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

[Nonya]

I've never heard of any company completely shutting down development and/or support during any holidays. Usually they "stagger" the holidays or vacations and keep at least 50% of the staff on-board - especially after release of a new product.
One of my clients is an ice-melt manufacturer. Do you think they take more than Christmas Day and New Year's Day off during the winter holidays? No, they don't.
It's crazy to release a game and then let everyone go home for a few weeks 10 days after launch. What if a major game-breaking bug crept up that killed the game and they waited a few weeks to fix it?
The company I work for just released a new version of their web-based product they built for a client a few weeks prior to Christmas and the devs only get Christmas Day and New Year's Day off because there's a ton of money at stake.
Don't get me wrong, I love this game - and it's currently all I play now - but some companies make some really questionable moves like this.
A company like Sony or EA I could understand because they have F-U money. Does Frontier have F-U money? I don't think so.

 

[DaveB]

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.

As a limey expat in the US.. THIS!

If you think the devs can't take the holiday season off then please accept my invitation to attempt an aerial fornication at a rotational pastry.

 

[Yabba Addict]

What companies are these? All of the companies I've worked for only give employees 1 week off, IF you're full time. And good luck with getting full time. The worst company would schedule you for 40 hours a week for three weeks, then the 4th week, would schedule you for 20 hours, just to keep you in a part-time position w/o benefits.

Man it sounds like it sucks working in the US, I do 12 hr shifts and we ignore holidays apart from xmas day, but get a nice 52 days hol a year

 

[LuciusEsox]

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.

Awe struck or a workaholic maybe ?

They did enough and as I have had drummed in to me at so many "motivational" meetings over the years lack of breaks really does have a detrimental effect far beyond any positive yield obtained by not taking breaks to recharge !

 

[Leslie]

I appreciate the sentiment of those who are inconvenienced by the majority of the FD code monkeys being on holiday, and I do question the efficacy of product release basically on top of christmas/new year's, but as some of the other commercial coders have stated, if you don't have the experience of being one, you really don't know a lot of what goes on.

I worked for Bioware since Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast in 1998, and left just after Mass Effect 3 was on storyboard, so I assure you, I have a fair amount of experience of sleeping on cots, subsisting on skittles and Jolt Cola, and busting my butt to make things happen for people who would immediately complain about ANYTHING. That was the corporate overlords (EA and Microsoft, among others), as well as the customers who didn't like the direction we were going with the IP. You might have liked the physics engine that I assisted putting in place that you may have seen in the opening of ME2, but you weren't there when I had to keep working despite a stomach bug that meant I had two garbage cans, one for throwing up in because we were approaching a code freeze for the section.

Perhaps you think these people are automatons, who can work without cease for untold periods of time, and I assure you, it is a labour of love as much as it is getting the rent/mortgage paid, but there is a physical limit. To that, I won't insult you, but I will say, it's a game, and it released officially 14 days ago. If you are totally salty about it, I assure you, FD will be back, and they will continue working to make their vision yours, I am certain.

If you forewent food, shelter, or any basic necessity to get this game, I question your sensibility. If your life is so jampacked with things that you cannot have the patience to let the dust settle, I feel for you, and I hope it gets better. If you're just some grumpy old sock who can't stand the idea of people not doing what you want RIGHT GARSHDARN NOW, I have less gentle phrases for you.

Only because it actually ties in, the reason I left Bioware was simple - EA lived up to its reputation, and I decided not to keep putting up with the interminable hours. I literally did not see my housemate for a year. We left bills and such in one place, and notes for things that came up. I still have a place there again if I want, as I suppose I was/am good at it, but putting up with some of the comments that I see in this forum reminds me that the appreciation can be very few and far between. NOTE: I love Bioware, just not the strings that come attached to it.

Anyway, please, let people who took on this project have some time to regenerate their enthusiasm, their energy, their willingness to build what I see as a really good game into an amazing one.

It's been two weeks, not two months. They made it plain that they're not done. They didn't just push it out the door, and call it a day.

I get that some things are broken, and I must confess, I don't see it, which is fortunate for me. I just also know that the agonizing that gets done trying to accomplish their jobs is not one that a lot of people can do.

I hope you understand that I'm not slagging any of you, I just get frustrated when I read such borderline vitriol for something that many of you will drift away from in less time than it has taken to get it this far, and some of you don't even know what it takes to get it this far.

With respect, and if anyone has ever seen any post of mine, they'll maybe get the sense of my seriousness by how I finish this long-winded post,

Leslie
The person, the programmer, and one of the faces behind the games, programs and apps that you use.

 

[DiScOrD]

It comes down to simple economics, why they took holiday and why the game was released 16th of December and wasn't a total labour of love before release. This company is part of a monetary market system so it has to make money, and it has to save money. Many people expect holiday at Christmas, so the company knows that changes could be very costly to reputation when there won't be as many people in to resolve any issues those changes could produce. They are also human and a creative mind needs rest to be creative, it can only just repeat the same stuff over and over again if it is tired, and less efficiently at that.

The main holiday days staff would have to be paid overtime, there is also the subject of the contracts the staff signed, they may not be compatible with release periods, so overtime could apply depending on the contracts the staff signed. Overtime usually costs the company more money. It is Christmas and people will expect to be able to play the game, so many technology companies impose change freezes if Christmas is expected to be a busy period.

If you want a near perfect game (what is perfect, and is perfect ever achievable, I think it is not, it is only a transient moment, it is perfect for a time only, possibly years but eventually improvements can be made upon it), then you need a near perfect economy. We have an economy still based on scarcity despite being able to produce a global abundance with current technology and the right kind of thinking. But people are conditioned to the current economy, and businesses unfortunately have to make money, it is not about the product it is about the money due to the incentive this economy makes. I'm sure if David Braben and Frontier Developments didn't have to make money, they could just have kept beta going on for longer and have it as their own creative journey making people happy at their creation.

They have made people happy at their creation, but many have to see the link between the economy and the behaviour of companies. If you want a near perfect world, have a read about a resource based economy http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com/uploads/upload/file/19/The_Zeitgeist_Movement_Defined_6_by_9.pdf thats a free ebook, but their are videos out there too, and you will realise we are all to blame for why the current world is in the state that it is in, and there are solutions out there as detailed in that book. Blame the game not the player, and i'm not talking about this game, im taking about the game of the economic system in play in the real world.

 

[LtCasey]

Why is everyone, especially the OP, sure, that they are not working? Because you dont hear or read anything?
Im sure, pretty sure we will see a new build on Monday 5th or Tuesday 6th.

 

[Nightdragon]

dude, they can restart, and fix stuff remotely if needed, its not like they need to go to the physical servers and stick a CD in them or something to update them... if something game breaking happens I'm sure it would be all hands on deck to save the ship. As for them taking a break, honestly it also allowed the GP to play the game, so that they can see the general feedback of the game. What people like/dislike and what not.

And if anything allow them to cool down and think of ways to make the game better, always being next to the thing can burn you out.

Yes I agree they should have released it at the start of next year. But I guess they didn't know what needed to be fixed.

So unless a Janitor trips on a powercord there is no reason for people to be there.

 

[etien]

Yup, I'm American. Regardless of that 4 week policy, a company (especially a game development company).

man its xmass, take a break

 

[SuBSynk]

After the years of development and the inevitable crunch leading up to release a break will have been sorely needed, we want developers to return fresh and in high spirits after a break not zombies chained to their stations!

 

[Cmdr Snuffler]

Why have you made this post? I don't understand.
You have absolutely no clue what so ever who at FD has been working over Christmas, or what on.
...and to be honest, it's non of your business.
Developers are humans, like some of us here, and have families, children and other commitments over the festive period.
Have some well deserved -ve rep from me

 

[Ixnatifual]

I think they did the right thing. Basically as mentioned, getting their priorities straight. And two, demonstrating that they are more than just a company, they're people.

That's one creepy avatar you've got there.

 

[carlya]

I am not even going to reply to this thread.......

Wait...I just did *facepalms*

 

[Britannkic]

Happy Christmas and New Year

 

[mitchman]

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.

Naughty Dogs send their people home for a month after major game release, or at least they said so on their anniversary video.

 

[CMDR Darkler]

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.

My 2p says, once the release was out and they saw it was fairly stable (thanks to all the work before-hand) it was a bigger risk to change the code while some of the staff where on holiday. Not to mention, after long stretches at coding one tends to get tunnel vision. A break, allows the developer to reassess the bigger picture and see problems (and better solutions).

 

[Riandor]

There are UK and EU laws to consider in all of this. If none of them had been able to take much holiday before now then the employees are entitled to use up the rest. But ultimately it is down to the employer how they want to treat their staff and I am sure that after a lot of stick Fromtier are happy to provide some carrot too.

But regardless, I have seen posts by FDev staff during this holiday period, so I know they are keeping an eye on things and I am sure some are doing bits and pieces here and there.

 

[davelister]

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 pity you Amis!!
[OffTopic]most ppl in Germany have 20 to30 Workdays per Year. I Have 30 and spend 20 of them on Bulk in Summer the other 10 on around the Easter Weekend in Mallorca
and we all have a "socialist" Health Care Insurance"[OnTopic]

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.

To be blunt did you ever Work hard for a long Time in a IT Project? I did and know how hard it can be sometimes!

And so far ED workes really god for me the Market AI is back, i had 1 Chrash since Gamma and only one Bug wich i reported
What problems doy you have who cant wait till Monday???

 

[Andromalius]

What companies are these? All of the companies I've worked for only give employees 1 week off, IF you're full time. And good luck with getting full time. The worst company would schedule you for 40 hours a week for three weeks, then the 4th week, would schedule you for 20 hours, just to keep you in a part-time position w/o benefits.

You live in Bangladesh or other poor third world country ?

 

[Patrick_68000]

Even in the Empire, they have holidays for Christmas