Hello dream prisoners, in this post, I have a single topic for discussion: purchase platforms! Yes, for years now, we've not been able to adequately answer the question "Where will I be able to buy the game?" Well, no longer! While it's still possible we'll change our mind and make small tweaks to the overall plan, we've finally came up with a comprehensive answer.
First platforms:
- Windows Computers
- Steam
- GameJolt
- GOG.com (maybe; this requires their approval)
- Steam Deck
Subsequent Platforms:
- Xbox Series (this requires their approval)
- X
- S
- Whatever the current Nintendo hardware happens to be at the time, especially if it is playable as a handheld (this requires their approval)
- If Nintendo won't let DPW onto their new system, they're likely to allow games onto the Switch and there's a high chance we will port the game to Switch if that is the case.
Platforms That Are Absent:
- Playstation - There is too much market redundancy and we have a slight bias against Sony in general. Basically, Sony is big into censorship and gatekeeping, and has trained their players to pay little attention to their many indie games, so if they don't want us, we don't want them back. Furthermore, if you are a Nintendo fan, an Xbox fan, or a computer gamer, you have an alternative platform to play the game on. Few people are into indie games yet are loyal only to Sony. Worse still, Sony has Roguelike competition yet is a platform with few fans of Roguelikes. Even Xbox is much better in that regard.
- Mac - Simply put, Mac gamers are few in number and they tend to be casual. The headache of bug testing for Mac users is probably not worth the small gain in sales.
- Linux - Still to this day, no one uses Linux computers but I'll admit there's probably a heavy overlap between people who like Roguelikes and people willing to learn a Linux OS. The thing is, Linux OSs have ways of emulating/ virtual-machining Windows games, so why even bother porting directly to Linux in 2023?
- Old systems - Not only is is difficult to make games for old systems but it would be a gimmick that gets us 15 minutes of fame and almost zero extra sales. This one ought to be obvious.
- Mobile Phones App Stores - I'll admit that the main reason I'm not interested in this option is because I cannot stand mobile game touch controls, and I don't think phone users like complex roguelikes.
So that's sort of four platforms in total, two at a time twice. I'm hopeful that this humble release schedule will save costs and prove to be less stressful. It will also allow us to conduct research into the buying habits of players and cancel our latter plans if the former plans bomb terribly.
That's all this month. Have a good one, friends. đŸ¤“
