Some brief thoughts on whats needed to sell this game

[El-Diablito]

I went into this game knowing full well what an early alpha means, and frankly I got pretty much what I expected.

The game as a concept has me absolutely in love, the few mechanics in the game are fun, I am happy with the money I spent.

However, I am a bit of a fanatic and hardcore gamer and there aren't enough of me to get you the amount of money you neeed. So, with that in mind I'll just toss out a few brief points on what I think needs to be improved/added to the game in order to make it sellable to a broader audience at this time.

* The new player experience, as it stands the start of the game feels like one long "the ai is dumb, let's exploit it" game. By slightly improving the AI to be less prone to rush into a guarded strong-hold and adding weaker npc's for the players to fight with (innocent people to mug, perhaps with dialogue and weaker bandits etc) the player can get a much smoother progression curve in the early game.

Adding stores/crafting, even if just a very crude version of it will give you the hardcore crafter audience as well, yes the game might be great for them in the future, but as of now they'll regret paying or postpone paying until you add some sort of crafting/merchant mechanic. This is yet another thing that should be viable from the get-go I think, as a small time crafter with perhaps the option of renting a store-space once you've progressed a bit more, then buying a store.

* Make factions a little more interesting, it doesn't need to be much, just give them a bit of personality, some crude lore and perhaps add a few more cities/villages of other factions.

* Make installing and starting the game smoother and more automated, I got about half a douzen friends to buy the game so far and not one of us have been able to click install and simply play. In most cases the problems were laughably simple to fix, however, we are all computer literate, many of the people whos money you want wont be. I don't know how hard this is, I can fix a problem or two but I'm not much for coding, but a smooth process from Discovering the game -> reading about it -> installing it -> playing it -> paying for it is absolutely vital if you don't want to lose a massive percentage of those that discover the game.

Like I said just some brief thoughts, I personally don't need any of this in a rush, but I think the above things could really help make the game seem more playable/interesting for the less devoted free-play enthusiasts. This of course, would translate into more money, which would translate into something I do want...namely, more resources and faster development times for you <3

I hope this helped and wasn't just an "Urgh, I *know* stop yapping already" moment.

Remember, most people who download your demo wont care two figs what you "plan" to add, they'll care whats there for them now while they wait for you to add it and that is what determines if they pay you or not, unless of course they're zealots, like some of us are.

[Captain Deathbeard]

Thanks for the feedback

* Make installing and starting the game smoother and more automated, I got about half a douzen friends to buy the game so far and not one of us have been able to click install and simply play. In most cases the problems were laughably simple to fix, however, we are all computer literate, many of the people whos money you want wont be. I don't know how hard this is, I can fix a problem or two but I'm not much for coding, but a smooth process from Discovering the game -> reading about it -> installing it -> playing it -> paying for it is absolutely vital if you don't want to lose a massive percentage of those that discover the game.

What were the exact problems you all ran into? In the next update you won't need to install physX. Was it directX problems? video drivers?

[El-Diablito]

I have a bug report up in the forums (that I solved), my problems were...rather exotic and nothing I think you can really do anything about.

However, the most common issue seems to be people lacking a .dll file (I forget which one at the moment).

Directx wasn't a problem for me, or my friends, we read the instructions and made sure to run the install file before ever booting the game.

However, average joe gamer is...prone to forgetting and not noticing simple written instructions.

So yeah, not a problem for me but ANYTHING you need to install after the main install file is something a *lot* of people will have a problem with.

That of course will translate into them getting frustrated, not getting to try the game/losing the desire to get the game working and of course, not ending up paying.

It seems dumb to those of us who know a bit about computers, but it's amazing how many people cannot cope with the simplest of additional instructions.

[Lorenzo666]

Great to see you're taking such an interest. Most of the stuff you've suggested is already on Chris' to-do list I think, and we would love to the listed features in the game.

[Felklaw]

I agree that positive criticism is the way to get this game improved and growing.
Everyone coming and saying "We love Kenshi and love you Chris" doesn't help him make Kenshi better (except for the obvious initial rush from the gratitude).
Conversely, everyone saying "This alpha version sucks and is missing so much" also does jack squat.


One thing I noticed the other night which would be a slight improvement you could make, is to do with the updater.
I haven't played for a while (been stuck in Rise Of Flight playing multiplayer...) and although I knew that most of the bugs I had experienced had been fixed, namely the freezing and crash, I launched the game and saw a new upgrade was available and a short time later the video settings screen appeared.
I hit the start button and off I went.
About 15 minutes later whilst I was chasing after parties of paladins and trying to heal them up (I was sure that the patch was supposed to make them heal themselves...) the game froze.
I got out and saw the dump report was created, however the kicker was the upgrader was also still running in the background and had stopped because kenshi was running.

I killed Kenshi and then finished the upgrade.
Loading my saved game, straight away I saw the party of paladins healing themselves and the game ran for about an hour without a hitch before I shut down for the night.

So, kudos on both fixing the freezing bug (from my perspective) and also on the AI party logic.

But the bit I would love to see, if the upgrader is running, it doesn't even launch the Kenshi graphics setting and starter box until AFTER the upgrade is either chosen not to run, or the upgrade is completed.
I know it's a small peeve, but one I have noticed and with more and more patches/upgrades obviously going to be occurring as you continue to grow Kenshi, it is something I think needs fixing.

[Captain Deathbeard]

its not supposed to launch, its a bit hard to control. I will have a look at it.

[xdcxtruth]

How about this?

PS: can you find the three people without straw hats in the Troop?

[Lorenzo666]

Jakel and Harrington are the only ones without hats.

[1337]

Jakel and Harrington are the only ones without hats.

Urik doesn't have a straw hat looks like a metal hat
(i know it's a straw hat, just joking)

[xdcxtruth]

Truly love this game a few routing bugs in cities but other than that a solid game can't wait for future features including some skill trees but the game sold me. Funnest RPG game I've played in a while.

[xdcxtruth]

Here is my Latest Group photo but just a picture like this sold me on the moddb page.

[Lorenzo666]

18 guys?


Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit. Remind me to never bump into you in the wasteland.

[Montavious]

Yes, Im loving this game so far myself. Love the concept and the sandbox play. Reminds me of Mount and Blade. This game has a lot of potential. Once more features are added I will happily pay for this game. But ppl like me like to see results first, Im scared that Ill buy it, then development will stop, pretty sure Im not the only one.

[Pain]

Usually just lurking here, but what the hell is the deal with spending 10 bucks on a game, that might not get completed? Is 10 bucks so much money for most people?

Worst case: two beers less in the bar.

[Montavious]

Usually just lurking here, but what the hell is the deal with spending 10 bucks on a game, that might not get completed? Is 10 bucks so much money for most people?

Worst case: two beers less in the bar.

For some ppl yes, 10 bucks is a lot. It isnt for me, but still, dont like wasting money. For example, I bought Skyrim, on the PC its buggy and unplayable until they give it another update to fix all the problems. People dont like wasting money, and I thonk thats most people out there, doesnt matter how much money you have. So go buy your two beers and chug away my insensitive friend, have at it. Gorge yourself.

[El-Diablito]

If it's a big brand developer sure, but in this case how much money he earns affects the odds of the game being completed (and the speed of which) in a *big* way.

So it's my pleasure to contribute ten dollars, which frankly isn't even what I spent on breakfast today, to help this game become more of a reality.

If I lose that ten bucks? Tough, I'll risk it. Looks to me like chris is pretty damn dedicated though.

[Pain]

I guess, what always gets me is the fact, that a lot of people think software development isn't worth anything. It's hard work! And this needs compensation.

If you can help an indie with no to little budget with 10 bucks this should be doable by everyone, especially if it has a lot of potential like Kenshi; OK, I realize that if you live in Romania or some other poor country (sorry for picking that one, but AFAIK this is the poorest country in Europe (income per capita)), then it's a lot of money.

But for most people, it is like that. Where I live, a beer easily costs 10 bucks alone (normal pub not nightclub; even more expensive there).

El-Diabolito said it maybe in a "more sensitive" way.

[Blxz]

Ten bucks is a tad steep for an unfinished game when there are highly polished, finished indie games out there for around the same, sometimes less. BUT this is a game that is totally unique and if the finished product matches the concept and what I imagine it might be like then it will be one of the best value purchases for me in a long time.

Play the demo new guy and check it out. Also consider that the price WILL go up in the future. Consider it a gamble; if you don't buy now and he finishes it then you might be paying $20 down the track and have had less time to play it and no input into the creation of the game.

[txfirefighter]

Ten bucks is a tad steep for an unfinished game when there are highly polished, finished indie games out there for around the same, sometimes less. BUT this is a game that is totally unique and if the finished product matches the concept and what I imagine it might be like then it will be one of the best value purchases for me in a long time.

Play the demo new guy and check it out. Also consider that the price WILL go up in the future. Consider it a gamble; if you don't buy now and he finishes it then you might be paying $20 down the track and have had less time to play it and no input into the creation of the game.

good comment.

i agree thought. 10 bucks was a bit high but i chose to pay it. it helps the developer to continue and finish the game. i also understand that 10 bucks might be too much for some people. hang around and give the developer some kudos every now and then, and that too will encourage him to continue finishing the game.

[xdcxtruth]

Hey I understand you guys have this discussion under control but i thought i might interject a few words... This game for $10 you can buy indie games for 10-20 on the xbox 360 console dashboard and with all of em combined they still don't have the adventure/immersion this game has. Kenshi easily has just as big or larger map than skyrim! that's saying a lot but its true Capitol->Bark is easily the same time as solitude->riften (skyrim). Besides that Kenshi is very playable as it is, don't get me wrong id love to see future updates to the game hell we all do but as of right now id say $10 is definitely worth the price for what you get, and besides even if the development does die i promise you 95% of those who did purchase it will replay the game again, and again, and again.