David Braben: Releasing the game with "fewer features"

[Viajero]

Honestly, I don't know why so many people seem to be unhappy. Are you enjoying the game so far? Are you looking forward to the gamma/official release?
Why do so many of you guys act like there won't be any updates/adds to the game after (!) the release in december?

Ok, so:
- no offline mode? I couldn't care less. Play single player online, found a group... don't see any problem except for "ooooooh but I can't have all the resources/commodities for myself" thing

- fewer features at release than originally planned? Does not mean FDevs won't throw those features in at a later time, right?

Really, I can not understand what all the fuzz and concerns are about. I personally am looking forward to the gamma and the final (uhm... let's call it not "final", let's call it "official") release, and I have much faith in DB and his team. And no, I am not a fangirl... not old-school nor new follower. I am just enjoying what I have, and it's way better than many titles that have been out there for a much longer period of time.

*shrugs and starts E: D*

Pretty much agreed. The thing is that if it weren't for crowdfunding the game would have probably never been made at all.

For better or for worst the kickstarted and crowdfunded game generation will always have a risk of incomplete "official" releases. No matter how much money one can throw at it. A developer team needs to officially launch at some point so to start cashing in and to maintain its economical viability, or else risk to start facing unsustainable development costs.

That basic need for revenue will always squeeze timelines and frontally clash with the quality and content level of any game. It is a delicate and not easy balance to keep.

The best developers will be the ones who artfully walk that thin line between revenues and quality in reasonable timeframes. FDEV seems to be now in that crucial stage gate where the deadline has been drawn in the sand and some content has been cut off the release version in order to meet it. It is still left to be seen if the final product will be able to stand on its own feet faced with the market and critics. Only time will tell, and we ll know soon enough.

The game is great as is already so, in the mean time, I will also just *shrug and start E: D*

 

[Ryder35]

What no one seems to be mentioning and what worries me is the statement about leaving things on the cutting room floor. I really hope that is not a comment designed to prepare us for the fact that lots of features are not going to be added after launch.

I love the game as it is and have already got my £200 worth out of it but I want the game to expand and improve over time.

 

[Severian]

I've been playing most of the day, bounty hunting, exploring, a bit of trade and a few missions here and there. Pop in here now and then to read the latest, say what the hell is wrong with these guys to myself, and go back to playing ED.

 

[gamecat]

You can't have an online only DRM-free game. The login/authentication servers, non-local saves, and mandatory participation in on-line content are all forms of DRM.

No it's not. It's a consequence of playing an online game. It wouldn't be possible otherwise. Null point.

 

[Phosphora]

I've enjoyed the gradual release of game features over the last few months. I'd like to see this continue over 2015 and onwards. Perhaps the Dec 2014 date could be seen as an almost arbitrary starting point, the firm foundation on which the game of 2015/2016/2017 etc will be based.

I'll be happy to build up credits over time, ready for new features and expansions.

Cheers, Phos.

 

[Tiggo]

only having features on release they are comfortable with and putting the rest in part by part is a GOOD thing.

 

[Ben Ryder]

My Gama testing at work goes live on the 28. We got the core features sorted and some nice extras but the features list is far from complete. We have significant connectivity and network issues. My go live date is w/c 2 December. My project will either be canned with job losses or rolled out across the organisation. I feel for all at Frontier and wish them all the best of luck. I'm going to have a cup of tea.

 

[Marshall...]

I've enjoyed the gradual release of game features over the last few months. I'd like to see this continue over 2015 and onwards. Perhaps the Dec 2014 date could be seen as an almost arbitrary starting point, the firm foundation on which the game of 2015/2016/2017 etc will be based.

I'll be happy to build up credits over time, ready for new features and expansions.

Cheers, Phos.

Me too

 

[Tobytyke1972]

A lot of people seem to be really worried that FDev will fold. Personally don'T see that happening as Elite is just one part of the company they have loads of other revenue streams.

But just keep in mind a game from years back "Earth and Beyond" a great game for the time, I just to play this loads.
EA do pull the plug of the servers, so loads of developer got to get and managed to build an emulator so that people can still play the game.

http://enb-emulator.com/

Not saying we'll ever need this type of action, but it food for thought,

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

Something about the game not being as good, interesting and fun as we had hoped maybe?

Until now, many hoped the full game would have many more features, and much more content, seeing as the beta is critically lacking in both areas, and now we learn that our hopes were a bit ambitious, and the game below its own promises.

To be true, I went trough *core* feature list I didn't find that many things missing, I even discovered some of them already being in Beta.

Newsletter is sluggishly edited..."fewer features" clearly means that they will add not so much new features as they will polish hell out of those which we have already.

 

[Avnas]

Dayz is going to ship with like 1% of it's advertised features and is ridiculously popular even though it ALWAYS was broken

/thread

 

[Tar Stone]

Polish it up and release it so I can get stuck in without another wipe coming. I haven't touched another game since the very first beta, and even the review sites I used to read are old and stale and boring filled with the same old crap and the same early access rubbish.



In the time it has taken premium beta to turn into the gorgeous game it is right now:

- Steam has completely and utterly disappeared up inside its own stinking orifice

- Edge magazine has turned into some kind of gaming fashion magazine

- Rock Paper Shotgun, who I dearly love, have been scraping the bottom of ten different barrels looking for stuff to write about



I'll tell you what bores me, pretty much every big release of the last few years, every early access and green light project, every game reviewer trying to be funny and edgy and witty and writing his notes during the twentieth cutscene in the last ten minutes.

I am absolutely shocked and dismayed to read endless posts on this forum about how the game needs THIS or it needs THAT or it is going to FAIL. Look at what they've achieved, look at the scope of this thing, stand back and LOOK at it for crying out loud it's a work of love for everyone involved in it and that includes the community DDF members who helped shape it.

People are expecting to see Thargoids at release, I mean, seriously. SERIOUSLY.

 

[Druid]

Wheres the joy folks? Game gets released and then we get interesting bits over time to play with . Whats wrong with that ? We get some expansions and then little extra titbits of gameplay along the way as well. Sounds good to me.

Remember Xmas is coming and FD can cash in on some Xmas prezzys for dad and little Johnny and Jonnette. This money goes towards major expansions and more content . Cant see the issue myself.

 

[Colonel Kenney]

Everything they have is in a database. Querying it for commander statistics will be easy to do, and present it on a commander's page. So I'm pretty sure it'll be in. I could write that in an afternoon... Its just whenever the database changes that throws everything out of whack. So i'd say they have that for gamma.