Pulsen

[PriestREA]

Originally Posted by Saturn2888

I appreciate your feedback regardless of the size!

In your opinion, how is a resemblance to SM5 harmful to the project?

You’re right, Pulsen is definitely more pad- and introductory- focused than keyboard. The majority of people working on the game aren’t keyboard players or aren’t familiar with keyboard charts enough to make a high-quality keyboard pack.

Thanks to your post, I’m pushing that part of the project further. We’ve had plenty of people message eager to make keyboard charts for Pulsen, and we’ve already got someone working on it. All we have to do now is get more people and a pack can release fairly quickly.

Any sort of input you or anyone else on FFR can provide us on what keyboard-specific features you’d like to see in Pulsen would help us make a better game designed specifically for your needs.

Because of the online system, we haven’t released anything new for a while so I can definitely understand the speculation on the lack of Double and Story mode. In the meantime, the Pulsen Developer Commentary videos preview some of what we’re working on behind the scenes.

I agree, most DLC systems don’t work because they are overcharging or doing something shady like selling you the last chapter of the game for an extra $10 on the $60 you already paid. This isn’t what we’re after.

Our decision to not charge $50 for a game bundle and instead allow people to pick what they want from a free game was definitely a hard one. It took us quite a while to adjust to the notion that any code we put in we wouldn’t be making back on, but we’re happy with the choice we made and the possibilities it allows in terms of lower prices, more-specific releases, and personalization of the game as we release more packs.

Thanks for your feedback and I hope to hear more from this forum!,
-- Kevin G

Touching upon the topic of resemblance to SM5, people may think that the game is just another cheap copy (i.e. PIU vs. ITG or DDR). As much as rhythm games are set in stone about design (all dance games revolve around hitting arrows at the correct intervals), there may be something that distinguishes Pulsen from the competitors. For example, Stepmania's wide variety of themes and thousands of songs have branded it as a big fish in this genre. If I may bring other games into light: whenever I see games like Call of Duty come out, I find it a ripoff (based on the price). However, even though it's an FPS like many other games out there. But it's the fast paced, quick witted players that make the community (the nine-year-olds more or less; they make good trash material). This is the reason many people suck it up and pay the $15 for DLC, because they know Call of Duty is Call of Duty. Not many other FPS's are so fast paced. For example, Battlefield (another disappointing release), is a wide open game and focuses on the tactics required to be triumphant in battle vs. the rushing and "cheesing". The same goes for RTS's like Warcraft and SC.

I believe if you find a habitable niche for Pulsen to operate within, it could make a larger (and more positive) presence in the rhythm gaming community. Halogen made it clear that Pulsen really does utilize actual fake steps and lift steps in charts. I don't know what Pulsen can do that makes it unique, but everyone says when one door closes, another one opens. Surely there has to be something nobody has thought of yet. When you come across that unique idea, people will treat the DLC of Pulsen seriously.

I see you have thought of a story mode? That could be a wonderful introduction to Pulsen. The addition of some courses, just like SM could also be wonderful. But maybe add a few more modifiers, those little things could make a big difference. Stepmania truly has left a tough path to follow, but with a little time and brainstorming, Pulsen can be a big contender in rhythm gaming.

I have to bring games like Guitar Hero and Rockband up now that I think of it. Guitar Hero came first, and although it's stil viewed as the best "band/music" game out there, Rockband still brought heat. The DLC, the revamped story mode, the new additions like customizing a character and managing a band's success is something Guitar Hero never made a reality.

That's all I can input right now, I've rambled on enough. I hope Pulsen really does turn out well, the criticism here is just so we don't see a game come to light and crash (see: Big Rigs off the Road Racing).