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Visual Concept Test

You will see three possible presentations for the same underlying PC action game. Judge only what is shown. Please do not search for the project or discuss the options until you finish. The first questions are intentionally open-ended; there are no trick answers. This should take about 10 minutes.

Do you agree to take part in this anonymous visual concept survey?

Do you agree to take part in this anonymous visual concept survey?
A
B

If you came from Prolific or another panel, enter your participant ID. If not, write none.

Which PC action genres have you played in the last six months?

Which PC action genres have you played in the last six months?

Have you bought at least one indie PC game in the previous 12 months?

Have you bought at least one indie PC game in the previous 12 months?
A
B
C

Have you previously seen or discussed Counter Swarm?

Have you previously seen or discussed Counter Swarm?
A
B
C

What device are you using for this survey?

What device are you using for this survey?
A
B
C

Concept 1

Look at all four Concept 1 items before answering. Do not look up the project or infer anything from the survey structure.
https://storage.tally.so/01cd9a2c-a6de-411f-96a2-4a97f8793ed3/capsule_source.png
https://storage.tally.so/fdbb32ce-5208-45a0-bc20-8e7a155b4cfd/gameplay_1920x1080.png
https://storage.tally.so/8ffae770-2e53-4fee-a8e4-9c9c97803ae4/base_vs_adapted.png

Exposure check: did you view the Concept 1 capsule, gameplay image, enemy comparison image and short clip?

Exposure check: did you view the Concept 1 capsule, gameplay image, enemy comparison image and short clip?
A
B

In one or two sentences, what do you think this game is about?

What changed between the first and second enemy(3rd picture)?

Why do you think it changed?

What would you do differently against this enemy as the player(3rd picture)?

What genre does this appear to be?

What price or value tier does it look like?

Does it look childish, mobile-like, generic, asset-flipped, AI-generated or unclear? Explain briefly.

What game does it remind you of?

What feature would you expect that may not actually be shown?

Concept 2

Look at all four Concept 2 items before answering. Do not look up the project or infer anything from the survey structure.
https://storage.tally.so/4a5feab2-a45f-47bb-b311-91264a2f7da9/capsule_source.png
https://storage.tally.so/957d8854-fb46-4685-805e-b3a75ce44b6f/gameplay_1920x1080.png
https://storage.tally.so/fbe5f0ec-b92a-4c46-9f50-10c55bc2bb39/base_vs_adapted.png

Exposure check: did you view the Concept 2 capsule, gameplay image, enemy comparison image and short clip?

Exposure check: did you view the Concept 2 capsule, gameplay image, enemy comparison image and short clip?
A
B

In one or two sentences, what do you think this game is about?

What changed between the first and second enemy(3rd picture)?

Why do you think it changed?

What would you do differently against this enemy as the player(3rd picture)?

What genre does this appear to be?

What price or value tier does it look like?

Does it look childish, mobile-like, generic, asset-flipped, AI-generated or unclear? Explain briefly.

What game does it remind you of?

What feature would you expect that may not actually be shown?

Concept 3

Look at all four Concept 3 items before answering. Do not look up the project or infer anything from the survey structure.
https://storage.tally.so/64cf7e3a-7b91-46be-b687-a865ad2b2924/capsule_source.png
https://storage.tally.so/0b3db62d-93a5-4934-ac4e-71ce158acf25/gameplay_1920x1080.png
https://storage.tally.so/f5ddb6e3-15d2-4f26-ab3e-d13bf47fc92a/base_vs_adapted.png

Exposure check: did you view the Concept 3 capsule, gameplay image, enemy comparison image and short clip?

Exposure check: did you view the Concept 3 capsule, gameplay image, enemy comparison image and short clip?
A
B

In one or two sentences, what do you think this game is about?

What changed between the first and second enemy(3rd picture)?

Why do you think it changed?

What would you do differently against this enemy as the player(3rd picture)?

What genre does this appear to be?

What price or value tier does it look like?

Does it look childish, mobile-like, generic, asset-flipped, AI-generated or unclear? Explain briefly.

What game does it remind you of?

What feature would you expect that may not actually be shown?

Short Descriptions
Now read or listen to the short description for each concept. These are shown after your first reactions on purpose.

Concept 1: Build a hunting style, then face a rat resistance that studies it. Engineers deploy shields, grapplers and improvised armour against your favourite tactics. Counters appear as visible equipment, formations and behaviour, not hidden scaling. Adapt before their war-machine locks your habits in.
Concept 2: Build a killing pattern, then face a containment force that studies it. Guards, drones and hunters deploy equipment designed to stop your specimen. Counters appear as visible gear, formations and tactics, not hidden scaling. Adapt before the facility's kill unit seals your escape.
Concept 3: Build a combat style, then face an alien brood that evolves around it. Carapaces, sensory organs and volatile sacs grow to counter your favourite tactics. Counters appear as visible bodies and behaviour, not hidden scaling. Adapt before the apex organism inherits your weaknesses.

Compare The Three Concepts

Which would you click first?

Which would you click first?
A
B
C

Which would you download as a free demo?

Which would you download as a free demo?
A
B
C

Which would you most likely buy?

Which would you most likely buy?
A
B
C

Which looks least generic?

Which looks least generic?
A
B
C

Which short clip would you share?

Which short clip would you share?
A
B
C

Which has the strongest player fantasy?

Which has the strongest player fantasy?
A
B
C

Which has the clearest enemy fantasy?

Which has the clearest enemy fantasy?
A
B
C

Rank all three from most to least interesting.

Rank all three from most to least interesting.
Use the up and down arrow keys to change the rank.
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1
1

Price And Quality

What price or download tier fits Concept 1 best?

What price or download tier fits Concept 1 best?
A
B
C
D
E
F

How confident are you about your Concept 1 price/download answer?

How confident are you about your Concept 1 price/download answer?

How visually clear and polished does Concept 1 look?

How visually clear and polished does Concept 1 look?

What price or download tier fits Concept 2 best?

What price or download tier fits Concept 2 best?
A
B
C
D
E
F

How confident are you about your Concept 2 price/download answer?

How confident are you about your Concept 2 price/download answer?

How visually clear and polished does Concept 2 look?

How visually clear and polished does Concept 2 look?

What price or download tier fits Concept 3 best?

What price or download tier fits Concept 3 best?
A
B
C
D
E
F

How confident are you about your Concept 3 price/download answer?

How confident are you about your Concept 3 price/download answer?

How visually clear and polished does Concept 3 look?

How visually clear and polished does Concept 3 look?

Optional: what is the main reason for your favourite choice?

Optional: anything confusing, misleading or unexpectedly appealing?