Colony Ship Early Access Release Thread [GAME RELEASED, GO TO NEW THREAD]

[Antigoon]

At least going by player numbers it doesn't look too bad. I understand the frustration with zero coverage and general negativity, but with just a nice bump from the EA on release date it looks like you could hit some decent enough? numbers.

 

[Vault Dweller]

I've bought 4 copies (3 on GOG and 1 on Steam) but I'll buy a couple more...

Thank you but it's really not necessary. Either enough people buy the game to keep us in business or not.

 

[Junmarko]

Was going to wait until out of early access, but I'll buy in now.

 

[Jedi Master Radek]

It's very hard to compare since AoD had a lot of media attention whereas Colony Ship has none. I emailed everyone who covered AoD but got zero response, so we're flying under the radar right now.
:stealth mission:

When you don't have an eyetearing story about working for 13 years on the game, infotainment industry stops paying attention.

Make up a story about how the game is dedicate to your cat, who died because you smuggled him on the field trip in the middle school and he ended up in a freaky accident involving a vacuum chamber. Media attention will increase 1000%

 

[Goral]

Make up a story about how the game is dedicate to your cat, who died because you smuggled him on the field trip in the middle school and he ended up in a freaky accident involving a vacuum chamber. Media attention will increase 1000%

Since many devs are Ukrainians they can use that fact, developing the game while war is going on and they often don't even have electricity is amazing.

 

[Sòren]

sry that i have to ask the same question again, but is the system update not available on GOG currently? i got a bunch of updates in the last days, but it doesn't seem to include that. (and yes, activated public test channel).

Not yet. Apologies for the inconvenience but due to the strikes on the power grid in Ukraine our programmer's working hours are very limited.

no probs. just wanted to make sure. i noticed that most of the attention is focused on steam.

 

[Jedi Master Radek]

Make up a story about how the game is dedicate to your cat, who died because you smuggled him on the field trip in the middle school and he ended up in a freaky accident involving a vacuum chamber. Media attention will increase 1000%

Since many devs are Ukrainians they can use that fact, developing the game while war is going on and they often don't even have electricity is amazing.

Yeah, that's a good idea!

 

[Jaedar]

At least going by player numbers it doesn't look too bad. I understand the frustration with zero coverage and general negativity, but with just a nice bump from the EA on release date it looks like you could hit some decent enough? numbers.

Doesn't look bad?
AoD had 3 huge spikes of concurrent players, colony ship had one at the initial release and nothing since. This graph paints a pretty sad picture

 

[Lord_Potato]

I've bought 4 copies (3 on GOG and 1 on Steam) but I'll buy a couple more, although it seems it might not make much of a difference. It's annoying that shit like Disco Elysium is selling so well and IT games barely cover the costs of development.

I admire the dedication but most of us won't buy several copies of the same game for ourselves. However, support bundles are a thing for people who wish to givs devs more cash than they already paid for the game.

ATOM guys did it, Encased guys did it, some other indie devs too. There is no shame in this. You don't have to put game breaking gear there, just some cool looking reskins.

Vault Dweller grant us a supporter bundle so we can give you more money!

 

[Abu Antar]

^Encased devs are not a good example...

 

[Lord_Potato]

^Encased devs are not a good example...

I think that's beside the point

 

[Infinitron]

Make up a story about how the game is dedicate to your cat, who died because you smuggled him on the field trip in the middle school and he ended up in a freaky accident involving a vacuum chamber. Media attention will increase 1000%

Since many devs are Ukrainians they can use that fact, developing the game while war is going on and they often don't even have electricity is amazing.

Yeah, that's a good idea!

Infinitron shitposts become reality: https://rpgcodex.net/forums/members/vault-dweller.497/#profile-post-65921

 

[toro]

It's very hard to compare since AoD had a lot of media attention whereas Colony Ship has none. I emailed everyone who covered AoD but got zero response, so we're flying under the radar right now.
:stealth mission:

Coming from an unknown indie developer AoD had the potential of being great and you got a free pass from media before its release. The stars aligned because AoD development took place in parallel with the great kickstart craze and the hopes for a RPG genre revival.

I don't want to argue on the game's strong or weak points: the fact is that it failed to deliver a classic RPG experience and it probably made most reviewers feel and look like fools. Most of them probably didn't play more than a couple of hours.

The part you don't get: after release they continued to praise AoD not because of its merits but because they didn't want to contradict their previous statements. I understand that you love the game but AoD has zero mainstream appeal and nobody really cares about it except for a small autistic community.

Now you are trying to market a less autistic game but nobody is taking the bait anymore. They also don't want to review games designed for autistic audiences and it doesn't help that the game looks generic also. The point is that this game will be reviewed and judged on its merits. Like it should be.

That being said, you have the chance to prove yourself without pressure. Release a polished game - with less autistic screeching - and you will be fine.

 

[MadMaxHellfire]

Man... this is so depressing. Why can't we have nice things?

can't they have some paid piece on cockpapershitgun and such like everybody else?

 

[Ereshkigal]

the fact is that it failed to deliver a classic RPG experience

My impression is that they weren't interested in delivering a "classic" RPG experience but wanted to go further than what was thought possible, at least in terms of C&C. Not everything needs to be a callback.

AoD has zero mainstream appeal and nobody really cares about it except for a small autistic community

Thank God for that. What are you doing here if you want all games to be the same?

 

[rusty_shackleford]

maybe the reviewers felt embarrassed for shilling a CYOA novel as an RPG and don't want to accidentally repeat the mistake?

 

[toro]

the fact is that it failed to deliver a classic RPG experience

My impression is that they weren't interested in delivering a "classic" RPG experience but wanted to go further than what was thought possible, at least in terms of C&C. Not everything needs to be a callback.

AoD has zero mainstream appeal and nobody really cares about it except for a small autistic community

Thank God for that. What are you doing here if you want all games to be the same?

You just proved my point.

"I don't want to argue on the game's strong or weak points..."

"...and nobody really cares about it except for a small autistic community."

I would try to explain but ...

 

[Ereshkigal]

maybe the reviewers felt embarrassed for shilling a CYOA novel as an RPG and don't want to accidentally repeat the mistake?

That CYOA novel had deeper combat than 99% of RPGs out there.

I would try to explain but ...

Don't worry, don't waste your time when you could be playing Skyrim.

 

[Marat]

At least going by player numbers it doesn't look too bad. I understand the frustration with zero coverage and general negativity, but with just a nice bump from the EA on release date it looks like you could hit some decent enough? numbers.

Doesn't look bad?
AoD had 3 huge spikes of concurrent players, colony ship had one at the initial release and nothing since. This graph paints a pretty sad picture

All those spikes happened post release though. All the game needs is one lucky break to get the ball rolling - then its quality will speak for itself. I remain hopeful.

 

[lukaszek]

btw, anyone else loosing attachment to the setting after act1? I've realized that Im having fun before point of no return, then its get generic and I can't say I care much about characters.

And part to it might be pigeon holing player based on abilities.
In AoD terms: sneaky character can progress thieves questline all the way. And there is more than 1 branch. Or keep betraying and even ascend. It doesnt mean that this character can access everything, but there is always a (illusion of?) choice
in colonoscopy sneaky character can access most paths and be useful. Once you reach point of no return its all thrown out of the window, you keep failing all interactions until you finally get sneaky one and progress this way.

 

[Jaedar]

btw, anyone else loosing attachment to the setting after act1?

I do agree that the setting is weaker when you interact directly with the major factions. Both the brotherhood and the protectorate are so mustache curlingly dastardly, it's hard to feel good about your choice of who to support, even as a lesser evil type thing. I assume there will be ample opportunity to betray them later, but still.

 

[Jrpgfan]

sry that i have to ask the same question again, but is the system update not available on GOG currently? i got a bunch of updates in the last days, but it doesn't seem to include that. (and yes, activated public test channel).

Not yet. Apologies for the inconvenience but due to the strikes on the power grid in Ukraine our programmer's working hours are very limited.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/648410/discussions/0/3454842785099977424/#c3454842785102359577
Man... this is so depressing. Why can't we have nice things? ITS is my last hope for pure, genuine quality RPGs.

I don't know how much cause for worry this is. Games drop off in sales. Hopefully the game sells well when it has its full release.

I wonder how AoD releasing impacted its sales figures.

It's very hard to compare since AoD had a lot of media attention whereas Colony Ship has none. I emailed everyone who covered AoD but got zero response, so we're flying under the radar right now.
:stealth mission:

Ever thought about reconsidering going for crowdfunding or some sort of alternative funding(like Patreon) in case things don't go well post-release?

I'd hate to see you guys go out of business.

 

[Egosphere]

just implement organ harvesting and have Sseth review it a couple of days after release. $$$$$.

 

[cb.spike]

It is like you motherfuckes don´t know Vince at all. He is not going to beg for attention, his not going to take you money for nothing and his not going to change anything in his attitude. That is how he want to do things no matter what. This tour de force has given us The Age of Decadence and soon it will also provide us Colony Ship. It would be nice to also get "the good inquisition" RPG in 2035 but it will only happene on his terms or never.

 

[Iluvcheezcake]

Vault Dweller ever considered a publisher, ie Hooded Horse or Microprose or something in that venue?