CRPG Book Released • Hacker News Board

Re: CRPG Book Released

#11

Post by Figs » Mon, Feb 05, 2018, 1:50 PM UTC

mathgeek wrote: post #3

> This is the question I’m asked the most: “Will there be a physical edition?”. I would love to have one, but it’s something very complicated to produce – especially for a 528-page color book! Most on-demand printing services won’t do something this big, and even if I cut the book down to CreateSpace’s 480-page limit, it would be a VERY expensive book, costing over $60! I think the author is severely underestimating…

Also, they could just split the book in half at whatever is the most logical breaking point, and print two approximately 264 page volumes. It would probably make physically handling it easier too...

Edit: Just finished downloading and took a look at it. Splitting it into a "1975-2000" volume, and a "2000-2014" volume seems to make the most sense. That splits it almost exactly in half by page count, as well.

Re: CRPG Book Released

#12

Post by mathgeek » Mon, Feb 05, 2018, 1:54 PM UTC

felipepepe wrote: post #5

mathgeek wrote: post #3

> This is the question I’m asked the most: “Will there be a physical edition?”. I would love to have one, but it’s something very complicated to produce – especially for a 528-page color book! Most on-demand printing services won’t do something this big, and even if I cut the book down to CreateSpace’s 480-page limit, it would be a VERY expensive book, costing over $60! I think the author is severely underestimating…

But it would be $60 for a softcover CreateSpace version chopped down to 480 pages. Not exactly a premium product. :/

True. I was speaking to the quality of the content more than the paper it's printed on, but that does come into play as well.

Re: CRPG Book Released

#13

Post by bpicolo » Mon, Feb 05, 2018, 2:01 PM UTC

Really cool. Definitely hope to see MMORPGs in the future - that's been the genre for me since my early days. Unfortunately, last 5 years have been somewhat stale on the front.

Re: CRPG Book Released

#14

Post by Goladus » Mon, Feb 05, 2018, 2:03 PM UTC

On Eye of the Beholder's incomplete use of the D&D Ruleset:

Looking back on that I can imagine that hardcore roleplayers would be miffed, but to a newcomer like myself it was perfect. I did as the manual suggested and created a mixed party of four characters that could deal with whatever dangers lay ahead, knowing that I could recruit two NPCs in-game if something went wrong.

I don't have the impression that D&D players were particularly miffed about this. At the time I think it was well-understood that implementing the full AD&D ruleset, technically and in spirit, presented insurmountable challenges given the state of technology in the early 90s.

It wans't until Baldur's Gate that any game really managed to blend the adventuring and combat elements of AD&D into a coherent whole. Don't get me wrong the Gold Box games are great and in some ways better even than Baldur's Gate, but the adventure and exploration elements of those games feel bolted on to the deep 2d tactical combat system. I think one of the reasons Baldur's Gate became so popular is because it seemed like the game AD&D fans had been waiting for.

PS congrats on the book release!

Re: CRPG Book Released

#15

Post by indescions_2018 » Mon, Feb 05, 2018, 2:09 PM UTC

From the section on Japanese RPGs, Legend of Zelda entry:

Shigeru Miyamoto and his team at Nintendo mixed Hydlide with Xanadu, removed all the RPG elements and focused on the most important – the call for adventure.

They added an attack button, created a huge world full of secrets, designed clever dungeons, puzzles and boss battles, made magic items alter gameplay and got rid of all the time wasting grinding

Design decisions that resonate today with Breath of the Wild ;)

This book is a stunning achievement. A true labor of love. That I am sure will provide indelible inspiration for many years to come.

Re: CRPG Book Released

#16

Post by AdmiralAsshat » Mon, Feb 05, 2018, 2:33 PM UTC

An EPUB version would be cool, too. PDF's are kind of a pain to read on tablets.

Also, if you guys would be willing to throw the "raw" source onto something like Github, it might be easier to get people to submit proofreading corrections.

Re: CRPG Book Released

#17

Post by Marazan » Mon, Feb 05, 2018, 2:44 PM UTC

mathgeek wrote: post #3

> This is the question I’m asked the most: “Will there be a physical edition?”. I would love to have one, but it’s something very complicated to produce – especially for a 528-page color book! Most on-demand printing services won’t do something this big, and even if I cut the book down to CreateSpace’s 480-page limit, it would be a VERY expensive book, costing over $60! I think the author is severely underestimating…

Yeah, like seriously: https://readonlymemory.vg/shop/book/britsoft-an-oral-history... is a incredibly lovely book, 420 pages only a small smattering of colour plates it it is £30, around about $45 USD.

This CRPG book full colour book would be snapped up at $80.

Re: CRPG Book Released

#18

Post by bringtheaction » Mon, Feb 05, 2018, 2:50 PM UTC

mathgeek wrote: post #3

> This is the question I’m asked the most: “Will there be a physical edition?”. I would love to have one, but it’s something very complicated to produce – especially for a 528-page color book! Most on-demand printing services won’t do something this big, and even if I cut the book down to CreateSpace’s 480-page limit, it would be a VERY expensive book, costing over $60! I think the author is severely underestimating…

Does that price even include any profits for the author though?

Re: CRPG Book Released

#19

Post by oldcynic » Mon, Feb 05, 2018, 2:59 PM UTC

mathgeek wrote: post #3

> This is the question I’m asked the most: “Will there be a physical edition?”. I would love to have one, but it’s something very complicated to produce – especially for a 528-page color book! Most on-demand printing services won’t do something this big, and even if I cut the book down to CreateSpace’s 480-page limit, it would be a VERY expensive book, costing over $60! I think the author is severely underestimating…

$60 is peanuts. I've no doubt plenty would pay well over $100.

Better still get a price, and minimum print run, for a quality hardback with premium paper. Then all or nothing kickstart it with whatever minimum and price is needed. Not forgetting enough profit in the deal for time!

Many many people who grew up with these now have decent earnings and a whole load of nostalgia. There's been countless successful Kickstarts in this niche - books, emulators, films, arcade cabinets etc.

Re: CRPG Book Released

#20

Post by dragonwriter » Mon, Feb 05, 2018, 3:08 PM UTC

> even if I cut the book down to CreateSpace’s 480-page limit, it would be a VERY expensive book, costing over $60!

On Lulu, full-color, US Letter, 528 pages (they support up to 740) standard paperback with otherwise default options has a $30.39 printing cost, with no volume discount. Volume will drop that.