Summer of Games 2023

[Brooplenorp]

Anyone else been disappointed with the games revealed thus far? Feel like they've been pretty underwhelming for the most part, which I did not expect based on the way the event has been billed.

Maybe I'm missing something though - definitely let me know if there are some hidden gems in the games revealed so far!

[thoun]

Big releases still happen on wednesday as usual (games with an article in the news).
Other games are less known games, that don't have a news article, but there can be some hidden gems in them

[GTSchemer]

Greetings, no offense intended at all, but I am guessing this is your first month-long release event you have seen?

These events always have games which have been in beta for a long time. For example, if you check beta now, you will notice there are 120 games there. One hundred twenty!

Every single one of these games must be released on a Monday, Wednesday, or during an event. Since Mondays and Wednesdays are reserved for bigger names, the vast majority of release event days will be little-known games that have been sitting in beta for a year.

[ufm]

Anyone else been disappointed with the games revealed thus far? Feel like they've been pretty underwhelming for the most part, which I did not expect based on the way the event has been billed.

Maybe I'm missing something though - definitely let me know if there are some hidden gems in the games revealed so far!

31 of them, one for every day for the whole month of August.

Why?
As usual for the last 3 years, we have a lot of games waiting to be released, and we cannot hold them back anymore. We think it is a good opportunity to release them with an event.
That is why starting from the 1st of August, you will be able to discover ONE new game A DAY. And by new game, we mean games "that were not yet OFFICIALLY RELEASED." (We see you. Yes you...)

BGA clearly stated the purpose of the calendar this time.
Still, many players assume they would get some surprise releases of popular games without any basis...

These events always have games which have been in beta for a long time. For example, if you check beta now, you will notice there are 120 games there. One hundred twenty!

Even with a series of releases during 1 month the number didn't decrease at all...

[nik592]

Every single one of these games must be released on a Monday, Wednesday, or during an event. Since Mondays and Wednesdays are reserved for bigger names, the vast majority of release event days will be little-known games that have been sitting in beta for a year.

Why is this? I mean, I get highlighting new games and that's great, but if there's such a backlog, why can't they just be moved out of beta without an announcement? Or why are announcements limited to twice weekly (if there is any reason other than it taking some effort to write such an announcement)?

[GTSchemer]

Every single one of these games must be released on a Monday, Wednesday, or during an event. Since Mondays and Wednesdays are reserved for bigger names, the vast majority of release event days will be little-known games that have been sitting in beta for a year.

Why is this? I mean, I get highlighting new games and that's great, but if there's such a backlog, why can't they just be moved out of beta without an announcement? Or why are announcements limited to twice weekly (if there is any reason other than it taking some effort to write such an announcement)?

More news post announcements means the actual major games with publisher attention and backing don't get enough highlighting, which means the publishers might be unhappy.

Moving lots of games from beta to release with no announcements means those games never get played. At least with the current monthly event, each game gets a bump when its day comes out. If you've ever developed a BGA game, you know how that first day or two of highlrelease tend to have a huge uptick in games, even though everyone could already play it in beta.

[LightKnight]

Anyone else been disappointed with the games revealed thus far? Feel like they've been pretty underwhelming for the most part, which I did not expect based on the way the event has been billed.

Maybe I'm missing something though - definitely let me know if there are some hidden gems in the games revealed so far!

I am bit lost in the variety of games now.
But it would be weird for me to complain about this. Overall, though I am not a fan of the changes in the interface, I have absolutely nothing to say against their policy including new games and how it accelerated - there used to be just like 20 releases a year.

[Meeplelowda]

Maybe I'm missing something though - definitely let me know if there are some hidden gems in the games revealed so far!

We don't know what things you like. One person's trash is another person's treasure.

For example, if you like abstract games, "Strands" is a great addition. If you never play abstracts, then it's probably not for you.

[nik592]

Moving lots of games from beta to release with no announcements means those games never get played. At least with the current monthly event, each game gets a bump when its day comes out. If you've ever developed a BGA game, you know how that first day or two of highlrelease tend to have a huge uptick in games, even though everyone could already play it in beta.

Hmmm. That does make sense, although I'd also say games languishing in beta means they're probably not being played either. I personally have a handful of games I've been waiting to come out of beta so I can play them in Arena (I know I can still play non-Arena, but just wanted to join Arena for them).

[Jeronimon]

Maybe I'm missing something though - definitely let me know if there are some hidden gems in the games revealed so far!

We don't know what things you like. One person's trash is another person's treasure.

For example, if you like abstact games, "Strands" is a great addition. If you never play abstracts, then it's probably not for you.

I second that strands is an excellent abstract and hope lots of players keep playing it. For me the hidden gem of this month