I am working on this  project for over a year now. It is my first game
and I would like to finally finish it, but there are a few problems:

1. It is an online multiplayer game. I released the beta in december, but I have
no testers. So how to balance a multiplayer game without testers? Is this even
the right place for this type of game? I found no online multiplayer game that
is primary based on itch.io with a living community. Maybe I overlooked a game?

2. I am no artist, I focused on game mechanics and on a performant server, but
I think now that a well made trailer is the most important part of a game to
get attention. Apart from my lack of knowledge about creating videos, the game
has some strategic depth but no fancy graphics to show off in a trailer.

3. I created this game because I was annoyed by the concept of all collectible
card games out there. I think there is a gap in the market, but I may be
wrong. Maybe everyone else likes it as it is.

4. I like this game, and friends who play it too. But these are no objective
opinions - maybe the game is simply too bad to continue development?

I am trying to decide what to do next. My options:

1. abandon the project
2. replace the working title with a cool name, create a fancy trailer, release
without balancing
3. slowly improve the game and hope for the best

Has anyone a suggestion how to attract beta testers?
Has anyone time and patience to review the mechanics?

Any comments are welcome!

Thanks in advance!

Link to the project page: D5869

I'm afraid I don't have the time to go into as much detail as you're asking for here. But what I can say is just from clicking on your link and looking over your game's page, I have no idea what the game is actually about. I looked at the images, and from a glance the game seemed to have to do with space and resources, but I still don't know what to expect if I were to download it.

I'm not a MAJOR card game fan, but I do enjoy quite a few of them and have been playing them since I was a child. Your page seems to only explain the reasons why you wanted to make this game, and none of the reasons why I should be interested in playing this game. So in that sense, you sort of solved at least one of your problems already, meaning you understood you should make a trailer (AKA figure out how to excite players about what the game is and get them curious to try it out on their own). What I would want to know before trying out this game is:

• Who am I in the game world?
• What am I trying to accomplish?
• What is my opponent trying to accomplish?
• How am I going to accomplish this goal?
• What else is special about this game and how it is played?

Looks like you have a big project on yours hands, and that you're still feeling passionate about it. If that's true, maybe your #2 option is the best. Come up with a snazzy title, work on developing your marketing materials, and try to "re-launch" the project and attract more testers. And I'd say if all of that goes well, try to continue your work on balancing and polishing what you have. Maybe look for help in areas you don't feel confident with. Hope that's all helpful, and best of luck to you!

Thanks for the detailed analysis. This is really helpful!