Bad browser-based game fronts

[Jackolantern]

I have been checking around looking at different browser-based games lately (as it seems a few others around here have been doing), and I am seeing a trend. Even some of the larger games seem to have the URL lead directly to the game login, with no info whatsoever about the game. And since most of the games require email verification upon sign-up, that is asking a lot for someone to do just to get a hint of what the game is about. Graphical F2P games get this one right. You really need to have a wealth of info about your game readily and easily accessible on the homepage, because you don't have very long with an interested player before they decide to either put in the effort to play the game or not. It just seems kind of silly considering all of the webpages that must have gone in to making the game. What would a few more pages have been on the homepage to give an idea of the gameplay?

[OldRod]

I hear ya on that one.

I've lost track of the number of games I've checked out lately and a lot of them are as you describe. "Log in here!" "What's your game about?" "Log in here!"

I have one game that I'm waiting in a "Birth Queue" to even be able to play. Been waiting a week so far, and based on the movement up the list it's going to be at least 3 weeks more before I can actually play, and then I apparently start out as a baby. And I have no idea what the gameplay is like, so I don't know if it's even something I want to play.

I posted a question in the forum asking what the game was like, trying to figure out if I should abandon my spot in the queue or not. I still don't know what the game is like, but everyone says "It's worth it!" So, I have no idea

[Last Known Hero]

I hear ya on that one.

I've lost track of the number of games I've checked out lately and a lot of them are as you describe. "Log in here!" "What's your game about?" "Log in here!"

I have one game that I'm waiting in a "Birth Queue" to even be able to play. Been waiting a week so far, and based on the movement up the list it's going to be at least 3 weeks more before I can actually play, and then I apparently start out as a baby. And I have no idea what the gameplay is like, so I don't know if it's even something I want to play.

I posted a question in the forum asking what the game was like, trying to figure out if I should abandon my spot in the queue or not. I still don't know what the game is like, but everyone says "It's worth it!" So, I have no idea

That doesn't sound fun at all to me

[hallsofvallhalla]

Glad you posted this. I have noticed the exact same thing. No screens, no story, no info, nothing! I pass those games right up.

[Gustava]

Aye, no screenie = usually I get out of the game lol. Takes barely any time to post one up these days

[Jackolantern]

You know one thing I have noticed on graphical F2P games that I really like is that they will often times have some kind of "Beginner Guide". I normally gravitate more to these than even screenshots, because it is your best bet to get a feel for what the game is about. It also serves as a great launching point for new players who may be confused on what they should be doing.

[hallsofvallhalla]

amen.


Some of these games can be very difficult with way too many features. I am creating a tutorial dungeon and small town where players can get use to everything and not be attacked.

[MAruz]

Lately I've been looking into a couple of racing games: batracer.com and f1time.com

Both games are based around racing a f1 car in a league with other players. You tweak your car setup for better performance, and set your race strategy to win the game. The 2nd game focus more on customization and staff skill/performance too.

The first one has a really messy page setup, and the web design sucks, but the game is interesting (though not so intuitive to learn). They have a very basic beginners guide, but imo it's far from good enough. Also, you're thrown right into the action with little idea on how to play the game (and limited resources so you can't possibly figure things out in 1 or 2 sessions, it takes a while). If I had a "playground" that doesn't affect the game itself to learn the inns and outs of the game on my own with few limitations, the game would probably have been able to make more players stick (seen quite a few players I started with leaving).

Game 2 suffers from many of the same flaws, though the page design is much better. Here, I was totally lost as a new player though. I've attempted 1 race, and totally failed. I got no clues on why, and the process of setting strategy and tuning the car is set up so that you need to learn the hard way during races (which are several days appart), so I figured I'm not gonna bother with that game anymore. A pity, for the game looks interesting. A playground to learn the inns and outs on would have been enough to capture me as a player.

[Jackolantern]

If I had a "playground" that doesn't affect the game itself to learn the inns and outs of the game on my own with few limitations, the game would probably have been able to make more players stick (seen quite a few players I started with leaving).

This is a great idea, and also very easy to do in PHP browser games. All you have to do is create an example character for the player to use and remove both the code that saves it into the database and that connects with the other players. Some simple text boxes to explain what is going on would be great, too. I am kind of surprised not to see more tutorials in PHP RPGs, since they would be so easy to do. Easier, in fact, than adding more multiplayer content.

[twgi]

I should point out that i have a fairly large database of pbbg games Url (built for doing campaigns for my site).

You wouldn't believe, but a discrete number of them are very hard to contact, no email, no contact form. To contact them in order to invite them to subscribe to my site (that will give to them free traffic) i have to:

- Register
- Hope to find a way to contact the admin internally

Because contacting these games is very time expensive I usually don't contact them so:

=> provide always a contact email or form in the home page