Pier Solar, finally

[Mathius]

I keep getting my ass kicked about two hours in. When I try to grind it just takes so long. I don't think I ever got above level 3.

It can be kind of frustrating at first especially when you're not used to how the battle system works.  I think one guy was able to get through the entire game without getting above level 5 or 6, can't remember what it was, but he basically ran from all battles he could run from (which is hard enough in itself) and just used stuff he bought to help him with magic 'n shit (I think, I didn't follow his progress too closely).  Anyway Watermelon touted this example as argument that you never need to grind in this game.  Still, I think it helps.  Just try to be patient, stick close to home and you'll eventually make level 4.  Don't forget to save.  The saves work in a funky way.  I can't remember how but I think you need to exit the screen or something for them to take effect.  It's been like 2 years since I've played it.  Or was it a year ago when it first came out?  Wow.

Thanks for the tips.

It was released late fall of 2010.

[Joe Redifer]

Watermelon's new announcement.  I'd love to hear some opinions about it:

In less than 12 hours we'll be announcing our fantastic, super exciting and extra shiny new project: The Factory.

What is this factory you ask? Is it illicit? Are we manufacturing something made out of people? Yes! But more honestly, no! The Factory is our unique fundraising and collaboration system that will allow fans of our games to decide exactly what we should make and contribute openly to the project while it’s in development.

Remember those Gems you got when you first signed up on our new website? Those Gems will be the fuel that runs the whole machine. Basically, you can purchase and earn gems through the Magical Game Factory website. Those Gems can, in turn, be invested into any number of projects we have in development or are proposing. If you become an “investor” in a particular project you’ll be consulted on the game’s development, have your feedback heard and incorporated into the design and get investor exclusive offers. The more you’ve invested in the project, the more your opinion is weighed and the louder your voice is.

But there's more to the factory than just investing Gems and providing your opinion. If you invest enough Gems in a project, they'll get converted into a pre-order of the game you're helping to build. Didn't invest enough Gems to grant you a pre-order? No problem! Invested Gems will convert into an investor's discount when you order your game. And the benefits don't end here: Similar to the pre-orders fund that drove the development of Pier Solar, investing in a project will guarantee you not just a copy of the game, but also a special investor version. Think of the Posterity Edition of Pier Solar, only cooler!

One thing we learned during Pier Solar’s development was that the community that we’ve developed is an irreplaceable part of Watermelon. You guys were instrumental in finishing that game and making it a great RPG. We want to involve you guys even more in development and make sure that all the great old-school games that you want to play will get made at the level of quality you expect. These are your games, and you’ll be able to tell us exactly what you want to see and play. Want a shoot ‘em up with RPG elements? Let us know, and invest! Want an oldschool brawler where all player characters are mutated lobsters with attitude? We are at your back and will answer your call. Want a controversial dating sim where users can do all manner of naughty things with cans of whip cream? We’ll do it!

Grudgingly… but we’ll do it.

So that’s that. Head on over to the Magical Game Factory website and have a look around. Get involved and get ready. Pier Solar was just the beginning!

Thank you for all your past and future support,

Your friends at Watermelon

WATERMELON TEAM

Not sure if they are called Magical Game Factory now or Watermelon.

[Arkhan]

This sounds like a stupid f*cking idea.   It's one thing to ask for input and listen to the community, but it's another to offer up "investing".  The only thing you invest into gaming is TIME.  Not money.

Its going to turn into a pissing contest with real money involved and money wasting buffoons will take over and make a mess.  Those idiots that pay 90049024$ for pier solar?  Yeah guess what they're going to spend money on!?

Some idiot is going to pay them 10000$ to make a game where black people throw watermelons at Jews who are picking up pennies while getting gassed by Nazi's who are gang banging catholic school girls while tentacles rip out of everywhere and rape them all.    Whipped Cream cans will be involved.  THEY'LL DO IT.  GET YOUR GEMS READY.

I also find it funny these are the same people that were being total jackoffs when Pier Solar's initial launch was less than epic.  Now the fans are "instrumental" and shit. 

I wish them the best of luck on their trainwreck.  Godspeed. 

[Joe Redifer]

Yup.  I can't see how this will end up being a good idea.  As I said on Sega-16, he who has the most money doesn't necessarily have the best ideas.  Community interest should dictate what their next game will be about, not a few people willing to throw lots of money at it.  And what if 3 people with lots of money all want three different things from a game?  We'll get a broken mess.

Sounds like they need some leadership.

[Arkhan]

Sounds like they need to get off the meth and stop being morons.

[Necromancer]

Agreed - sounds like they're gonna have lots of chiefs and not many braves.  I'd like to know the numbers, though; how much investment does it take to get a 'free investor edition' of the game?  $100?  $1000?  $10000?!?

[Arkhan]

Watermelon may give Super Retard Team a run for their money as far as being idiots in the homebrew for old as f*ck stuff department.


I think it's all just a bullshit ploy to get cash from people stupid enough to do it.   What better way to do it than to make a mockery of homebrew.

[Black Tiger]

Unfortunately, this is just one more sign that making new Genesis/Mega Drive games isn't as much of a passion project for them as it is driven by other motivations.

At least we get new games in the end.

[Arkhan]

Unfortunately, this is just one more sign that making new Genesis/Mega Drive games isn't as much of a passion project for them as it is driven by other motivations.

At least we get new games in the end.

I dunno wtf you even call what they're doing right now.

Retarded is one way to say it, I guess.


Maybe they think they're the great architects...? or something?

[TheOldMan]

In my opinion, they saw what Tim Schaefer (sp?) did to raise money for his new point-n-click adventure, and thought "Gee, we could do that. Get all the money up front, and make another game..."

The problem I see is that they don't have the track record Schaefer does Or any idea of what kind of game it will be

[Arkhan]

Not having the track record is a bit of an understatement.

They've got one long, disheveled release that was full of issues that made them look kind of lame.

This reminds me of that game Project Entropia.

That game sucked.

[Starfighter]

I got stuck on the last boss. As it turns out I grinded too little (who can blame me, it was flat out boring) and then there was no way back - I had to start over from the beginning. Which I sure as pooples didn't, because the game was... well. Pooples. I got my name in the manual though, lucky me......

[bartre]

PS is pretty good.
that said, i have no idea why people want to pay $200+ for it.
honestly, if i was going to spend that kind of money all at once on gaming, I'd net myself a copy of something great, maybe even more than one, perhaps coryoon double dragon ii and spriggan.
ah well, to each their own.

[Joe Redifer]

Here is an update from Magical Game Factory (what Watermelon is calling themselves now, I guess):

*MGF does not work like an auction, where only the vote of highest "bidder" matters. It works (sort of) like a stock company, where a majority of the stock holders take the decision. The money is NOT wasted for those who picked a "losing option", as the money will still be converted to games when the project is over. For now, when Project Y has the poll about console, you could say an investor could join because he would want just a new WaterMelon game. Then, after console is choosen, it's time for genre. Then people who are interested in the winning console may join because it's already decided it will be a game for that console.

*MGF will have the passion of Pier Solar, but in a different way. Project Y will be very different, as it's a project started in the Factory. Project SF was started inhouse and will be more like Pier Solar. WaterMelon already has a bunch of concepts shelved for various genres, many could fit well for Project Y if that's what the Investors want.

*You aren't paying for vaporware. If that was the case, online auctions would also be vaporware until you have the items in your hands, because the seller can decide to ship it anytime he wants.

*You can't exactly choose the protagonist to be a Goatse sprite before some other things are choosen. You don't exactly decide everything on a game the first week of development. You begin selecting console, then genre, then style etc. and go on, step, by step.

Someone else responded with:
"Why such explanation couldn't have been given before, in the same day that the e-mail was delivered?"

Which MGF replied: "Because the many misunderstandings of the concept wasn't there then."  They seriously did not see this coming.

Then Black Tiger asked an excellent question which went unanswered:

Do investors get credit towards copies of the eventual game? Like if some buys $50 of gems will they receive a copy of the final game free of charge and will someone who pays $1000 receive 20 copies of the game or $1000 worth of Pier Solar game, soundtrack and any other Watermelon products?

[Arkhan]

MGF

"Moronic Genesis f*ckups"


I thought Super Fighter Team , headed by Brandon "I did everything first" Cobb, was retarded

Then these chucklef*cks go and do this.

"Auctions are vaporware"  <<< No.  People can see the f*cking item they're buying.  This logic means everythings vaporware until you buy it.  Do we want these people making us games?

The Passion of Pier Solar ?  So, long dev cycle, followed by treating the disgruntled paying customers like shit for a few weeks, followed by being apologetic wangs?

This is retarded.

I'm glad I went with releasing retarded arcade clones.