Inside a Star-filled Sky - Name Your Price ($1.75 minimum to cover fees)

ihadFG

ihadFG

CAGiversary!
Feedback
152 (100%)
http://insideastarfilledsky.net/

A brand new release for only $1.75!

Jason Rohrer (the creator of games like Passage and Sleep is Death) has just released his latest game, called Inside a Star-filled Sky. He is offering it at release for purchase at any price you want with a minimum of $1.75 to cover payment processing fees and download bandwidth. Anything above $1.75 is a donation directly to the developer. This offer says it will only be available for a limited time.

The game has no DRM and is open source. Plus it works on PC, Mac, and Linux. So if you want to support that kind of stuff, then feel free to donate whatever amount you feel fits. The developer is the type of guy that just wants more people to be able to enjoy his games, so if you can't afford to donate much, don't feel bad!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Upvote 0 Downvote
This game is pretty strange. Though I can't tell if it's strange for a Jason Rohrer joint or not. Definitely worth checking out for a couple bucks.
 
You know that feeling you get in Portal when you understand exactly how the physics affect your entry and exit of the portal? I had a moment like that with this game last night. I had gone inside one of the tokens. Then, I entered a token inside that token. I realized I was too weak to fight the enemies two levels in so I went inside myself to try to upgrade my powers. I got so deep, I forgot where I was until I started coming back up through the levels. Reminds me a bit of Inception in that way. Jason Rohrer has executed on some mind boggling concepts here.
 
interesting concept, will have to check this out

got it for $6.75, fun so far
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I would get this just to support the developer but it's not really a "name your price" if there's a minimum, so I will not be getting it.
 
[quote name='GenPirate']I would get this just to support the developer but it's not really a "name your price" if there's a minimum, so I will not be getting it.[/QUOTE]

So... You want to support him but only if it cost you less than $1.75 because not only should he pour hours into creating something original, he should also eat the costs of digital distribution.

Gotta love people with the word pirate in their names.
 
Is it a good idea for the developer to have prefilled the donation field with an amount ($10)?

It sends a signal that I should feel guilty if I pay less than $11.75. I don't want to feel bad about paying less than the developer expects to receive, and I don't want to spend that amount, so I'm just going to continue on my way.
 
[quote name='GenPirate']I would get this just to support the developer but it's not really a "name your price" if there's a minimum, so I will not be getting it.[/QUOTE]

Your logic makes no sense whatsoever. First of all, if you really wanted to support the developer, you wouldn't be complaining about a measly minimum of $1.75 for a brand new release. Second of all, it IS still name your price even with a minimum, because you ARE naming your price. It's not like the minimum price is anything ridiculous either. Technically, the developer is calling it "Name Your Donation" though, and is saying that $1.75 is the cost to buy the game, and anything beyond that is a donation. You should be thankful that the developer is releasing a brand new game with such a great price scheme rather than complaining about an extremely low minimum price (which is only there to stop the already poor developer from losing money).

[quote name='11440']Is it a good idea for the developer to have prefilled the donation field with an amount ($10)?

It sends a signal that I should feel guilty if I pay less than $11.75. I don't want to feel bad about paying less than the developer expects to receive, and I don't want to spend that amount, so I'm just going to continue on my way.[/QUOTE]

I'm sure the developer would be happy to simply have more people enjoying his games. At the very least, if you pay the minimum of $1.75, you aren't hurting the developer in any way. So I'd say you have no reason to feel guilty for paying less than $11.75. And any donation is better than no donation, so you shouldn't feel guilty about getting the game, even if you only donate a buck or something.
 
I understand that naming your price feels very different when there's a minimum, but it's a simple and effective way to keep jerks from derailing he project by paying a penny and thinking they're clever for doing so.

I've enjoyed everything Rohrer has done so far, so I'll definitely pick this up. I'll probably put in $5 or so, and then if it's good, I'll encourage other people to buy it, or buy more copies and gift them to friends, or what have you.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
[quote name='GenPirate']I would get this just to support the developer but it's not really a "name your price" if there's a minimum, so I will not be getting it.[/QUOTE]

If a $1.75 minimum is too much for you, then you clearly were only interested in "supporting the developer" by paying 1 cent. I hate people.
 
Quit your fucking whining. This man did something. What the hell have you done? He can charge whatever he wants. His time put in is worth cash. Plain and simple. Do we not remember that a man is entitled to the sweat from his brow?

It's disgusting that some people live purely subtractive lives. They give nothing back and only take. How about you put down the Cheetos, get up off your ass, and create something? Then maybe you'd feel differently about giving your time away for next to nothing.
 
So, enough arguing in this thread.

How about we talk about the actual gameplay? What is this game like? I see screenshots of the game on the site, but I can't find gameplay videos on youtube or anything.
 
OK, I think I'm going to do this. Will toss in at least $5. The concept's just too interesting, I can't stop thinking about it.

But not just yet. I've been given a list of honeydos and if I buy and download the game right now, I'll get lost diving into enemies/powerups/tokens/myself and find that there's a couch at the other end.
 
[quote name='GenPirate']I would get this just to support the developer but it's not really a "name your price" if there's a minimum, so I will not be getting it.[/QUOTE]

why don't you go play your 1 cent copies of games from the Humble Indie Bundles and gtfo then:bomb:

In for one... donated $1 on top of the $1.75
 
I don't know what is more sad--enough cheapskates ripped off these guys that there is a "minimum" of higher than some Steam commercial game prices on a "name your price" setup, or that it really costs $1.75 minimum to distribute a game electronically (which I actually doubt).
 
[quote name='turls']I don't know what is more sad--enough cheapskates ripped off these guys that there is a "minimum" of higher than some Steam commercial game prices on a "name your price" setup, or that it really costs $1.75 minimum to distribute a game electronically (which I actually doubt).[/QUOTE]

Well when the developer has to host his own website and bandwith for the downloads of the game, it can get quite a bit more expensive than distributing through Steam or a publisher. From what I know about the developer, the minimum amount is only there to ensure he doesn't lose any money and can continue to make games, because he is already basically living off of the bare minimum that his family can get by on.
 
[quote name='NamPaehc']So... You want to support him but only if it cost you less than $1.75 because not only should he pour hours into creating something original, he should also eat the costs of digital distribution.

Gotta love people with the word pirate in their names.[/QUOTE]
well said :applause:
 
My problem with these "name your own price" schemes is that you pay upfront. I think an indie developer should try a scheme that asks you pay AFTER you download/try the game.

I dont feel inclined to spend more than $1.75 if I have no idea what the game even is, nor the quality.

Thoughts?
 
[quote name='bassec']My problem with these "name your own price" schemes is that you pay upfront. I think an indie developer should try a scheme that asks you pay AFTER you download/try the game.

I dont feel inclined to spend more than $1.75 if I have no idea what the game even is, nor the quality.

Thoughts?[/QUOTE]

Well you could always pay the $1.75 up front, and then if you like the game and want to support the developer, you could donate money to him afterwards.
 
[quote name='ihadFG']Well when the developer has to host his own website and bandwith for the downloads of the game, it can get quite a bit more expensive than distributing through Steam or a publisher. From what I know about the developer, the minimum amount is only there to ensure he doesn't lose any money and can continue to make games, because he is already basically living off of the bare minimum that his family can get by on.[/QUOTE]

I don't think I'll ever play this game, but after reading that page I'm going to buy it just to support this guy's lifestyle. I'm on board with 95% of what he says and am impressed that he seems to live his principles.

The people who think they can "support" a developer by paying LESS than the distribution cost blow my mind. Not sure where to even start with that one.
 
Yep that is a good suggestion, and I'm sure people are doing that. Buying for the min the going back and offering more if they enjoyed.
 
[quote name='bassec']My problem with these "name your own price" schemes is that you pay upfront. I think an indie developer should try a scheme that asks you pay AFTER you download/try the game.

I dont feel inclined to spend more than $1.75 if I have no idea what the game even is, nor the quality.

Thoughts?[/QUOTE]

Its called Shareware. Don't know if that concept has completely failed or not, but that's what you had in the 80s and 90s before PayPal.
 
Here is a link to a review done by PC Gamer: http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/02/13/inside-a-star-filled-sky-preview/

For the super lazy the review describes the game as a top down shooter with the item world mechanic from Disgaea in which you can enter the enemies, power-ups, or even yourself to play a new unique level to increase or decrease the level/abilities of that which you entered. This can go on infinitely as you enter the enemies inside your power-ups or the power-ups inside those enemies. From what I've gathered from the official website it seems like everything is procedurally generated and there is no story/endgame.

I don't know if I would normally go for another top down shooter but the twist is enough to get me to pay a couple bucks to try it out.
 
[quote name='ihadFG']Well when the developer has to host his own website and bandwith for the downloads of the game, it can get quite a bit more expensive than distributing through Steam or a publisher. From what I know about the developer, the minimum amount is only there to ensure he doesn't lose any money and can continue to make games, because he is already basically living off of the bare minimum that his family can get by on.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for that info- I'll donate more when I pick up this game.
 
[quote name='ihadFG']Well when the developer has to host his own website and bandwith for the downloads of the game, it can get quite a bit more expensive than distributing through Steam or a publisher. From what I know about the developer, the minimum amount is only there to ensure he doesn't lose any money and can continue to make games, because he is already basically living off of the bare minimum that his family can get by on.[/QUOTE]

Just read that link... damn. Sounds pretty nice too.
 
Thanks op, payed $4. Compiled and tested on Ubuntu 10.04, looks good. Will have to wait till tomorrow to actually play it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top