Redo Level 6?

[Khabarakh]

I finished level 6 and was on level 7, but died right away. I decided
to surrender to start the level over, but the game only allows me to
start on level 6. Is that expected?

[Arthur Britto]

Hi,

Yes, you can only start on levels you have completed.

-Arthur

[David Markowitz]

Really?  That's definitely not how most games are set up.  That seems a bit unfair since a player would then have to replay a level he's already completed.

:-Dave

David Markowitz

da...@artfoundry.com

www.artfoundry.com

A creative media studio

[Arthur Britto]

Hi Dave,

On Wed, 2009-09-16 at 00:31 -0700, David Markowitz wrote:
> Really? That's definitely not how most games are set up. That seems
> a bit unfair since a player would then have to replay a level he's
> already completed.

Armor Alley isn't your typical game. If you haven't really mastered the
skills of a level, the further levels will get more and more
frustrating.

By making you repeat the last level you defeated, it let's you hone your
skills so that you can't go up levels by getting lucky. Further, once
you master a level, it is usually very easy to beat. For example, you
don't even need to leave your landing pad to win the first level.

Thank you,

-Arthur

[David Markowitz]

While i agree with you that it's not a typical game, and repetition improves ability to play, I think that should be up to the user (users can easily go back and repeat a level by choice).  I'm not sure many other users will agree with you on this - they may just see it as a bug and/or point of frustration.

:-Dave

David Markowitz

da...@artfoundry.com

www.artfoundry.com

A creative media studio

[Arthur Britto]

Hi Dave,

On Wed, 2009-09-16 at 01:19 -0700, David Markowitz wrote:
> While i agree with you that it's not a typical game, and repetition
> improves ability to play, I think that should be up to the user (users
> can easily go back and repeat a level by choice). I'm not sure many
> other users will agree with you on this - they may just see it as a
> bug and/or point of frustration.

I agree with you about the user's point of view. I am open to creative
solutions.

Ideas anyone?

Some of this has already been addresses in the thread Making Armor Alley
easier.

-Arthur

[David Markowitz]

So you're not open to simply allowing users to start playing on the level above the last one they completed?

:-Dave

David Markowitz

da...@artfoundry.com

www.artfoundry.com

A creative media studio

[Arthur Britto]

On Wed, 2009-09-16 at 10:49 -0700, David Markowitz wrote:
> So you're not open to simply allowing users to start playing on the
> level above the last one they completed?

That's not a creative solution. And, I am currently unconvinced that it
is the right thing to do. In particular, it doesn't address the user
getting deeper and deeper in trouble with each level. User's will play
till they get lucky and win a level, over and over. Not learning the
skills and then being I believe more frustrated than at having to repeat
a level.

Also, you can buy unlimited helicopters. You funds are equal to your
best start of a level. It should be hard to lose quickly.

-Arthur

[David Markowitz]

Sorry it's taken me a while to respond to this - been pretty occupied.

I think this game is too complex to allow for luck-based wins, at least beyond the first couple levels.  I think players will be more frustrated by having to repeat a level they've finished than by winning a level by "luck" and not being prepared for the next level.  They can always go back to a previous level on their own as well.

Not really sure how the unlimited helicopters factors in (and it's not really unlimited given that it costs to make them, and a considerable amount at that).

As for a creative solution, I'm not sure.  I think one of the main issues is how much money the player should start with if they were to restart the level they just lost?  One solution of course would be the same amount they had the first time around (the ending amount from the last level) - I think this is the best option.  Another option is the amount they had when they lost the level.  A third is maybe an average of these two.

Of course, at this point, it seems you're close to release, so you may not want to mess with this.  Maybe in a future update (and after you've seen user feedback).

:-Dave

David Markowitz

da...@artfoundry.com

www.artfoundry.com

A creative media studio

[Arthur Britto]

Hi Dave,

The new plan is to allow users to start on any level they have reached.
If they attempt to play a level, that they have lost 3 consecutive times
without a win, an alert sheet will suggest they practice a lower level.

How does this sound?

Thank you,

-Arthur

[David Markowitz]

Sounds good!

:-Dave

David Markowitz

da...@artfoundry.com

www.artfoundry.com

A creative media studio