[Developing] Pokémon: Phoenix Rising

[Fire Flyy]

I'm gonna be the 7th guy to say the font in the video makes no sense; there's p much the entire color spectrum, I think it would be better if you maybe kept it to like 2 and then just used red and blue for the gender select. The fact that you're using enlarged pixel font is probably of more concern, though, it really doesn't look good at all, pixel fonts shouldn't really be used outside of their designated size, and the fact that it's in all these bright colors makes it look a lot worse. Not a fan of the pixelated professor and bg being on a digitally drawn background either but I guess it's passable ://

[Abnegation]

Like I just said, we're gonna work on those things, thanks!

[classiccartoonsftw]

I have a question. Will you release alphas/betas of this game, or will you release the game when it's completed?

[Abnegation]

Planning on releasing betas, but nothing too short each time.

[Yamiidenryuu]

While I actually do like the idea of using larger colored font for emphasis in the intro, since it's all supposed to be new and eye-catching, the pixel font doesn't really work for that. But I'll wait to see what you come up with.

[Yuoaman]

Originally Posted by Abnegation

To me, I feel like some of the comments thrown our way are a little more gravitating towards the fact it's different to what you'd normally expect. I also don't really appreciate comments like "this doesn't feel like a game." Other than that though, myself and the team appreciate the feedback. I'm gonna go back to the drawing board slightly on this one, not going to be quite as dramatic as some of the feedback we've gotten on the video, but I'm going to fix up the text. Given that that is primarily the issue here. I don't think the styles clash, that's intentional, given that I wanted the sprites to stand out, and the background is an insight to the game in a more fresh way. But it's impossible to please everyone.

As I say, I'll work on the scene again, primarily the text. This is why we post screenshots and videos; to get feedback, both positive and negative. And just on a personal level, it's quite disheartening to go out and pretty much bash someone's work, all over GD I see it. Try and be slightly more supportive in your comments, some of you. We're meant to be a community, and it's not exactly fair to be negative for the sake of being so. Some of the posters I see in this thread, and in others, go into some of the games purely to be negative. It's not really insightful, and not kind to the developers. This is quite off-topic, but just a simple reach out to some of you guys who see this as a competition, and an opportunity to put people down.

If you don't see vulnerability in somebody, you're probably not going to relate to them. Myself, and the team, put a lot of ourselves into Phoenix Rising, because we want you to see its vulnerabilities, we want you to be able to relate to it. And if you don't relate to some of the things we do, you probably wouldn't relate to us either. So the best thing is to move on and find people more like minded. Carry that mentality with you when you comment on people's games, just because you don't like it doesn't mean you can be rude about it. Simply say what you feel could be changed, and if the developer agrees with you, then great, if not, you're on different wave lengths and you move on. Those are the kind of comments which will help a lot more.

Again, thanks for the comments. We'll work on it :]

It's not that it's different, it's that it doesn't work that is my problem - putting a lot of pretty things up on screen without making sure they fit to the game's vision just makes it a mess, it looks as if there was no cooperation in putting the scene together: just a lot of different elements, while good in their own right, that were put together without any sort of editing process, it's like if you were to read a book that switched from Shakespearian language to modern day slang in alternating sentences, written in one of the two sets a tone and style for the book, while using both is just confusing.

I'm not being critical for the sake of being critical - I'm being critical because I want to see improvements, I don't appreciate someone taking my criticism on a personal level because it twists my criticism into an attack. An attack is not what it was intended to be. To post something you've worked on in a public place for others to see and judge is something that requires vulnerability in the people involved, I don't think anyone here is trying to stomp on people for making themselves vulnerable, but being vulnerable and taking things personally are two entirely different things. I'm not saying detach yourself from your work entirely, that's not possible or advisable, but recognize that others do not share your personal connection with it and don't have that same feeling of vulnerability, you just posted something in a public forum, and we are all going to have our own opinions of it.

[Abnegation]

Which is why I said I'm happy to hear said criticism. Your post simply lacked enough specifics to actually be, well, criticism. I'd be perfectly open to hear you pointing out every error you see and go ahead and offer some insight as to what would fit better.

[Gmack]

I find this post intruiging, and very ignorant, so let's take a look, shall we?

Originally Posted by Abnegation

To me, I feel like some of the comments thrown our way are a little more gravitating towards the fact it's different to what you'd normally expect. I also don't really appreciate comments like "this doesn't feel like a game." Other than that though, myself and the team appreciate the feedback. I'm gonna go back to the drawing board slightly on this one, not going to be quite as dramatic as some of the feedback we've gotten on the video, but I'm going to fix up the text. Given that that is primarily the issue here. I don't think the styles clash, that's intentional, given that I wanted the sprites to stand out, and the background is an insight to the game in a more fresh way. But it's impossible to please everyone.

While it is impossible to please everyone, as a game developer, you have to try your best to please the majority. When you get negative feedback, you don't say "no," you say "why?" If you ever get a negative comment on something, take it into full consideration instead of getting offended. You're going to make mistakes, it's fine!

Originally Posted by Abnegation

As I say, I'll work on the scene again, primarily the text. This is why we post screenshots and videos; to get feedback, both positive and negative. And just on a personal level, it's quite disheartening to go out and pretty much bash someone's work, all over GD I see it. Try and be slightly more supportive in your comments, some of you. We're meant to be a community, and it's not exactly fair to be negative for the sake of being so. Some of the posters I see in this thread, and in others, go into some of the games purely to be negative. It's not really insightful, and not kind to the developers. This is quite off-topic, but just a simple reach out to some of you guys who see this as a competition, and an opportunity to put people down.

Listen, community or not, we're not just going to tell you the good things. I stated before that negative feedback is something to actually take into consideration. In fact, you should strive for negative feedback! It'll help your game improve in the eyes of your audience. This is called critiquing a work, Gavin. This is how you learn to improve. Nobody is trying to offend you(mostly); We're trying to help you, not ourselves.

Originally Posted by Abnegation

If you don't see vulnerability in somebody, you're probably not going to relate to them. Myself, and the team, put a lot of ourselves into Phoenix Rising, because we want you to see its vulnerabilities, we want you to be able to relate to it. And if you don't relate to some of the things we do, you probably wouldn't relate to us either. So the best thing is to move on and find people more like minded. Carry that mentality with you when you comment on people's games, just because you don't like it doesn't mean you can be rude about it. Simply say what you feel could be changed, and if the developer agrees with you, then great, if not, you're on different wave lengths and you move on. Those are the kind of comments which will help a lot more.

Again, we aren't being rude. We're trying to improve the game. Every negative thing we say is to help you and your team improve the game for the majority of the crowd. Remember, Gavin, your fans are here because they enjoy your work, and want to see it excel. You don't work for anyone as a fan-game developer, you work for your fans. You're not trying to please yourself and your team, mostly, you're pleasing them. ... or are you going to download your own game?

Originally Posted by Abnegation

Again, thanks for the comments. We'll work on it :]

This is how you should respond to all comments, not by saying " Thanks, but can you leave out the negatives? That'd be great, guys!" You should accept negative critisism with open arms, and praise any critique somebody makes on your game. This is not to put you down, Gavin, this is to help you. As a fellow Game Developer, I've received my own share of bad things said to me, but you have to come from an unbiased perspective, and look at your game at the specific part they are complaining about. If it's silly, than explain yourself. If it's something like, " Hey, that text doesn't really fit," then you should try to make it fit. Everything about making a good game is making everything balance out. Graphics should go hand in hand with gameplay, music, and story; this is how classics are made.
Again, this is not to put you down, this is to help you.

~Sincerely, Gavin "Gmack"

[Abnegation]

Of course it's there to help us, and me. I'm under no disillusion. I feel as if you're just taking me up wrongly, I was seeking out specifics. Anyway, I'd just rather if the subject was dropped, especially what has already been mentioned 7 times. Critique is great, but it gets aggravating when it's repeated over and over. So just understand that we're working on what has been said.

And from a moderation note, this is getting way too heated. If you feel you wish to judge my moral character (lol) then feel free to do so in a PM. Again, we appreciate the feedback, and we're working on things as already stated. I'm leaving it at that, anything else that pushes the general off-topic direction of this thread will be deleted. It's a fan game guys, not politics. Revel in the knowledge that I appreciate the critique and interest, some of my posts are evidently being picked up wrongly. This isn't srs bsns, so let's get back on track shall we?

[Yuoaman]

Just a quick list of specifics:

• The artstyles don't conform to a single vision - the character sprites, the background, and the UI each look like they're from a different game.
  
• The font stuff, as mentioned several other times.
  
• The Professor's dialog, in conjunction with the font issues, make it sound as if she's trying too hard to convince us. For example: "That is why I study Pokemon EVERY day," - I almost expect her to follow it up with, "because Pokemon Philosophy is a real job, mom."
  
• The text balloons are very distracting - it might be because they're so big and just a solid color - but I much prefer a more understated text box, like the one present in the selection menus and in the name choice screen.

Now, when I said it "doesn't look like a game" I meant that what I'm seeing feels more like a proof of concept than something tangible that could be played - something that you would show off a few weeks into a project to show that something could come of it, for the reasons listed above.

[DeLaMuerte]

SO I guess I'll sit here with the guys who are actually fully on board with whats happening. Move over, people; it's getting kinda cramped.

Meow. I have nothing against the game only because I see nothing wrong with it as a fangame. If it were an actual endorsed/licensed/Nintendo/Game Freak game, the only real complaint I have is that the speech bubbles are all up in my face. As if they're trying to get a huge point across, instead of stuff in the bottom telling you what to do.

Oh, and the trainer sprites bother me a bit, but that's personal prefrence which will probably affect nothing, and the tiles, since I believe I pointed out quite a while ago something about the cliff tile... Mostly because it looks kind of intrusive on the screen, kinda like the speech bubbles.

[Atomic Reactor]

I feel like the trainer sprites should be more in the center, instead of randomly at the bottom of the screen, they seem out of place. And maybe don't have the speech bubbles switch sides? (then again, it'd be boring if it stayed in the same place) Perhaps just put it down in a dialogue box like normal, idk.

[Abnegation]

Closing until further notice. The game is still being worked on, however myself and the team don't wish to take a break from updating it on this community for a bit, just taking a quick breather. I also want to update the first post soon. Thanks for all the support. We'll be with you shortly!

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