Why did they take a holiday break? Can't wrap my head around it.

[AndyWeller]

Have they taken the time off or have they been working in the background on something we don't know about yet?

I'm pretty sure they had Christmas day and boxing day off though because I know I did

 

[SgtLennin]

The release went pretty well. There are no major bugs or flaws that I know of. I mean major ones that make the game unplayable. A couple of weeks low profile brings a lot of feedback from the player community and it's easier to make priorities in further bug fixing and development.

 

[Angorak]

Yup, I'm American. Regardless of that 4 week policy, a company (especially a game development company) would never place those 2 weeks post launch.
I can't recall anytime a game development company took a hiatus immediately post launch, even in SP development. It's unheard of.

I'm not saying that ethically they don't deserve that time off, I just know if I was in their shoes, there's no way I could take that time off.

Greedy capitalist talking...ROFLMAO. I'm a yank too and I say they deserve the time off after the sleepless nights and hectic days leading up to the release. I have no doubt that they were pulling 16 to 20 hour days during gamma.
Cut them some slack...I wish companies in the US were as insistent that employees took vacation time...heck..the last company I worked for begrudgingly gave you 2 weeks paid after 3 years of service. So glad I'm retired now.

 

[CMDR Reza Malin]

As someone who has worked in the game development industry, I can say with a high degree of certainty that you have no idea what you are talking about. Your being awe-struck merely means that you do not fully comprehend what goes into game development at this level (i.e. - a large company, etc), and what everyone working on the title goes through. You said "perhaps I understand having a day off" - no, you don't understand having a day off, because that is not nearly enough time to give to the families who have sat through lonely nights while their significant others were at work compiling build after build in order to get things working. But this is more of a sensationalist answer, I admit. An easier answer is that the game isn't going anywhere, and the people who whine are the ones who were already (or were going to) whine, and those aren't going anywhere either.

100% this. Have some rep sir.

I honestly don't even understand why this thread exists at all. Some people need to get a grip of reality.

 

[Angelo]

As someone already mentioned FD are UK based and here in EU we put health & family above all else. It looks crazy from the business perspective, but that's how it is. At least you get to learn something about our way of life for a change .

 

[Stressfest]

It's Xmas, It's New Years... people have holidays. They're entitled to them regardless of how hard they've worked on a product.. It's how most the working world rolls.

 

[Krighten]

As someone who has worked in the game development industry, I can say with a high degree of certainty that you have no idea what you are talking about. Your being awe-struck merely means that you do not fully comprehend what goes into game development at this level (i.e. - a large company, etc), and what everyone working on the title goes through. You said "perhaps I understand having a day off" - no, you don't understand having a day off, because that is not nearly enough time to give to the families who have sat through lonely nights while their significant others were at work compiling build after build in order to get things working. But this is more of a sensationalist answer, I admit. An easier answer is that the game isn't going anywhere, and the people who whine are the ones who were already (or were going to) whine, and those aren't going anywhere either.

I'm a Computer Science senior at Uni with a minor in Game Design and Development, just for my perspective. Also have a few friends in the industry. I understand the struggle, and am not trying to undermine it in anyway. I've spent countless hours coding projects and I'm sure that doesn't even begin to touch the time that these developers put in. However, I also understand that the launch window is one of the most critical times in getting traction in this industry, and taking a break is unusual. Please, by all means, give me an example of a game where the developers took time off post-launch, ESPECIALLY at larger companies. Launch is a time for the last push before time off.

These, and many, developers deserve more than 2-3 weeks off..but that's besides the point. It's extremely unusual and I'm speculative about why.

100% this. Have some rep sir.

I honestly don't even understand why this thread exists at all. Some people need to get a grip of reality.

You're assuming this thread exists because of some type of entitlement. It does not.

As someone already mentioned FD are UK based and here in EU we put health & family above all else. It looks crazy from the business perspective, but that's how it is. At least you get to learn something about our way of life for a change

.

And if it is mostly cultural, then that's interesting, and actually answers my question.


PS: Just as a last side note; A lot of you guys REALLY assume the worst out of people here. This was never about what the devs do or do not deserve, the state of the game's content, etc. Simply that it's a very UNUSUAL occurrence in the games industry and I was curious.

 

[OnePercent]

I think this is a really good thing, First off, A break to visit your families at an important time of the year for most of the employees (christmas and new years) Second, It lets their brains all relax and reset after 2 long years going at it full steam, It means they will be 110% when they come back ready to nuke some bugs. And begin implementing new features.

 

[WalterHWhite]

Agree it's a bit of a silly thread.

Judge the company by what they do in the New Year.

 

[xxThe_Dice_manxx]

They worked very hard for the launch they deserve a break , roll on 2015.

 

[Sandmann]

I'm equally awestruck that after 2 years of updates and development and getting the game released and stable that anyone would begrudge the dev team a few weeks break - I think they've more than earned it.

 

[Quietman]

I'm not saying that ethically they don't deserve that time off, I just know if I was in their shoes, there's no way I could take that time off.

You can only push employees, (who are after all human beings), so far before things go awry, (poor performance, stress related illnesses, employees quitting, etc); most if not all of the FD devs were doing 80+ hour weeks, including working on Saturdays and Sundays for at least the last few weeks before release.

Whether the release date and subsequent workload were managed well or not is open to debate, but without a shadow of a doubt, what did work was the stability of the release. Anyone who was part of the Beta and Gamma would well know the trials and tribulations of the game's reliability in terms of networking, database transactions and general performance.

In this day and age of half baked alpha's, pre-release works in progress and crowd funded development, I was honestly shocked with the reliability and success of ED's release; so kudos to the devs for that. I guess that if the release had self destructed in an implosion of bugs and reliability issues that your wish would have indeed come true.

 

[Krighten]

I'm equally awestruck that after 2 years of updates and development and getting the game released and stable that anyone would begrudge the dev team a few weeks break - I think they've more than earned it.

If people were reading the actual thread then they would see that no one is begrudging anyone.

Regardless, I got one real answer (Thank you Angelo) which puts culture in the UK as the primary reason for this hiatus.

 

[Stinky]

"Enforce" 4 weeks off? Wow. Must be nice.

I'm 'allowed' 10 days, but I don't dare take them. Competition for a good paying job like mine is INCREDIBLY intense. Myself and many others fear that taking any time off is an indicator that we are not truly dedicated team players.
I've seen enough to know that there is very little hesitation to replace someone who doesn't give 120% each and every day.

It SHOULD NOT be this way. But, unfortunately for me, my choices are limited.... so I sacrifice a meaningful social/family life for financial security.

Thankful that can escape now and then just to play this game.

Sounds like slave labour to me

 

[Krighten]

You can only push employees, (who are after all human beings), so far before things go awry, (poor performance, stress related illnesses, employees quitting, etc); most if not all of the FD devs were doing 80+ hour weeks, including working on Saturdays and Sundays for at least the last few weeks before release.

Whether the release date and subsequent workload were managed well or not is open to debate, but without a shadow of a doubt, what did work was the stability of the release. Anyone who was part of the Beta and Gamma would well know the trials and tribulations of the game's reliability in terms of networking, database transactions and general performance.

In this day and age of half baked alpha's, pre-release works in progress and crowd funded development, I was honestly shocked with the reliability and success of ED's release; so kudos to the devs for that. I guess that if the release had self destructed in an implosion of bugs and reliability issues that your wish would have indeed come true.

True, I suppose that the launch of a actually stable and reliable product is just as unusual as a post-launch hiatus, which is a problem within itself. I do give kudos to FD for pulling it off by all means.

 

[LEV]

Sounds like slave labour to me

Thats what it is. We europeans, some of us, are lucky that our dads and grandads took the fight aginst "The Man" to get some rights in the work-place. US never took that fight because it was "Commie-s" who went union. Look where it got them...ultra competitive but everything base on quantity, not quality..a giant on clay feet.

 

[KodiakAlpha]

True, I suppose that the launch of a actually stable and reliable product is just as unusual as a post-launch hiatus, which is a problem within itself. I do give kudos to FD for pulling it off by all means.

Post launch hiatus is pretty normal in software development (been at it for 34 years). I was amazed that they released three patches in the first three days after launch. The developers have to have a break or further development will be a complete waste of time.

 

[Tim Wheatley]

I know this may seem like trolling, but I swear it isn't. I'm legitimately curious with my own toes dipping into the industry.

If I just spent years developing a game (Most I've spent is a few months), kick-starters, a labor of passion and love, and finally made it to release and put it out in the world - the last thing I would do is take the holidays off. Most developers view that initial window as a crucial time to get into the community, provide feedback, address bugs, keep that first wave "hooked". I know the holidays are a time to spend with family and perhaps I understand having a day off, but a two-three week hiatus? If I was in that position, I'd have a heart attack. This isn't a criticism of a game nor a criticism of the developers, I'm just awe struck.

I hope you'll come back and read your own post in a few years, when you're fully submerged in the industry.

Best regards, from someone in it.

 

[Herewego]

wish I had the luxury of a break near Christmas but the ruthless company I WAS working for which only have mind for one thing make money I have to work even harder near Christmas so if FD get a break good for them I say

 

[hunvagy]

And if it is mostly cultural, then that's interesting, and actually answers my question.

Bit late to the show but yes, it is a cultural thing. It varies in the European countries, and there are ofc exceptions depending on the sector you work in, but there are "bank holidays" (afaik that's how the UK calls them) or public holidays that are adhered all across that specific country. And in some legislations the companies may actually be fined if they make the employees work on those days. Up to a certain point it was the case here in my country as well, then they change things a bit around. Now companies "only" have to offer 100% extra compensation for working on a public holiday.

As for the why, as far as I'm aware across most of Europe Dec 24-28 counted as one long "holiday" (half of it being the weekend anyways), so it's understandable they would have time off then. Actually as I write this I'm sitting in the office with about 4 other people, as everyone else took 29-31 off just to get into the next year quicker We've been running on a skeleton crew since last Tuesday.