting paid enough to do it. And most importantly, you don’t need to have a list of shipped titles in order to get funded. That’s a huge barrier in the industry that just got knocked down in one fell swoop.

What kinds of multiplayer and community things have people always wanted in a Flash game? Let’s hear some dreams. :)

Topic: Kongregate / Kongregate's Premium Games Announced

Yeah, this is awesome. We’re pumped to be a part of the whole thing. The beta will be coming up before you know it!