Insanity: Berzerk for the PCE

ParanoiaDragon · 07/18/2009, 11:56 PM

I will preorder Insanity, I guarentee!

hoobs88 · 07/19/2009, 12:00 AM

How much for the pre-order?

RoyVegas · 07/19/2009, 12:39 AM

Well theres the proof. If you want to start taking preorders to help pay for the first bundle you print, there are people willing to help out

Arkhan Asylum · 07/19/2009, 03:49 AM

Well, sweet!

Perhaps I will do this then, and get everything for it ready once the game is ready to be sent off to the pressing-people

Arjak · 07/23/2009, 03:24 PM

I had a dream about going to a game con and buying your game, Arkhan!

Arkhan Asylum · 07/23/2009, 06:35 PM

Quote from: Arjak on 07/23/2009, 03:24 PMI had a dream about going to a game con and buying your game, Arkhan!

you can do that in october if you come to cleveland ohio , rofl

Arkhan Asylum · 07/24/2009, 05:36 PM

Im having alot of trouble finding a place that will do a replication run on such a small quantity of discs.

For those who dont know...

Replication: Make a glass master, use it to make CDs
Duplication: Use expensive equipment and duplicate to high quality CD-Rs

one place uses Teiyo green dye discs.

My question is, if the pro CD-R route (same jewel case design, same cd label print, different media) becomes the actual result, is everyone OK with this, and what media would be best to seek out?

I know of diamond silverbacks, teiyo green dyes (heard of them, but never used/seen them), and maybe another Teiyo media....

any suggestions/reasonings would be appreciated!

Nazi NecroPhile · 07/24/2009, 06:07 PM

Quote from: Psycho Arkhan on 07/24/2009, 05:36 PMMy question is, if the pro CD-R route (same jewel case design, same cd label print, different media) becomes the actual result, is everyone OK with this, and what media would be best to seek out?

Mind you, I'll still buy a copy if it ends up on CD-R, but I would much, much, much rather see it stamped out on real discs. My Duo refuses to play CD-Rs of any type (two copies of Meteor Blaster DX and I can't play either

), and I also question the long term viability of CD-Rs; I know good ones are supposed to last beyond the century mark, but they're undeniably more fragile and are perceived as cheap and crappy. How few were you planning on doing? A quick surf o' the web turned up a few places that will do runs of as few as 300, though at a price where you're better off doing a full 1000.

Arkhan Asylum · 07/24/2009, 10:31 PM

I definitely want pressed CDs for the same reason. Everywhere I go , they jack the low run prices up so much that 1000 is more intelligent, but I dont know if 1000 will even be worth it.

I wanted to run 100 so I dont overshoot how well the game sells....

but, its looking more and more like ill have to do more, like 300+ and keep my fingers crossed that it doesnt flop

esteban · 07/24/2009, 11:10 PM

I will purchase a vinyl reissue of Insanity.

Arkhan Asylum · 07/24/2009, 11:59 PM

Quote from: esteban on 07/24/2009, 11:10 PMI will purchase a vinyl reissue of Insanity.

vinyl reissue!?

like, a giant 33RPM record?

termis · 07/25/2009, 12:10 AM

Quote from: NecroPhile on 07/24/2009, 06:07 PM
Quote from: Psycho Arkhan on 07/24/2009, 05:36 PMMy question is, if the pro CD-R route (same jewel case design, same cd label print, different media) becomes the actual result, is everyone OK with this, and what media would be best to seek out?
Mind you, I'll still buy a copy if it ends up on CD-R, but I would much, much, much rather see it stamped out on real discs. My Duo refuses to play CD-Rs of any type (two copies of Meteor Blaster DX and I can't play either ), and I also question the long term viability of CD-Rs; I know good ones are supposed to last beyond the century mark, but they're undeniably more fragile and are perceived as cheap and crappy. How few were you planning on doing? A quick surf o' the web turned up a few places that will do runs of as few as 300, though at a price where you're better off doing a full 1000.

Yeah, I feel the same way as necro.

To be honest, I think one of the primary reasons why I never bought Meteor Blaster was the fact that it was on CDR -- now I'm not sure how many feel the way I do, but just so you know.

Then again, I completely understand how you wouldn't want to dig yourself in a hole. Say you print a minimum amount, what kind of sales numbers would you need to do to break-even? Double-digits? Triple-digits?

If it's double digits, I think a pre-order system would be a good low-risk way for you to get started. I'd be willing to pitch in for that too.
If it's triple digits (especially if it's deep in the hundreds), I'd be pretty damn cautious too!

Arkhan Asylum · 07/25/2009, 12:37 AM

id need to sink about 1000$ in, give or take, to get pressed cds

and then pray they all sell. somewhere between 20.00 and 25.00$ seems reasonable. That way if I sell 50 of em i at least recupe the production cost.

As we've already seen here, some people want to preorder, and that is awesome. It makes me rest a bit easier knowing a good handful of people are willing to preorder.

I really am trying to find a good pressing place. If anyone else has any info, thatd be good.

I really dont want to do the ghetto CDR route.

when the time comes (soon!) I will put up a preorder page on surreal softs site. I will also possibly put a donations page to anyone willing.

I won't take any money at all until I am positive I have found a good pressing establishment.

Also, surreal might have to go thru a name change. It seems the half defunct, unregistered, dead-linked Surreal (http://www.surreal.com/) renewed themselves.

damn!

termis · 07/25/2009, 01:19 AM

Offering to do signatures just for the pre-orders will probably give you some initial revenue. That's low cost (nearly zero) to you, and high "value" to the buyer. -- Give the people some reason to cough up money for ya!

Arkhan Asylum · 07/25/2009, 01:36 AM

signatures?

You mean me sign them with a sharpee?

termis · 07/25/2009, 01:49 AM

Sure -- why not? (unless the buyer would rather not have it on there, though I can't imagine why not.)

Doesn't really cost you anything, and it might move some people to cough up the cash for the pre-order. By making it a "limited" item, you're essentially rewarding the people who are paying up front & lowering your risk of having to eat up the production costs. I think it's a pretty fair way to go about it.

Arkhan Asylum · 07/25/2009, 02:11 AM

I see, I see!

I just didn't really think my pokey little signature would be worth anything other than a laugh, lol.

termis · 07/25/2009, 02:37 AM

Nah, don't sell yourself short bud -- I can't imagine that there are many who can code a PCE game from scratch and get it down to a final product on a pressed CD.

And if you are going to do the pre-order thing, try to get in touch with other PCE communities out there that do not use English as a primary language. Perhaps a few of us can help you out in creating a simple message in other languages, and post 'em to different PCE forums in various markets. I'd definitely try to tap the Japanese market, and a few other Euro markets (French, German, maybe Spanish?).

Anyway, whatever you do, hope the whole thing goes well!

ParanoiaDragon · 07/25/2009, 02:48 AM

only $20-25? Personally, I'd go atleast $30, I was figuring the game was gonna be close to 50, but, maybe that's pushing it

Arkhan Asylum · 07/25/2009, 02:57 AM

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 07/25/2009, 02:48 AMonly $20-25? Personally, I'd go atleast $30, I was figuring the game was gonna be close to 50, but, maybe that's pushing it

O_O Close to 50!?

Perhaps 29.99 then.

RoyVegas · 07/25/2009, 02:58 AM

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 07/25/2009, 02:48 AMonly $20-25? Personally, I'd go atleast $30, I was figuring the game was gonna be close to 50, but, maybe that's pushing it

$20-25 sounds a tad low personally. I'd pay 30 for it and if you were going to do some special limited signed ones I'd go $35-$40. Thats just me though.

termis · 07/25/2009, 03:16 AM

Just know that the eager early adopters are the ones who'd have the highest willingness-to-pay. Get what you can, but don't price yourself out of the price range of the "common Joe turbo player" either.

Arkhan Asylum · 07/25/2009, 03:16 AM

We will see then as soon as I find a good presser for the discs.

It seems 30$ is a good place then. and preorders to anyone willing to help take care of production fees.

What if I let the buyer decide whether or not they want a signature on it?

I THINK I found two good places that will do a replication of 500 CDs, with 4 panel insert, and tray. Unless Im mistaken, that means itll be a cover, an inside page 1, an inside page 2, and then a back. Plus a traycard.

AND shrinkwrap. That way everyone can unshrink them and revel in the newly opened game smell glory...

The one even lets me pick to have white jewel case trays which makes it even more PCE style.

Nazi NecroPhile · 07/27/2009, 11:21 AM

Quote from: Psycho Arkhan on 07/25/2009, 12:37 AMand then pray they all sell. somewhere between 20.00 and 25.00$ seems reasonable. That way if I sell 50 of em i at least recupe the production cost.

I don't think you'll have any trouble selling such a small number of copies, as there's plenty of nutty Turbo fans. For example, look at the signature edition of Meteor Blaster DX: its 100 copies were sold out in a few weeks, and remember, this was after the original version had already been out for a couple o' months.

If I were in your shoes, I'd sell (via pre-order) 50 or 100 signed and numbered copies for $30, raising enough dough to bankroll the disc pressing. After all the discs are made, I'd offer 'em at the same price, as charging more for a simple signature is unseemly, bordering on greed. Just my two cents, of course.

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 07/25/2009, 02:48 AMonly $20-25? Personally, I'd go atleast $30, I was figuring the game was gonna be close to 50, but, maybe that's pushing it

If memory serves, Implode, Meteor Blaster DX, and Meteor Blaster DX:SE all sold for $30, so I'd say that's about the right price for the homebrew market.

hoobs88 · 07/27/2009, 01:05 PM

Quote from: NecroPhile on 07/27/2009, 11:21 AMIf memory serves, Implode, Meteor Blaster DX, and Meteor Blaster DX:SE all sold for $30, so I'd say that's about the right price for the homebrew market.

They might have both originally sold for $30 but Implode has been $20 for quite a while now and currently still is $20. Meteor Blaster can be had for $20 if you purchase it with Implode from their site.
http://mindrec.com/?main=store/index.php

Nazi NecroPhile · 07/27/2009, 01:38 PM

Quote from: hoobs88 on 07/27/2009, 01:05 PMThey might have both originally sold for $30 but Implode has been $20 for quite a while now and currently still is $20. Meteor Blaster can be had for $20 if you purchase it with Implode from their site.
http://mindrec.com/?main=store/index.php

Indeed; I shoulda put 'originally sold for $30'. That's a good idea though: sell Berzerk with the arcade game compilation at a modest discount. Anyone that passes that up is a dirty pirate hooker.

Arkhan Asylum · 07/27/2009, 02:38 PM

I have updated the surreal soft homepage with info about the current status...

Here's the summary:

As soon as the game is done, Ill announce preorders!

They will be 30$ and be signed/numbered, and ill run off some soundtracks here at home to include with it as a nice bonus for preordering.. kind of like gamestop! One enough funds are raised to cover manufacturing (it should take 25 or so preorders, but i will do more than that if people are wanting them), Ill send em off to get pressed

After the preorders are done and gone, the regular game will be 30$ also it just wont be signed.

I also have a link for donations if anyone is gracious enough to bestow us with some extra help. Anything is appreciated..

serious donators will have their name in the special thanks section of the in game credits. By serious I mean, no donating a nickle to buy into the credits. :-D

We will see how things go from there with actual sales. Maybe they will all sell and a second run will be in order. I don't know

heres to hopin!

PS: Got a new name. Going to park / redirect surrealsoft to it real soon here

_Paul · 07/27/2009, 04:10 PM

What are you doing for cover art?

Edit for an idea: It would be great to have a reversible cover so one side is PC Engine style and the other is in the style of those dreadful early TG16 covers.

Arkhan Asylum · 07/27/2009, 05:13 PM

We have a nice image for cover art done up by my girlfriend, and colored by a friend. Its also the title screen :-D

I wish a reversable cover was doable. I love those things. Doing a 4 panel insert won't allow for it though. Youd see it if you open the game case

esteban · 07/27/2009, 05:20 PM

Quote from: guest on 07/27/2009, 04:10 PMWhat are you doing for cover art?

Edit for an idea: It would be great to have a reversible cover so one side is PC Engine style and the other is in the style of those dreadful early TG16 covers.

Seconded. That is a great idea. I volunteer to make a "Claymation"-inspired cover for the TG-16 side.

termis · 07/27/2009, 09:22 PM

Awesome.

Just be careful about limited numbered signatures ("number x out of y") -- that closes the loop for you if you wanted to do more signatures later, for say, a 2nd-run pressing, or if you permanently want to sell a "signature edition" later for a higher fee, etc. It also opens up possible profiteering -- people buying multiple copies, and trying to sell it higher once the number of signatures are done for. Hell, I'd leave the numbers out of it just to stick to those type of people.

Anyway -- that's just my opinion. But either way, you're starting to cause a little buzz here for the pending release -- that's awesome!

Arkhan Asylum · 07/27/2009, 10:37 PM

I should put a little note in the packaging "If youve paid more than 30$ for this game, you have been hosed."

The numbered signature edition would be great for the first preorder run I think.

any later signature editions can be in a different colored sharpee! Edition 1 and Edition 2!

Nazi NecroPhile · 07/28/2009, 11:11 AM

Quote from: Psycho Arkhan on 07/27/2009, 10:37 PMI should put a little note in the packaging "If youve paid more than 30$ for this game, you have been hosed."

The numbered signature edition would be great for the first preorder run I think.

Sounds good. You can always limit it to no more than two copies per person to discourage profiteers.

Quote from: Psycho Arkhan on 07/27/2009, 10:37 PMany later signature editions can be in a different colored sharpee! Edition 1 and Edition 2!

Perhaps you're not being serious, but signed/numbered copies aren't very special if you just keep cranking 'em out.

Arjak · 07/28/2009, 04:47 PM

Quote from: Psycho Arkhan on 07/27/2009, 10:37 PMI should put a little note in the packaging "If youve paid more than 30$ for this game, you have been hosed."

I second this idea. Imagine what would happen with complete/sealed copies on ebay! What'cha gonna do now, Game_Squad?

Anyway, I'm glad to see that this is so close to completion! And I cannot wait to preorder! I want that soon-to-be ultra-rare soundtrack CD!

The game, too, of course.

Arkhan Asylum · 07/28/2009, 06:01 PM

Quote from: NecroPhile on 07/28/2009, 11:11 AMPerhaps you're not being serious, but signed/numbered copies aren't very special if you just keep cranking 'em out.

Yeah, Im not. Lol.

Quote from: ArjakI second this idea. Imagine what would happen with complete/sealed copies on ebay! What'cha gonna do now, Game_Squad? Laughing

Anyway, I'm glad to see that this is so close to completion! And I cannot wait to preorder! I want that soon-to-be ultra-rare soundtrack CD! Drool

The game, too, of course. Mr. Green

I think that a disclaimer would be nice. I got the idea from that super hucard ISO thats floating around. It says if you've paid more than the price of a CD-R, you've been ripped off.

I hope it's ok that the soundtracks are going to be run off by me on my computer here and most likely slipped into a slim jewelcase, or a paper sleeve.

Duplicating them would produce the same result, and replicating them would be counter productive.

Arkhan Asylum · 07/28/2009, 08:56 PM

sorry for double post but just curious....

is the big Yuna image apparent as the donate button for the site? Someone that wanted to donate couldn't find the button so I was wondering what everyone else thought!

....maybe thats why there aren't any donations yet.

RoyVegas · 07/29/2009, 02:02 AM

No donation from me yet because payday is Friday

Arkhan Asylum · 07/29/2009, 06:19 AM

as long as everyone can handle that donate button, maybe my friend had an isolated instance of retardation, lol.

new domain is coming!

RoyVegas · 07/31/2009, 03:47 PM

Payday! Donation sent!

Arkhan Asylum · 07/31/2009, 08:20 PM

Muchos gracias!

so far 2 lucky Insanity fans will be in the credits!

I hope everyones checked out the new site too btw!

www.aetherbyte.com

I will be redoing the marquee graphics for insanity because I think the SCORE and LIVES look stupid. Ill be using a colorfuller part, and make the border itself a little cooler looking too.

screenshots pre-marquee update should be thrown up tonight as long as the slideshow java script doesnt have a meltdown again.

ALSO: I will be posting a crudely grafx'd Pac Man tech demo that was slapped together in a week or so. It will be polished, prettied up, and expanded on as part of the Arcade collection!

The demo will also be hidden on the Insanity CD....

MWAHAHAHAHA

Arjak · 08/01/2009, 08:19 PM

I'll try to get a donation sent as soon as I can get my stupid paychecks deposited. My parents seem unwilling to take me to a ATM.

Arkhan Asylum · 08/01/2009, 10:31 PM

great, thanks!

All of the support is very appreciated.

Side note: new page on aetherbyte.com for the arcade cd, and there is a bootlegged little pacman prototype to check out!

termis · 08/01/2009, 10:39 PM

Page doesn't load for me -- tried multiple browsers -- so it's something on the server side.

Then I tried getting on through a web-based proxy server (which I presume is US-based), and it works fine. What's up with that?

Arkhan Asylum · 08/01/2009, 11:31 PM

Quote from: termis on 08/01/2009, 10:39 PMPage doesn't load for me -- tried multiple browsers -- so it's something on the server side.

Then I tried getting on through a web-based proxy server (which I presume is US-based), and it works fine. What's up with that?

odd. Its just a go daddy hosted site.

Arjak · 08/03/2009, 03:49 PM

I donated $30 to the cause; you can credit me by the name I posted in the donation!

Arkhan Asylum · 08/03/2009, 04:46 PM

Thanks!

These donations are a huge help!

Much appreciation to all the donators so far!

BlackandBlue · 08/11/2009, 12:31 AM

Quote from: Psycho Arkhan on 08/03/2009, 04:46 PMThanks!

These donations are a huge help!

Much appreciation to all the donators so far!

Man, open up the pre-orders already, I want a package! (man, that kinda sounds wrong, really wrong)

Sent ya $20 too.

RoyVegas · 08/11/2009, 01:57 PM

Quote from: BlackandBlue on 08/11/2009, 12:31 AM
Quote from: Psycho Arkhan on 08/03/2009, 04:46 PMThanks!

These donations are a huge help!

Much appreciation to all the donators so far!
Man, open up the pre-orders already, I want a package! (man, that kinda sounds wrong, really wrong)

Sent ya $20 too.

I agree that pre-orders would be nice and it would definately get him an influx of cash to get them pressed. On the down side though, if he hasn't set up a deal to get them done yet, what would be the point? Basically now he just has people dying for the release, if he takes preorders people will get impatient if he doesn't get them done fast enough.

Arkhan Asylum · 08/11/2009, 09:16 PM

I will be opening up the preorders as soon as the artwork for the box is all set, and the game is more ready to be packaged up.

I also don't want to start em til the presser confirms the artwork, and sends me a test disc to make sure they're going to play

Insanity is about a week, maybe 2, from play-testing the shit out of it and fixing problems that are spotted. As soon as its at the play testing stage I assume pre-ordering should be good to go. I should be slapping a demo up at the same time so everyone can see what they're going to get.

I would also like to thank everyone for their generosity. It has been very very helpful and appreciated. I hope that everyone who purchases Insanity enjoys it. The community support is what drives the game to be finished, and to start the next game project!

Arkhan Asylum · 08/16/2009, 01:53 AM

*BERMP*

Still breathing over here btw.

Working out all the chiptune kinks for the songs.

Ive decided a few that were CD-music are going to be omitted from the PSG tracks because they just sound horrible, like a drunk person using a touch tone phone kind of horrible.

There will still be a hearty amount of CD or PSG music for your listening pleasure.

Here is a sample, sans drums. Rename it to test.pce and fire it up.

It could probably use some volume reduction. You tell me.