Hey Alonso, this game of course looks like it's going to be great!
I tried to make a comment on your website but for some reason it wouldn't let me so I can do it here:
About wanting to charge for your game- I agree with you because I know exactly what it feels like to spend so many hours and months (and possibly a year or more) working so hard at your game and you want something to show for it. Although some people might tell you otherwise, I'm learning that there's nothing wrong with wanting some sort of actual compensation for your baby (i.e. game). To be honest, my wife's been killing me for not wanting to charge anything for Hasslevania because she's seen personally how much effort I've put into it for the last 10 months. Originally I thought it'd take like a month to do and said it'd be free, but of course now it's ballooned up into a huge game. I won't go back on my "free for all" words now, even though from a business standpoint I'm probably a 'retard' for not doing so.
The $1 sign in for an arena idea is a good one. It's completely optional so you're not forcing anyone's hand there. What I've done with every game I have except Equin Village (can't bear to make it free yet if only for the $30 copyright fee) is to make them free and give the player the option to donate to your future development funds if they truly enjoy the game. Of course most everyone will not do this but you may be surprised. (I had a $10 donation shortly after this new program, for example, which was both surprising and awesome!) And if somehow Miyamoto plays HFA and likes it, he may drop a wad of cash on you! Okay, not likely but it's cool to think about.
What a sorry state of affairs it is when you can turn out something that looks as great as Heart Forth Alicia is and be worried about offending some anonymous people with the ridiculously low $1 price tag. And I've been there before too, so you're not alone. If you truly feel that you want compensation for your work then I say you should take the steps to get it.
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"Del Duio has received 0 trophies. Click here to see them all."
"To be a true ninja you must first pick the most stealthy of our assorted combat suits. Might I suggest the bright neon orange?"
DXF Games, coming next: Hasslevania 2- This Space for Rent!
If they don't want to pay for it then they're just ignorant.
Personally I love Adventure RPGs and if I thought this game deserved it, I would happily pay $10 for it.
But I agree with Del... if you are unsure as to whether people will ignore it with a price tag associated with it, either offer an extra online bit for a little extra, or ask that they donate if they think it deserves it.
From what i've seen of this game, I definately think you could sell it somewhere for at least $10, just look at all the crap being sold in stores for $30+
Thanks for the responses =
Yeah, I agree with Alspal--I'm worried about people not having credit cards/pay pal accounts over the internet because of fear or just plain not being arsed to. I am still considering the $1 price, and once after a year has passed since the release of the game (or six months--whatever), I'll release it for free. Thing is, apart from wanting a reward, I've got to get money from somewhere to pay the musicians.
So are you going to sell Hasslevania, Del Duio? For how much, if so?
No, I can't. It'd be against my word of saying it was going to be free from the get-go. I'm going to rely on donations from people who truly like it and wish to make them. Anything that I do get will go towards my developmental fund and future games. (Like a copy of MMF2, or even an extra bag of chips to fuel me while coding at 3am or something.)
I did work in a semi-ingenius way to possibly charge for the next one, although people will have to win the game in order to see for themselves. I figure this game will establish the characters enough that if people like them they will want to follow their adventures in a sequel- even if it's not exactly based in a Castlevania type of universe. This way everything in the next one can be a totally original creation and not loosely based on any existing stuff. Time will tell if this was a bad move, but I've thought it out pretty substantially.
--
"Del Duio has received 0 trophies. Click here to see them all."
"To be a true ninja you must first pick the most stealthy of our assorted combat suits. Might I suggest the bright neon orange?"
DXF Games, coming next: Hasslevania 2- This Space for Rent!