Is the site change working? Survey says: YES

ID:107565
 
Jan 24 2011, 2:09 pm
The greatest benefits of the latest site changes mostly apply to how they will make BYOND look to outsiders. That said, original games are already starting to reap the rewards of being set apart from fan games. Check out this screenshot of a short conversation in NEStalgia from today:



I've had many of these same types of conversations with other users. It's a great time to have an original game on BYOND - any developers out there who have been on the fence ought to finally dive in and make something.
Jan 24 2011, 2:16 pm
I've been on the fence! But I'm sure no one believes in me at this point.
Jan 24 2011, 2:19 pm
Glad to see there's people out there that aren't completely just bitching and moaning about the site changes because SOMETHING isn't to their liking.

Aside from that, though, how are games in the front page ordered by default? I've seen some games with more "fans" that have been featured below games that have less fans.
Jan 24 2011, 2:24 pm
Duelmaster409 wrote:
Aside from that, though, how are games in the front page ordered by default? I've seen some games with more "fans" that have been featured below games that have less fans.

Only BYOND Members who are fans are counted towards the popularity of the game. Furthermore, the higher up on their favorites list those members rank a game, the more "points" it gets towards that total.

It's not a perfect system, but it's something that we can deal with in the short term. There has been some discussion on the site lately about changing the way it works in order to accommodate newer games, or games that are frequently updated.
Jan 24 2011, 2:54 pm
You can see on the main page alone, that the player count went up on a lot for the original games listed. I've also been more active then I've been in awhile with the site change.

The site change is just a good thing all around it seems like :).
Jan 24 2011, 3:28 pm
That's one tiny resolution.
Jan 24 2011, 3:39 pm
Figures, now that I can't play; the game gets popular again.
Jan 24 2011, 3:45 pm
i've been pretty impressed with the redesign, although i think some of the "Download Free Here" ads might ruin things for new visitors.
Jan 24 2011, 5:32 pm
The one thing I don't agree with, however, is the fact that 'fan games' or 'anime' games have no chance of being featured or making the front page.

Just because it's a fan game, doesn't mean it isn't original. I think the guys that put in alot of time creating, updating and sustaining their fan games should also reap the rewards.

I understand not being able to charge for subscriptions, because that would violate copyright laws. That isn't the issue. I just think there's alot of games out there that can be labeled a fan game that also deserves the attention that your game deserves.

I have played NEStalgia, and I have to say you did an outstanding job. It isn't a big suprise coming from the guy that made DWO. Both of which are incredible games that have opened many doors for others to follow.

I'm a big fan Silk!
Jan 24 2011, 5:34 pm
Yusuke13 wrote:
The one thing I don't agree with, however, is the fact that 'fan games' or 'anime' games have no chance of being featured or making the front page.

Just because it's a fan game, doesn't mean it isn't original. I think the guys that put in alot of time creating, updating and sustaining their fan games should also reap the rewards.

I understand not being able to charge for subscriptions, because that would violate copyright laws. That isn't the issue. I just think there's alot of games out there that can be labeled a fan game that also deserves the attention that your game deserves.

I have played NEStalgia, and I have to say you did an outstanding job. It isn't a big suprise coming from the guy that made DWO. Both of which are incredible games that have opened many doors for others to follow.

I'm a big fan Silk!

a fan game, by nature, is unoriginal. think about it.
Jan 24 2011, 5:35 pm
So, making a game based on gameplay from the NES is more original?
Jan 24 2011, 5:37 pm
'Most' of BYOND's population is under the age of 16. Having said that, they'd never catch why NES is capitalized in NEStalgia. xD
Jan 24 2011, 5:50 pm
Yusuke13 wrote:
So, making a game based on gameplay from the NES is more original?

well, the fresh ideas make it slightly better, but no, not really. but byond is a business, and they understand that anime games will hurt them and nestalgia will help them. you have to think of these things from a profit standpoint, they're marketing this to the more mature game developer now. you know, the people with credit cards.
Jan 24 2011, 6:21 pm
I'm 24 bro. Been here for a decade.
Jan 24 2011, 6:35 pm
<_< That has nothing to do with it. That was when I made THIS key.
Jan 24 2011, 6:37 pm
As someone who has previously made a fan game, I can understand the motivations behind doing so, and I do not begrudge fan game developers. That said, even under ideal circumstances (the developer has permission from the owners of the IP and the game itself is well made) I do not believe that they should be featured.

The hope with these site changes is to give BYOND more legitimacy as an independent development tool. Fan games are detrimental to that image for a large variety of reasons. BYOND's future lies in being a place where creativity and original ideas flourish, and anything that Tom can do to facilitate that should be his top priority.

On another note: BYOND is one of the few places where people would claim that a game like NEStalgia is "unoriginal" simply because it is inspired by the look and feel of classic games. Similar throwback games like Braid, Super Meat Boy and Castle Crashers have been wildly popular and loved by modern gamers precisely because they all offer an original perspective on a classic formula. NEStalgia follows exactly the same philosophy.
Jan 24 2011, 10:32 pm
Glad Tom finally found his sack and made this move. Most everyone bitching hasn't contributed anything positive to BYOND. I can't think of any fan games made in the past 5 years that aren't total rips of something else, or take from something already presented on BYOND.

If I'm wrong I'd like to be corrected. I honestly cannot think of anything.
Jan 26 2011, 5:44 pm
Neat. I tried your game Nestalgia. The overworld was fun, exciting, and colorful. However, not my type of game with the combat system. If it was more of a Final-Fantasy style one, I'd enjoy it a lot more.
Jan 26 2011, 5:53 pm
OrangeWeapons wrote:
Neat. I tried your game Nestalgia. The overworld was fun, exciting, and colorful. However, not my type of game with the combat system. If it was more of a Final-Fantasy style one, I'd enjoy it a lot more.

Thanks for the feedback!

When I was first designing NEStalgia I wavered back and forth between going the Dragon Warrior/Phantasy Star route for battles, or using a Final Fantasy style format. I went with the former for a variety of reasons: I have an easier time drawing forward-facing monsters, an FF style system would have been more time consuming for me to add new spells to, etc.

I'm very happy with the game as it is, but even I occasionally second guess myself on the battle system. At any rate, if it's not your cup of tea then I totally understand :)