SteewpidZombie said:
Here is the truth about the game.
It is short, not much of a experience, and the only real complaints have been that it gets abit too preachy and religious based near the end.
Now while it might sound bad to bash a game about a child who died of cancer, I must say that it seems somewhat of a cash-grab by the developer. It was made basically KNOWING that people wouldn't dare talk shit about it (due to the touchy subject of cancer and death), and then pricing it at about $20.
So basically I would tell people NOT to buy this unless it was on sale. BECAUSE if the developer had either made a long/detailed product to justify the cost, or decided to donate money from Steam sales (the biggest seller of the game) THEN I would say that the price was justifiable for such a product. Especially when it's obviously playing off of sympathy or 'Feels' from the community for it's sales.
So overall I must say that while the story and content is a kidney shot to your emotions, and deserves to be told. That doesn't mean you should support a developer who made a half-assed product that's cashing in on someone else's tragedy.
From the developer's webpage:
"A JOURNEY OF HOPE IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH
An immersive narrative videogame that retells Joel Green?s 4-year fight against cancer through about two hours of poetic, imaginative gameplay that explores faith, hope and love."
It's advertised as being two hours and says that it will explore faith, so I don't see why anyone is surprised at the length of the game or that it gets religious in there.
And considering the parents of the child were fully involved in writing and creating the game (Ryan Green, the father, is the game developer and did some of the cg art for the game), I don't see how you can accuse them of cashing in on their own tragedy.
And don't be hyperbolic. The game sells for $15. If you paid $20, you were ripped off.