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[NewProject]

Hi,

I never do an idle game before, and I'm little lose graduating the gameplay.
I'm not sure if the game need more options/upgrades, or I must remove something.

Game status:
alpha version
max level 4
graphics/design: 0 (suggestions are welcome)

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/128712958/h1/index.html
Edit: v0.3 uploaded


If you have problems to understand anything, please tell me. I really appreciate any tip about gameplay.


Thanks for play it

[Quicksand-S]

I found the interface fairly unclear. For example, even my mission was confusing. It said "5/6.17 automatic power" and "10/13.89 manual power". That would suggest that I need 6.17 units of something while my extractor is in automatic mode, and 13.89 while hovering my mouse over it. Later, I realized I was intended to boost the power to those levels, but it wasn't clear at all and I didn't even realize I could upgrade their power like that.

I also found it strange that hovering over my extractor makes a counter appear, but the number didn't actually match the total amount extracted according to the other part of the interface. Does the other number just not update as often or something? The two numbers match now that I've reached the storage limit.

"Total wasted upg"? How can I waste an upgrade?

My H level is at 2.20n^3...Why? Is the use of scientific notation intentional or just a number formatting issue?

My H zone has purple lines above and below it, and some faded numbers or something over top of the extractors...I have no idea what that means.

When I complete an objective while in the upgrade screen, it would be nice if I could see that. A couple of times, I accidentally over-shot my target power levels.

I would recommend that you get someone to proofread your text later.

My suggestion for graphics would be to pick an art style and stick with it. Having buttons with different levels of roundness, different outline widths, etc. doesn't look too appealing, in my opinion. I would also suggest adding little bit of a margin above the canvas.

Gameplay-wise, I don't see anything that's really engaging. Two of my mission objectives so far have just been to wait for resources and then click two buttons to upgrade my extractors. That's not fun. That's just time-consuming.

Edit: I just noticed that zones have multiple elements in them. That just adds more confusion and makes the gameplay more tedious because it relies on trial and error. It was also really unclear that it was the case. I thought each zone would be different. It does, however, make sense this way if you make it clear how the zones are broken down. It's good to have players explore, but in this case I think it best if we at least get a hint about where to look.

[NewProject]

Quicksand-S really thanks for your report, it's perfect!

I uploaded a new version with this changes:

-New display of missions, separating your current amount from the objective.
-Now, you can see the current mission in upgrade screen.
-Change some labels to try easy understand all information.
-Add button (i) with example of numeric system used.
-Removed purple lines and separated elements in zones.



There is no problem to over-shot the target, it is recommended! I must explain better that missions are only a guide...

About numeric system (2.20n^3): I have invented it For this game I need to show a lot of big numbers and user must compare it easy and fast. I hope people can understand it.
In future I'm thinking to include an option to change it to european, english, asian, ...

Sorry for my english Before I publish it I send all text to someone.

Gameplay: The idle games are a wait time to get resources to build something... "That's just time-consuming"


Thanks again Quicksand-S.

[pikemon]

IDLE is a new genre to me, kinda interesting gameplay.

Despite the somewhat unclear interface I understood the basics and got curious about discovering the different game features & upgrades.

This game might need some artistic vision though to make it appealing to wider public.

Nicely done!

[Quicksand-S]

There is no problem to over-shot the target, it is recommended! I must explain better that missions are only a guide...

My problem with over-shooting is that I used up resources that I should have used on the next goal.

About numeric system (2.20n^3): I have invented it

It seems essentially scientific notation. 2.20n^3 = 2.20 x 10^3. My problem was that I forgot how scientific notation worked.

Gameplay: The idle games are a wait time to get resources to build something... "That's just time-consuming"

All right, I'll accept that it's a waiting game. It doesn't seem like there's an overall goal, though. If I'm going to wait, I want to get more out of it than a simple upgrade or my fiftieth extractor. I think the game needs more things to buy once you get a lot of resources. Even unlocking "Tech" gives me the message that tech increases extractor power. I thought it would be something new.

Bug? When I went to continue my game from yesterday, a tutorial message popped up even though I already saw them all last time. I think it would be good if tutorial messages went away when clicked on or something. I don't like not being able to get rid of them.

The changes you've made are really good and work well, in my opinion. The objectives window is great.

I think it would be good if the resource zones showed what's in them once I know. Maybe just put an "O" or a "Cl" in the square once the player's actually extracted something. (Update: I see that it does that, but not right away...why not?)


Edit: What do the extractor power levels actually mean? I can't find any numerical connection between the power an extractor has and the amount of element it extracts per second.

Why do molecules sometimes appear on the screen?

The Tech screen tells me I need to make water. Why does the molecule I can make change all the time? Do I just need to wait for water to show up? Also, the button for "Sell" was clickable for an instant when the entry was changing.

The Up and Down arrows for upgrading tech level seemed non-functional. I realized later that there was an upgrade for it, but it seems broken if the player doesn't know that.

It would be nice if the main screen showed which molecule is currently available on the Tech screen. It would also be nice if the Tech screen showed the chemical composition of the current molecule.

I have to confess that I don't really understand the "Idle" style of game. It seems like the sort of thing a person might leave running in the background, but the way Tech is set up, they can't or they'll miss the molecule they want/need to build next.


Edit: It's possible to buy something you can't afford if you have half the right amount and you select the same element in two slots. If you click on the upgrade button fast enough, it'll work.

[NewProject]

All right, I'll accept that it's a waiting game. It doesn't seem like there's an overall goal, though. If I'm going to wait, I want to get more out of it than a simple upgrade or my fiftieth extractor. I think the game needs more things to buy once you get a lot of resources. Even unlocking "Tech" gives me the message that tech increases extractor power. I thought it would be something new.

This game have a limits, a end (I did not yet done).
I don't want this game become hardcore, but I can think to introduce a new element in the game. In early versions, the "Tech" are more complicated and I had to simplify.

Bug? When I went to continue my game from yesterday, a tutorial message popped up even though I already saw them all last time. I think it would be good if tutorial messages went away when clicked on or something. I don't like not being able to get rid of them.

Hmmm do you remember what message was? I show the current tutorial for the current mission.. And I think this help, isn't it?
-Next version: remove tutorial when click it. Good idea.

I think it would be good if the resource zones showed what's in them once I know. Maybe just put an "O" or a "Cl" in the square once the player's actually extracted something. (Update: I see that it does that, but not right away...why not?)

-Unlock zome -> clear: I want the user "explore", and have a difficulty. He must learn where each element is.
-Level up -> show elements: User already know the zone.

Edit: What do the extractor power levels actually mean? I can't find any numerical connection between the power an extractor has and the amount of element it extracts per second.

Ok, go to STATS screen "auto" it's the number of atoms per second each extractor extract.
If you have 4 extractors in 'H': auto power x4 = number of atoms increased every second.

The "auto power" is the sum of some factors: upgrade, user level, tech, ...

Why do molecules sometimes appear on the screen?

Hmmm you click it? The idea is you get bonus from the elements in the molecula clicked.
I hope people understand they must click it... I need make a tutorial?

The Tech screen tells me I need to make water. Why does the molecule I can make change all the time? Do I just need to wait for water to show up? Also, the button for "Sell" was clickable for an instant when the entry was changing.

I you only make water, it was too boring. When change the molecule, you must change the extractors to a new position.
Thanks for this bug report, I have a lot of problems with this 0.1 seconds to check and disable options

The Up and Down arrows for upgrading tech level seemed non-functional. I realized later that there was an upgrade for it, but it seems broken if the player doesn't know that.

OK, I hide it in future version.

It would be nice if the main screen showed which molecule is currently available on the Tech screen. It would also be nice if the Tech screen showed the chemical composition of the current molecule.

Good idea show the active molecule in game screen.
About know the composition, I don't show it. You can move extrectors "trial and error" or...  Wikipedia 

I have to confess that I don't really understand the "Idle" style of game. It seems like the sort of thing a person might leave running in the background, but the way Tech is set up, they can't or they'll miss the molecule they want/need to build next.

Correct! If you do nothing, you can "win the game", but you need years. More active -> more fast win.
The molecules in screen it's only to check if user isn't afk.

Edit: It's possible to buy something you can't afford if you have half the right amount and you select the same element in two slots. If you click on the upgrade button fast enough, it'll work.

Bugs, bugs, bugs... 


Thanks for your report and for your time playing, it help a lot and make me happy.

[Quicksand-S]

The message that popped up was the one about sorting elements.

I guessed that the element names were shown after leveling up, but I feel like that's much too long. I avoided unlocking new zones because there wasn't any benefit to it. Every element is worth the same amount as every other, so it doesn't really matter.

The motion of an extractor if you try to place it too close to another is very jumpy (and doesn't always move toward the nearest open area). Also, you can actually place five in a zone if you try hard enough or if you don't mind having one in the middle that keeps trying to escape.

I found out about clicking molecules from reading the Stats screen, but it would be nice if something popped up to tell me how many bonus molecules I got. Really, though, I feel like those molecule pop-ups don't fit with the rest of the game and just get in the way a bit.

You should probably get rid of the "You have to make water" tutorial message, since the player isn't actually required to make water.

I know I can look up the molecules online. If that's part of the "game" then ok, but I don't personally think that having to go search for the info makes things any more enjoyable. You could, however, make the game itself slightly educational by showing those chemical compositions in-game (Nobody's going to remember things if it's just guessing). As it is, I don't feel like players get anything out of the game except wasted time. Giving them a bit of knowledge would be a benefit.

Here's a question for you: What sorts of players are you hoping will play your "game"?

The more I tested things out, the more I wondered what the point of it all was. The only actions that seem worth paying for are the extractor and storage upgrades. Research did nothing noticeable, and some upgrades seem to make things worse (Why would I want to force myself to spend more elements on research?). If only four or five things feel like they are worth doing in the game, I think the other features need a lot of work.

[NewProject]

Hi all,

Thanks to everyone who has played, I'm working hard to give a better gameplay.

To all who play for 2-3 minutes, please write what is the problem, what you do not understand or you do not like. It help me a lot.


I uploaded a new version v0.3 with a lot of bugs removed, changes in HUD and text/tutorials/information/...

It's already a alpha, I hope to start with graphics soon, but I still have not decided on any design


I'm waiting your comments

[Quicksand-S]

I think I'll wait until you have graphics before I look at it again.

One question: Why does it say that the tech level increases extractor power? I've never noticed any of the power values change when I increased tech level.

[NewProject]

One question: Why does it say that the tech level increases extractor power? I've never noticed any of the power values change when I increased tech level.

Tech level increase "auto power" and "manual power", you can check in "stats" the power before and after research, and see it change a little.
If you only increase from 119% to 120% its hard to see it playing.

Quicksand-S thanks your all your reports.

[Quicksand-S]

Ah, I see. I would have expected tech level to have more of an impact than buying upgrades, just because it takes more effort and there's risk involved (a chance of failing to increase the tech level).