Why we didn't make a new expansion for Pocket Legends in 2013

[DivineMoustache]

Hi, I do agree that it was a nice idea to put in Rhino and foxes, but the problem to get more new players hooked is not the lack of content anymore, it is the lack of beauty in the game. The reason why so many people stick around in PL is the mechanics are extremely basic and easy to understand, and it is super fast-paced. It's like the Call of Duty of mobile MMO's, game wise. However, the amount of people who will actually stay is very small, reason being because the game doesn't look good enough. I'm pretty sure many people stay in AL because the graphics there look so much better.

If you just updated PL graphic-wise, I'm sure that it would both hook people and make them stay, much faster than AL does, because AL seems to be more complex than PL. I think this is the basic problem that you guys have with us now. You think that making new games might make you more money, and it could, but you also don't know what may happen if you make PL look better. The game is just so basic and addictive once you get started and are able to ignore the mediocre graphical content in the game.

In fact, you did once update the graphics of Pocket Legends (from bubble heads to the more sleek design of characters) and maybe the landscapes in PL. It wasn't a big change, but it was a graphical change nonetheless. Anyway...all this build up was to ask this simple question:

What are the statistics of jump in customer purchases or players online after the "big" graphic update of PL?

[Samhayne]

Hi, I do agree that it was a nice idea to put in Rhino and foxes, but the problem to get more new players hooked is not the lack of content anymore, it is the lack of beauty in the game. The reason why so many people stick around in PL is the mechanics are extremely basic and easy to understand, and it is super fast-paced. It's like the Call of Duty of mobile MMO's, game wise. However, the amount of people who will actually stay is very small, reason being because the game doesn't look good enough. I'm pretty sure many people stay in AL because the graphics there look so much better.

If you just updated PL graphic-wise, I'm sure that it would both hook people and make them stay, much faster than AL does, because AL seems to be more complex than PL. I think this is the basic problem that you guys have with us now. You think that making new games might make you more money, and it could, but you also don't know what may happen if you make PL look better. The game is just so basic and addictive once you get started and are able to ignore the mediocre graphical content in the game.

In fact, you did once update the graphics of Pocket Legends (from bubble heads to the more sleek design of characters) and maybe the landscapes in PL. It wasn't a big change, but it was a graphical change nonetheless. Anyway...all this build up was to ask this simple question:

What are the statistics of jump in customer purchases or players online after the "big" graphic update of PL?

DivineMoustache, I think you missed this part of my post where I said:

Arcane is the spiritual successor to Pocket Legends. When we considered trying to re-vamp Pocket (new graphics engine, fix balance issues, etc.) you just realize that it's easier to build a whole new game rather than change up an existing game. That's basically what we did (along with everything we learned from Star Legends and Dark Legends).

As for your question, not a statistically significant change.

[DivineMoustache]

No Sam, I saw that part, that's what I was saying. Perhaps it could make more money if you revamped PL instead of making another game.
And for the answer to my question, that's all I needed. It wasn't a big graphical change but if it barely affected it as you said, then I guess there's nothing else to do about the game except update it for the niche players. Thanks Sam.

EDIT: could we just have the raw numbers anyway?

[Samhayne]

...could we just have the raw numbers anyway?

I'm not at liberty to give out confidential company information and really, you shouldn't expect it. Except for public companies divulging information they are required to do because they are publicly held, most companies big or small, don't give out that kind of information.

[DivineMoustache]

I'm not at liberty to give out confidential company information and really, you shouldn't expect it. Except for public companies divulging information they are required to do because they are publicly held, most companies big or small, don't give out that kind of information.

It really seems that nothing can get done though without both customer and company information in this kind of situation where the customer is not really happy with anything you all are doing.

EDIT: I'm not saying it's good that we are unhappy with everything you do, it's just that maybe some set of numbers could help give context to both the company's and our frustrations.

EDIT : not good with words...um by "context" I mean like it could further justify your reasoning and help us see your logical reasoning instead of just being frustrated.

[Roberto077]

Hi, I do agree that it was a nice idea to put in Rhino and foxes, but the problem to get more new players hooked is not the lack of content anymore, it is the lack of beauty in the game. The reason why so many people stick around in PL is the mechanics are extremely basic and easy to understand, and it is super fast-paced. It's like the Call of Duty of mobile MMO's, game wise. However, the amount of people who will actually stay is very small, reason being because the game doesn't look good enough. I'm pretty sure many people stay in AL because the graphics there look so much better.

If you just updated PL graphic-wise, I'm sure that it would both hook people and make them stay, much faster than AL does, because AL seems to be more complex than PL. I think this is the basic problem that you guys have with us now. You think that making new games might make you more money, and it could, but you also don't know what may happen if you make PL look better. The game is just so basic and addictive once you get started and are able to ignore the mediocre graphical content in the game.

In fact, you did once update the graphics of Pocket Legends (from bubble heads to the more sleek design of characters) and maybe the landscapes in PL. It wasn't a big change, but it was a graphical change nonetheless. Anyway...all this build up was to ask this simple question:

What are the statistics of jump in customer purchases or players online after the "big" graphic update of PL?

I'm sure someone has said what I'm about to tell you, but I don't feel like looking.

Game design is a very difficult task in different aspects of the game, but there is only one part that we truly see, that would be the artwork. As you put it, artwork is what will drive PL back up, but have you ever done 3D design? It takes an extremely long time to even do some of the more simple pieces of the game, not including the adaptions to object animation and movement.

In fact, I assume most of the coding employees at STS have experience with designing the models and character portraits using the designing program. For example, if you have ever played or heard of League of Legends (currently the most played game in the world), then you may know that 40% of Riot Games staff are artists that design skins and champions to play in the game. If you are an active player of LoL then you would know that it takes about a month for a new skin to be implemented, and that's just ONE CHARACTER.

Now imagine the work that it would take to re-skin all of Pocket Legends. That's thousands of items, dozens of NPC's, hundreds of maps and levels, 60 abilities, and many more objects and details of the game that would be repainted and constructed just to get maybe a few new players and change nothing for repeated customers. Another words, we wouldn't see anything until +2015.

Anyways, STS has pretty much done what I have stated above, but in a different format called Arcane Legends. Check it out.

EDIT: I'll add some more stuff later on other points regarding the thread.