Space Aggressor

By: Derek Yu

On: April 18th, 2007

The simplest way to describe Space Aggressor is to call it “Dungeon Keeper meets a shmup.” In the game you take the role of the evil space empire, defending yourself against the lone pilot. It’s a really neat concept, actually.

However, the game itself is frustrating as hell. This is partly due to the clunky interface that requires more micromanaging than is fun or necessary, and partly due to the fact that your opponent happens to regenerate like Wolverine in a full body cast! Seriously, what’s the point in attacking his primary weapon (or shields, or engine) when he can replenish it to 100% before I can even queue up another round of fighters?

Sadly, the creator has taken an unfortunate stance toward user feedback. If the interface sucks, it’s “because it’s a strategy game.” If the game is frustrating, then you’re just not understanding the subtleties behind the game mechanics. With that kind of attitude, I imagine Space Aggressor will forever remain a mediocre game with an interesting concept behind it.

Posted in Freeware, Multiplayer, Shoot-em-ups, Strategy, Windows

Jonathan Blow

Having played the game, I agree that it is frustrating and falls short of its full potential.

However, I also agree with the designer that players are not understanding the game mechanics very well.

But what he doesn’t understand is, **that is his fault**. It is the game’s job to communicate itself to the player, and he didn’t make it do that very well.

I think this game could be improved immensely by giving it a more tiered structure. You start out, and the enemy ship is some kind of noob, and you only have a couple unit types to send at him, but you manage to destroy him okay. Then the game introduces new elements over time, ensures you understand their nuances and what effect they are having on the enemy, etc.

Basically, what games have been doing for a decade or two, now.
harkejuice

yeah, and he apparently doesn’t “get” why Dungeon Keeper was a good idea, and didnt spin off hundreds of clones of similar taste.
(though dwarf fortress reminds me of dk, if only for the diggins aspect)

I guess it can be understood, the guys defensive of his own game, but you gotta realize making games that *only you* like or “get” is akin to, well…self-servicing.
harkejuice

*not to mention, its buggy as heck, and considering its nothing special in terms of graphics (I can run gish) apparently I need a new computer.
ZombiePixel

So he’s created a game that NEITHER strategy fans nor shooter fans like. Love the concept, though. A good developer should steal it and make a game people will actually play.
Maenny

So this is the selfservicing, defensive developer.
I must say, the community of both independent and TIG are quite… harsh concerning their critics.
I can understand the problems you have with the game. But the thing is, this game is freeware and I’m no professional developer. Luckily I am not that easily frustrated, but don’t you think, a hobbyist developer, working on ANYTHING that he presents for free might get a little bit frustrated when you comment his work like that?
That’s one of the main reasons why I only review games I think good on Runtime: Because freeware developers shouldn’t be demotivated by an aggressive and unreflected review. Constructive and kind critics are not any problems, but most of the comments are offensive or nearly offensive. Never forget that anything that you post is your opinion and many people might think it is not as you think it is.

Anyway, I don’t want to cry like a baby here, just because it’s a game I developed. Yes, it’s true that I am no professional developer. This might be my 3rd or 4th game I do, and for my standarts it’s quite good I think. Surely the next one will even be better and the one that follows might be a title even you guys will like.

For the time remaining maybe you should take it easy on freeware games you don’t like. A wise man once said: An ability which distinguished us from animals is that mankind is able to put oneself in the position of someone. Maybe you should put yourself in the position of a freeware developer.
negative zero

@ Maenny

the idea is to take things into consideration. though they may be harsh, they do put up some good arguments. making games isn’t meant to be a cake walk.

the fact that you say you’re an amatuer developer is all the more reason to take these things into account. evading comments with excuses doesn’t help anyone, most importantly, yourself.

critiques are both good and bad…you just gotta sift out the bullshit.

my say…yeh, the interface is kinda klunky. sometimes less is more. perhaps you can add an option or button that displays further info instead of throwing everything at them from the start. oh, and the text doesn’t achieve much contrast at all. avoid using bright colours like greens/yellows/reds unless you intended that (e.g. for an emergency sign/text).

awesome concept though…but from my initial impression of it, i thought you’d be building a level for a computer/player controlled ship to fly through, but you could still send in your ships to take out the good guy during gameplay and commandeer gun turrets to fire at the mouse pointer’s location, etc. imo, it’d be way better if you included that kinda action element into it.
mouse

I think a number of the editors of TIGS have made freeware, actually. Notably the guy who wrote this story. :)

Once you put something out there, its out of your control what people will say about it. All you can really do to completely avoid having to deal with feedback, is choose to ignore it.

OR…

…you could take the suggestions that make sense and make your stuff better.

But saying people shouldn’t have comments about your game is pretty silly. If you really don’t want people to comment on it, then don’t release it.
anonymous

Yeah, and where would we be if someone took it easy on Newton or Einstein.

They point out the problems quite succinctly and didn’t pepper it with quite the amount of personal attacks I would have.

To make an analogy, it’s all right to cry when your parents first spank you but afterwards please think about why they did it.
Maenny

@ mouse & negative zero: Yes you are absolutely right. Once you release something, you can’t control the comments. I just think a more polite way of saying things would be adequat.
And I NEVER said anything about “people shoudn’t have comments on my game”. Of course I take good advices into consideration and, IF I release “Space Aggressor 2” I surely will change or add some features.
All I wanted to say is: IT’S NOT THAT DIFFICULT TO SAY IT IN A POLITE WAY.

Believe me, I am old enough and experienced enough to sort the good comments form the bad ones. But it really annoys me how some people just are negative and arrogant.

@ anonymous: Spanking parents should normally communicate themselves, not just spank – that’s the point really.
v

We all have to deal with shitty feedback. Derek’s link however doesn’t seem to contain much, so it really seems that you are the one being arrogant.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with saying “this is freeware, and I’m done with it, so I really don’t give a fuck what you think”(not that I advocate this attitude), but people really just don’t react well to excuses.

Accept it: you don’t get to choose your audience. You can *try* to identify it, and target one in particular, but you may not get it right and that doesn’t mean the opinions of the people that ultimately end up playing it are wrong. Saying you disagree is fine. Saying they don’t know what they’re talking about is not.
Derek

“All I wanted to say is: ITâ€™S NOT THAT DIFFICULT TO SAY IT IN A POLITE WAY.”

On the same note, it’s not that difficult to acknowledge that someone’s critique might be valid!
Maenny

Man, do you READ the posts I write?

@ v: I never said “this is freeware, and I’m done with it, so I really don’t give a fuck about what you think”. And I didn’t say that they don’t know what they are talking about. You twist my words around to that they fit your statement.

@ Derek: The fact that I would be pleased to have some people talk in a polite way, doesn’t mean that I don’t acknowledge someones critique. Your declaration has nothing whatsoever to do with mine. In fact, it seems like you don’t seem too tolerant concerning a critique on the way you write a critique.

The reason why I write all this stuff is simply that I really AM concerned about what the pepople say. But SOMETIMES (not always) I really am annoyed on how they say it. And, Derek, your text is NOT a constructive critique. It surely has some points in it that I will keep in mind for a next release. But the over all text is not a friendly one – you chose your words in a quite offensive way. And I ask why? Why not write an objective review with constructive points that could enhance the gameplay. Why has it to be verbalizations like “The interface sucks”, “frustrating like hell” etc.
v

I didn’t suggest that you said that; I was implying that it would be a better course of action than being a petulant shit.

“And, Derek, your text is NOT a constructive critique. It surely has some points in it that I will keep in mind for a next release”
You just contradicted yourself.

As for friendliness/politeness/whatever: it seriously hasn’t occured to you yet that it’s *your* attitude that’s the problem here?
Maenny

oh man. I see. thanks anyway
negative zero

*laughs* why shouldn’t Derek write a constructive review? well, since when did he have to?

dude, take it easy. believe it or not, you’ve already gotten some decent feedback about your game…really shoulda just ended there.
negative zero

oh snap! so that’s how you do words in italics!!
http://www.tscreative.net BMcC

NEGATIVE ZERO’S LEVEL IS NOW 12

ITAL + 1
http://www.tscreative.net BMcC

“In fact, it seems like you donâ€™t seem too tolerant concerning a critique on the way you write a critique.”

Hahaha

_Nice_, dude.
Critique Critique Critiquer

That was a terrible post, B.
Tigsource Administrator

As the Official Tigsource Administrator, it is my reluctant duty to permaban all of you.

Especially Derek and his H4XX0R cronies, who have usurped power from me.
AdamAtomic

I don’t remember reading anywhere that constructive criticism had to be nice. Some of the best constructive criticism is rude as hell, because sometimes you need a little more volume to make your point. It looks like it worked too.
http://www.distractionware.com Echo

Maenny: The weird thing is, as far as I can see, Derek wasn’t really criticising your game (at the very least, he wasn’t criticising the concept).

His problem was with your attitude to criticism. And you’ve totally proved him right.
rinkuhero

Maenny,

Take a look at this review:

http://www.merseyremakes.co.uk/gibber/stuff-wot-i-wrote/reviews-round-up-1/alpha-six/

Back in August I released Alphasix, and that was one of the first reviews it got. It didn’t depress me, even after I left a comment to that entry saying I’ll take his review into consideration and make my next game easier to control and he deleted that comment. This was after I had spent 9 months painstakingly creating that game with love in my heart :D. This type of reaction is normal; it might not be kind, but you have to deal with it and just keep making better games. There are tons of people who *can’t* put themselves in someone else’s position, you can’t expect everyone to be nice, a thick skin is useful.

Looking forward to your next game,
negative zero

lol
negative zero

oh wait, i mean…*lol*
Space Agressor Fan

“Anyway, I donâ€™t want to cry like a baby here…”

And you shouldn’t. So don’t.

“Maybe you should put yourself in the position of a freeware developer.”

Maybe you should put yourself in the position of people who bother to play your game. It’s what elevates you above the filthy lowly aaaa neeee maaaals.