Both Michael and Ashley is absent (Ashley till 19th September), thus explaining lack of official posts about 1.04 server issues.
Frontier works very hard
- Thread starter Patrick_68000
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Both Michael and Ashley is absent (Ashley till 19th September), thus explaining lack of official posts about 1.04 server issues.
Maybe sign that no Beta 2 update before 19th? Time will tell.
To the OP-
Deadlines are very important to have in a business model. It keeps the staff driven to their tasks and keeps the project moving forward, otherwise you'll have stagnation. And when a project, whatever it is, becomes stagnated, it will not produce income. No income means the business fails and that's the end of that.
I prepare tax returns, and I have deadlines. They're dictated by the IRS, but they can also be dictated by me and/or the client. If the client is going on a 2 week vacation and won't be available on the normal due date, then that tax return is due before they leave on vacation. The ones dictated by me follow the income stream... do I have enough money to pay the bills this month? No? Then I better get some work done!!
I get pretty complacent during the summer around here, and the problem with "taking it easy" or "not working so hard" is when several more projects/tax returns come at me all at once, then I'm overloaded on work.
But not working so hard is pretty easy with Elite Dangerous around to constantly tempt me!
Deadlines are very important to have in a business model. It keeps the staff driven to their tasks and keeps the project moving forward, otherwise you'll have stagnation. And when a project, whatever it is, becomes stagnated, it will not produce income. No income means the business fails and that's the end of that.
I prepare tax returns, and I have deadlines. They're dictated by the IRS, but they can also be dictated by me and/or the client. If the client is going on a 2 week vacation and won't be available on the normal due date, then that tax return is due before they leave on vacation. The ones dictated by me follow the income stream... do I have enough money to pay the bills this month? No? Then I better get some work done!!
I get pretty complacent during the summer around here, and the problem with "taking it easy" or "not working so hard" is when several more projects/tax returns come at me all at once, then I'm overloaded on work.
But not working so hard is pretty easy with Elite Dangerous around to constantly tempt me!
Viajero
Volunteer Moderator
Jenner
I wish I was English like my hero Tj.
There are a lot of folks working on the game, and if I had to guess I'd say few beyond the art department are involved in the skins. The artists aren't going to be helping nail down network issues or fix bugs. It's not like FD are allocating resources in a way that would be detrimental to getting the game fixed up and released on schedule. Not making any judgement on the skins themselves, just on the question of resource allocation and manpower.
If they don't say release date now, I will guess Beta 2 won't land before Eurogamer Expo, as they will work hard to deliver it to show first. As Tinman said, to maximize exposure, Beta 2 will get first vetting on show floor. This means not playing on live server though, I thought it was funny thing in Gamescon.
Here some declarations of Frontier. Now you understand that Frontier is not under pressure of the shareholders for the first version of the game. The shareholders are concerned by Frontier in its entirety (in particular the Cobra engine) and the future long-term development of ED.
The initial version of ED is not submitted to the imperatives of shareholders. These are big investors who calculate in the medium and long term. And not with a short-term vision ...
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Viajero
Volunteer Moderator
I dont think we disagree on the principle that DB can do as he pleases as the CEO. Actually any CEO can (for the most part!), for better or for worst. That is precisely their prerrogative.
But that will not stop share price to move freely within the constraints of the LSE AIM regulations, and notwithstanding DB large chunk share. And also, DB doing as he pleases wont stop the credit markets reacting to it and raising interest rates for future loans to FDEV if they feel there is a higehr risk for returns.
I think we also agree that FDEV is more than just ED but it is probably safe to asume that ED is one of the largest products at the moment in FDEV´s portfolio, in terms of resources, capital allocation and expected turnover in the coming years. As such, any action by FDEV and DB that suggest deferred or lost ED revenues will be prioritized over other FDEV projects by any relevant stakeholders and will affect both the stock market and the creditor market expectations which in turn will affect how FDEV can access further capital.
We can argue the degree or weight of ED in the overall FDEV portfolio but I think we can safely asume that ED will be the star product for the coming years. As I said, I am sure FDEV has some margin for delays but how much and for how long before this affect the market is hard to say.
In any event this is to show that DB is not really independent (and that is not necessarily a bad thing in my book). He can decide freely to do as he wishes, but that does not mean that the stock market or the credit market will not react to it affecting FDEV.
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I understand what you say. But in the case of ED, if the release of the first version is made at the end of 2014 or to mid-2015, it will not change many things for the company and the big investors who invest in the long term. Six months of more will not move the lines
Viajero
Volunteer Moderator
I dont know to be honest. Maybe so, maybe not (6 months of deferred revenue from December sounds like an awful lot though, it is basically half of a financial year). But only FDEV knows in detail their main partners for this venture. And I hope FDEV plans accordingly.
All I hope is that by now you realize that a decission about delays or lack thereof can not be taken by FDEV only based on the community (as you implied in your OP). But it also needs to take into consideration the other main stakeholders.
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ED was initially estimated for March 2014. Frontier decided that the new target is Q4 2014. It can also decide to extend for six months. Reread the quotes from Frontier. The initial version of ED is not linked directly to shareholders. For my part, I never asked that Frontier delays the release of the game. I'm just saying that if Frontier believes that it is necessary to have a few extra months, for a perfect game, then yes, put less pressure for better result, will not disturb me, as backer. Avoid Gametek adventure ...
I totally agree with this. I would rather see delays if that is needed than a rushed and borked and buggy release. Who knows though all could well turn out good and on time.
Viajero
Volunteer Moderator
Take a look at the share price in the last year or so: http://www.londonstockexchange.com/...summary.html?fourWayKey=GB00BBT32N39GBGBXASQ1
See the share price drop at the end of March 2014?
That is probably in part due to the lack of the promised release just at the very end of the financial year (i.e. no revenues to be accounted from ED in that financial year). Having said that there were also other events hapenning at the time aswell that influenced the price drop: There was some additonal new share application and dilution and there was an announcement of a new FDEV broker. Those things are typically not excellent news for share price but the confirmation of no release by the end of the financial year most likley also played a big role in that drop.
Shareholders are linked to everything. Shareholders do not belong to or "own" a specific product in FDEV portfolio. FDEV quotes about the IPO and new shares refer to DB being able to plan and develop the game as he wishes, as opposed to have a Publishing company breathing down his neck. He can do as he pleases because he is the CEO and major shareholder, but that can not prevent the rest of shareholders from selling their shares (and making share price drop... and possibly loan interest rise) if they see something worrysome enough in the way DB handles the project... like for example a delayed ED release.
And you keep forgetting the eventual impact in creditors. Creditors are also as important (or more depending on the situation) as shareholders because they dictate the cost of borrowing. You have completley ignored that part too. DB can not prevent banks to impose more draconian terms for those loans if they feel that deferred revenues may make the loan riskier.
I agree it is difficult to establish how and if a new release date delay will impact FDEV. And I agree that I prefer a good quality product later than a buggy one now.
But I also think that FDEV can not just simply attend to our needs and ignore both shareholders AND creditors altogether.
I d venture to say they have as much, if not more, weight than backers expectaions in an eventual decission by FDEV to delay again.
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One share, by definition, goes up and down. When ED will be released this year or the next year and that the game will be sold to dozens (or hundreds) of thousands of copies, the share will increase in value. In the context of the IPO Frontier, a release of the game during the year 2015 will have no impact and will not put the company at risk. The vision of the shareholders is based on the mid and long term. But anyway the game will be released this year, is not it ? So, do not worry, Frontier will be saved from bankruptcy ....
No!.. seriously where did you come up with that notion?? do you work for the government?
As a long time gamer you of all people should know that there is a SEA of bloated, obsolete games where the dev. "took thier time".. like Duke Nukem Forever..
Game Developers need to be HUNGRY and have goals/deadlines set.. Devs.. that sit on millions of dollars and "sweet time" does NOT produce a great game. Where you ARE correct is the case where publishers push Devs to crank out PUMP AND DUMP titles resulting in half baked trash... but that is the opposite end of the spectrum... a good game needs a HUNGRY dev team, that work under realistic deadlines.. Worse then burning out from slave drivers, is loosing interest and ending up with obsolete bloatware and half the team slowly just quits and goes elsewhere.. PLENTY of games like that!
So.. Frontier needs a healthy Driven-motivated-hungry balance.. that is, to get it done in a time frame that keeps the team focused, hungry, driven, and the game fresh.. and likewise given enough latitude to take the time needed to get it right..
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You are reducing. Put the phrase in its context please, and reread the posts in the thread
Viajero
Volunteer Moderator
That, I am afraid, you can not guarantee in any way.
Also, you have no idea what is each individual shareholder vision, either long or short term, or what their individual plans are with these shares.
You also have no idea what are the loan terms (and payment timings) FDEV may have agreed with its creditors, which may inlfuence heavily when FDEV may like to start having some decent revenues coming in (i.e. release date)
I suspect FDEV has certainly some leeway to delay, given the recent moderately upbeat annual report (deferred backer revenue surpassing declared operating loss before tax). How large that leeway is, it is hard to say but the clock is certainly ticking, and "backers wishes" (like your OP) will have only but a very limited say in it.
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