Jonathan Blow: Microsoft made Braid demo shorter
"There was one little issue at the very end of development when [Microsoft] wanted me to make the trial version shorter than it was," recalled Blow in an interview with SavyGamer, adding belief that "it's ok to give people a significant portion of the game because if they like it, they'll want to play the rest." Nevertheless, this apparently didn't jibe with Braid's publishing overlords, as Blow noted that he and Microsoft argued back and forth over the demo's length before settling on the teaser we have today. So, tell us, was the result enough to make your virtual wallet 1200 MS points lighter?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Cesaria (Pitchfork Fest 2008 FTMFW!) @ Aug 12th 2008 7:04PM
I think you guys might like Braid a little bit.
Saria the Cat @ Aug 12th 2008 7:04PM
Not falling for it, Joystiq! My panties will stay unknotted...FOR NOW...
Wiinterfang @ Aug 13th 2008 2:18AM
Urge..to..answer..with..something..sexual..INCREASING!!!!.
Rafael @ Aug 13th 2008 11:14AM
ill change it just for you saria
GoldenS1104 @ Aug 12th 2008 7:05PM
Why does everything Jonathan Blow say have to become news? Plenty of developers argue with their publishers over price, and demo length, and other various trivialities. I don't put the blame on Blow for speaking his mind about his game since most developers do it too, I just don't understand why so much attention is drawn to this one guy, when shit like this happens all the time.
Marty @ Aug 12th 2008 7:08PM
It's news because the media wants to find trouble between indie game devs and big, monster publishers. When things are smooth and work well, nobody reads the news.
Tiptup300 @ Aug 12th 2008 8:38PM
Hold that thought! Blow mentioned something! Oh nevermind, back to you jeff.
xxHughesxx @ Aug 12th 2008 9:06PM
Because Braid is an amazing game and everyone should be supporting it. Practically every 360 owner bought GTAIV, and Braid is a way better game considering value for money, if everyone would just buy braid we would be seeing amazing games every week on XBLA, rather than the 3 decent games we get a year.
If you havent bought it, buy it, trust me, you wont regret it, not just for this game, but for the future of the Arcade.
Else we'll be seeing more Yaris games....*shudders*
Dirk Dorkelson @ Aug 12th 2008 9:38PM
Wait, considering value for money, I think you could argue pretty persuasively that GTA is a much better value. It costs four times as much, but it takes an amount of playtime an order of magnitude larger than Braid to play it all. Plus, it's got multiplayer.
While I can see the argument that Braid is better than GTA IV, but Braid only really offers more awesomeness for your buck if you have less than $60 but more than $15 to spend and therefore can't afford GTA.
GoldenS1104 @ Aug 13th 2008 12:00AM
I haven't bought Braid but I played the demo. I can see why some one might fall in love with it but something about the backtracking turns me off to it. I don't like feeling, "am I supposed to be able to get that now or later?" It's not for me but it's definitely excellent. I haven't bought many XBLA titles yet but I'm planning on getting Bionic Commando, Castle Crashers, and Mega Man 9.
Jeremy @ Aug 13th 2008 9:23AM
There is only one instance of backtracking. The rest of the pieces you can get the first time you see them.
The demo is too short. It sold me, but I didn't really get a grip on the game. Standards are a good thing, but sometimes I think MS goes a little overboard.
Marty @ Aug 12th 2008 7:07PM
"So, tell us, was the result enough to make your virtual wallet 1200 MS points lighter?"
Yes. Yes it was.
dwhite @ Aug 13th 2008 7:46AM
At this point I would send the guy an additional $5 just to get him to STFU.
Fernando Rocker @ Aug 12th 2008 7:11PM
Jonathan Blow said that he may never the Live Arcade service again because Microsoft restrictions:
http://www.gamerchip.com/braid-hampered-by-xbla-restrictions/
TrojanGuy @ Aug 12th 2008 9:00PM
I don't blame him. Considering all of the money that MS takes from sales of Braid (and other XBLA games) and the fact that, as popular as Braid is, even at $15 Blow still can't break even I'm surprised that developers will make games for XBLA at all. Which bums me out, because I think it's a great service and I prefer to buy my games there. MS needs to put more money in the pockets of developers of these XBLA games and needs to stop trying to price gouge loyal 360 owners.
killploki @ Aug 12th 2008 9:06PM
if they could release grade 'A' titles like this to retail im sure they could get a lot more sales. you have a whole audience that doesnt use xbox live and if they go into a store and see a game on the shelf for $15 they might buy it just for the price.
JCD @ Aug 12th 2008 10:12PM
I'm gonna risk being unpopular here and call shenanigans on Blow. There are hundreds of games on XBLA, undoubtedly 90%+ of which were developed by multi-member teams, that both cost less than Braid and probably sold fewer copies than Braid. And yet all I ever hear is how Blow is 'going to go bankrupt.'
Let's do some simple math. Let's assume that 0.1% of all 360 owners (there are about 20 mil according to nexgenwars) buy the game. That's 20,000 copies. At $15 a piece, thats $300,000 gross. Take out Microsoft's 30% and you're left with $210,000. Assuming the game took Blow a year to make, that's a pretty respectable income, even after the government takes its cut. More than enough to live on for the next year or two while he makes his next game. :)
Roto13 @ Aug 13th 2008 12:01PM
BAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Roto13 @ Aug 13th 2008 7:30PM
Aw man, the comment I was sarcastically replying to is gone and now I'm bawing at nothing. :(
EihBeir @ Aug 12th 2008 7:11PM
I'd be more apt to buy Braid if Blow would talk less. He needs to go a bit further into debt by hiring a PR guy to organize his thoughts. "Xbox Live Arcade sucks," "well, no it doesn't," "1,200 points is too much," "well, no it's not, I need the money."
If this guy rides the fence too much longer, he's gonna need a colonoscopy.
Knight Marquise @ Aug 12th 2008 7:23PM
My thoughts exactly. I'm starting to regret purchasing his game.
Jason @ Aug 12th 2008 8:21PM
Exactly, this guy needs to shut up already. I'm worried he's going to scare Microsoft away from little indie developers.
Roto13 @ Aug 12th 2008 8:55PM
Yes, it's true. This game would be so much better if there wasn't so much complaining in it.
Oh, wait a minute....
EihBeir @ Aug 13th 2008 12:22AM
Who is talking about complaining, "in the game?"
Dick @ Aug 13th 2008 10:10AM
Man,ROTO13,
your comments make you look like the total troll that you are dude.
I had to seek you out after your cute lil mega man comment.
Why don't you ever post your own posts?
Classic response artist;
1. piggyback someone else's comment
2. put up some garbage
3. ????
4. Never see the replies, cuz you replied as well, turd.
hplcman @ Aug 13th 2008 11:38AM
Just how much money does he get from each sale?? OK, so it costs $15 to buy and it has (supposedly) sold over 28,000 copies so far. Even if he's only getting $5 from each sale he's making a sh*t-load of money! Yet it's true, all I hear about is how he needs to sell a LOT more copies of the game just to break even... Something doesn't seem right here. Either Blow is pleading poor to try to sell more, or MS is taking MUCH more from each sale...
c0bra951 @ Aug 12th 2008 7:14PM
On Metacritic, it's the top rated XBLA game, and the 8th Xbox 360 game of any kind, even though it's a one-man effort. That's what makes the one man, Jonathan Blow, newsworthy.
I hate to be on Microsoft's side here, but I see nothing wrong with the size of the demo for Braid. To make it any longer would be to give most of the game away. As good as it is, this is one short game.
Edward Dean @ Aug 12th 2008 7:18PM
Hey Joystiq, what did Jonathan Blow have for breakfast this morning??
BIGFAT @ Aug 12th 2008 8:07PM
*Joystiq walks away*
-Tries to avoid trouble
Edward Dean @ Aug 12th 2008 7:19PM
Hey Joystiq, what did Jonathan Blow have for breakfast this morning??
Edward Dean @ Aug 12th 2008 7:20PM
Damn commenting system!!
Fernando Rocker @ Aug 12th 2008 7:24PM
Joystiq: Fix the comment system instead of posting too much news about Braid.
Really, is that too much too ask? You guys don't read the readers comments? There are always complains, every day. Double posts, and the most annoying, disapearing comments: You have to refresh the page several times until the comments appear...
So Solid Truth @ Aug 12th 2008 7:29PM
No! this double post is acceptable. It's no more annoying than the constant Braid posts. Infact it reminds me much of the current Joystiq situation.
Change of record. How about report on another indie game, why not hound the creators of Lost Wind or the guys who ported Mortal Kombat 2 and rape our news digests with their unncessary ramblings and we-dont-care-this-much bits of news?
BIGFAT @ Aug 12th 2008 8:09PM
*Joystiq turns around and punches dean in face*
WhoMe @ Aug 12th 2008 9:32PM
It's OK. Your comment was funny enough to warrant two instances of your post.
Cheers.
Fenix @ Aug 12th 2008 9:43PM
Nice try Fernando but for some fricken reason, Joystiq has dodged this question for what...4-5 months now? Its pretty pathetic. Get your shit straight Joystiq I love you guys and this is my fav game blog but this commenting system blows! Hopefully you are ignoring us because you're upgrading soon? Goodness, I go to so many other blogs (like bloodyelbow.com for example) and their commenting system is so much more advanced and effective. I say to myself "man I wish Joystiq had this". =/
Please? Purtty please? I can haz blog fix? :(
Obie @ Aug 12th 2008 7:19PM
At this point I am bombarded with Braid so much, I have grown apathetic to it.
Saria the Cat @ Aug 12th 2008 8:10PM
*sidles over to Obie* Haha, yeah...we can only debate about the pricing and Blow's douchebaggery for so long and restate our arguments in so many ways. At least we both know we're right and everyone else is wrong, right? ;)
Obie @ Aug 12th 2008 8:13PM
Saria ;)
Well, you already played the game, so I think your opinion is more valid. But it's a shame the game could have done fine on it's own merits, but Mr. Blow....er..blew it! ;)
Rob Accomando @ Aug 12th 2008 7:21PM
must.....buy.......Braid.......now........
must.....buy.......Braid.......now........
must.....buy.......Braid.......now........
must.....buy.......Braid.......now........
must.....buy.......Braid.......now........
343 Guilty Fart @ Aug 12th 2008 7:47PM
Coming soon: Braid Mountain Dew Gamer Fuel!
Fenix @ Aug 12th 2008 9:35PM
Braid Zombies? Teh CONFIRMED?!!!
So Solid Truth @ Aug 12th 2008 7:26PM
Oh FFS what's next?
"BRAID INSPIRED BY BLOW SPOTTING A LILLY FLOATING DOWN A RIVER AND WONDERED WHAT A LILLY WOULD BE LIKE IF IT WAS A 2D PLATFORMER"
"BLOW SAT ON TOILET. TOOK SHIT."
You liked the game Joystiq we get it! Now less with the hourly Braid post!
AND I LIKED THE GAME! Don't make me start hating it's creator.
Link408 @ Aug 12th 2008 7:30PM
no, playing the demo made me not want to buy it anymore
DeadPlasmaCell @ Aug 12th 2008 7:34PM
I love the game, I think the demo was very generous. But I think this dude needs to STFU already. Everyone loves the game, it's selling rather well and word of mouth will benefit it even more so stop bitching about everything and enjoy the success. He'd probably get more sales if he were hyping the game up in interviews instead of being emo about the process.
Dirk Dorkelson @ Aug 12th 2008 9:43PM
Bingo. Pretty much everyone I know who's played the demo has been utterly enthralled, which is the point of having the demo, right? Blow would have a beef here if people were downloading the demo and raving about it, but not buying the game. And as far as I can tell, that's not happening.
vidGuy @ Aug 12th 2008 7:34PM
It really is a shame, because the demo just barely touches on what makes this game great. The game doesn't really open up or provide a challenge until the third world ("World 4").
Geoff Gibson @ Aug 12th 2008 7:38PM
I downloaded the demo... Ten minutes later I bought the game. Braid was the best downloadable title I have ever bought, and remains my favorite puzzle game ever.
The music, art, and gameplay were masterful, to say the least.
ali @ Aug 12th 2008 7:41PM
world 1 was sufficient for me to realise this was a game i would enjoy but i can see why perhaps world 2 was included. there is no way someone loving world 1 and 2 would not buy the game with the prospect of 3 more worlds. fine balance what to give away though. i think 2 worlds was right.
Bertrand @ Aug 12th 2008 7:42PM
No, but I don't think making it longer would have changed my dislike for the game (http://weblogs.asp.net/bleroy/archive/2008/08/10/i-don-t-like-braid-what-s-wrong-with-me.aspx)