^Was already that way, we decided to not do it that way. After the release of "episode 1", we changed almost all of world 1 thanks to feedback we got from that and where's the point in episodic releases if you'd have to replay everything so far?
But you are right, if I was going back to the drawing board, planning a game of this scope, I would go for an episodic format, in particular if the story were the main driver of the game. (Or just make a smaller game to begin with). But ultimately, Midas Machine does not lend itself to the episodic format, since we're not working on it linearly and all the worlds and levels influence each other during development. There are just too many moments when we come up with a great joke or easter egg or gameplay element that would work perfectly in an earlier world, and with episodic releases all of that would be lost.
Comparing the first demo and the last demo (check old youtube videos for example), I'm pretty happy that we abandoned the episodic format. World 1 is objectively much better now. On top of that, even if we had settled for the episodic structure it would have just relocated the problem. You'd have played the first X worlds right now but the last Y worlds would still not be out, and you'd have played inferior versions of these first X worlds so far. Episodic structure only works when the game is designed around that from the beginning.
As for the status of development: I'm on vacation right now (away from my development machine), and there's quite some stuff going on at my job right now, so I don't have much time for Midas Machine. Since my job makes me money, and Midas Machine gets me at best a cease and desist, please understand my priorities in where I put my time first. But it's a desire of mine to get it done, so it will be done.
Watch the TV show meanwhile, if you want closure.Last but not least, thank you all for your continued support and interest. I can't wait to show you the full thing
^Was already that way, we decided to not do it that way. After the release of "episode 1", we changed almost all of world 1 thanks to feedback we got from that and where's the point in episodic releases if you'd have to replay everything so far?
But you are right, if I was going back to the drawing board, planning a game of this scope, I would go for an episodic format, in particular if the story were the main driver of the game. (Or just make a smaller game to begin with). But ultimately, Midas Machine does not lend itself to the episodic format, since we're not working on it linearly and all the worlds and levels influence each other during development. There are just too many moments when we come up with a great joke or easter egg or gameplay element that would work perfectly in an earlier world, and with episodic releases all of that would be lost.
Comparing the first demo and the last demo (check old youtube videos for example), I'm pretty happy that we abandoned the episodic format. World 1 is objectively much better now. On top of that, even if we had settled for the episodic structure it would have just relocated the problem. You'd have played the first X worlds right now but the last Y worlds would still not be out, and you'd have played inferior versions of these first X worlds so far. Episodic structure only works when the game is designed around that from the beginning.
As for the status of development: I'm on vacation right now (away from my development machine), and there's quite some stuff going on at my job right now, so I don't have much time for Midas Machine. Since my job makes me money, and Midas Machine gets me at best a cease and desist, please understand my priorities in where I put my time first. But it's a desire of mine to get it done, so it will be done. [s]Watch the TV show meanwhile, if you want closure.[/s]
Last but not least, thank you all for your continued support and interest. I can't wait to show you the full thing :)