Comments on: DragonFable: Right Idea, Wrong Implementation http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/dragonfable-right-idea-wrong-implementation/ THE Blog On All Artix Entertainment Games Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:46:05 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: ZamuelNow http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/dragonfable-right-idea-wrong-implementation/#comment-1000 ZamuelNow Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:33:12 +0000 http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/?p=744#comment-1000 @Chicken: I already use my house as my Hometown. That said, we know what happens to Gryphons when no one wants them anymore... @Alabama: Actually, I think I may have two more engaging ideas but I'll have to flesh them out. @Chicken: I already use my house as my Hometown. That said, we know what happens to Gryphons when no one wants them anymore…

@Alabama: Actually, I think I may have two more engaging ideas but I’ll have to flesh them out.

]]> By: alabamapitty http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/dragonfable-right-idea-wrong-implementation/#comment-998 alabamapitty Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:24:09 +0000 http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/?p=744#comment-998 I think that the little shrine idea in Nythera's first quest was an excellent idea. Perhaps things like that could be scattered throughout the game, but only in areas you travel through. Some of the best weapons for your level, Non-DA and DA alike, could only be found by exploring. It would be a spoiler or ban-able spoiler to tell it on the forums. This might be a temporary solution. I think that the little shrine idea in Nythera’s first quest was an excellent idea. Perhaps things like that could be scattered throughout the game, but only in areas you travel through. Some of the best weapons for your level, Non-DA and DA alike, could only be found by exploring. It would be a spoiler or ban-able spoiler to tell it on the forums. This might be a temporary solution.

]]> By: Chickencowlord http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/dragonfable-right-idea-wrong-implementation/#comment-994 Chickencowlord Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:46:07 +0000 http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/?p=744#comment-994 On the flipside, this Quest Log might be the end of the Gryphon's (and thus Falconreach's) reign over DF. This menas that you can have a Hometown besides Falconreach and still access other towns around it. On the flipside, this Quest Log might be the end of the Gryphon’s (and thus Falconreach’s) reign over DF. This menas that you can have a Hometown besides Falconreach and still access other towns around it.

]]> By: The Peanut Master http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/dragonfable-right-idea-wrong-implementation/#comment-992 The Peanut Master Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:08:07 +0000 http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/?p=744#comment-992 Since I see we are venturing into objective territory here, we may have to agree to disagree on that point. However, let me try a slightly difference angle: DragonFable is a casual game, as we have established. But how casual is it really? Sure, AE has always called their games "lunch break-sized", but it's a far cry from that now that their games are much more developed and advanced. If the game really was as small, simple, and casual as a lunch break, then it wouldn't have as many devoted players, wouldn't have their own advanced websites, and would be on addictinggames.com or miniclip.com. While the game *can* be played relatively casually, you won't get even close to the amount of satisfaction (for lack of a better word) than if it you played from more of a middling approach, and I feel like exploration is such a key aspect of this game (which I'm not sure anyone can deny). I think DragonFable is a casual game, but not that casual where exploration can be taken out of the equation for ANY player. Only the most casual of RPGs should get to a point where you can complete the game in general without moving a few steps, and this is definitely more than a very casual game. Since I see we are venturing into objective territory here, we may have to agree to disagree on that point. However, let me try a slightly difference angle:

DragonFable is a casual game, as we have established. But how casual is it really? Sure, AE has always called their games “lunch break-sized”, but it’s a far cry from that now that their games are much more developed and advanced. If the game really was as small, simple, and casual as a lunch break, then it wouldn’t have as many devoted players, wouldn’t have their own advanced websites, and would be on addictinggames.com or miniclip.com.

While the game *can* be played relatively casually, you won’t get even close to the amount of satisfaction (for lack of a better word) than if it you played from more of a middling approach, and I feel like exploration is such a key aspect of this game (which I’m not sure anyone can deny). I think DragonFable is a casual game, but not that casual where exploration can be taken out of the equation for ANY player. Only the most casual of RPGs should get to a point where you can complete the game in general without moving a few steps, and this is definitely more than a very casual game.

]]> By: ZamuelNow http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/dragonfable-right-idea-wrong-implementation/#comment-990 ZamuelNow Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:10:30 +0000 http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/?p=744#comment-990 >>I can’t see how there could possibly be such a casual player where they honestly can’t do a little exploring and traveling and adding to the gaming experience.<< Thing is, sadly I <i>can</i> :( >>I can’t see how there could possibly be such a casual player where they honestly can’t do a little exploring and traveling and adding to the gaming experience.<<

Thing is, sadly I can :(

]]> By: The Peanut Master http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/dragonfable-right-idea-wrong-implementation/#comment-983 The Peanut Master Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:24:01 +0000 http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/?p=744#comment-983 I can't see how there could possibly be such a casual player where they honestly can't do a little exploring and traveling and adding to the gaming experience. Exploring should be a feature ALL players, be it casual or hardcore, have to do to advance in the game. It just doesn't make sense and ruins the playability of the game. I probably should have rephrased my statement that Rolith doesn't care about exploring. I'm sure he does, but I don't think he understands where it is on the importance scale. What he did with the Quest Log was effectively make the game possible to be beaten hardly moving at all. I can’t see how there could possibly be such a casual player where they honestly can’t do a little exploring and traveling and adding to the gaming experience. Exploring should be a feature ALL players, be it casual or hardcore, have to do to advance in the game. It just doesn’t make sense and ruins the playability of the game.

I probably should have rephrased my statement that Rolith doesn’t care about exploring. I’m sure he does, but I don’t think he understands where it is on the importance scale. What he did with the Quest Log was effectively make the game possible to be beaten hardly moving at all.

]]> By: ZamuelNow http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/dragonfable-right-idea-wrong-implementation/#comment-977 ZamuelNow Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:56:41 +0000 http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/?p=744#comment-977 As a game designer, he was forced to pick the "lesser evil" between having an Easy Button and losing customers from "d00d, I no find quest, dis hard, AE SUX" nonsense. Considering he made the Greg quest I feel he <i>does</i> truly want to add exploration but in some ways...he can't. As a game designer, he was forced to pick the “lesser evil” between having an Easy Button and losing customers from “d00d, I no find quest, dis hard, AE SUX” nonsense. Considering he made the Greg quest I feel he does truly want to add exploration but in some ways…he can’t.

]]> By: The Peanut Master http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/dragonfable-right-idea-wrong-implementation/#comment-974 The Peanut Master Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:59:51 +0000 http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/?p=744#comment-974 While before I truly couldn't find a good reason for having the Quest Log be the be-all end-all, I am starting to understand why AE went on to do this. Being a casual game does indeed force AE to make casual gaming decisions, and I can see why they made this decision. However, I still hold the opinion that exploration should be a feature that all players, even casual, should have to experience, and being able to skip such a vital aspect of any game takes away so much from what is out there. It seems like Rolith is portraying a message that the only thing that *really* matters is quests, and exploring and doing other things are just small little bonuses. Kind of hypocritical, since he said he is "on the 'explory' side of the argument". If he *really* was, then I think he would have made it required for ALL players to explore and move around. While before I truly couldn’t find a good reason for having the Quest Log be the be-all end-all, I am starting to understand why AE went on to do this. Being a casual game does indeed force AE to make casual gaming decisions, and I can see why they made this decision. However, I still hold the opinion that exploration should be a feature that all players, even casual, should have to experience, and being able to skip such a vital aspect of any game takes away so much from what is out there. It seems like Rolith is portraying a message that the only thing that *really* matters is quests, and exploring and doing other things are just small little bonuses. Kind of hypocritical, since he said he is “on the ‘explory’ side of the argument”. If he *really* was, then I think he would have made it required for ALL players to explore and move around.

]]> By: ZamuelNow http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/dragonfable-right-idea-wrong-implementation/#comment-970 ZamuelNow Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:38:05 +0000 http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/?p=744#comment-970 I'm going to play devil's advocate on this. From reading Rolith's comment's, it doesn't seem like the exploration engine's neglect was due to "laziness" or disinterest by the team but rather it is a victim of the recurring videogame trend of making everything easy. The "casual" title that AE's games claim means that finding a quest needs to be easy which the Quest Log allows. On the flip side, people can simply use the Log for it's information and opt not to use the teleport option. It seems like they are going to start expanding the quests locations now that the Log is up. I’m going to play devil’s advocate on this.

From reading Rolith’s comment’s, it doesn’t seem like the exploration engine’s neglect was due to “laziness” or disinterest by the team but rather it is a victim of the recurring videogame trend of making everything easy. The “casual” title that AE’s games claim means that finding a quest needs to be easy which the Quest Log allows. On the flip side, people can simply use the Log for it’s information and opt not to use the teleport option. It seems like they are going to start expanding the quests locations now that the Log is up.

]]> By: Chickencowlord http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/dragonfable-right-idea-wrong-implementation/#comment-965 Chickencowlord Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:59:41 +0000 http://artixentertainment.wordpress.com/?p=744#comment-965 Eh, this is one major problem, but I don't think it's worth quitting the game over. Eh, this is one major problem, but I don’t think it’s worth quitting the game over.

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