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[Cevo70]

Hi all,

Opac's Journey is what I am calling an exploratory acrobatic platformer.   The goal of the game is to guide Opac from the "origin" (underground) to the surface by blasting, gliding, climbing, and speeding through the semi-linear levels.  

The focus is on tight controls that allow for some fancy platforming manuevers.   Second to that there are some story driven elements that encourage exploration, and 6 special "relics" to find that boost your acrobatic arsenal.

(more info here www.ophidianwars.blogspot.com)

Some screenshots are below.   We're about 85% done and the game will cost $1.


Box Art

Finding Quan Core

Gliding Towards a Secret Door

Hidden Area with Goodies

[Inane]

Purdy character sprite. I find your tiles strange though, repetitive bricks all through...
Also, I don't know how the XBLIG economy works, but $1 is cheap as hay, man. On the PC atleast it'd be much wiser to price it at $5... Is that like suicidal on there?

Anyways, keep us updated

[J. R. Hill]

Seconding everything that Inane said.

Loving the vibe though!

[skado]

Purdy character sprite. I find your tiles strange though, repetitive bricks all through...
Also, I don't know how the XBLIG economy works, but $1 is cheap as hay, man. On the PC atleast it'd be much wiser to price it at $5... Is that like suicidal on there?

Anyways, keep us updated

Lot of people on XBL downrate just from price sadly

There's only been a handful of games that sold decently at a higher price point than a dollar. $5 is currently the highest price point you can sell at.

[Cevo70]

Thanks guys!   

Skado is right - the success curve leans heavily towards the $1 market on XBL.  It's not ideal, but it makes sense:

1. People often use their scraps on the indie games, so it's likely that most people might have an awkward 80MP sitting around and would prefer a game over a new hat for their avatar. 
2. People browsing that section seem to be looking for a spontaneous burst of fun - something they can have really cheap and play through in 1-2 sittings.

It's our first game, so making a killing isn't atop the goal list.  It not guaranteed suicide per say (a couple $1 games have made 6 figures, lots more $10k+), but it's a steep hill to climb.

One of the remaining things we have to do is apply a background filter that breaks up some of that blockish feel that you mentioned Inane.   But in many ways that blockish feel was intentional based on the level editor we're employing, the desire for precision platforming, and because I like it. 

[Fallsburg]

I think that having a grid based level is fine, but you should change your level and background sprites as has been said.  The character looks somewhat out of place in the levels because of the grid-like nature of the level.  Other than that, it looks good.

[Inanimate]

You could at least blend them together, and make the background different.

[Cevo70]

Appreciate the feedback. 

So we went ahead and added some effect around the edges of the levels to help break up the grid feel and add some atmosphere.  We also have an overlay (not pictured) that sits over the background tiles that seems to help, but we're still toying with it.  We actually want to keep the block-like feel in the foreground so we're just trying to use to soften up the background.

[Cevo70]

Wanted to thank everyone for the feedback, and let you all know that we're all wrapped up.  Many of the suggested changes/upgrades were made.

We just have get through peer review now. 

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h6M9uvlRtQ

Screenshots:  http://ophidianwars.blogspot.com/2010/06/official-screenshots-opacs-journey.html

Should be for sale in late June: $1.00