I would like to point out something here that I have noticed time and time
again on this list and has more than once made me consider joining the ranks
of the developers that don't bother subscribing even though this is one of
the very few gaming lists available out there.
When a topic that derives negativity is posted, people come out of the
woodwork to comment on it, but when I post a message asking for commentary
or suggestions for a new online RPG game, something that is potentially
revolutionary and has not been done before, something that I have proven I
can do based on the features of Rail Racer, I get maybe 3 or 4 responses. I
don't know if this is due to the average age of the members of this list, or
just the general indifference people have toward putting some effort in
helping grow our little community, but it is very disturbing to say the
least.
I will leave it to other developers to comment on their own experiences if
they wish, but for me, the response to Rail Racer was overall a
dissapointment. The demo was downloaded over 2000 times, with around 200
sales to date. Most of the time I get comments like "It is too hard to
learn" or "I don't want to put the time into figuring out how to get good
lap times". I just don't get this. Gamers ask for deepr games with more
replay value, and when it is delivered, they shy away from it. Rail Racer,
like any endeavor that is richly rewarding is not a game you jump in and
start doing well at at first. You have to work at it a bit, but that time
and effort will be rewarded, just ask anyone that is currently playing in
the RR tournaments.
Please don't get me wrong, I really appreciate those that have offered
their support, both in ideas , suggestions and by buying my game, but the
amount of complaints about difficulty and the posts on other forums
regarding trying to crack my hard work are about equal to the number of
supportive posts. This is not the way to a healthy and thriving gaming
community folks.
I am afraid this is a hard lesson that USA Games is about to find out when
they release their first commercial game hopefully later this year. Based
on the amount of enthusiasm shown on list for the free beta versions, I hope
not however, I do not wish any develop the demoralizing experience of
dealing with the negativity towards their work I have had to endure.
I wonder if a gaming list devoted to adults only, where the overall level
of discussion might be on a higher level would be beneficial to the gaming
community.
There are a few hundred members of this list, something like that? But
look at the statistics Jim put out, there are only about a dozen members
actually posting much, that is very disappointing.
On the topic of North, I came into the party pretty late, right at the
time he left the list in fact, so all I know about him are the actions he
took from that time on, and as Thomas has said, perhaps I only got the Mr.
Hyde side of things, but if any of you think that James North was a good
samaritan for handing over the rights to Raceway and Montazuma's Revenge,
think again. He was only hoping to hold onto the pre order money he had
already collected, several thousand dollars worth in fact. Thomas was
stuck with code he had to completely rewrite, resulting in him ultimately
giving away several thousand dollars worth of sales for all his hard work,
and hoping that the post release sales will be worth it. North pulled one
there, no matter how you cut it, and I have read some of his comments about
the blind commmunity posted elsewhere, and trust me, they are less than
flattering, basically calling us a bunch of bozos. As far as I know, no
comment I made about North was ever read by him, so I had nothing to do with
his quitting the AG community, but back to my first point, people on list
are too worried about jumping on one bandwagon or another on this list, and
not concerned enough with giving us developers potential support.
Please remember, this community is only as good as we make it, and
developers cannot make it without the communities help.
For those of you that do put effort in helping us developers out, my heart
felt appreciation goes out to you, and I think you know who you are, for the
rest of you, um, here is a rotten banana peel, mooahahHahah.
Officially dismanteling my soapbox now...
BTW, this is a pretty long post, so if you respond please be sure and
delete the existing text when you reply, thanks.
Later,
Che
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