Tale of Tales Closing [Jun 21, 2015, 3:01 pm ET] – Share – Viewing Comments
Developer Tale of Tales is ending game development, saying the
recently released adventure game Sunset (which is
currently on sale on Steam) will
be their last title (thanks
NeoGAF via
GameInformer). Their website is
currently down so
the
blog post announcing the news must be read through
a cached copy. The tale they tell of Tale of Tales is distressing,
describing all the efforts they made to reach a larger audience, though they
introduce it with ironic humor, saying: "After the barrage of sad tales about
depression caused by indies turning into millionaires overnight, allow us to
raise your spirits with a story about the liberating and energizing effects of
complete commercial failure." Here's word:
So far a little over 4,000 copies of Sunset have changed hands. That includes the copies for our backers on Kickstarter. That includes the sale. There’s barely enough income to keep our company going while we look for ways to raise the funds to pay back our debts.
It’s hard to deal with this intense feeling of disappointment in a context of glowing reviews and compliments and encouragement from players. A small group of people clearly deeply appreciates what we do and we curse the economic system that doesn’t allow us to be pleased with that.Being wrong will set you free
- We studied successful games and applied our findings to the design of Sunset. And while the inclusion of certain conventions seems to have helped some people enjoy the game, it didn’t affect the size of our audience much.
- We spent a lot of money on a PR company who got us plenty of press, took some work and worries off our shoulders, and found us other marketing opportunities. But it didn’t help sales one bit.
- We even took out an advertisement on Rock, Paper, Shotgun, where we figured the people most interested in Sunset would be gathered. They must all use AdBlock because that had no effect whatsoever.
- We worked hard on presenting a gentler Tale of Tales to the public. Which basically meant that Michaël was forbidden to talk in public and Auriea often just smiled at the camera, parroting words whispered in her ears by communication coaches. Didn’t make a difference.
So now we are free. We don’t have to take advice from anybody anymore. We were wrong. Everybody whom we consulted with on Sunset was wrong.We are happy and proud that we have tried to make a “game for gamers.” We really did our best with Sunset, our very best. And we failed. So that’s one thing we never need to do again. Creativity still burns wildly in our hearts but we don’t think we will be making videogames after this. And if we do, definitely not commercial ones.
its probly safe to say that no one cares, otherwise they would have bought this game
but im sure its somewhat cathartic to wail and moan at the general public, regardless
interesting that it was posted to a dead website, i guess they dont care either
but im sure its somewhat cathartic to wail and moan at the general public, regardless
interesting that it was posted to a dead website, i guess they dont care either
Who wouldn't want a game about cleaning(?), perhaps the most enjoyable thing anyone can do in the day!
"You take up a job as a housekeeper. Every week, an hour before sunset, you clean the swanky bachelor pad of the wealthy Gabriel Ortega."
Then they wonder why it failed?
The video on steam was crap, you have no idea on what you actually do.
I just feel sad at all the suckers that paid for this game... at least on steam, you can now do refunds!
"You take up a job as a housekeeper. Every week, an hour before sunset, you clean the swanky bachelor pad of the wealthy Gabriel Ortega."
Then they wonder why it failed?
The video on steam was crap, you have no idea on what you actually do.
I just feel sad at all the suckers that paid for this game... at least on steam, you can now do refunds!
Strange, single player game, released, on sale for $10, got nearly 300% from Kickstarter. The deal is it is out and single player. I'd just let the game sit as-is, you can drop it cheaper as well. Lots of competition though and probably a long story behind this.
You made a point and click adventure game. What did you expect?
You tried to make a "game for gamers". So in this research you said you did; it told you that people would want a game where you play a housekeeper set in 1972 and the entire premise is "Who is this guy I work for?"? According the SteamSpy stats, if you had turned it into an RPG, it would have done much better.
I'm sorry for their lack of success. But I'm also very happy that the bubble is finally bursting. Seems Early Access and the hoards of trash indie games (not saying Sunset is one) on Steam are finally getting some bad press and pushback from the consumers. The upcoming and new releases nowadays on Steam just looks like a list of indie crap that nobody wants.
You tried to make a "game for gamers". So in this research you said you did; it told you that people would want a game where you play a housekeeper set in 1972 and the entire premise is "Who is this guy I work for?"? According the SteamSpy stats, if you had turned it into an RPG, it would have done much better.
I'm sorry for their lack of success. But I'm also very happy that the bubble is finally bursting. Seems Early Access and the hoards of trash indie games (not saying Sunset is one) on Steam are finally getting some bad press and pushback from the consumers. The upcoming and new releases nowadays on Steam just looks like a list of indie crap that nobody wants.
Hopefully they find a medium that fits their artistic and narrative pursuits, but gaming was obviously not it.
I've only played one of their games: The Path. It was so bad I vowed I'd never play another Tale of Tales game again.
The premise behind the game doesn't grab. For an adventure, the story needs to be catchy - unless you're Double Fine or one of the few companies that has a strong reputation in that niche, it's an uphill battle to get noticed.
That being said, no real hook. Which is one of the most important things you need in a game.
This comment was edited on Jun 21, 2015, 16:50.
That being said, no real hook. Which is one of the most important things you need in a game.
This comment was edited on Jun 21, 2015, 16:50.
I think the game's premise is somewhat interesting but I don't feel any rush to buy it. Definitely a $5 game for me. I'm not sure what research they looked at that made them think a game like this would be successful, though. Even a high-profile adventure game like Broken Age hasn't exactly set the charts on fire. The fact that they considered this a "gamer's game" kind of shows how little they understand their audience or the market in general. The issue wasn't PR or marketing; the issue was the game itself simply doesn't have broad appeal.
This comment was edited on Jun 21, 2015, 16:40.
This comment was edited on Jun 21, 2015, 16:40.
Duke Christopheles wrote on Jun 21, 2015, 16:32:This was no ordinary "adventure". Games from Tale of Tales were always experiments in interactive narration and story telling. Artsy? Yes! Fascinating? Depends on your taste and what you want from a game.
The premise behind the game doesn't grab. For an adventure ...
This comment was edited on Jun 21, 2015, 17:28.
If the game got good reviews I wouldn't say no one cares. I'd say people are being put off by being beaten over the head with the darkness and melodrama in that trailer. Bet it would have done exceptionally well if they'd only presented it differently.
(And maybe released on GoG, where I'd buy it right now just to support them, but alas...)
(And maybe released on GoG, where I'd buy it right now just to support them, but alas...)
well then it would be that "almost no one cares" and that would be basically super-accurate
also, from what you guys are saying, it all makes sense.. especially this melodramatic outburst, the proverbial "slamming door" response
basically, these guys thought they were genius (like most "artists")... nobody gives a shit, and suddenly they dont feel like genius anymore - and thus, "WAAAAAHH!" but in this very particular way
stereotypical artist response, really... they should move into the fine art world, where you can easily sell complete bullshit for 100K+
also, from what you guys are saying, it all makes sense.. especially this melodramatic outburst, the proverbial "slamming door" response
basically, these guys thought they were genius (like most "artists")... nobody gives a shit, and suddenly they dont feel like genius anymore - and thus, "WAAAAAHH!" but in this very particular way
stereotypical artist response, really... they should move into the fine art world, where you can easily sell complete bullshit for 100K+
"It's 1972 and a military coup has rocked Anchuria. You, Angela Burnes, are trapped in the metropolitan capital of San Bavón. Your paradise has turned into a warzone. You take up a job as a housekeeper. Every week, an hour before sunset, you clean the swanky bachelor pad of the wealthy Gabriel Ortega."
I guess I'm a bit of a childish adult, as I prefer my games with at least one of: 1. Wizards 2. Robots 3. Ninjas 4. Pirates 5. Dragons 6. Werewolves. 7. Zombies 8. Spaceships 9. Mutants 10. Boobies.
I'm sure the game was very artistic, thoughtful, beautiful, historic, deep, etc., but playing a black housekeeper piques my interest at level 6...out of 1000.
I guess I'm a bit of a childish adult, as I prefer my games with at least one of: 1. Wizards 2. Robots 3. Ninjas 4. Pirates 5. Dragons 6. Werewolves. 7. Zombies 8. Spaceships 9. Mutants 10. Boobies.
I'm sure the game was very artistic, thoughtful, beautiful, historic, deep, etc., but playing a black housekeeper piques my interest at level 6...out of 1000.
Saboth wrote on Jun 21, 2015, 17:28:
"... but playing a black housekeeper piques my interest at level 6...out of 1000.
Ever been over 9000? It's amazing.
They make it sound like they were making a game made by beancounters, kind of like your basic Chevrolet sedan model. Hit all the checkboxes except the exciting one.
"Developer Tale of Tales is ending game development"
When did they start?
When did they start?
Have to agree with the others, Sunset is still a bit Avant Garde. They don't call people starving artists for nothing... Although I doubt this will be their last game, game dev seems to be in their blood and they've been an aspiring indie company since for over the last decade
This is pretty weird. I wouldn't have considered Sunset a "game for gamers" at all. I haven't played it, but figured it was more along the lines of walking sims like Gone Home and so forth, more of an emerging niche (a very boring one imo, but some people seem to like those games). I don't know why they were trying to compromise their own ideas if they went the Kickstarter route; surely Kickstarter is good for putting your own ideas out there, not making a game for some imagined audience.
Anyway, these two might be interesting artists, but they're not game designers. From reading some Steam reviews, it seems like the "gameplay" in this game involves pressing one of two buttons occasionally, and just doesn't sound very interesting. And it inexplicably suffers from performance issues.
Anyway, these two might be interesting artists, but they're not game designers. From reading some Steam reviews, it seems like the "gameplay" in this game involves pressing one of two buttons occasionally, and just doesn't sound very interesting. And it inexplicably suffers from performance issues.
Adventure/point and click games aren't really in the "hit it big" category.
I personally don't play very many, but this one doesn't really jump out at me as something that screams 'must have for all adventure game lovers.'
When I saw the description on Steam I thought they were making a more mundane 'Viscera Cleanup Detail'.
I personally don't play very many, but this one doesn't really jump out at me as something that screams 'must have for all adventure game lovers.'
When I saw the description on Steam I thought they were making a more mundane 'Viscera Cleanup Detail'.
Yeah I'm not sure the PC is the place for a casual game. Most certainly a casual point and click game is not a "game for gamers" anyway. They probably should have went after mobile. Ah well.
I pwnz j00!
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