The funding graph for The Great DiscontentĬonversely, The Great Discontent had a strong start and then plateaued. Everyone was very excited about the working on the game itself, so we never let a middle-period day with very low funding get us down. Despite this being our first Kickstarter, we were all aware of the "bathtub" nature of how projects received funding. Remy: The gradual climb was something we were very pragmatic about. Some folks questioned the validity of this type of fundraising, with comments like, "Why doesn't the school just pay for the festival?" This was an opportunity to share information and stories speaking to the need for crowdsourced arts funding, both practically, as states slash arts and education budgets (hello, Louisiana?), and ideologically, as state-funded event will inevitably support a different group of artists than an independent event. Overall the response was positive and people admired the effort we had to put into the project to maintain activity. How did that feel?Īnna: We have some dyed-in-the-wool supporters, but we have to work pretty hard to remind a lot of busy folks that our fundraising efforts come with expiration dates and that we really truly cannot make the festival happen without grassroots funding. It pains me to level a harsh judgment against a game that’s trying something new and innovative, but Octodad doesn’t balance the frustration with the funny.The graphs for Delta Mouth and Classroom Aquatic show a pretty gradual climb. Engaged players will also want to check out the included level editor, and the workshop mode that lets you explore other users’ creations. Octodad also offers some fun extras scattered throughout, like a secret 2D level and a collection of hidden ties, but many of the tasks involved in completing these optional sections are more trouble than they’re worth. Young Horses has included an amusing way to play cooperatively by assigning different players to different appendages – a good fit for folks considering a playthrough with the family. Octodad supports multiple control inputs, which is good, because the keyboard/mouse setup is a mess – I strongly recommend a 360 controller or other gamepad. These later sequences demand a level of precision that the purposefully slippery controls can’t accommodate. The jokes just don’t bring the same chuckles when you’ve been cursing for minutes about futilely trying to climb an escalator that’s going the wrong way. It’s all capped off by one of the most tedious boss battles I’ve had the misfortune to encounter in recent years. The later levels are dominated by ill-advised stealth sequences, frustrating camera angles, and complex level geometries which are too easy to get stuck on. By the time you’re trying to climb obstacle-laden towers, fleeing from an angry chef, or sneaking past wary sailors, the once-amusing control mechanics are infuriating. The tasks become more difficult as you progress, but unlike most games, your precision and understanding of the controls never improve. Sure, it’s a little tricky to maneuver his tentacles into place so he can grill those hamburgers for his kids, but with a little practice, the job gets done. Moving Octodad’s appendages with any clear purpose is an exercise in frustration, and that’s just fine when the tasks are simple. Beneath the amusing surface is a thoughtful theme about the way we all grow up and have to start going through the motions of being an adult, even when we don’t always know what we’re doing.Īt first, the gameplay that accompanies the inventive concept is haphazard, but entertaining. An opening level set at the poor guy’s wedding, and a subsequent morning at home with his family, are both filled with playful quips from the characters. I was instantly charmed by Octodad and his flailing tentacles. It’s a smart, innovative testbed for interactions, but the more it tries to be a game filled with challenging objectives and boss fights, the more Octodad reveals that underneath the suit, there’s not much to get excited about. As the story of an octopus masquerading as a human, Octodad starts off strong with a clear focus on the crazy premise, and gameplay that is simple enough to showcase the wacky physics and fun of knocking lamps around the room and flinging axes across the yard. Octodad has no shortage of wit, creativity, or laughs.
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