Prepi - a fast-paced 2D platformer with a punk character

[Gabuuhr]

Hi Everyone!

I would like to introduce you our very first public indie game project.
It uses Irrlicht 2D API (because I was already familiar with it) and we are working on it with a friend of mine for some months now. We are still adding new elements and features (and a nice GUI with a count-down timer).
Our primary platform is going to be Steam (Windows). We use some Windows specific API during development, but they can be removed when the game is finished, so we might port it to Linux too.

Check out the trailer made for Steam Greenlight!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad5KYV_0pcI

Greenlight page:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/f ... =357529391

Indiegogo campaign (just started):
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/prepi/

We appreciate all the feedback!

[CuteAlien]

I like the idea about climbing the walls. Good luck!

[sunnystormy]

Neat!

I was just wondering, are you going to use other backgrounds besides that red, smoky one? It'd be cool to see different colors/themes.

Besides that, the gameplay looks very interesting! It reminds me of "Lode Runner" from long, long ago, but with a bit more pizazz. The music is cool too; very atmospheric.

I wish you good luck with the completion of the game!

-SS

[hendu]

Sorry to be negative, but gotta be honest. That art is terrible, the colors clash and there is hardly any contrast. I don't think you'll make the goal, sorry.

[Gabuuhr]

I like the idea about climbing the walls. Good luck!

Thank you! (I like it too )

I was just wondering, are you going to use other backgrounds besides that red, smoky one? It'd be cool to see different colors/themes.

Yes, we are planning to use different themes and random-background resolutions. It is currently red because it tries to symbolize hell.
The engine is also capable of displaying a background image (mosaic or stretched), but it degrades the performance a little bit. I should probably rework the code.

Sorry to be negative, but gotta be honest. That art is terrible, the colors clash and there is hardly any contrast. I don't think you'll make the goal, sorry.

In your opinion is the problem with the design of ground or the moving (opponent) elements or just the overall picture?
Also do you have any suggestions how could we improve it?

[hendu]

Sure.

First on contrast:


Then on the colors, I can only point to color theory. The colors of the ground do not work with each other, likewise the colors of the player clash with other colors of the player.

Those two are objective points; subjectively it's also bad to me, but others may have different opinions. The bg is clearly made in gimp in five seconds - red-tinted default noise. This level of quality would pass in a free/ad-supported mobile game on a sub-1024 resolution screen. For $10 on the PC, the bar is higher. The gameplay or story could in theory make up for the art (South Park looks like crap, but it's watchable because of the story - Minecraft is ugly, but the gameplay is captivating), but I'm not seeing either in a simple platformer.

On crowdfunding in general, 90% of your funders will only look at the pictures and video. If the art is bad, they will skip it, no matter how good the gameplay or story is. If you two aren't artistically inclined, you should hire one, and before the crowdfunding campaign, as changing it later on will prove difficult.

Basically, it looks like a Newgrounds flash game.

[sunnystormy]

OP, take a lot of what Hendu has just said with a grain of salt. Don't be deterred from following-through with your idea to completion.

Hendu, you need to put a lot more thought into how you speak. You come off as just being a troll. Everybody here has different ideas, and I believe it would be a lot more useful to present things in a thoughtful/helpful way, rather than be blatantly negative.

[hendu]

I'd rather be honest than have everyone tiptoe around facts, leaving them wondering why the funding campaign failed. If they hadn't yet asked for money I wouldn't have said anything, as then it would be clear it's still in development. At this level it is not ready to ask for money.

The potential is there, but it needs more polish.

[Asimov]

Hi Gabuuhr,

I will start by saying I agree with everything Hendu said, but overall your game looks quite polished.

It brought me right back to the 1980's with Manic Miner and Chucky Egg.

I think if you want to get anywhere with this concept you need to concentrate more on your character developing, and the profile of your character.

Think of Sonic the Hedgehog, a good strong character. The best way to test a character is to try it in silouette in photoshop.
For instance even in black silouette you will always recognise Sonic.

People remember a good character, and remember your game.

Even in the pixelly days of Manic Miner, he had a kind of character you remembered.

Good luck with the game. I just hope I can learn enough to get this far myself.