Arcen Games

General Category => Bionic Dues => : nas1m October 01, 2014, 03:40:18 PM

: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: nas1m October 01, 2014, 03:40:18 PM
Hi Keith :).

I can imagine you are knee-deep into polishing TLF to a new level of shine until the end of November and likely fairly busy with the new 4X after that. I can imagine you likely have no inclination to sink your spare time into Bionic for quite some time...

Just wanted to ask when a new 1.2 cycle could roughly be expected (if any) - especially those juicy customization plans of yours :).

My current Siege-Exo-Only run with four Epics really has me feeling customization pain ;)... I am totally okay with next summer or even 2020 or never - just asking for a ballpark statement here so I know whether it makes sense to put off playing waiting for the new stuff.

I feel really bad for asking this in the first place with everything you are doing for Bionic basically being a gift, but the problem is: I just want to know - real  flaw of character that :).

Anyway, I am rambling...

Disclaimer:
I do not want to intrude and your spare time is yours to command of course - so please simply tell me when I am supposed to shut up. I will.

Cheers & Kudos for what you already did for the game!

: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: keith.lamothe October 01, 2014, 04:31:45 PM
I'd like to get back to Bionic and AIW work, it's just been a combination of factors making that pretty hard (TLF/4X work, I got a bad cold, now I'm ok but my wife caught the cold so I need to help out more, etc).  I'm hoping to get back to one or both in some capacity before, say, November 1st.

I appreciate your understanding :)
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: nas1m October 01, 2014, 04:38:34 PM
Thanks for the heads-up. I feared the window of opportunity had closed ;)...
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: TheVampire100 October 01, 2014, 05:23:47 PM
I see this like every new release: When a game or an expansion is released the developers, especially in such a small company where few people do everything, have to look for improvments for the game. Balances, bug fixes, perfomace improvements and so on.
And also, the more games you release the more games you have to work in simultaneously. And don't forget the games that re not even released yet.
So many things I kneel before you because you can manage all of this.
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: keith.lamothe October 31, 2014, 08:26:14 PM
Btw, I have started on the talent-tree implementation :)  Not sure when it will be ready for first testing, but we'll see.
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: nas1m November 01, 2014, 02:45:59 AM
Btw, I have started on the talent-tree implementation :)  Not sure when it will be ready for first testing, but we'll see.
Cool :D!
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: doctorfrog November 01, 2014, 04:33:36 PM
I don't have much to say, except that I'm also looking forward to the next revision, and that I appreciate your continued work, Keith! Bionic Dues may not pull in the big bucks, small bucks, or really very many bucks at all, but it's a good title, and I have to believe there are fans out there enjoying it.
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: TheVampire100 November 01, 2014, 04:51:29 PM
Oh, I'm so excited about this one!
This was soemthing that bugged me out, no real talent tree, the only progress was from loot you get, so you were at the mercy of what you got from your missions.
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: nas1m November 08, 2014, 07:52:39 AM
Btw, I have started on the talent-tree implementation :)  Not sure when it will be ready for first testing, but we'll see.
Any news (or maybe a little teaser) here ;)?
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: keith.lamothe November 08, 2014, 10:07:44 AM
Not yet :)

Well, maybe a little:  I'm thinking each (or at least most) "node" on the talent tree will have multiple levels you can go up in it (like is common) but that the first and last level of each node will have something special in addition to the stat boost or whatever it is.  Like possibly adding a new bug to a specific bot type, or diminishing a specific bot ability (like doubling the range you can see when a ninjabot is too close to you).
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: nas1m November 08, 2014, 10:22:53 AM
Thanks for the teaser :). Sounds great!
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: Fleet Unity November 20, 2014, 01:20:13 PM
Not yet :)

Well, maybe a little:  I'm thinking each (or at least most) "node" on the talent tree will have multiple levels you can go up in it (like is common) but that the first and last level of each node will have something special in addition to the stat boost or whatever it is.  Like possibly adding a new bug to a specific bot type, or diminishing a specific bot ability (like doubling the range you can see when a ninjabot is too close to you).

Also I am a little late posting this but this is a good idea it would make the game a lot more fun! I really enjoy the game now but this would make it even more fun :)
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: nas1m November 25, 2014, 11:05:26 AM
*bump*
Any news? I bet you are fairly fed up with all those living SBR races by now.
Time for some proper robots maybe ;)?

Hope things are going well along with SBR as well of course :).
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: keith.lamothe November 25, 2014, 11:07:22 AM
Entirely tied up on Stars Beyond Reach right now, sorry :)  We're trying to get to an internally-fully-playable prototype before the holidays.
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: nas1m November 25, 2014, 11:08:27 AM
Entirely tied up on Stars Beyond Reach right now, sorry :)  We're trying to get to an internally-fully-playable prototype before the holidays.
I thought as much.
No worries :).
But you know how it is - hope is such a fickle thing ;).
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: relmz32 November 25, 2014, 12:05:50 PM
Entirely tied up on Stars Beyond Reach right now, sorry :)  We're trying to get to an internally-fully-playable prototype before the holidays.

Its like giving yourself a fun and awesome chirstmas present!
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: tombik October 22, 2015, 10:22:07 AM
Entirely tied up on Stars Beyond Reach right now, sorry :)  We're trying to get to an internally-fully-playable prototype before the holidays.

Now that you are taking break from Stars Beyond Reach, I think I should bump this topic :)
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: Teal_Blue November 06, 2015, 07:22:44 PM
Entirely tied up on Stars Beyond Reach right now, sorry :)  We're trying to get to an internally-fully-playable prototype before the holidays.

Now that you are taking break from Stars Beyond Reach, I think I should bump this topic :)


I will second the bump. Looking forward to the TLF add-on and Star Rogue, and would love to see an update on Bionic Dues.

 Though to be fair perhaps if you made the BD update an add-on, then you could generate some new income on BD and not just invest your time and throw away any chance at making back some money on your time.

Also if you are getting paid and the community loves what you are doing, it could lead to, "Hey, these guys are loving BD, and we just made $xxxxx on the new add-on, maybe we can throw in some 'smaller' (read as cosmetic) changes like backgrounds, different cities, different color styles in a "Fashion Add-on" for BD?

 Which if popular could lead to coming back later and adding maybe some new bots, or of the player being able to change out to a different 'set' of bots. (Or running with Diminished Bot stats to increase the difficulty level beyond where it is now for the hardcore players.

 Or making a "Enemy Bot Add-on" that changes the stats, or adds new bad guy bots to fight the war with? ('Behemoth acid spitting - can see around corners enemy bot' anyone?)

Just some ideas. I love BD and just wish it could get some more love. 

-Teal

 
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: nas1m November 07, 2015, 01:57:11 AM
Entirely tied up on Stars Beyond Reach right now, sorry :)  We're trying to get to an internally-fully-playable prototype before the holidays.

Now that you are taking break from Stars Beyond Reach, I think I should bump this topic :)

I will second the bump. Looking forward to the TLF add-on and Star Rogue, and would love to see an update on Bionic Dues.

 Though to be fair perhaps if you made the BD update an add-on, then you could generate some new income on BD and not just invest your time and throw away any chance at making back some money on your time.

Also if you are getting paid and the community loves what you are doing, it could lead to, "Hey, these guys are loving BD, and we just made $xxxxx on the new add-on, maybe we can throw in some 'smaller' (read as cosmetic) changes like backgrounds, different cities, different color styles in a "Fashion Add-on" for BD?

 Which if popular could lead to coming back later and adding maybe some new bots, or of the player being able to change out to a different 'set' of bots. (Or running with Diminished Bot stats to increase the difficulty level beyond where it is now for the hardcore players.

 Or making a "Enemy Bot Add-on" that changes the stats, or adds new bad guy bots to fight the war with? ('Behemoth acid spitting - can see around corners enemy bot' anyone?)

Just some ideas. I love BD and just wish it could get some more love. 

-Teal
I cannot second this enough.
Yes, please :)!
If this ever becomes an option in terms of financial breathing room that is.
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: muttala November 11, 2015, 09:33:56 AM
Yes i feel a bit jealous with TLF guys...Hey give us some bots as well!
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: Teal_Blue November 11, 2015, 02:22:48 PM
:)   I'll second the second.    :)

-T

: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: lessster February 08, 2016, 07:00:39 PM
I would also love to get new content for this great game.

Is there any DLC planned?
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: ptarth February 09, 2016, 02:27:44 AM
Starward Rogue with the timeshifting mech is pretty close to Bionic Dues.
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: nas1m February 09, 2016, 09:18:23 AM
I would also love to get new content for this great game.

Is there any DLC planned?
Unfortunately likely not due to the current money situation :/.
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: tombik February 09, 2016, 01:11:58 PM
Actually now that they enlargened their customer base with the giveaway, a not overambitious DLC for this game may help them financially.

I for one, always try to "complete" DLCs for the games I own.

And "giveaway the base game, charge for DLCs later" strategy is even used by 2K games before with Mafia2, Civ5 and XCOM EU via GMG.
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: nas1m February 09, 2016, 01:44:53 PM
Actually now that they enlargened their customer base with the giveaway, a not overambitious DLC for this game may help them financially.

I for one, always try to "complete" DLCs for the games I own.

And "giveaway the base game, charge for DLCs later" strategy is even used by 2K games before with Mafia2, Civ5 and XCOM EU via GMG.
Sure, I would be a day-1-sale as well.
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: keith.lamothe February 09, 2016, 01:56:47 PM
Yea, there would be more of a market now but even with wide-install-base cases in the past (Skyward Collapse and TLF) we've found that the expansions didn't yield much. Only AIW's managed to make expansions make sense long-term, and even those bring in less than you might think. In general the "get any DLC for a game I own" motive does not appear to be very widespread.
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: lessster February 09, 2016, 06:25:14 PM
Yea, there would be more of a market now but even with wide-install-base cases in the past (Skyward Collapse and TLF) we've found that the expansions didn't yield much. Only AIW's managed to make expansions make sense long-term, and even those bring in less than you might think. In general the "get any DLC for a game I own" motive does not appear to be very widespread.

That's sad to hear.
: Re: Any plans for the next cycle yet?
: lessster February 09, 2016, 06:29:52 PM
Starward Rogue with the timeshifting mech is pretty close to Bionic Dues.

Yes I know. I own Starward Rogue as well and it's a good game, too.

But AI War and Bionic Dues are the two games where I would immediately buy any new DLC without looking.