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The Hardships of Game Making
A Report
on the major problems a game maker can encounter
A Report
on the major problems a game maker can encounter
Chapter I: Introduction
Hello everyone, I am Mooshykris, known (slightly) well for my Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal remake, Pokemon GS. Recently, the tension and stress from being the sole staff member of GS has built up to critical levels.
I have been working on fangames for two years now, and on GS for nearly one and a half. But, despite my best efforts, after all this time, GS has still fails to produce any major following. I have many times before, "given up," only to run back later looking like a fool. I've changes since then, but the situation still isn't improving (if anything, it's getting worse).
Now, I have had enough! My constant work on my projects still haven't payed off! Now, I am writing this report, to give an inside look at what it's really like to design a fangame, and more importantly, when your work isn't appreciated.
Chapter II: History of my Fangames
From my Pokemon GS thread:
As you can see, I, along with GS, have come a long way since I joined Pokecommunity. Still, my project hasn't become all that popular. It really hasn't, and appears that it never will, become famous. If anything, my projects have become infamous! One example is the fact that GS seems to have become notorious for it's lack of the use of the starterkit, and other "fixes."
Now, I will discuss my first issue I've encountered along the path of fangame making:
Chapter III: Problem #1 - The Replies
The first issue I am into view is the lack many good replies. I have yet to have a game thread with more than 3-5 consecutive good replies. And I've had almost no replies over the course of my fangames, that wasn't criticizing something about the game (constructive or not)!
Here are just a few examples of past replies:
Note: I am not mentioning names, so as not to be offensive.
This one was in my second Pokemon GS thread:
As you can see, there are some problems with my project, starting with just the name.
Moving on, many people get great replies to their threads, starting with their very first post.
Take a look at the very first reply to my most recent GS thread:
Great Huh? If that wasn't bad enough, they were followed closely by this:
this:
this:
this:
this:
and this:
Everyone seemed completly focused on the fact that my resolution didn't match the tiny screens that "the other Pokemon Games have!" And of couse my lack of use of the Pokemon_RS Font, which by the way, was being used in the screenshots!
Another big problem I've encoundered way to many times is the lack of any replies at all! I've had 3-6 topics on multible forums that died because of a total lack of replies. Because of that, I couldn't update it, because it was against the rules to double post! And for those who ask "Why don't you just edit it?" That makes no difference! It doesn't save my topic from death, does it?!
So far I've covered the basics of whats going on. In the next chapter, I will discuss just how unpopular my games seem to be.
Chapter IV: Problem #2 - The Inability to generate Supporters
Over these past 2 years, I've worked on three different projects, spanning an unbelievable 13 threads! Unlike most fangame threads, which average between 100 and 500 posts per thread (some even breaching 1,000!). Mine, however, have averaged at only about 15 to 45 posts per thread (one of them reaching a record breaking 84!).
Also, unlike mine, many of these threads have been around for months at a time, some even for more than a year. My threads are lucky if they survive 3 months, let alone 8-12!
Lastly, when you view people's signatures, you see bars saying thing's like "Pokemon Ancanite Supporter!" Beyond that, I've seen Ancanite seemingly take over half of the PokeCommunity members, while GS is left behind, with to date, only 3 devoted supporters!
What I think is scary is the fact that in late 2005, I left PC in hopes of inproving my RMXP skills, and then hopefully make my way up to becoming one of the more appreciated fangames. After months of studying RMXP, and ultimatlly buying the official version I decided to come back.
When I did, however, I found one of the biggest games of my early days on PC, Pokemon Light, cancelled. Other big games like Pokemon Treasures and Pokemon: Call of Latios were posponed. A new fangame, Pokemon Tropica had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere to gain almost instant sucess. Finally, a once little known project, now known as "Pokemon Ancanite," all the way to the top, even beyond C.O.L. and Treasures!
Within Pokemon Ancanithe's Thread, which by the way, has managed to survive since August 2006, has recieved replies such as:
and
(compare to: "Um... This, is not how I remembered GS. Sorry, but the old version looked much better.")
Now, I will continue on to Chapter 5.
Chapter V: Problem #3 - The Teams
Most of the time, I've worked on Pokemon GS by my self, unable to generate a good team.
In recent times my Team has consisted of just me, nicoleb, zach805, Theonym of RMXP.org, and Corona! of RMXP.org. Even so, I am still doing most of the Spriting, and Designing, and I am doing all of the Music, Mapping, and everything in between.
Then, when you look at a game like Ancanite you see this:
Now, just today in my recruitment thread on RMXP I recieved this reply:
Now, I know he probably had good intentions, but it once again, appears like I don't have anything at all required to make a good fangame.
Chapter VI: Conclusion
Well, that was my report. I hope you carefully read it and consider my feelings. I could'nt keep them hidden anymore, I had to let them out.
I have devoted every free minute I have to the development of Pokemon GS, and still, my work goes unappreciated! I've tried and tried again, each time failing. And each time I fail, it becomes harder to try again. Now I've reached a point where I can't go on much longer.
Please read this, and add your thoughts.
~Mooshykris
note to Mods: I think I accidently posted this in games showcase, when you get it, ignore it.
