I started making small games with construct 2 one year ago, but only recently i got serious into it, and while i got into some bumps on the performance (web) the community helped with tips and i struggled on.
So far i released 1 game on google play, amazon and on web and i was thinking at how much issues i encountered to publish a semi-polished game.
1) I love how its promoted as an easy solution, but in reality if u don't learn all optimization and workaround tips, you wont be able to release any game, anywhere in a semi polish state. Performance, crashes and audio problems will haunt you to death.
2) The lack of native exporters makes this even worse. Cocoon js is the only alternative at the moment, even tho Ashley sends us to XDK which is months away from a stable compiler, but we get ignored and sent to knock on doors. Its ludei problem, its intel problem, its Scirra problem, go bother them.
Here is even more sad, that after Construct 2 sold very well, Scirra simply didn't bother to make a few c2 exporters, they just send us to third party sites, which most of the time don't care much about C2. Man power you say? Well look at yoyo games, they made their exporters and each costs money and let me tell you, their HTML 5 mobile games have more options and flexibility, and overall better performance.
3) I really hate this HTML 5 trip, i only use this engine because of the even sheet workflow. Why i hate it? Because even after 2 years listening to Ashley about promoting the so called HTML 5 rush, the reality is completely different. Imagine if instead of riding this hipster trip, they would've built on Construct Classic, make it as simple as C2 and but with tons of native exporters. That wouldve simply destroy GM and other competition.
What you can realistically make at the moment:
a) Small html 5 web games, they work ok, but they need a lot optimization on large games. Construct 2 its easy but in reality if you want to make a deeper game, well you need a lot of experience with it. "lets everyone create amazing games." right, lets everyone create simple games with mediocre performance at best. In the end its possible to publish a decent game, but dont expect to make any money out of it, unless u put some ads on it, and that's about it, making a few dollars at best per month. Licenses are very rare for html 5 web games, but not uncommon. There are few networks you can share to, but its very hard, HTML 5 is simply inferior to flash, but a interesting game with attractive graphics can score a deal.
b) use cocoon js and publish small games on android and ios. The performance its ok with optimization, but lots, lots of problems there. The loading times are huge, audio music crashes your phone on sleep, but at least the performance is good. Post on scirra forums for support and watch Ashely sending you to Intel to use a incomplete, alpha sdk.
c) make non games, 3-7 days cash grabs and publish your income reports for the world to see. These html 5 web games that publishers buy(tho now the bubble its over, so its harder to sell them than last year), require VERY SIMPLE gameplay, and a lot of optimization to even work on mobile. Not Scirra fault here, is just this stupid technology. When i hear that Flash will die because of HTML 5 i laugh my ass off. Did u even saw the quality of the flash games? Maybe in 3-5 years we will get to have possibility to create something similar to flash at that performance, but i doubt it. HTML 5 mobile games are worse than those "free to play" mobile cash grabs.
So you can create something, but you are sent to knock on doors, and hope that you experience will help on the way. I am afraid to even make a deeper game with nodeweb kit and see that the performance is horrible on laptops.
I am very disappointed after 2 years, the engine improved in performance, but the ability to actually release a polished game, well its there, somewhere, but to be honest ill thinking on moving away from this engine. Ill create 2-4 more small games, see whats going on the exporter subject, if still goes on this ignorance trip, ill just move to Unity and call it a day.
So what you guys think?
/frustration off
Unfortunately, I feel the same way. The only reason I stuck with C2 over YoYo or Unity was because it was easier to start up with. Now, almost two years later, my hobby now has real business concerns which may lead me to jump ship. I have already bought a GM license and I really like what I see, but, for now I will finish up the game I am working on with C2 and reconsider my options after it has been published.
Which reminds me. I have a HeroEngine license as well.