KickStarter Baldr's Squid Isekai: A Parody - now available on Early Access

[Caim]

Two outta three reviews are negative, not a good start.

 

[Tyranicon]

tentacles

View attachment 48261

I'm not sure about how I feel about that purple thing on the side of her face. The art style clashes with the rest of the image and it kind of looks a bit like a 3d asset that's been photoshopped on (especially the eye and teeth). It probably makes me feel more uneasy with it than I would if it were drawn in the same style, so that might be a good thing if that's what you're going for.

I have no idea how the artist makes these sprites, the only thing I asked for was no AI use.

So of course a lot of internet experts think all the characters are AI-generated.

Two outta three reviews are negative, not a good start.

Eh, my shit is borderline outsider art so it's not surprising at all. Also I think my last game holds some kind of record on steam for the lowest review-to-sale ratio, because lots of people don't want to leave a review for a porn game.

Although I'm hoping for more detailed feedback on the game instead of what I got so far.

 

[Tyranicon]

If you guys are interested in how the Early Access launch of Baldr's Squid Isekai went, here's a snapshot.

Just pure facts up front:

• Months in active development: 4
• Months with steam page visible: 6
• Anticipated 1.0 launch date: around this June
• Anticipated average playtime: 10 hours
• Wishlists at launch: about 1k
• Development budget: 10k+ USD (not depleted)
• Successful kickstarter?: Yes, accounts for the above budget
• Developer community: very small but excited
• Genre: hyper niche cRPG rogue-lite, lore-based porn game (yes you read that right)
• Copies sold in launch week: under 300
• Profit so far: None
• Poverty status: still there
• Results expected?: Entirely

game page (NSFW): https://store.steampowered.com/app/2610440/Baldrs_Squid_Isekai_A_Parody/

Just more data for you guys. To be fair, this game is more of a joke than an earnest attempt to make a commercial product and the low launch week turnout is entirely expected, so I'm not scrambling to sell my car or something.

 

[lukaszek]

Genre: hyper niche cRPG Rogue-lite, Lore-based Porn Game (yes you read that right)

you just need to work a bit on your genre definition, you are almost there. For example ShaRkPG was doing ok

 

[Dr Skeleton]

I have no idea how the artist makes these sprites, the only thing I asked for was no AI use.

So of course a lot of internet experts think all the characters are AI-generated.

I think it comes down to:

- AI art is the new “thing” both for people with no money or talent to use and for other people to hate, so many are jumpy about it, some to the point of autistic spergouts like the guy on Steam.
- It does have some of that super smooth, shiny look to it that a lot of AI art has. I don’t think it’s AI art, if it is, it’s very good or heavily edited, but then whoever is making these has the shit luck of their art style looking a bit like AI art. I wonder how long before artists start getting accused of using AI because AI rips off their style so often people become conditioned to associate a specific style with AI.
- The biggest one: the style difference between the pixel art and the large character CGs is huge. People see that and go “this is completely different, was this part AI generated?” even if it’s not.
I don’t have a solution. Maybe other than remake the art in one style but that’s not accounting for
Maybe no solution is needed. Some will leave because of the anti-AI crusade, but if you change the style now I guarantee you’ll get some “scummy dev changes art after being caught using AI” comments, so it’s probably not worth it.

 

[Lord_Potato]

If you guys are interested in how the Early Access launch of Baldr's Squid Isekai went, here's a snapshot.

Just pure facts up front:

• Months in active development: 4
• Months with steam page visible: 6
• Anticipated 1.0 launch date: around this June
• Anticipated average playtime: 10 hours
• Wishlists at launch: about 1k
• Development budget: 10k+ USD (not depleted)
• Successful kickstarter?: Yes, accounts for the above budget
• Developer community: very small but excited
• Genre: hyper niche cRPG rogue-lite, lore-based porn game (yes you read that right)
• Copies sold in launch week: under 300
• Profit so far: None
• Poverty status: still there
• Results expected?: Entirely

game page (NSFW): https://store.steampowered.com/app/2610440/Baldrs_Squid_Isekai_A_Parody/

Just more data for you guys. To be fair, this game is more of a joke than an earnest attempt to make a commercial product and the low launch week turnout is entirely expected, so I'm not scrambling to sell my car or something.

You gathered 11k $ (probably after taxes and KS share its more like 8k) from Kickstarter, right? So it seems the game almost funded itself and most of the sales you get from it will be net profit?

I'm not saying its a sustainable business model, but would you say you got some breathing space to focus on other, more robust projects once 1.0 launches in June July August?

 

[Tyranicon]

You gathered 11k $ (probably after taxes and KS share its more like 8k) from Kickstarter, right? So it seems the game almost funded itself and most of the sales you get from it will be net profit?

I'm not saying its a sustainable business model, but would you say you got some breathing space to focus on other, more robust projects once 1.0 launches in June July August?

Yes, you're right, I have to technically count the budget itself as revenue as well. But it's just easier if I stick to the old format of subtracting budget from profits. I've also been told to count work hours as opportunity cost, but if I do that I'll never make profit.

Also I'm not in any trouble. You can tell this because I'm taking something like 640 hours to make something that is a joke (and also evolving into what is clearly outsider art).

I'm actually growing more and more excited into what BSI is becoming, as a parallel storyline that explores the strange cosmology of my setting.

Fuck, maybe I am in trouble. Outsider artists almost never make money.

 

[Tyranicon]

I made a music video . It's creepy as all hell.

 

[ropetight]

I made a music video . It's creepy as all hell.

Is this all AI generated?
Did tools became that good in a year-or-so or you just fiddle with prompts indefinetely?

 

[Tyranicon]

I made a music video . It's creepy as all hell.

Is this all AI generated?
Did tools became that good in a year-or-so or you just fiddle with prompts indefinetely?

Lyrics & video editing: me

Thumbnail sprite art: contracted artist

As for everything else, the music is by SUNO AI, most of the visuals are stock video. There's only 1 AI-generated image in the video, and you probably know which one it is (it's the background for the thumbnail).

It took a fair amount of work.

 

[ropetight]

I made a music video . It's creepy as all hell.

Is this all AI generated?
Did tools became that good in a year-or-so or you just fiddle with prompts indefinetely?

Lyrics & video editing: me

Thumbnail sprite art: contracted artist

As for everything else, the music is by SUNO AI, most of the visuals are stock video. There's only 1 AI-generated image in the video, and you probably know which one it is (it's the background for the thumbnail).

It took a fair amount of work.

Sorry for assuming it was just a quick trick, it just never occured to me that music video is something you would spend a lot of time on.
I stand corrected.

 

[KafkaBot]

Eh, my shit is borderline outsider art so it's not surprising at all. Also I think my last game holds some kind of record on steam for the lowest review-to-sale ratio, because lots of people don't want to leave a review for a porn game.

Bunch of cowards.

Speaking of that game (I assume it is Battle Brothel), I've always wanted to ask: why did you decide to make the prequel to Singularity - a "clean" game - a full-blown pornographic affair? I've always been a bit amused by it, frankly.

 

[Tyranicon]

Bunch of cowards.

Speaking of which, I've always wanted to ask: why did you decide to make the prequel to Singularity - a "clean" game - a full-blown pornographic affair? I've always been a bit amused by it, frankly.

There is actually a decent chance I might have done so due to a drunken bet, the circumstances of which I may have conveniently forgotten.

The more serious answer is that the previous two SFW games were entirely enclosed from the city and the rest of the setting. I needed an organization to open that up, and I decided on the Courtesans. And being what they were, I decided to make it an explicit porn game because that made sense.

Of course, I also like adding sex in my games and it's been on my to-do for a while, and I certainly don't mind the extra audience/money that opens up.

 

[Infinitron]

 

[mediocrepoet]

Alright, so I've taken a glance at this quick and will have to check it out more later. My first impressions from the deep and intricate character creation is as follows:

• Font is mostly okay, but I had a few readability issues. It's not the end of the world or incomprehensible by any stretch, just figured I'd mention it in case it's easy to change/fix/have an option to swap. What problem I had specifically? I don't know. I didn't think to write it down until now, so when I get back to it, I'll try and see where I have issues.
  • EDIT: Went a tiny bit further and saw the font dialogue. Ok.
• I enjoy the class descriptions but "Adventurer" sounds more like a fluffer than a buffer. YMMV. ... "Horny Bard" definitely sounds like a fluffer.
• The classes definitely made me reminisce about my tabletop days.
• I was one character short for my preferred surname for the EA build. Not really a big deal, but more parser space would be nice.
• I like how the class is about the character the player creates but background is about the player.
• Is it AI VA and music?
• Opening is some bullshit. Did you even watch the beginning of BG3? Gaylord.

 

[Tyranicon]

Alright, so I've taken a glance at this quick and will have to check it out more later. My first impressions from the deep and intricate character creation is as follows:

• Font is mostly okay, but I had a few readability issues. It's not the end of the world or incomprehensible by any stretch, just figured I'd mention it in case it's easy to change/fix/have an option to swap. What problem I had specifically? I don't know. I didn't think to write it down until now, so when I get back to it, I'll try and see where I have issues.
  • EDIT: Went a tiny bit further and saw the font dialogue. Ok.
• I enjoy the class descriptions but "Adventurer" sounds more like a fluffer than a buffer. YMMV. ... "Horny Bard" definitely sounds like a fluffer.
• The classes definitely made me reminisce about my tabletop days.
• I was one character short for my preferred surname for the EA build. Not really a big deal, but more parser space would be nice.
• I like how the class is about the character the player creates but background is about the player.
• Is it AI VA and music?
• Opening is some bullshit. Did you even watch the beginning of BG3? Gaylord.

Yeah, you have the ability to change the font once you get past chargen. Music is real, voice is AI.

What do you mean by

• Opening is some bullshit. Did you even watch the beginning of BG3? Gaylord.

 

[mediocrepoet]

What do you mean by

• Opening is some bullshit. Did you even watch the beginning of BG3? Gaylord.

Dumb joke in response to your in-game dumb jokes. Basically about how BG3's intro is stupidly epic and BSI's intro is very low key.

I kinda like the creepy demon face four eyes chick. Still not a porn fiend, but not creeped out.

 

[Tyranicon]

What do you mean by

• Opening is some bullshit. Did you even watch the beginning of BG3? Gaylord.

Dumb joke in response to your in-game dumb jokes. Basically about how BG3's intro is stupidly epic and BSI's intro is very low key.

I kinda like the creepy demon face four eyes chick. Still not a porn fiend, but not creeped out.

Ah. I was originally going to include some microsoft paint renditions of dragons attacking a big-boobed squid or something as the opening cinematic.

Actually, I still might.

 

[santino27]

0.1.7 Patch Notes:

Hi everyone!

As promised, the first major content update has been added to the game. This patch brings with it a whole new area of the Wilds along with the Dwarf faction and its boss.

I’ve also greatly extended the skill trees, including one new passive or active skill for all player classes, the ability to increase speed/initiative, melee and ranged accuracy, and your max RP pool. I’ve also increased the level cap to 4 and added a full skill reset option. Most importantly, you can now upgrade your companion’s skills as well (except hired troops, which work differently).

All this required a great deal of manual scripting, which is not ideal, so there may be some bugs or glitches. If you find any, please report them to the Steam discussion forum or on Discord and I’ll fix them as quickly as possible.

I’ve also added a new character and some story content/cutscenes. You can access this by finding a creepy door in the crossroads area between the dorms and the commissary, after you beat the goblin boss.

I was planning on adding some items, but they will take some more time to cook. I'll probably release a small update in early May to add a sex scene for Morgana and additional story content.

There are also various balancing changes, such as exiting the dungeon no longer requiring exit keys on Easy Mode. The game will also start in fullscreen but can be toggled to windowed with f4.

Some minor bugs and typos were fixed but apparently the initial launch was relatively bug-free (which I find hard to believe) outside of some known issues like exiting the game window during combat.

That’s it! I hope you enjoy the game :D

 

[Tyranicon]

0.3.1 patch notes

Hello everyone! The next big update is here, bringing the elves and a third area to the wilds, along with their Forest Guardian boss. I’ve also added a sex scene for Morgana and Ferrand.

By now, I’d estimate the game to be around 75% complete. What’s left to do is a smaller final area with some unique enemies and the last boss, ending the game, new game+ and additional story elements. There are also other minor mechanics that need to be added, like food/eating (although that’s mostly story related).

And of course, still plenty of bugs left to squash. I will probably be releasing a small bug fix patch soon as I’m aware there are plenty of them still around (and I’m sure this new update will introduce new ones).

But, Baldr’s Squid Isekai is in its final stretch. I anticipate the 1.0 full release will be sometime around mid or late August.

As I said before, the game is mostly made by me as a big joke, and also to experiment with a hundred different things, and it’s proven to be a great learning experience. I hope you’ll enjoy the final product, and that my future games will be better because of what I’ve learned here :D.

 

[Gahbreeil]

If you guys are interested in how the Early Access launch of Baldr's Squid Isekai went, here's a snapshot.

Just pure facts up front:

• Months in active development: 4
• Months with steam page visible: 6
• Anticipated 1.0 launch date: around this June
• Anticipated average playtime: 10 hours
• Wishlists at launch: about 1k
• Development budget: 10k+ USD (not depleted)
• Successful kickstarter?: Yes, accounts for the above budget
• Developer community: very small but excited
• Genre: hyper niche cRPG rogue-lite, lore-based porn game (yes you read that right)
• Copies sold in launch week: under 300
• Profit so far: None
• Poverty status: still there
• Results expected?: Entirely

game page (NSFW): https://store.steampowered.com/app/2610440/Baldrs_Squid_Isekai_A_Parody/

Just more data for you guys. To be fair, this game is more of a joke than an earnest attempt to make a commercial product and the low launch week turnout is entirely expected, so I'm not scrambling to sell my car or something.

You've actually decided to fund this exact game that this thread is about with a ten thousand United States Dollars? Before I leave, as I am clearly unwanted here, can you show a screenshot of what you've pledged on Kickstarter?

 

[Tyranicon]

You've actually decided to fund this exact game that this thread is about with a ten thousand United States Dollars? Before I leave, as I am clearly unwanted here, can you show a screenshot of what you've pledged on Kickstarter?

Honestly not really sure what you mean by either question. I'm the dev, I didn't "pledge" anything, that's terminology for backers. I'm assuming you mean what promises I made?

 

[Gahbreeil]

Honestly not really sure what you mean by either question. I'm the dev, I didn't "pledge" anything, that's terminology for backers. I'm assuming you mean what promises I made?

Yes, the promises that you have made. I didn't ever use Kickstarter although I know what it is, naturally, the word pledge means the backing of the project. Is there really no better use for a whopping 10k?

 

[Zombra]

Honestly not really sure what you mean by either question. I'm the dev, I didn't "pledge" anything, that's terminology for backers. I'm assuming you mean what promises I made?

Yes, the promises that you have made. I didn't ever use Kickstarter although I know what it is, naturally, the word pledge means the backing of the project. Is there really no better use for a whopping 10k?

What? You don't think a developer should spend money to develop a project which they will later sell and get their money back plus profits?

 

[Tyranicon]

Yes, the promises that you have made. I didn't ever use Kickstarter although I know what it is, naturally, the word pledge means the backing of the project.

Here's a link to the kickstarter for more info: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1619485858/baldrs-squid-isekai-a-parody

Is there really no better use for a whopping 10k?

As in making a better game or contributing to finding a cure for cancer?

There are probably always better things than producing a snarky anime porn game purely to throw shit at BG3.

I also can't tell if your use of "whopping" is sarcasm or not, but 10k is not really a large budget for a full game, even a small one. It definitely didn't pay for the entirety of this game.