A total masterpiece!
Reviews for "Avant-Garde"
The game is simple in its construction and does not force someone to really think about what they're doing. The only thing to beat is the clock, really - and there should be some kind of rewarding end-scene for doing so, or an extension of the star-merits, so that a seasoned player can try to beat their old score. Perhaps there should be more incentive to compete against or befriend other artists, other than merely being able to try new techniques. Even a "New Game +" option or some medals would add to this game.
As an idea, you could present something of a side-game by allowing the player to identify some famous works from the artists involved, allowing the player to gain inspiration or insight into technique by having some sense of what they're looking at. A short bio of the other artists, or even a generated bio of the player would add a little interest to art fans.
That having been said (I know... I type too much), this is one of the finest games I've played in terms of historical interest, interest in art, and even background music. I'd really like to help plan out a v2.0 . This delight will always be one of my favorites.
I nearly ignored calling my 90 year old grandmother to wish her happy birthday. That is how compelling and original this game is.
The first thing that got me was the music. It instantly puts you in the right mood: cultured, cultivated, but delicate and sad. It perfectly captures the underdog mood of the beginning, which is another place this game shines. Basically, for the first 7-10 years, your work is inferior and you have few friends in the art world. It makes placing in the annual Salon this amazing, worthwhile breakthrough. And when you get a gold medal, I haven't had a similar feeling of accomplishment in another RPG in a long time.
One thing I absolutely loved, and ached to see more, were scripted scenes like at the first Salon. It was this great combination of historical figures being witty and snark. THAT and the music set the scene. If more of these scenes unfolded over the course of 40 years, and varied depending on which movements you followed, who you befriended or kept a rival, I would pay money for that.
Why not 5 stars? While the range of movements are great, they at times feel more like stats building pieces than anything. Why make an Abstractionism piece, for instance, except for kicks? The Salon also never seemed to accept anything except Realism. At the beginning of the game until the 1880's (?) or so, that is very accurate. As times change, however, different styles would come into vogue. When Art Noveau came, for example, I was shocked it kept getting rejected.
So yes, I'm rambling, but that is how compelling this game is to me. It is incredible and original, and with some changes in a sequel it could be superb. Thank you.
Really, really good game! But.. it needs some improvements, for example:
1)The background(for what concern paintings and,not always,music) has to be consistent with the year in the game; so with the contemporary trends and movements(for example, when the gamer discover the impressionism, the background could change with a Renoir painting).
2)Somehow this is connected with the first point. I had the feeling that some artistic movements where advantaged. And this could be historically correct for some reason (and only in certain contexts), but i would try to conceptually expand the contexts as the game goes on(like the art saloon, the cafè,ecc.), in order to make the game itself more coherent with the history of art and valorize every movement.
3)Implement the dialogues with the other artists.
This is what i would actually change. Keep up the good work!
Great so far! If this game is really in alpha I'm excited to see where it will go from here.
My suggestion is more character interaction. When you have this many historical characters in one place, it's basically a given that you should interact with them.
Also, while it may be historically accurate, I have noticed that the salon rejects art based on what movement you pick. Realism has a high chance of getting accepted, but impressionism often gets rejected no matter how great it is. This may be historically accurate, but it's frustrating. You might want to implement a way to get a particular movement 'realized'.