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Dec-23-2010 13:15

I have been talking to other sleuth players and we feel the same about how admin has abandoned us.

We see that a lot of time is now being dedicated to shades as if we no longer exist...

Also as paying customers I feel we desire a little of your attention. Replace the Villian hunt league..that was interesting..now we can only get competition going if someone starts a quest...

So look out for your first babies...We deserve some of your attention too..

Dec-27-2010 08:22

I really don't think there's any need for you to apologize, Amira, I'm sure the admins will understand that your intention was to catch their eye, not to attack. Nor was mine to attack you, I just felt that the title was perhaps a little bit too "strong".

I also don't think that it's a case of "Noir vs. SOM". I have a detective there too, and I notice that compared to Noir it's a much less "finished" game. It needs much more work to become fully developed, so I suppose it's understandable that Ben is devoting more time to it. Understandable, but not a big consolation for us Noir players :).

The idea of implementing arch-villain tournaments in the game is old, and I still think it's very good. Let's hope Ben will consider it again.

Dec-27-2010 11:53

I would LOVE to see more features to BOTH (I love and play both-though a bit bored with Shades)!

BUT I think we can EASILY overlook all the work it takes to take care of all the server issues, write all the code, solve all the problems to bring new features that people are wanting (I'm sure he wants them running pretty free of bugs before he/they deliver them to the game) not to mention just trying to up keep what is already running, work a job, keep a wife happy, care for a baby and I'm assuming he still has to change lightbulbs and take out the garbage! (I assume he's not getting rich off of these two games.)

If they give more time to SoM (Shades) it's probably because it's the bigger money maker and that's just wise business sense.

Again, I am kinda impatient for new features but I'm just throwing out what I'm guessing is the other side of the equation. If I don't think Sleuth keeps up to my expectations, I can drop my subscription (actually did in SoM till they get new features).

I totally feel everyone's frustration as I feel the same thing but just kinda wanted to look at it from another perspective!

Jan-12-2011 17:54

I can't deny the fact that I spend less time adding content to Noir in 2010 than I had in any year since the 2004 launch.

On the other hand, the amount of time I've been able to invest in Noir has ebbed and flowed a bit in the past, and it is my intention to continue to expand the game as long as there is an interested player base.

It's not really accurate to say that we are neglecting Noir in favor of Shades, however, because I have not been able to spend nearly as much time enhancing Shades as I wanted either (I spent less time on Shades in 2010 than I did in 2009).

Hypoware is not my (or anybody's) full time job. In fact, currently it would be more accurate to describe Hypoware as a hobby that brings in a bit more money than it costs to run (if barely). That's fine by me. As I've said in the past, I do still love publishing Sleuth. I've got a lot of my own creative energy tied up in these games, and a fair amount of ego. But, the reality for now is that my Sleuth time is subservient to the rest of my busy life. I have a family and a demanding day job (I'm the lead developer at a company called Mindbloom).

A few years ago, the future of Sleuth looked wide open. I was officially working half-time on Hypoware, Sunny was contributing on a more regular basis, and we had a realistic hope for making this into a feasible business. We launched the Shadow of the Villains expansion in fall 2006 and then spent all of 2007 and early 2008 developing Shades of Mystery.

The plan was to build a business around Noir and Shades and then look at additional ways of expanding the franchise. The rationale was: even if we were dividing our time between more than one game, the expanded player base and revenue would allow us to bring much more time and attention to each individual game.

As things worked out, I'm now spread a little thin.

Jan-12-2011 17:54

But, it's a new year, and I've no intention of giving up: either on the Sleuth enterprise in general, nor the long suffering Noir community in particular.

I know it's not completely visible from the outside, but the internal Hypoware working are recieving a bit ofa rennaissance in the person of one Mr Secret Squirrel. SS has really driven a lot of new initiatives, some of which have been completed (more on Shades than here), but several of which are in progress. We are planning new stuff, and for those of you who are able to stick it out, I do think it's going to be worth it.

I'll continue this thread a little later. That other life I mentioned is rearing it's head right now.

I do hear y'all though, honestly I do. I'm not always the best at replying to these kinds of concerns, particularly when I feel stuck in catch up mode, but I'm not ready to give up on you if you're not ready to give up on Noir.

Did that sound ominous? Didn't mean it to.

Jan-12-2011 18:11

Not going anywhere Ben! :)

Jan-12-2011 23:26

Thanks. I appreciate the vote of confidence Lady Jas.

But, I definitely get the frustration.

Jan-13-2011 06:18

Thanks for the update Ben. I'm glad that Noir has not been abandoned and that Noir players can look forward to changes/additions in the future. Sometimes we get caught up in the heat of the moment and tempers flare when we feel that improvements are not coming fast enough hence the frustration threads. I plan on playing Noir as Turtledove for a while yet although I have more or less stopped playing with my two other detectives because I'll admit that boredom has comfortably settled in. Meanwhile I 've been playing Shades for a few weeks now and have made new and terrific friends, so the Noir situation hasn't been totally negative with me :-D

Jan-13-2011 10:54

Ditto on what Lady Jas said (I speak for DigitalDetective as well of course *grin*)!

I'm still in the honeymoon phase of my time here in Noir as I'm still finding plenty of fun and challenging things to do but I do always appreciate the upgrades.

I would like to add that Noir is a well rounded, VERY layered game! I think it is more developed than most games EVER get but as life allows keep the great improvements coming!

Jan-14-2011 03:27

Thanks, Ben - and thanks to SS as well, whose presence behind the scenes has indeed been noticed by some of us :)

Anyone who has experience of a few different game communities knows how hard it is to keep demanding players satisfied. Even people who are in a position to make the game their full-time job find it difficult to keep up with their players, so I think it's little short of miraculous that you keep Sleuth going as you do.

Here's to whatever 2011 brings!

Jan-14-2011 07:14

Thanks for the update