RedPanda's Report Card on Update v0.1.1.0 :: Quarantine General Discussions

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redpanda

14 Mar, 2017 @ 1:20pm

RedPanda's Report Card on Update v0.1.1.0

Increased Info and Tooltips & mutation bar: A

These will help understand the fundamentals of the game and give players and understanding of what's going on. The game no longer talks about a gameplay fundamental that is invisible to the players (mutation points). And providing more information allows players to form better choices about what's going on.

However, don't forget that sometimes SOME hidden information can be a good thing and creates a little bit of fun in its own way. Just keep that in mind.

Notifications on research and tech: B+

This will definitely help basic gameplay. I think a warning/confirmation on pressing end turn for unused characters or available research or tech that is not being researched would still be in order.

Achievements Added: C-

I think these may give players something to do, but because no gameplay elements were added or changed, it feels a bit cheap, and requiring players to beat all 3 scenarios in every case feels like a bit of extra grind just to keep players busy, when they will most likely be able to rinse and repeat.

Concern about direction: D

My biggest worry is that adding achievements before changing or adding gameplay fundamentals means that you are not thinking ahead about how changing gameplay fundamentals will effect the players ability to do these achievements if other components are changed. This makes me think that the gameplay is going to change very little so that these achievements are still doable.

Overall Score: C-

While I liked the increased Info and Tooltips and the added notifications, the achievements added felt a bit too much to bother with (I can't call the game "fun to the last drop" anymore), and they make me concerned about the direction of developement and how developers intend to challenge players. (via achievements rather than gameplay fundamentals) And that weighs more heavily on the score.

I know it's only been one month since release, which is why I know things could turn around, but I wanted to get this feedback out there. Also, this score only represents my feelings on the update, not the game as a whole, because there's no final product yet, we are just starting out.

Last edited by redpanda; 14 Mar, 2017 @ 3:34pm

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Showing 1-6 of 6 comments

devxx

14 Mar, 2017 @ 2:01pm

concerned about the direction of development

Since it's only been a month, I probably wouldn't use the word 'concerned' but I really think this game has potential and I will jump for joy and sing Hallelujah when a new scenario, or more techs, or more operatives are added to the game. BUT, I am still biting my nails until that happens.

redpanda

14 Mar, 2017 @ 2:10pm

I hear you devxx. I'm actually looking for more challenge using existing content over seeing new "content". I want more choices to matter, and I want the highest level of difficulty to force me into different patterns of behavior based on which scenario I picked and the randomness factor of where the disease starts, while still allowing for a couple of different viable routes to victory. Right now you can rinse and repeat too much on all the levels as long as you know what works best.

My concern is with them adding challenge via achievements that may be a substitute, or even a hinderance to adding the kind of gameplay changes that I would like to see - ones adds that add to the strategic depth out of the basic systems.

Perhaps concern is too strong of a word, I'm not saying "Buyer Beware", I'm just trying to impress on the developers my feelings of where I want to see the game go.

I know they aren't trying to make the most hardcore strategy game, but I just think there's so much potential for strategic depth in the basic systems that already exist it would be a shame to see this game go down the route of catering only to the casual or light strategy crowd (they can do that with the easy and medium difficulties). When I see an update released with no strategic depth added I'm starting to fear the worst for my hopes!

I also need to say this because I said to not change anything that would ruin the balance of the game: I would rather see the strategic balance ruined a bit while strategic depth is added than see no strategic depth added at all.

Last edited by redpanda; 14 Mar, 2017 @ 3:52pm

Quarantine

15 Mar, 2017 @ 7:33am

Hi RedPanda,

Thanks for your thoughts! Regarding gameplay, there are more changes coming. We are well on the way to changing things up and aren't locking the evolution of the gameplay based upon achievements. Our number one focus is providing a rich, robust experience that all of our users will enjoy and we're going to make sure that gets done the right way! Thanks again for playing Quarantine and letting us know how you feel, it means the world to us!

redpanda

15 Mar, 2017 @ 9:32am

Ah, well this is good news :D Looking forward to the next update then!

Tiger

17 Mar, 2017 @ 11:04am

Just wanted to say that most of the things in Update #1 were planned items that we were working towards before EA Launch. The new Achievements were just something that was added to that plan that came directly from the community and we want to show we were listening to your ideas. Most of the other things that have been suggested take more time to create and balance and will be part of our Big Update #2. You will find alot of things have changed to the point that it will be a very new play experence with Update #2.

As for what we are looking to do with Achievements we will be finalizing them for the full 1.0 launch, but in the meantime are looking for player ideas that we can add in the short term.