To all SSC Station occupants
Thank you for the donations over the past year (2024), it is much appreciated. I am still trying to figure out how to migrate the forums to another community software (probably phpbb) but in the meantime I have updated the forum software to the latest version. SSC has been around a while so their is some very long time members here still using the site, thanks for making SSC home and sorry I haven't been as vocal as I should be in the forums I will try to improve my posting frequency.
Thank you again to all of the members that do take the time to donate a little, it helps keep this station functioning on the outer reaches of space.
-D1-
I have had questions asked via facebook, but to keep track of them and also for everyone else to see they are posted here too.
1. Lose the Android "nooot!" joke in the opening
A. possibly - however I wanted to make it clear that this was an android port and that is why the graphics and gameplay are the way they are. Though there will be updates the theme won't change much.
2. Lose the suspense theme, and find something synth/space'ish
B.All the music in the video is from the game itself - might not be perfect for the video but it is in context and it is original.
3. Get a voice actor on fiverr.com to do the intro, you look a little stiff mate Play voice over gameplay footage.
A. Yeah, I am no actor, my professions is games and computers - it helps having to bounce of someone too as I found out in the podcast (coming soon)
4. Buy a quality logo from a logo service, and open with that.
A. Might do that, but I always try to create 100% of the content (or have someone on the actual team to create it) I am not a fan (due to limited funds) of outsourcing stuff.
5. Lose the piano theme too
A. Again refer to #2.
6. Maybe hunt some radio voice chatter sounds to set the move. Voice actors at fiverr.com can help you with that too.
A. I am planing on doing a new video (if I ever get time) making it a little shorter and with the updates made in it. - I have a friend who does really good voice acting.
Game changes in priority (not a must):
1. New icons
A. Maybe - these were created to be unique and different and for a small screen space on android.
2. Better lighting. Maybe strong blue rim lights (not realistic I know) maybe add a few distant stars too, or dust storms.
A. I think the video compression and/or the latest screenshots removed the stars that were there, the new shots have a DoF effect that blurres the skymap thus making it look black. Definitely planing on making this better, would absolutely love to find a way to get a high res image of the milkyway from earth's perspective (the moons really wouldn't be that different)
3. Lose the pink highlight on buildings. Go light blue or lime green instead.
A. The pink highlight is just untextured buildings - not a highlight, there was currently no plan on a highlight system, however I like the idea and will look into it.
4. UI, go darker with the blue background for the UI. So the blue is less empowering.
A If I go too dark the UI may be hard to distinguish from the black background - its still a WIP and will take this onboard when I tweak it see if the darker blue makes much of a difference.
I like your 'to do' list and probably making the change from android to pc has got to be tough because of the screen real-estate, which also includes all the art assets in making them bigger and more detail.
I know I am horrible with art/graphcs as you can tell by SSC's logo so I know what you are going through 🙂
For the most part, the art assets of the actual game won't change much - a facebook poll I done at the end of the android kickstarter gave the result that most people were happy with what there was or wanted just a little more in places.
For a re-work of the entire thing would've been too much for such a small game and to do so I would of had to ask for much more than I currently am on kickstarter.
But I am dedicated to improving the game as much as possible, while gameplay is the main focus for the time being, the graphics will get some love and care too.
There is some useful feedback there. I think the opening video is a make or break for a kickstarter campaign. Although you like to create and author your own content the video has to be really impactful to get the backers up.
I guess the naming of the game has put some of the US market off 'colonization' even though you explained that in the comments.
Mixing the video by cutting between video footage and yourself would have probably worked well whilst leaving the audio running over through the footage. I have to ask - what's the section where you masked over a spacesuit, very random 🙂
I agree with the comments on the logo, it's a little un-inspiring - no offence ofc, just a shared observation.
I'm from Bham myself so get the accent but I would imagine that would have surprised quite a few potential backers, hehe.
I really hope the project gets backed, but I think your next update video will have to raise the bar, I'm happy to provide some constructive comments on your next update as I watch plenty of kickstarter video's to know what works (makes me contribute) and what doesn't. That said, your concept is strong and felt that I should support a local lad in his aspiration to develop a game - I studied Computer Science but never got to live the dream!
p.s the website needs updating - http://www.colonisationgames.co.uk/index.html
it still refers to the kickstart failing and I think you need to remove all evidence of the older kickstarter to avoid any confusion.
Font is called 'Teacher A' - futuristic font style.
Thanks, might look into a new font, the original was so it was easily red on small screens (how much android has influenced the game is still cropping up here and there! so sorry if I go on about it)
The current font is the same all the way through and is very similar to what they use in films like prometheus.
With the website, try refreshing it, if you visited it before the update for some reason it loads the previous from local memory to save bandwidth (will talk with my friend who is providing the space for me to see if I can not get this changed)
I try to keep it up to date but my web skills are lacking and it takes some time to add stuff and make sure I haven't broken it, so if it is still wrong after the refresh please let me know (seems to work ok for me) and will fix it :S
Yes that's done the trick the new headers open up now to the PC kickstarter.
Don't get me wrong I really like how clear the in-game fonts are, it's just the game title logo that needs modifying imo.
Don't spend too long on the font investigation, you have a game to promote !
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