I have been watching this feedback process since day one. I will hold to my comment that you state feedback is constantly being processed but the evidence of its effectiveness is a game that is heavily criticized by the vast majority of individuals who paid to play it and professional reviewers who say it is half baked at best.
I have worked on multiple games. I know the process.
You have to love the optimism.I'll be completely honest, the game is good, I'm loving it. BUT, that doesn't mean it is better than before or can't be any better. First of all, I feel like you are trying to make the game less gory and "violent" and implement modern ideals into it, wich is good if done correctly, but right now all that's happening is the immersion getting destroyed mercilessly. I'll list my thoughts on what I think could have been done better:
- Being a member of the LGBT+ community, I am thrilled that the game includes same sex lovers and romance. However, that doesn't mean it was openly accepted in that era (especially in mafias and gangs), I would've loved to see a more accurate depiction. For example not making it obvious and giving hints in the lore and dialogues.
- Violence is to be expected in games like this. I don't play a war game and not expect to see blood the same way I expected violence, cruelty and just plain gore when I got into this game. I love the events about crew members having to deal with the repercussions of such violence. I hope to see more of that and not less. (Please don't scrap the execution option. Remember that what brought Al Capone down was his execution of rival Irish gang members. It is quintessential to the lore).
- Weapons, alright, this is the controversial bit. I paid for the full pack and I EXPECT to have my shiny golden pistol for my sweet Goldie (Also Al's fur coat is so sassy). So, yes, if you take them away it will be a breach of trust. Also, why can't I trade for Regan's pistol anymore? Do I have to kill him to get it? If so, that is absolutely great. It's a bit unrealistic to be able to trade for other boss's fetish weapons, especially since we are their enemies. Weapon system is good but unbalanced, by the time we get to max it out, most players would've already finished the game. So yeah, remember that you implemented diplomacy fairly well, so going guns blazing isn't the only option.
And most of all, in your quest for perfecting the gameplay don't neglect the lore, dialogues, side quests and story quests specific to each Boss. In this type of game, it has a lot of pull. I originally bought this just because Goldie is a BAMF and I love her. Also Jackson is such a sweetheart (his dialogue options are great, especially if you know the story of the bosses he's talking to), I encourage those that didn't try him to do so. So yeah, expect players to pick up on that sort of detail.
Edit: Forgot to say: how do you explain not being able to promote a lieutenant into an advisor/underboss? It broke the lore so hard I heard it crack. Do I have to unassign them before repromoting them? What logic is that? Not to forget that when you demote them from the lieutenant position they lose loyalty, and can even leave your crew in worst cases? All of this because I wanted to promote a lieutenant... Into an advisor, wich technically is a higher position. (End of rant)
Last but not least, thank you for the community managers. I've been there and it's not an easy job, you're basically a catch all for every issue players have with the game, and sometimes they don't express them in the most eloquent or just plain polite ways.
Love you all, have fun.
+1. I really like the idea of lots of violence (especially with heavy weapons) bringing lots of heat from the police at the least and/or having a big, immediate impact on neighborhood prosperity. I'm hoping this is something that is adjustable via mods, too, since different players will have different preferences for what feels right,
I'll be completely honest, the game is good, I'm loving it. BUT, that doesn't mean it is better than before or can't be any better. First of all, I feel like you are trying to make the game less gory and "violent" and implement modern ideals into it, wich is good if done correctly, but right now all that's happening is the immersion getting destroyed mercilessly. I'll list my thoughts on what I think could have been done better:
- Being a member of the LGBT+ community, I am thrilled that the game includes same sex lovers and romance. However, that doesn't mean it was openly accepted in that era (especially in mafias and gangs), I would've loved to see a more accurate depiction. For example not making it obvious and giving hints in the lore and dialogues.
- Violence is to be expected in games like this. I don't play a war game and not expect to see blood the same way I expected violence, cruelty and just plain gore when I got into this game. I love the events about crew members having to deal with the repercussions of such violence. I hope to see more of that and not less. (Please don't scrap the execution option. Remember that what brought Al Capone down was his execution of rival Irish gang members. It is quintessential to the lore).
- Weapons, alright, this is the controversial bit. I paid for the full pack and I EXPECT to have my shiny golden pistol for my sweet Goldie (Also Al's fur coat is so sassy). So, yes, if you take them away it will be a breach of trust. Also, why can't I trade for Regan's pistol anymore? Do I have to kill him to get it? If so, that is absolutely great. It's a bit unrealistic to be able to trade for other boss's fetish weapons, especially since we are their enemies. Weapon system is good but unbalanced, by the time we get to max it out, most players would've already finished the game. So yeah, remember that you implemented diplomacy fairly well, so going guns blazing isn't the only option.
And most of all, in your quest for perfecting the gameplay don't neglect the lore, dialogues, side quests and story quests specific to each Boss. In this type of game, it has a lot of pull. I originally bought this just because Goldie is a BAMF and I love her. Also Jackson is such a sweetheart (his dialogue options are great, especially if you know the story of the bosses he's talking to), I encourage those that didn't try him to do so. So yeah, expect players to pick up on that sort of detail.
Edit: Forgot to say: how do you explain not being able to promote a lieutenant into an advisor/underboss? It broke the lore so hard I heard it crack. Do I have to unassign them before repromoting them? What logic is that? Not to forget that when you demote them from the lieutenant position they lose loyalty, and can even leave your crew in worst cases? All of this because I wanted to promote a lieutenant... Into an advisor, wich technically is a higher position. (End of rant)
Last but not least, thank you for the community managers. I've been there and it's not an easy job, you're basically a catch all for every issue players have with the game, and sometimes they don't express them in the most eloquent or just plain polite ways.
Love you all, have fun.
