Devlog #1

After uploading PlanetControl.io I learned a very important lesson regarding indie multiplayer games that I'd like to share. It's probably a very obvious point to the experienced indie game developers but here it is in case it helps anyone in my situation in the future.

If you don't already have a big user/fan base, do not release a multiplayer game without having a single player mode against AI 

This was my first multiplayer game and I mostly started working on it to learn more about the authoritative server architecture in multiplayer games. The players can start a new room and wait for other players to join their room and the match starts (2 players or 4 players).

My assumption was that there will be enough players (at least 2) at any time to start a match and of course I was very wrong.

Released the game on May 17th and in the last 3 days there was around 40 browser plays and only a couple of times a match really started with players other than me. I noticed about 70% of users who join an empty lobby create a new room, they wait an average of 15 seconds for someone to join the room and then they leave the game. The sad part is that the players who actually get to play the game say they like it (or they are just being polite when I ask them).

So, what's my plan ?

I'm adding a single player mode vs AI so anyone can play the game at any time, even if the lobby is empty. I probably missed the window that comes with a new game but at least I will learn more about AI and I'll keep this in mind for the next multiplayer game.

Hope this helps someone :)