Hey, audio designer on the current patch of Knoblins here. I just recorded a promo vid, had some real fun using the effects on the drums. You can really make some of the sounds go crazy with the built in effects! Amazing.
I like the game's main concept, which is mixing the sounds of various monsters on the stage to try to make cool and interesting beats with them. The unique looks and sounds of each monster piqued my interest and that was why I ended up buying the game. This is where the game shines and holds all, if not most, of its value.
The other part of this game that I'm more conflicted about is the hatching mechanic at the lab. I understand this is here to prolong the gameplay and to make receiving new monsters more exciting, but it doesn't feel rewarding. The amount of time you end up waiting is long enough to make me put the game away and short enough to make receiving the new monster feel not that exciting.
Something I think could have worked better for introducing new monsters would have a random set of monsters appear each day on a separate stage, these could be new ones or ones you already have in your collection. Once you have seen them at least once and have them in your collection, you could then use them like you currently do on the stage. This I think would add more excitement to open the game each day to see what new monsters you might find, and the randomized set could be used as a challenge/constraint for the player each day.
Regardless, I still really like the game and can't wait to see what else you make!
Yea we thought a lot about how best to unlock the creatures. At one point we had a little rhythm game and even a breeding program over there but ultimately we landed on this idle sort of game where you can speed up incubation by participating in it.
We also wanted to balance a few key points that we saw. First and foremost, we wanted to introduce the Knoblins slowly so the game could function as its own tutorial. However we also wanted to ensure that the player would have a full set of Knoblins within the first ten minutes of opening the game. Towards the end of the unlock path, we wanted a long enough time frame that it would take the average player a couple days to unlock all the creatures, however we still wanted the unlocks to be completable within a day for highly engaged players. Finally, it was important to me that the creatures are introduced in a certain order to ensure the first beats you’re making sound especially good. Ultimately, I am pretty happy where this all ended up in terms of idle based gameplay.
I do like your idea of a daily sort of stage playing its own song - I am a big fan of daily content for games. Appreciate your comment and ideas!
This is plainly stupid! what is the concept? How do I play it? Why do I love it? it turned my room into a techno temple or cyber church? I hooked it up to speakers and boom! Just curious, will there be aditional content in the future?
First, I should say that we have no plans in the foreseeable future for any additional content. Other projects are currently requiring my time.
However, there are a few (potentially radical) ideas on how to expand Knoblins that I’d personally like to explore when time permits. Not sure if any of these will bear fruit, but it is something I’m kicking around :D
tbh, doing the podcast, it is hard to keep up with all the great Playdate games coming out now - both in time and financially - but once I watched the video I had to give it a go!!!! Sideloading now. Keep up the amazing work!
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thanks for posting R$ :D
I like the game's main concept, which is mixing the sounds of various monsters on the stage to try to make cool and interesting beats with them. The unique looks and sounds of each monster piqued my interest and that was why I ended up buying the game. This is where the game shines and holds all, if not most, of its value.
The other part of this game that I'm more conflicted about is the hatching mechanic at the lab. I understand this is here to prolong the gameplay and to make receiving new monsters more exciting, but it doesn't feel rewarding. The amount of time you end up waiting is long enough to make me put the game away and short enough to make receiving the new monster feel not that exciting.
Something I think could have worked better for introducing new monsters would have a random set of monsters appear each day on a separate stage, these could be new ones or ones you already have in your collection. Once you have seen them at least once and have them in your collection, you could then use them like you currently do on the stage. This I think would add more excitement to open the game each day to see what new monsters you might find, and the randomized set could be used as a challenge/constraint for the player each day.
Regardless, I still really like the game and can't wait to see what else you make!
thanks for your feedback!
Yea we thought a lot about how best to unlock the creatures. At one point we had a little rhythm game and even a breeding program over there but ultimately we landed on this idle sort of game where you can speed up incubation by participating in it.
We also wanted to balance a few key points that we saw. First and foremost, we wanted to introduce the Knoblins slowly so the game could function as its own tutorial. However we also wanted to ensure that the player would have a full set of Knoblins within the first ten minutes of opening the game. Towards the end of the unlock path, we wanted a long enough time frame that it would take the average player a couple days to unlock all the creatures, however we still wanted the unlocks to be completable within a day for highly engaged players. Finally, it was important to me that the creatures are introduced in a certain order to ensure the first beats you’re making sound especially good. Ultimately, I am pretty happy where this all ended up in terms of idle based gameplay.
I do like your idea of a daily sort of stage playing its own song - I am a big fan of daily content for games. Appreciate your comment and ideas!
This is plainly stupid! what is the concept? How do I play it? Why do I love it? it turned my room into a techno temple or cyber church? I hooked it up to speakers and boom! Just curious, will there be aditional content in the future?
LOL thank you Eddie
First, I should say that we have no plans in the foreseeable future for any additional content. Other projects are currently requiring my time.
However, there are a few (potentially radical) ideas on how to expand Knoblins that I’d personally like to explore when time permits. Not sure if any of these will bear fruit, but it is something I’m kicking around :D
I'd buy an expansion!
HOLY SHYT...That YouTube video is a BOPPPPP...
tbh, doing the podcast, it is hard to keep up with all the great Playdate games coming out now - both in time and financially - but once I watched the video I had to give it a go!!!! Sideloading now. Keep up the amazing work!
thank you so much! And thank you for bringing all of us the podcast :D Hope you enjoy crankin those Knoblins
Great game. You should submit it to the catalog
thank you :D we’d love to release on catalog with that Bluetooth speaker!