Crimson Gray 1.5
Added 2018-05-31 23:11:29 +0000 UTCThe timing on this is awkward, but don't have a compelling reason to delay on it: time to talk about the miniature sequel to Crimson Gray! Multiple things to address with this, so if you like this idea, please do provide feedback.
This isn't a full sequel to Crimson Gray, but rather an extension of the game that tries to explore something different while still presenting more of Lizzie and John's life together. Several years after the canon ending of the game, they're in college and dealing with a lower key set of issues. This is a personal story focusing on the two of them.
The twist is that this game is from Lizzie's POV! You can see an example of it in this post's image: just like CG had a gray world to show John's mindset, this one lets you see through Lizzie's eyes a little. Normal people become threats when seen through the lens of her paranoia, plus there are some other tricks that I hope will make this a memorable experience.
Hopefully this idea sounds as fun to everyone else as it does to me! There are three things I'd like to hear from people on:
1) Alpha Testing
I need some people who are willing to play an alpha version of the game. Text is finished (barring changes and editing), but it has only placeholder art assets. Volunteer if you are both interested and have the free time to get back to me within a reasonable timeframe.
2) Game Format
I think this story is a nice little followup... but I'm not sure what kind of box to put it into as a product. It's fairly substantial, increasing the content of CG by 50% or more. The problem with releasing it as a standalone is that I don't think that it works very well as an introduction to Lizzie and John. The problem with releasing it as DLC is that this is like casting it into the void of oblivion on Steam.
3) The Title
Really not sure what to call it. Crimson Gray: Subtitle, probably. Right now it will just be CG 1.5, but as people finish the game I hope we come up with ideas.
That's the situation! I'm not sure how this project will progress, but Redd is usually in a hurry when drawing, so this will likely be barreling forward over the next few weeks. You'll definitely see more of it in time!
Comments
It came out two years ago: https://store.steampowered.com/app/894460/Crimson_Gray_Dusk_and_Dawn/
Sierra Lee
2020-11-24 18:00:40 +0000 UTCI know this is years later, but any update on this?
Zyrus
2020-11-24 17:39:54 +0000 UTCOh I'm about 95% certain it'll go well - it's just one of those mandatory rocky periods during the transition is all. I'm very likely to be actually much better off once it all settles down, just a matter of slogging through the paperwork and the red tape associated with it to make it all happen. Thanks though.
Secular Reason
2018-06-14 11:25:08 +0000 UTCThanks! I hope your situation gets to a good place, and no worries about supporting in the interim.
Sierra Lee
2018-06-09 12:31:42 +0000 UTCNot for a while unfortunately. I'm getting out of the military in October, and then might have a little time before my new income kicks in so I might have to stop supporting for a time - but once the new income kicks in then I'm moving overseas... so it'll be a bit before I get settled down and have time for this stuff again. Still, always good to see new stuff from you. It never fails to satisfy.
Secular Reason
2018-06-09 03:31:33 +0000 UTCThanks for sticking with me, and just let me know when you have time for this sort of thing again!
Sierra Lee
2018-06-09 03:24:29 +0000 UTCSad that I don't have time for things like this anymore... All the beta-ing and bug testing is behind me... For now.
Secular Reason
2018-06-09 01:58:40 +0000 UTCRandom girl is cute, but don't tell Lizzie I said so.
Decanter
2018-06-05 00:10:20 +0000 UTCI think that this stage you'd end up running into the errors and typos that other people have reported, sorry. But volunteer again later and you can get an early shot at playing the next version, which will have all the improvements and the art assets!
Sierra Lee
2018-06-03 02:43:00 +0000 UTCI'm totally up for alpha testing if you still need it! Crimson Gray is my favorite!
Runcible Technician
2018-06-03 02:16:46 +0000 UTCAnother well-known "standalone expansion" example would be the Missing Link DLC for Deus Ex Human Revolution, which ties in with the main game, but can be played as standalone. I liked that approach, since former players don't need to worry about saves or anything like that, while it enhances the game for new players (it could also explain any disconnects between the ending a player got in the main game, and the canonical version of events in the expansion). Having it separate can also act as a hook to get new players to check out the main game. I would recommend launching it with a smaller discount (e.g. 10%) on the expansion and a bigger discount on the main game, so that players feel like getting the main game at the same time is a bargain. You might also want to consider an expansion discount for players who already own the base game, so they don't feel like they're being punished for early adoption.
Lamsey
2018-06-02 18:10:37 +0000 UTCOkay, will send!
Sierra Lee
2018-06-02 00:36:53 +0000 UTCI'm up for testing it, I can probably finish it tonight depending on how long it is.
Censuur
2018-06-01 23:40:43 +0000 UTCI will have to look into how some of these cases were done, as I'm not sure any of the tools I know exactly match...
Sierra Lee
2018-06-01 13:56:54 +0000 UTCThanks for the input and an example I hadn't seen. It's indeed tricky to know what's best - unfortunately, the standalone pages on Steam get no initial exposure. Last month I finished my tests with all the other tools Steam provides, and it seems like the initial exposure is the only one that means anything. Pricing will be another question. I should think more about the idea of emphasizing the bundle of the two with a special discount.
Sierra Lee
2018-06-01 13:55:35 +0000 UTCThanks, sent you a PM!
Sierra Lee
2018-06-01 13:51:41 +0000 UTCSent you a PM!
Sierra Lee
2018-06-01 13:50:55 +0000 UTCI'm hyped about this, the premise sounds right up my ally. I'm available for alpha testing this weekend too.
William M.
2018-06-01 09:28:08 +0000 UTCYou're not the only one struggling with such a problem. MangaGamer just released The House in Fata Morgana: A Requiem for Innocence as a standalone game even though it makes no sense if you haven't read the original (and the screenshots alone are quite spoilerific), and half the comments start with "good, but you really need to play the first one before". The practice for standalone DLC on Steam in general (for both indies and AAA games) appears to be a dedicated game page for the DLC + a bundle with the original game + spamming words "expansion", "new chapter", "DLC" in the description. Should have time to beta read this weekend if you still need testers.
Rachnera
2018-06-01 08:13:11 +0000 UTCI can check it out and get back to you before long.
Kenzurith
2018-06-01 04:58:18 +0000 UTCSo put an expansion for the original release, and make a seperatedefinitive edition as well.
James
2018-06-01 04:41:59 +0000 UTCI seem to recall a few big-name games doing this, Bioshock 2 and the like. Everyone who had the original either got the new one automatically or got some sort of permanently offered discount on it, the latter of which sounds like what you might want to look into. But with a separate store page, you might have to scrape up all-new reviews. Not sure. Also there's the question of how to access 2 games through one library item.
Decanter
2018-06-01 03:40:25 +0000 UTCI will send you a PM!
Sierra Lee
2018-06-01 02:19:21 +0000 UTCThere is not really much need for bugtesting this time, I mainly want reactions to the story. But if you'd like to do that, I can send it to you!
Sierra Lee
2018-06-01 02:19:08 +0000 UTCI can also take a look at the alpha build this weekend
Mark Sherry
2018-06-01 01:30:31 +0000 UTCI can probably spend a few hours working through an alpha build over the weekend if needed. Can't promise I'll find much though.
Troqu
2018-06-01 01:27:28 +0000 UTCHmm! That is a thought I had not really considered, so thanks for suggesting it. I wouldn't want to do this as the primary release, as it wouldn't be fair to players who had already bought the game. But I will have to see if there would be any way to do some of both...
Sierra Lee
2018-06-01 00:24:51 +0000 UTCThanks!
Sierra Lee
2018-06-01 00:23:06 +0000 UTCCan you sell 1.5 (core + expansion) as a seperate game from 1.0 on steam? Call it a definitive/ premium edition or something?
James
2018-05-31 23:26:51 +0000 UTCI should have time to playtest the alpha this weekend.
Lamsey
2018-05-31 23:20:08 +0000 UTC
