Author Topic: Reprint?  (Read 1940 times)

nodtveidt

  • Guest
Reprint?
« on: December 26, 2013, 04:20:15 AM »
OK so I've had a LOT of people asking me if I would do a second pressing of MSR. It's not something I've really given any serious consideration to until now, as Keranu is just about out of them as well.

Just a simple repress wouldn't be sufficient though; if I was to send this to press a second time, I would make some improvements. The game has a couple of flaws in it that were not caught during the beta test phases which I would fix, and I'd probably make a few other changes as well.

Thoughts?

Necromancer

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 21374
Re: Reprint?
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2013, 04:23:35 AM »
If there's enough initial demand to offset printing costs, I'd reprint it as is; there are no fatal flaws, so your time is better spent working on new stuffs.  Besides, that's not a bug it's a feature!
U.S. Collection: 98% complete    157/161 titles

Mzo

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 311
Re: Reprint?
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2013, 04:49:42 AM »
It sounds like a good idea, but some of the initial run people might be a bit upset over a second, better print run coming up so soon after.

If you're gonna do more, I'd say more of the same.  Put me down for one, I wasn't paying attention and missed out.

esteban

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 24063
Re: Reprint?
« Reply #3 on: December 26, 2013, 05:06:58 AM »

OK so I've had a LOT of people asking me if I would do a second pressing of MSR. It's not something I've really given any serious consideration to until now, as Keranu is just about out of them as well.

Just a simple repress wouldn't be sufficient though; if I was to send this to press a second time, I would make some improvements. The game has a couple of flaws in it that were not caught during the beta test phases which I would fix, and I'd probably make a few other changes as well.

Thoughts?


I have no problem with a reprint.

Yes, you should tweak things—why not? It's a perfect opportunity to make MSR closer to your original vision.

No, you're not going to refresh all the artwork...you're going to fix a few hiccups in the logic/playability. 100% of the game will be accessible.

Yes. 
  |    | 

nodtveidt

  • Guest
Re: Reprint?
« Reply #4 on: December 26, 2013, 05:10:06 AM »
there are no fatal flaws
There are two fatal flaws, actually... one in SD2 and one in the bonus game. Both are stupid-easy to fix, I just wish they'd been caught during our testing phases.

vestcoat

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3077
Re: Reprint?
« Reply #5 on: December 26, 2013, 06:19:15 AM »
Do a reprint, but don't fix anything. The game works. Send it to the presser. You put 8+ years into that game and it's great, don't waste another second on it.  As Necro said, your time is better spent doing new things. Learn from your mistakes, but keep looking ahead. Trying to perfect old projects is a Pandora's Box that will turn you into George Lucas. As soon as you open those old files you'll never stop finding "one more thing" to fix.
STATUS: Try not to barf in your mouth.

esteban

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 24063
Re: Reprint?
« Reply #6 on: December 26, 2013, 06:49:54 AM »
Do a reprint, but don't fix anything. The game works. Send it to the presser. You put 8+ years into that game and it's great, don't waste another second on it.  As Necro said, your time is better spent doing new things. Learn from your mistakes, but keep looking ahead. Trying to perfect old projects is a Pandora's Box that will turn you into George Lucas. As soon as you open those old files you'll never stop finding "one more thing" to fix.

I was talking to Rover in PM and we both agreed that a 4th and 5th quest will be added to MSR. They will feature ARPG elements (think Neutopia) and scrap the menu-based fighting system.

It will take a bit longer, yes, but it will be worth it.

  |    | 

Necromancer

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 21374
Re: Reprint?
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2013, 07:11:45 AM »
There are two fatal flaws, actually... one in SD2 and one in the bonus game. Both are stupid-easy to fix, I just wish they'd been caught during our testing phases.

I meant fatal as in "unplayable for everyone".  Most peeps will never run into any trouble.
U.S. Collection: 98% complete    157/161 titles

TheClash603

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4054
Re: Reprint?
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2013, 10:03:12 AM »
My favorite game series of all-time is Street Fighter, so I guess I can't complain about a more balanced / tweaked game coming out shortly after the original.

Just make sure you call it Championship Edition, and then you haver my blessing.

...though, if it delays any other projects significantly, DON'T DO IT!

Bonknuts

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3292
Re: Reprint?
« Reply #9 on: December 26, 2013, 10:16:19 AM »
Old Rov, if you added something more than just a list of bug fixes - then I'd say go for it. I dunno, make a simple sprite/tile hack remix mode. Maybe all Bonk or such (a mix of TG related graphics) graphic content. Maybe change some of the dialogue, to make a TG16 tribute parody. That way, people that bought the original might have an incentive to purchase this again (thus all 500 or so copies of the 2nd print won't go to waste).

nodtveidt

  • Guest
Re: Reprint?
« Reply #10 on: December 26, 2013, 10:31:46 AM »
Anything beyond a few simple bugfixes would probably require a substantial effort. Changing even one bit of dialogue can throw off an entire region since the text portions were done before I wrote a script compiler. Nowadays, I have twoscript, which is used for Eternal Silence, where making text revisions is just a matter of changing the script and running the script compiler. Changing text in MSR as it stands requires running the script through the very basic text-to-data converter and updating every single entry point by hand in the source code. It's not a trivial operation and it carries a high chance of error. If I wanted to implement the twoscript interpreter, I could... but I'd have to redo every script in the game. I have no problem with that, but I don't want anything to get in the way of existing active productions, especially seeing as we are so close to wrapping up Lucretia.

(For those of you who like dev trivia, here's some for ya... twoscript was written for a project codenamed TWOS... hence twoscript. The script compiler is based on monoscript, a similar script compiler developed previously for Project MONOLITH. twoscript is much more advanced in terms of overall scripting functionality but lacks monoscript's multiple language ability.)

Xak

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 720
Re: Reprint?
« Reply #11 on: December 26, 2013, 12:16:24 PM »
My favorite game series of all-time is Street Fighter, so I guess I can't complain about a more balanced / tweaked game coming out shortly after the original.

Just make sure you call it Championship Edition, and then you haver my blessing.


MO HO HO HO

I say do it dude. You spent a fkin decade on that project. Hellz yeah do it. My Captain Tsubasa 3 would be #1 in DL's if I had released it in 2009 when originally was done with it.

Totally do it rove, the fix alone would be cool, get some alternate artwork for CD and box and you got a whole new 2nd run!!!! SEXXXXografx
Im a real life Sadler, just take me to the nearest item shop.

I have aspergers, and am a recovering Tonicholic

NightWolve

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5277
Re: Reprint?
« Reply #12 on: December 26, 2013, 02:04:47 PM »
If you think there's enough demand to recover the reprint costs and possibly profit afterwards, then go for it.

Trying to perfect old projects is a Pandora's Box that will turn you into George Lucas.

Heh, interesting analogy.

Bernie

  • Guest
Re: Reprint?
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2013, 03:57:57 AM »
Hell man, go for it.  :)  If you do change anything, I will buy it.  I never ran into issues with the game myself tho, other than the occasional lag during load times.

Black Tiger

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11242
Re: Reprint?
« Reply #14 on: December 27, 2013, 04:12:38 AM »
It doesn't matter if there are any changes to the game (just tell people the bugs are the fault of their hardware). All that matters is that it says "REPRINT EDITION" across the front cover.
http://www.superpcenginegrafx.net/forum

Active and drama free PC Engine forum