You don't know how much more vibrant the world is knowing that you still make games in it.
replyThank you for all of those hours. (And making the tools that help me teach my apprentices.)
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replyHey, as someone born in Ghana I just want you to know I think it's pretty cool you used a Mankala-based game as the minigame this time :)
reply(at least, that's what I'm prematurely concluding based on ten frames of trailer footage)
Having played it: yep! It's a solitaire Mankala/Awele game. You use the sowing mechanics to try to clear the board, with chains scoring exponential points.
replyHi Zach,
Fortune’s Foundation is my favorite game ever. Thank you!
replyThanks! I still play it often, which is not true of any of my other games.
replyMy favorite is 20th Century Food Court in Last Call BBS. Some of the other games remind me too much of work (I’ve bought all of them including the coincidence card games but I have only beaten this one), whereas this one reminds me of fun times I had making synths in Logic and VCV Rack for fun. Highly recommend!
replyI always wished they would make a management or simulation game, I think 90% of all programmers play Paradox games or Tycoon games etc. and I know their take on it would be amazing.
I just want to say thank you. I've bought most of your games and they scratch an itch for me that few things in life do. I really appreciate it!
replyAs others already have I just wanted to thank you. Spacechem is not only what made me start playing games again but playing with computers altogether after a rough couple of years, and will forever be one of my favourite gaming experiences. So happy to hear you’re still making so -and-aptly-called Zachlikes!
replyAny chance of making it onto GOG? I prefer to pickup games from there whenever I can.
replyIt's unlikely. We do have a DRM-free version of Kaizen on itch.io, which also includes a Steam key so that you can enjoy the best of both worlds:
replyCan you extrapolate a bit? Why is GOG an undesirable platform to be on, especially as you seem to be fine with DRM-free releases elsewhere (which is awesome, btw)
replyFinally, thank you for SpaceChem! Still great, even after all these years
My understanding is that GOG is not necessarily undesirable, but they are very selective: Unlike Steam or Itch, you have to convince them that it's worth their while to sell your game. And their choices of what (not) to sell are not infrequently baffling. Lots of developers have gotten burned by that, including Zachtronics
replyI have a hard time believing that GOG rejected a Zachtronics game. They're popular, high quality, and a good match for the GOG audience. An GOG already sells several of them (I own SHENZHEN I/O and Spacechem on GOG).
replyWell, it has happened before:
replyhttps://www.gamesindustry.biz/confusion-surrounds-gogs-rejec...
Really weird decision. Though it was added to GOG about 3 weeks after that article was written.
replyAnd GOG has its share of slop (e.g. a dozen Whale Rock Games which have obviously fake reviews).
The rejection of Opus Magnum got a lot of attention at the time, which probably caused GOG to reconsider. But most developers don't get that kind of attention, if a game of theirs is rejected. I've seen multiple developers of games that I like, saying that they've given up on GOG because of the curation
replyThe Turing Complete dev was pretty unhappy with them and ended up leaving again despite having been accepted and making it onto the GOG store.
replyWhat were they unhappy about? Do you have a link to further information?
replyI adore your games. Would be curious to know your thoughts about using AI for game development. Personally I find it gross, but I am trying to be open to different views.
replyIt's good at some things (research and programming) and terrible at others (art and game design). In general, I try to look past the tools being used and focus on what is being made.
replySurprising to see you endorsing seeing past the tools as a maker of games whose audience simply cares more about the problem being solved than what gets actually made.
replyOf course I cannot vouch that there aren't people who played games like Shenzhen I/O because they cared about building signs for a fictional corporation.
Zach I love your games! Thank you! Keep em coming!
replyLove your games Zach! Hope my kids will take to them at some point.
replyThanks for EXAPUNKS! I love it.
replylove your games zach! keep making cool stuff!
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