Likwid's studio develops indeed great games. They are not only big and offer a stunning large and varied feature arsenal, they also include funny, completely new ideas, bright and happy graphics, really interesting storylines, awesome music and sounds - everything seems PERFECT to me.

There are not many games with so lovely detailed intros and all such, but still, the communities of gaming sites on which Likwid's games are submitted rather dislike them. Armorgames and Kongragate users have given a really low score to the games, on Newgrounds they're completely forgotten on the next day.

The gameplay isn't bad, or actually, the games itselfes are very hard to review. Maybe they are also too different than all the other ones, and it seems as if flash was becoming more and more a question of mainstream.

Mainstream. So yeah, read carefully and imagine following: if a rather high-grade-student comes from his difficult and exhausting afternoon lessons back home, it wouldn't be strange if everything he wants at his arrival were tea, cookies and an easy, quick and non complicated flash game to play, before he has to do homework or to study for the next days tests.

It's not that the games are bad. This world maybe just doesn't suit for them. Everything except the feeling of the gameplay is perfect - mainstream can't identify itself with the gameplay of Ultimate Tactics or Castaway for example (though they're from known genres). Well, at least it seems to me that this is how it is.

Business doesn't seem to run (very) well for Likwid studios. And the reason why this is the case may is just unfair.

I myself am a pretty decent gamer and I like to review a few games and to discuss with game authors a bit - but this time, there are not only a few gameplay elements I don't understand - this time there is a whole studio I don't understand - a studio that made so many games from which I know that they're great, although I still can't really enjoy them as an average mainstream guy. But I really don't know why.

I don't actually think there's anything wrong with the gameplay. Probably, the problem are these 13 year old mainstream victims that make up the community of such websites. If the main character of Ultimate Tactics had been Hank from Madness (story would have to change) the game would have gotten an outstanding response instead, despite being the very same game.

Likwid's Studio is awesome. I will keep on voting, suggesting, favouring and doing whatever I can for them.

Since I love your games.

If you somehow share the same opinion, let's discuss. Hope you had a somehow enlightening read,

-Quicksmasher

I can answer most of these questions for you.

First of all, Castaway 2 does not have low scores on the sites you mentioned. When Castaway 2 was added to Armor Games, they had issues with their global save system erasing user's games, which we could not control. When Armor Games finally fixed this issue a week after the game's release, it was too late and the score suffered because of it. Castaway 2 has done very well on Newgrounds and Kongregate (currently in the top 5 adventure games and about to get featured with badges).

Here is the biggest issue with the types of games we make and not receiving the respect they deserve. Our games are mainly designed for more hardcore gamers rather than casual gamers. This is our choice, and we do not regret this one bit. They are the types of games that we love to make and share with other hardcore gamers. Unfortunately, a large percentage of casual gamers will not like the depth and pace of our games and in return rate it low. If you look at most of the highest rated games out there, they are casual games made for casual gamers (dooglegod, angry birds, tower defense games, etc).

Our goal with Castaway 2 was to take all of the user feedback from the original game and release a game that would satisfy those fans. We feel that we have accomplished that. Now that Castaway is a known brand, we can build upon that brand as you will see with our next game.

well sed likwid

Well to say first, welcome to LikwidGames Quicksmasher Its good to see new member that has alot to say and everyone should know that critics are always welcome for improvements, no matter if they are positive or negative

Secondly, honestly I didn't quite understand you what is the meaning of your post.. Is it that flash games are poor quality these days? Or maybe big sites are adding all kinds of not quality games?
I'm sure you support Likwid's games, but you got me lost with the mainstream...

Yeah, intros and flashy/funny animations aren't always necessary for a good game, but I must say that they spice the game a little bit

Again Quicksmasher, good to see you here and I'm looking forward to see your detailed forum posts

Observant to boot. Dully noted.



That's exactly what I meant, Likwid.

Sokki, the games I stated as what Mainstream would like are exactly the same what Likwid called the casual games.



And here we got the problem. In summary, the succesfull guys out there are exploiting the habit of the 13-year olds out there that make up the community of most gaming sites. And the habit of those is to like specific trash too quickly - because of simplicity or whatever.

The "high-grade-student" likes those games. I know I probably shouldn't take Mainstream as an example, though I hope you understand what I wanted to express with that paragraph.



Now the Hardcore Gamers strike back. Our turn. Hardcore gamers don't have "more freetime" than casual gamers. I think they just generally have more intelligence. They're searching for more sense in life, and instead of learning for school, they get the maximum out of their free time.

(who needs perfectly done homework every day)



Simplicity-loving mainstream gamers will keep following the stupidest advertisments and playing the simpliest games. And mainstream gamers are THE part of gaming communities the respective sites make money of. The advertisments get high click ratios, the "Today added!!!" games many plays ... and whoops the Sponsors are rich.



Yeah, here I rather mention how casual gamers follow mainstream-style advertisment or familiar objects from games they like.

(omfgz Hank from mednessseriesss omfgz!!1!1!11)

As always, I try to be fair. And I simply have to mention - though I really love all of your games except Diesel Valkyrie so far - that a few elements of your games and also the site here follow with every new game more and more mainstream rules.

And now we've come to the topic that caused me to sign up here.

Unrelated note: I love the dialogues of Castaway 2. And I love Aestraea.