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PleasingFungus / Silicon-Zeroes

Issue repository for Silicon Zeroes. (Contains no actual code.)
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Feature request: Custom puzzle integration with Steam Workshop #128

Open Spartelfant opened 6 years ago

Spartelfant commented 6 years ago

Let me start off by saying I have really no idea how much work this would entail or if it's even something available to every game developer.

The Steam Workshop seems to me like it could be a great way for players to seamlessly share and enjoy each other's custom puzzles. As such it could perhaps also serve as an extra encouragement for would-be puzzle makers.

PleasingFungus commented 6 years ago

This is already my top priority; when I next have time to work on the game, it's the next thing going in.

amonakov commented 6 years ago

What would be the suggested way for itch.io customers to exchange puzzles?

PleasingFungus commented 6 years ago

I assumed it'd be the same as at present: manually copying directories around.

I'm open to other suggestions, but itch.io doesn't really offer a comparable infrastructure, AFAIK?

Spartelfant commented 6 years ago

Prison Architect by Introversion was also released via other platforms, what they did was supply everyone who had purchased a non-Steam copy of the game with a Steam key as well. I don't know if that's a viable solution though, for all I know Steam could be charging the developer for every key given out regardless.

PleasingFungus commented 6 years ago

I already provide non-Steam purchasers with Steam keys, actually! It's not a perfect solution, though; some people would rather not have Steam on their machine at all.

amonakov commented 6 years ago

To clarify my question: perhaps "discover each other's puzzles" would have been clearer than "exchange puzzles".

There's little doubt that itch customers would manage copying/unzipping/whatever. The question is rather how they'd publish/retrieve the directories in the first place.

Scenario I: You're an itch.io customer who just had an inspiration for a really great custom puzzle. You read the manual, write the description, add tests, et voila! you're ready to share it with the world. Alas, the manual doesn't give you any hint whatsoever how you're supposed to announce your creation.

Scenario II: You're an itch.io customer who is hungry for more. The community board looks intruguing, but you have no idea how to make puzzles appear there. Googling "Silicon Zeroes custom puzzles" gives you a manual for puzzle authors, but you still don't know where to download existing puzzles, or if any exist at all.

My suggestion would be a github repo with some (curated) set of community puzzles. That would allow people to download either a .zip with repo contents or git-clone it if they wish, and would allow to discover forks of the repo via Github UI.

Spartelfant commented 6 years ago

My suggestion would be a github repo with some (curated) set of community puzzles. That would allow people to download either a .zip with repo contents or git-clone it if they wish, and would allow to discover forks of the repo via Github UI.

Anyone could do that if they like to. But I do not think it's reasonable to expect the game's author to maintain such a repo when the Steam Workshop presents a more streamlined and less labor-intensive alternative.

Also I'm not a lawyer, but the way I interpret the Steam Subscriber Agreement it's not allowed to reupload Workshop content elsewhere, so you'd have to obtain every custom puzzle directly from its author or convince them to go through the trouble of uploading it themselves.

Then there is the issue of keeping custom puzzles up-to-date. Someone may fix a bug or otherwise modify a puzzle, while its earlier version remains on GitHub, unless it's manually updated as well.

And of course players will have to manually download puzzles and move them over to the right folder.

All in all it'd represent a whole lot of hassle for all parties involved. If you're so strongly opposed to using Steam I think you'll either have to live without easily accesible community puzzles or figure out an alternative, like the repo you mentioned. Who knows, there could be demand for it. Either way it's not a problem that the game's author is responsible for solving in my opinion.

kyomawolf commented 3 years ago

Hey I just wanted to know, if this idea is still in making or abandoned?

PleasingFungus commented 3 years ago

I haven't been able to work on the game in some years, for a variety of reasons (had to get a day job, etc). :( Sorry, wish I had a happier answer...