Should I feel bad to make more quantity and less quality?

[vitinho444]

Hi guys, so I've been wondering if I should "remaster" some of my past-projects and sell them on steam for very low prices (.99$ for sure). It's mainly small casual games, thus the .99$ but I'm a pretty self-conscious guy about scams and all that and I don't know if I should do it or not.

Is it wrong to create more quantity than quality? I wouldn't lie to people ofc, I wouldn't say the game is something it isn't, it would be WYSIWYG kind of thing, and low price.

The reason for this is to use them as "test" benches for steamworks, some data collecting (about what genre brings the most reviews/votes/sales) and all that. It's not to be rich or to be famous or anything, it's just testing. But I would have to put some price tag to get something out of it probably.

Some example is this one game I made: http://gamejolt.com/games/ball-trouble/91070

If I'm straight forward on the description and trailer that this game is what the game is, basically a bubble trouble remake, I shouldn't feel bad right?

[Jackolantern]

No, I would not feel bad about it. This is really the smarter way to do game development: make lots of smaller games, rather than pick up a multi-year project that will likely never be finished. I have a problem with that lol.

Many successful indie game devs make lots of smaller games, often for $0.99 or free.

[vitinho444]

Well yeah, that's also the reason, I don't have much free time this year since I'm in MSc and working simultaneously, so just to not stop, I prefer doing this small projects, but I also want to get in steam and see what works and what doesn't, so that when a bigger and serious(er?) project comes along, I'm ready for it
Thanks

[Jackolantern]

Sounds like a very smart plan to me!

[a_bertrand]

I would agree with Jacko here. I also pick (sadly) only (too) big projects, and they usually don't end up all that well So taking your approach is certainly wiser. Also if you had customers for a previous version, they may actually jump on a newer as well and you may also attract new customers as well which will end up in a bigger market.

[vitinho444]

Sounds like a very smart plan to me!

I'll tell how it worked out

I would agree with Jacko here. I also pick (sadly) only (too) big projects, and they usually don't end up all that well So taking your approach is certainly wiser. Also if you had customers for a previous version, they may actually jump on a newer as well and you may also attract new customers as well which will end up in a bigger market.

Yeah, it's basically this thing right?



About the customers, you are very right, it can bring players to other of my games, it's basically free advertising!

[Jackolantern]

That comic hits a little too close to home

[Winawer]

Small games does not equal lower quality. Many small games have very high quality precisely because they are small and a lot of time (relatively) can be spent on polish, testing etc.

IMO, if your intention is to flood Steam with games of questionable quality, you should feel at least a little bad.

[vitinho444]

Small games does not equal lower quality. Many small games have very high quality precisely because they are small and a lot of time (relatively) can be spent on polish, testing etc.

IMO, if your intention is to flood Steam with games of questionable quality, you should feel at least a little bad.

I get that. But it's not my intention to lie at any time. In both greenlight and store (if I reach it) I'll describe EXACTLY what the game is, no tricks. They are all small casual games, that back when I was a kid would be free on flash sites , but the market is on Steam now, so..

[Sharlenwar]

Yeah, I browse Steam a lot as that is how I buy my games now. I cruise Steam for their sales, etc. To be honest, I'm tired of seeing crap in there. You have a lot of clones and games that are practically the same thing from one to the next. A lot of crap comes up in my discovery queue and yeah, I have a whole lot I've selected "Not Interested" so that it minimizes me coming across that game. Plus the prices vary drastically across all platforms and styles of games, from AAA to single dev type games. I've had to on many occasions ask for a refund of my $1.00 that I spent on various games that weren't even worth that.

Now you have been reading and seeing me say "crap games". To qualify that is difficult as it is extremely subjective. Like if someone had a puzzle game, then because I have an affinity against puzzle games, then obviously it would have to be a really damn good puzzle game to make me change my mind on it. Because I enjoy RPG's, survival, and what not, then I might be able to tolerate a bit more potentially. So take that opinion of mine with a grain of salt.

As far as buying games outside of Steam, I don't think I would do so anymore. Due to cheap hardware being produced now a days, if my rig decides to blow up, I can simply go and get a new rig, then reinstall my games. With Steam Cloud you can even bring your saves across. I'm way too lazy to try and browse multiple sites to find games. Not to mention if you notice, all you see in stores now is consoles and their games. The PC game section is practically gone in the areas where I live.

So if you want my opinion, if your small game projects are good as in they play well, have nice mechanics, and keep people entertained, then by all means put that game up on Steam. But I believe you need to find a balance between quantity and quality. If I find any more crap games on Steam...