Hey there,

Thanks for your feedback. When we originally designed the game, we did not intend for it to be a runner game at all, but rather a laid back contemplative experience. There is however a speedrunner mode in the gameplay options page which shows a full run-through time.

We have instated a feature freeze on the game, since we all now have full time jobs. All updates to Parallax will be bug fixes or minor interface changes. Adding a time achievement is actually a pretty big task, which would involve interface changes, extensive data collection on fast runs, and tweaking core physics to prevent time exploits. For these reasons, this feature will most likely not happen any time soon. Sorry!

Zi

Sure, just sayin' that when time is of the essence, the entire play looks different. Suddenly the puzzles get another dimension of challenge and ways of making the proceeding shorter - even with just jumping over the platform corners - become vital. But first, to even approach such an endevour, one must get to know the stage well and optimize the operations. In outcome, it increases the replayability a lot, as well as introduces some tension to the game. You could also think of time-based leaderboards for each puzzle, taking that the maximum amount of actions criterium - being actually a helper and a hint - is a must if to be able to beat the time score. But anyway, perhaps you could take it into consideration with your other possible projects, since you say Parallax is pretty much done.

I understand the game is to be played in zen mode of mind, but zen typically - the way I see it - is about what comes after. What I mean is that once a ground that was a place of struggle could now be perceived with peace and journeyed through steady paced, meditatively. Without the experience of effort, how does one perceive the difference and thus, value it?

I love this game because of the puzzles, and I wouldn't like to hate it because of the way you have to jump over corners to cut some stupid miniseconds from your run. I agree with the dev, this game is clearly not designed for speedrunning.

If you're looking for a 3D puzzle-ish game clearly focused on speedrunning, I think you will really like Deadcore!

I talk about achievements, while you can still skip the achievement and enjoy the game, nothing wrong happens if you just want to explore and do puzzles. I think Parallax has a great potential as a runner and thus I make a point about that, hence the topic is unconcerned mostly.

Cutting the corners is just a tidbit, I think the maximum threshold of time set for each level should still allow some freedom, without the necessity to go crazy all over the place. Regarding leaderboards, taking the nature of the play, the fastest run would probably hardly ever drop below certain minimum, therefore the best times would eventually be similar, making it redundant for people to compete in that manner. Therefore leaderboards neglected.

Originally posted by "TheGlecter":

I agree with the devs, this game is clearly not designed for speedrunning.

From what I understood, the developers said they have already finished the game and their original purpose was to make it an easy approach fun - without mistaking it with an easy play. But actually, whether the game would make a good runner or not, is a separate issue. In my opinion, it is already a wonderful runner, just try to do some levels against time.

Originally posted by "Zi":

tweaking core physics to prevent time exploits

How can one exploit time through designed physics in this game?

Anyway, lets face it, even if the developers decide the time achievement will be skipped, along with any other updates for the game, it would still make a good runner. Telling oneself it is otherwise - the developers would do it if it was sensible for the gameplay or the game is somehow better without the time achievement - is sweet lemons.

Originally posted by wHAT:

How can one exploit time through designed physics in this game?

This was actually a very recent development. Somebody discovered how to do bunny hops which let you achieve insane speeds. Unfortunately fixing this would change the way the physics feel/work. All the platform distances and timings in the entire game are tweaked based on the current physics. If anything were to change, it might break some of the puzzles.

Speedrunning in Parallax was totally unexpected, but a totally valid way to play the game. I will definitely consider this for my next game. There is actually a small speedrunning community for Parallax who like to push for ever shorter runs. There will be no leaderboards or achievements though, sadly. Thanks again for your feedback! :)

Yeah, still pretty valid to do a screenshot of the time record for a level of interest and post it. If there is any community for it, but a self-struggle is also noteworthy.

A huge part of the puzzle games audience hate timers and speed-based achievements. I've seen quite a lot of forum threads and negative reviews complaining about those in many other needlessly-timed puzzle games.

Not saying that a speedrunning community is a bad thing, but they're a minority in comparison to all the puzzle-gamers that want to stay away from any timed kind of gameplay.

An achievement for this is a big no-no IMO since it would force players who want to 100% the game to play it in a way they will most likely not enjoy at all...

Originally posted by "TheGlecter":

A huge part of the puzzle games audience hate timers and speed-based achievements

I do myself or at least used to. But when I see a potential, I like it to be expanded. Y'know, you see a hole, you make it bigger. Just an instinct. Probably inherited from our protoplasts.

Originally posted by "TheGlecter":

I've seen quite a lot of forum threads and negative reviews complaining about those in many other needlessly-timed puzzle games.

I have also seen pretty many reviews stating Parallax lacks further drive.

Originally posted by "TheGlecter":

Not saying that a speedrunning community is a bad thing, but they're a minority in comparison to all the puzzle-gamers that want to stay away from any timed kind of gameplay.

If you can stand one missing achievement in your collection, you are good to go even with the speedrunning on, since it is just an option. If you are unable to, then the game has some other dimension of play to offer.

Originally posted by "TheGlecter":

An achievement for this is a big no-no IMO since it would force players who want to 100% the game to play it in a way they will most likely not enjoy at all...

Actually this argument is neglectable.

I feel negative, emotional vibe from you Glecter, perhaps you are too much treating it as a personal issue. But perhaps it is just the way you are. But I say it is bad for your health.

Originally posted by wHAT:

I feel negative, emotional vibe from you Glecter, perhaps you are too much treating it as a personal issue. But perhaps it is just the way you are. But I say it is bad for your health.

...said the guy who wrote personal attacks and needs to reply to every sentence from other posts... :P

I used to be the 'the more features the better' kind of guy a few years ago, but I played a lot of indies since then and the ones I liked the most were the ones that made the best out of what made them great, rather than those that added extra features for the sake of replayability.

I never said that you suck for thinking like that, but please let me have different opinion from yours and voice it in a forum thread. We're in a games forum, and that's what forums are for... What did you expect?

And get Deadcore, really. I think you will enjoy the hell out of that game!

Originally posted by "TheGlecter":

...said the guy who wrote personal attacks and needs to reply to every sentence from other posts... :P

I see you are making it more personal. I humbly ask you to quote what you consider my aggression and mention the sources where you found it.

Originally posted by "TheGlecter":

I used to be the 'the more features the better' kind of guy a few years ago, but I played a lot of indies since then and the ones I liked the most were the ones that made the best out of what made them great, rather than those that added extra features for the sake of replayability.

I never said that you suck for thinking like that, but please let me have different opinion from yours and voice it in a forum thread. We're in a games forum, and that's what forums are for... What did you expect?

Agreed, but take it as a mutually binding term.

Originally posted by "TheGlecter":

And get Deadcore, really. I think you will enjoy the hell out of that game!

Will check out the title, though sounds like a genre of extreme music.

(｢･ω･)｢ 乁(˙ω˙乁) (~‾⌣‾)~

Originally posted by "Zi":

(｢･ω･)｢ 乁(˙ω˙乁) (~‾⌣‾)~

Three little pigs?

(｢･ω･)｢ (~‾⌣‾)~ (~‾⌣‾)~

(｢･ω･)(｢･ω･)(｢･ω･)

Hey, I was the guy who found bhopping -- I've also done some individual levels runs for this game. If you want to compete against my times, I'd love some competition. We currently host leaderboards on speedrun.com: www.speedrun.com/Parallax/individual_levels

Here's my playlist of ILs: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlOwHAEwuDZt4nNVpdUoQpGqEcsu5d98Y