Hay guys.
Haven’t done much game developing lately. Broke up with my girlfriend recently because it wasn’t working out. It was probably for the best, but it happened at a very bad time. It’s the middle of Summer, I’ve got the house to myself, and no one to hang out with. Being single again sucks, and I haven’t been taking it very well. I need high self-esteem to function. D:
On the upside, I’ve done a lot of positive things to distract myself from all that.
I ran 10km for the first time, which is much further than my previous best. I didn’t think I could make it, but after a while the pain just stopped, and I kept running. I was pretty sore the next few days, but for a few hours after the run, I felt invincible. The best part was how badly I smelled. It was the smell of victory!
I also played through Luigi’s Mansion 2, and New Super Mario Bros 2. Pretty fun games, though nothing particularly new or amazing. Gonna try my first Harvest Moon game next.
My chili peppers are doing well. I’ve finally got Scorpion and Ghost peppers coming in. Haven’t tried them yet, but I know that I will regret it when I do.
Another thing that’s been getting me down is that all of my fans really want another Epic Battle Fantasy RPG, and don’t show as much enthusiasm for any other projects I do. I know that bullet hell is kind of a niche genre, and I don’t expect Bullet Heaven 2 to be anywhere near as successful as EBF4, but that still makes it a lot less fun to work on. EBF4 was very lucky with the front-page features it got on Steam, and I’m not confident that BH2 will have the groundswell to do the same. The way things are looking now, BH2 is going to be my second biggest project (bigger than EBF3!), so it’s taking a bit of time, and is looking to be kind of risky.
But whatevs. Hopefully things will pick up a bit when I release the next demo, showing off multiplayer features, and all of the enemies. Maybe everything will be fine. Either way, it’s nice to work on a completely different type of game.
first of all, my condolences on the breakup. (yes i know, condolences of a stranger and all that, but it’s still worth saying)
then, i would wish you the best of luck. i am totally excited about BH2 :stars: – BH1’s the only one of your games with anna or lance i finished, after all (EBF3 i got to the final boss, but couldn’t make it past the difficulty spike, and EBF4 i kinda lost the file and didn’t feel like replaying.), and it’s looking to be an awesome game- not necessarily on par with touhou on difficulty (though it might be, i haven’t played touhou yet) but certainly more deserving of the hell part than most of these games on flash. either way, thanks for making these games. i should probably follow your blog now that i know about it~ since there’s all these awesome games i haven’t seen before. (well, only two found so far, but yeah, probably worth checking out.) at the rate of progess through BH1 i’m making, i might manage to beat oblivion before BH2 comes out. either way, awesome game, can’t wait for more, etc.
well i would say keep it up :yay: have been a great fan of bh since it was released but these new paterns of yours are even starting to make me sweat :shades: anyways don’t forget to have fun with what you program ❗
First off, I’m sorry to hear this. 🙁 I’m someone who wants Epic Battle Fantasy 5 myself, but demanding immediate release is just completely insane. 😡 Second off, a little Bullet Heaven 2 suggestion: Dialogue at the end of the level and other transition sequences. A big thing, for me at least, that made Epic Battle Fantasy so fun is how amusing and zany it is. :yay: :bacon: A good amount of this is delivered by dialogue. Thus, Bullet Heaven 2 should have dialogue. :yay: ➡ ❓ Third off, guy above is right, future spinoffs should have the Epic Battle Fantasy label. 4th off, Will there be a Adventure Story 2? :wut: :wut: :wut: ❓ ❓ ❓ I’d like it. Also maybe a :scared: Mecha :scared: Dress :scared: :sick: :scared: Up :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: follow up thing? Or maybe a :scared: :scared: :sick: :scared: :scared: full Mecha fighting thingy? donthurtme
My sympathy for your troubles. I know they probably don’t mean much to you, but I’ll offer them all the same.
“Another thing that’s been getting me down is that all of my fans really want another Epic Battle Fantasy RPG, and don’t show as much enthusiasm for any other projects I do.”
As much as I hate to say it, there’s nothing really you can do about this. This is the problem every successful author, movie director, game programmer, etc. faces when one of their creations is much more popular than the rest. To give but one example, JK Rowling recently wrote another book … but she’ll always be known for Harry Potter, no matter what she writes.
You just have to keep doing what you love. Don’t worry too much about what “all your fans” want. It’s more important to pursue projects you love than to try to satisfy the masses. We will judge your work based on its quality, not whether it matches our wishes. You’re the programmer.
In the end, instead of thinking about things as you have, just know that many, many game programmers would kill (metaphorically) for the success EBF4’s gotten on just one of their games. Your problems are real, but they’re sort of “happier” problems … the problems of success. So smile, and go through your day happy.
Hope I helped.
Thanks, I agree.
I feel bad when I read about your downs. Unfortunately there is not much I can do to help you. Sports always help me when I feel bad. They do not only make you happier during and after the activity but also help you in your life with their countless benefits, better health, looks and so on.
Aside from that I am excited about BH2. I enjoyed BH a lot, fun to play bullet hells are so rare these days. While I am a long time fan of your EBF series, I am honestly happier with a BH2 than an EBF5, not only because I love bullet hells but also because the gameplay in the EBF series can be repetitive and boring when you have played those games already too much and are more into faster paced games like me.
Keep up the good work! I wish you success with all your projects and plans, whether game related or not.
Thanks!
I have no idea if you spoke about your gf in other places. But from these few lines it does seem you kept a gf for the wrong reasons, Being lonely and needing self boost are stuff for friendship not for a soulmate. But you are young and you have evolution ahead in your life.
The other thing, come on. I really do not get your point. One is a RPG, the other is a shooter, different games for different kind of players. Why should you pretend players for an RPG go to a shooter – of course they will ask for another RPG.
In an RPG you created a world, and characters. They were like friends. They followed a path along with the player. I will remember forever them, like characters of a good book (thanks to you for this).
The other, what is. Click click click bang bang flash flash OMG a zillion points. I played that shooter and the platformer. But just because they remembered the RPG. I do not care to remember even the names of those games.
Matt,
I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling down. The breakup sucks man and I know that none of your fans, including me can possibly truly imagine what you’re going through. However, it will eventually get better.
I have a friend who loves your games. We especially loved EBF 3 and EBF 4. We both love Bullet Heaven too, and I think that you underestimate your fans. People like variance. You also need to have more faith in yourself. I know that you can do it sir! :shades:
I always love the little subtexts in your games that are either references or sexual jokes.
Anyhow, keep up the good work and keep chugging. As the saying goes, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”.
~Your Fan Walter :shades:
Thanks, dude.
Bro, many feels for you. I may not exactly know the feeling you’re going through, so all i can offer is this: stay strong my friend! :smirk: As to the people that demand the hell out of EBF 5…. don’t let them get you down! When it comes to any of your games, I’m all like :stars: and then when i beat it on epic I’m like :shades: job accomplished. Just keep cool, and i love your games man. :love2:
Thanks!
One more thing, there may be a lot of….. bias… toward the EBF series because that’s the only group of your games they’ve played. But if it comes down to it, there always will be at least this fan of your work! Keep at it bro. I’m also hyped for BH2, can’t wait! Stay strong, and keep on trucking bro! :smirk: To be honest though, You have many loyal fans and while some of them will probably never play some of your other titles, others (myself included) love all of your games. Also, if i could ask a silly question….. would you at least consider another Brawl Royale game? Please? Plox? :love2:
Sorry to hear about your gf, that’s gotta be rough. I hope you feel better! Also, I’m very excited about Bullet Heaven 2, and I’ll be sure to do a series of it on my YouTube channel when it comes out! :yay:
Life is a test Matt. you end up in situations that are either good or bad. The almighty is watching all, so just keep walking because there’s always light behind the darkness.
I´m really excited for your new Bullet Heaven, although I dont play many of Bullet Hell shooter.
In my opinion your Bullet Heaven and Adventure Story are at least as good as your Epic Battle Fantasy games. The people are only looking foreward to a new Epic Battle Fantasy because it is your most popular series.
And maybe the people who only played EBF4 on steam don´t know that you are a excellent bullet hell programmer.
I played every game you have ever made and I loved them all. I am patiently waiting for Bullet Heaven 2 since the patterns and enemies remind me of Touhou even more, and its perfect! *gets stuff ready to draw* I WILL DRAW FANART!!!
But anyway, all your games were stunning and the best flash games I have ever played in my life. :love: :love: :love: :love:
Thanks!
Sorry to hear about that
“Another thing that’s been getting me down is that all of my fans really want another Epic Battle Fantasy RPG, and don’t show as much enthusiasm for any other projects I do. ”
Now I’m no marketing expert but this sounds like a branding problem. It sounds like you want to reposition your brand where you have more breathing room. To be completely honest, you seem to have shot yourself in the foot here. Looking over your work, you feature your EBF characters EVERYWHERE, Nolegs in your logo, EBF characters in spinoff games, your site’s background ect. Hence your brand isn’t”Kupogames” I think there is a strong case to be made that your brand really is Epic Battle Fantasy. If you want to go different perhaps start there?
My 2 cents.
Regardless best of luck!
Yeah, I’m going to keep EBF in the name, as in EBF4.4:BH2.
I think that the end of your relationships very much helped you in reaching that 10 kilometers mark. :meh:
Yeah, pretty much.
I have little to offer you beyond the condolences of a stranger, but you may have them anyway.
Even if I like the Epic Battle Fantasy series more than Bullet Heaven, I genuinely enjoyed my time with BH anyway, and I will be buying the sequel on Steam as soon as I see it is available.
Also looking forward to that tower defense game you hinted at.
Thanks! That’s good to hear.
I’m sorry for you, dude.
But you can pull through it.
Also, I’m really excited for Bullet Heaven.
Thanks!
“Another thing that’s been getting me down is that all of my fans really want another Epic Battle Fantasy RPG, and don’t show as much enthusiasm for any other projects I do.”
Oh come on, I do show some interest… oh, but well, yea I guess that a lot of EBF4 (active) players do not…
BUT … I think that many players simply do not know about its existence, it is very similar to how people keep asking over and over and over again how to fix corrupted save files even thou there is above 20 topics on steam forum already, they apparently do not like reading and searching at all.
What I mean to say is that is only seems like everybody is only caring about EBF5 because:
1. Imagine a “normal person” that have just played EBF4, and he/she enjoys it, quite simple
2. After beating the game this person reaction will be something like “oh man, this was so awesome, GIMME MORE EPIC!”
3. So that leads us to 2 options
a) person doesn’t do any research at all etc. – his first think will be like “EBF4 was awesome… hmmm… then more awesomeness = EBF5, right?” as he/she does not acknowledges that your other games and projects such as Bullet Heaven 1&2, Adventure Story and Tower Defence exists.
b) person does some research – his first think will be like “EBF4 was awesome… hmmm… then if I want more awesomeness I will better check out what his next game is going to be!” and finds your other project – Bullet Heaven 2
It may seem like most people fall under first category but that is not true, it just seems like it because (no offence) stupidity is loud, while smartness will just patiently wait for its cake, uh, I mean game. Fear not!
That is a lot of text, sorry, hope it will be at least helpful. 🙁
BTW, about ideas for new character, if Matt is (visually) modelled after yourself, than how about new character being modelled after Halcyonic Falcon X’s avatar (blue haired girl)?
I’ve thought about it, but I’d rather not use other people’s characters for major roles.
Maybe not for a major role, but you could still sneak them into the game somewhere like how you had Meow Meow in EBF2 and EBF3, so HFX’s character could be an NPC or a summon with a related reference.
It can be like all of your other Easter-eggs through out the EBF series, its always fun trying to figure out the sources of those.