Thank you so much for that feedback. Its so helpful.
I’ve expanded the Fong rooftop sequence at the end of Chapter 6. Thanks again Alex for your feedback, this scene was sorely lacking.
I’ve taken Chapter 7 offline because I’m overhauling it massively.
With respect to the Snake I’m going to revise that later. I am aiming for a different kind of resolution system where the player softens up the opposition with a series of complimentary checks in non combat skills before the climactic fighting skill check. I haven’t communicated how this works to the player so it all comes off as random. It’ll be very important to get right because there are other climactic confrontations in later chapters that use this system as well.
So I recognize the problem and I appreciate you flagging it.
https://dashingdon.com/play/jollyspaniard/hkbo-closed-beta/mygame/
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I don’t think I posted in here after the first time I played this WIP but it’s definitely taken some nice strides in the meantime, It definitely feels like it flows better with all the “flashbacks” and such.
Looking forward to seeing how it progresses.
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Thank you so much for the feedback, it means a lot to me. That’s what I was aiming for. I’m going to post a major update in a few days.
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I’ve done massive update of the demo over the past twenty five days. I’ve written more than 50,000 words, made some big revisions to chapter 4. I’ve also junked half of Chapter 7 and rewrote most of it from scratch.
There’s a new approach to stat checks in Chapter 7. I’d like some feedback on it, if it’s a hit I’ll “backdate” it to previous chapters.
A new arc, The Way of the Bottle. This was previous the “None of the Above” choice, it’s now more coherently defined. The POV character is a heavy drinker, this arc choice involves a lot of drinking, random encounters, lots of minor characters, The Drunken Trio, The Blanch House and Luke.
https://dashingdon.com/play/jollyspaniard/hkbo-closed-beta/mygame/
Thank you to everyone who has provided feedback, it means a lot to me.
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BTW Alex I haven’t addressed your feedback on Chapter Six in my latest update but I intend to later. I’ve tried a new approach to stat checks in Chapter Seven and if it’s successful I’ll backdate it to Chapter Six.
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To Mr. Garcia:
I only discovered this a couple of days ago. I must say that I am ABSOLUTELY ENTHRALLED!!
This is clearly a love letter to Hong Kong written but either someone who has spent a great deal of time there, researched exhaustively, or both. With the exception of some grammar/spelling errors that can always be fixed, the writing style hooks you in with solid character, good build up, and the willingness to have fun.
The MC clearly has extensive background but you introduce it well enough without bogging down the story. The extended flashback works pretty well to help define your character before returning back to present; many writers crucify themselves on that.
What I perhaps like most of all is that the MC feels real: family problem, friends they left behind, and the ability to let the reader decide and role-play their emotional state. Second best, besides how well you draw Hong Kong in our minds, is the strong conflicts that is built in on multiple fronts.
I look forward to a day one purchase and STRONGLY ENCOURAGE others to buy this. Best of luck!
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Thank you so much for your kind words. I’ve put a lot of work into reworking the flashbacks and the conflicts. My first draft was more Hong Kong Group Hug than Blood Opera, lots more still to do but I’m loving the work.
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Can you put a cheat in the demo to max all stats I get it if you wouldn’t want to and it may ruin the feel to some ppl that’s why I’m asking for the option ppl that think it will ruin the experience can just not choose it I’m only asking you to put in it the demo so I can test the game out better and see what does what if you don’t want to I understand I’m loving it so far anyway
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Do you find yourself failing a lot of stat checks when playing the game?
I was wondering last night that I might have the difficulty dialed too high in a few places.
Simply maxing out all your stats won’t solve all stat checks because sometimes stats are compared to each other instead of a static difficulty number.
I’ve added the cheat code but I’m in the middle of a major revision at the moment so it won’t go “live” for a week or two. The version of the game I’m working on has bugs in it so if I update now the demo will crash a lot.
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Back when i first tried this, the updates/major overhalls from back then where saves had been reset i think my fail rate for stats was like 25-50% (mainly the fighting ones is all that comes to mind).
Not as brutal as Street Jam though 
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Ouch that’s a brutal fail rate. Thank you so much for letting me know.
I’ve added a “cheat” option that gives +30 to all stats at the beginning of the game. I’ve also increased the stat increases at some of the key character generation moments in chapter 1. This should help people sail through the checks. I’ll work on calibrating the difficult and communicating how the checks work to the player a bit better.
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I agree with the others, I think the difficulty must be balanced. I’ve had high skills on a particular check but my second skill needed for that choice was low and it resulted in a failure. Maybe do not punish the players too much whenever they fail a check? When I failed the game just ended abruptly and I was very confused lol.
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Thank you so much for this feedback. I’ll made a few adjustments.
The game ending abruptly is a bug but that randomtest registers unless it results in a crash.
Do you remember what you were doing when the game ended abruptly? Was it in Macau?
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Yep. It was the part where you crossdress as a disguise. I also think there should be a health bar of sorts, if you want to make this game difficult and at the same time still being fair.
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Thanks, the demo ends shortly after that even if you succeed. I was wondering if those final stat checks were too hard to be fair.
Thanks again Alex for your feedback, you’ve been so helpful and I really appreciate all of it.
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No worries! I just finished Sleeping Dogs and I might provide more essential feedbacks because of that lol.
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I keep meaning to play it but I’m too busy working on my game to play games anymore.
Instead I’ve been reading romance novels and academic papers on the Triads for research.
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I get it but you should! You can just write it down as research lol. The game touches on what you’re writing about and its always nice to find inspiration to draw from. Its also on sale today until the 28th.
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I own it!
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