Old gamebooks revisited

[be-the-hero.net]

Hello,

I just wanted to know what you think of this:

be-the-hero.net

...that's it :)

[Djkanna]

I like it, I only followed the story for a short while, but great job.

I like the fact you allow contributions from the players on the 'story', so we can edit a page (unless this is unintentional, then oops.)

[dnenb]

I like it a lot! Are you coding and writing the story yourself?

[be-the-hero.net]

Hi, thanks for the great feedback! I appreciate it :)

Yeah, it was intentional that the pages are editable for everyone. That way, everyone can contribute by enhancing or extending the story.

I also wondered about making several "books" so that anyone can make its own adventure, in any language.

As for the story, I extracted it from an amateur gamebook freely available on internet, but I have difficulties finding/contacting the authors.

[be-the-hero.net]

What is a pity though is that people seem to just edit the first page to post some obscenities ...:(

[a_bertrand]

Too bad it's already defaced by some idiot which doesn't understand that open websites are not meant to be destroyed and doesn't make you smarter doing so. So, either you have a full time job keeping things clean or I suggest you to reduce the editing to only some trusted people.

[be-the-hero.net]

Too bad it's already defaced by some idiot which doesn't understand that open websites are not meant to be destroyed and doesn't make you smarter doing so. So, either you have a full time job keeping things clean or I suggest you to reduce the editing to only some trusted people.

Yeah, that true. I just added a "obscenities sandbox". In the future, I plan to use some sort of reviewing process, that another user has to review and agree the change before it takes effect, and that it can be reverted back to an older version ...but before I do that, I would like to introduce "abilities" and a dice system to influence the game/story.

[dnenb]

These kinds of storygames are still very popular! Take a look at Choice of Games and how many times their apps have been downloaded.

[be-the-hero.net]

Wow, crazy!!!! I wonder how they managed to get such a popularity!!! I barely manage to get only a couple of users looking at the site!

...as for promoting it, I don't even know how I could do it well. (where to post, who to contact, etc. It's really quite difficult)

I'm already grateful for a few of you guys looking at it.

Cheers,

Arnaud

[dnenb]

Launch it as an app! It's not difficult to create a launcher, and if you're really lazy you can just use something like appsgeyser.

[be-the-hero.net]

Launch it as an app! It's not difficult to create a launcher, and if you're really lazy you can just use something like appsgeyser.

Actually, the current layout was already made to have the same ratio as the iPhone displays so that it could be ported one day more easily. I also thought of a mini kickstarter project to get things running and raise a bit of awareness. But I have the feeling that if I don't manage to raise at least a little awareness/interest on the web, then the two others will fail also. It'll just be an app at the bottom of the barel nobody downloads, or a kickstarter project getting only five bucks. So, before going there, I would like to at least be able to make something people would enjoy playing on the web for free. :)

[dnenb]

In that case I'll recommend an advertising network such as adwords or game advertising online. Or if you don't want to spend money, register on game topsites :)

[be-the-hero.net]

I also have the feeling that the idea is nice, but it's hmm ...it's not enough. People come by, take a look at it and go, and I can totally understand them as I would do the same. It's not enough to keep them entertained.

The question is: what's missing the most?

- is it that you can see anything at any moment and not "die" (and therefore no challenge)?

- is it the missing "hero" part with attributes (and growing better, stronger)?

- is it the lack of community (looks like abandoned stuff)?

- is it the storyline/choices which isn't exciting enough?

- is it the lack of creativity (I want to make my own book in my language!)?

I think I could focus on any of these points, however, it would be interesting to know which one you think is the most critical one!

Which one do you want to see coming to life that would make you enjoy the game? :)