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[okapako]

Hello everybody,

I had posted about our new game in the announcements section, expecting feedback. Since I didn't get any, I'm now posting in the feedback section (which I should have probably done in the first place, silly me. )

Frankie's Quest is a classic game of minesweeper with role-playing elements. Click on tiles to uncover what's underneath them. An uncovered tile may contain traps (which reduce Frankie's stamina), candies (which can be collected and eaten to regain stamina), gems (which are valuable) or an object which will allow Frankie to pass into the next level. The markings in an open tile indicate the number of traps that surround it.

Please download the current version and give it a try. If you hate it, we're interested in knowing what we can do to improve the game; if you love it, we're still interested!

Windows users download here. (5.5 MB)
Mac users download here. (5.8 MB)

We're in the process of adding more content to the game; please register yourself for RSS updates at frankiesquest.blogspot.com.

Gameplay videos:
Spooky Graveyard
Whitehallow Caves

Screenshots:

[Notch]

Hm, yes.. The level of polish is nice, and the health bar that makes sure that you can hit a "mine" and still keep playing is good. But there's still an annoyingly high level of luck involved.
I played until I died the first time. I'm a somewhat experienced minesweeper player, but I didn't even make it through the first world.
I kept getting 1's as the first revealed gravestone, and after that I had no choice but to guess. There's a 1/8 chance that I'll get hurt if I click one next to that gravestone, and who knows what if I click elsewhere. The small level size also means that most of the board is made up of level corners, which are the most guess-prone areas in minesweeper.

[okapako]

@Notch: First of all, thank you for playing and providing honest feedback.

A few questions:
* When your stamina was low, did you eat candy to regain it?
* You mentioned: "The small level size also means that most of the board is made up of level corners, which are the most guess-prone areas in minesweeper." I'm not sure I understood that completely, could you elaborate?
* If you'd played deeper into the game, the 5x5 grid becomes a 6x6 grid. So from your perspective, would that be easier or harder to play in?

A few tips:
* You don't have to open all the tiles in a level; once you have the key, you can proceed to the next level.
* You can eat candy while losing stamina.
* If you pass through the exit into the next level while losing stamina, you don't lose anymore.

[Notch]

The larger the grid, the easier and more fun it gets to play. It becomes more of a puzzle instead of just guessing.

I wasn't aware that I could eat the candy! That sure makes things easier. =)

[okapako]

I wasn't aware that I could eat the candy! That sure makes things easier. =)

Did you get the chance to play any more? Was it easier once you found out that the candy can be eaten?
(Off topic: Your Minecraft is awesome! )

@Everyone else: Did anyone else get the chance to play? Any tips for us would be highly appreciated!

[okapako]

Hello again,

We've just released Frankie's Quest for PSP (Homebrew): Link
Gameplay video: Link

Can someone who has a PSP with custom firmware give it a spin and let us know feedback/issues?

Thanks in advance!

[okapako]

Hello everyone!

We've released Frankie's Quest v0.3 for Windows, Mac, PSP with some minor additions:
* There is a fog visual effect in the game
* A new kind of trap is now found in the caves world: Poison Carpel

Do give it a shot and let us know what you think!

[Paul Jeffries]

The presentation of this is really nice and the mechanics are an interesting twist on minesweeper but I'm not sure they really work as well - only having to find one object in a small grid makes it a lot more about luck.  I think I managed to pass five screens in a row where the first click uncovered the thing I was looking for immediately.  Also; there is little sense of progression when your reward for completing a screen is just another, identical looking screen - it quickly gets repetitive.

I would advise making each grid much larger and with several keys/flowers/whatever that you need to find on each one.  This would make you solve more of each grid and redress the skill/luck balance a little.  To make it more interesting you could also try adding other elements as you progresss - for example as well as the health-restoring sweets you could also include other collectable powerups like bombs that you can use to clear traps, lightning bolts that could clear an entire column, etc.

[okapako]

First off, thank you for the detailed feedback and suggestions!

only having to find one object in a small grid makes it a lot more about luck.  I think I managed to pass five screens in a row where the first click uncovered the thing I was looking for immediately.

You won't believe it, but that was part of our design (although now we're beginning to see that it might be horrendous in a way). Players who just wanted to complete the game would proceed to the next level as soon as they found the key. Players who've completed the game and/or want a higher score/challenge, can proceed to solve the rest of the grid, even after finding the key. A lot of times, this will be actually required as solving more of the grid reveals more of the candy in that level which will be useful for surviving future tougher levels.

Also; there is little sense of progression when your reward for completing a screen is just another, identical looking screen - it quickly gets repetitive.

You're right, we'll try to add some more variety to each level.

I would advise making each grid much larger and with several keys/flowers/whatever that you need to find on each one. This would make you solve more of each grid and redress the skill/luck balance a little.

We could do that for the PC version which has large screen resolution. However, for the PSP (and upcoming iPhone) version, we can't make the grid larger without having the user to scroll the view. (Actually, this game was originally designed to be an iPhone game; we're releasing PC/PSP versions partly because our engine supports it without any extra effort, and partly because we thought we'd get feedback from more players during the development phase).

To make it more interesting you could also try adding other elements as you progresss - for example as well as the health-restoring sweets you could also include other collectable powerups like bombs that you can use to clear traps, lightning bolts that could clear an entire column, etc.

Those are very good ideas! We'll implement such ideas in future updates. In fact, the newest trap - poison carpel - was one such step towards special objects.

Thanks again for the feedback; we really appreciate it!
We just have one question: Did you play the PC or PSP version of the game?

[Paul Jeffries]

The PC version.  Good luck with it; I look forward to seeing how it develops.

[okapako]

Hello everyone!

We've just released a new version of Frankie's Quest for Windows, Mac, PSP. It has a new Christmas themed world with new gameplay mechanics!

Enjoy, and don't forget to leave feedback for us!

Screenies:

[moi]

I'm waiting for the special hot-dog edition

[okapako]

I'm waiting for the special hot-dog edition

Could you elaborate? I'm not well-versed with phrases; what's a "special hot-dog edition"?