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Michael Brookes
Game Director
Michael, a hypothetical question. If developing the planned feature set as we can view it in the DDA sub-forum takes more time to get ready, will the planned release period (inside 2014) be changed, or will the game launch without some of it and get updated shortly after?
In other words, the plan is to be ready when we are ready?
In other words, the plan is to be ready when we are ready?
Michael Brookes
Game Director
It depends on the feature, we won't release the game until we're happy that it provides the experience we want it to.
Michael
Software is not necessarily developed in the same order in which it is released.
In a project of this size, it almost certainly isn't a matter of everyone working on the next release all at once; I would expect there to be different devs/dev teams working on different aspects of the game, each of which will have their own priority and so on.
Some things currently being worked on may be included in near releases if they're almost ready, other stuff might not be due for a while but will require a lot of man hours to implement so they need to start those things now, and so on. Other smaller features that aren't time critical will be squeezed in as and when various staff find the time to add them.
Despite what we have seen of the game so far appearing to be coming along nicely, that doesn't mean there aren't going to be bumps in the road in the future. This is probably the reason why no firm release date has been set yet, because behind the scenes there must still be quite a bit more to do that hasn't yet been accurately estimated in terms of time required.
TLDR: patience, my young padawan.
I think we have got the most accurate answer we can get so far.
It will be released this year. not next year.
My bet is it will be sometimes in November.
September is a bit early il guess as we have the summer coming up and the staff is going on a well deserved holiday etc.
He didn't say it will be released this year, he said they are looking at this year. So it's expected to be released this year, but there could be bumps along the way that put the project off track.
So long as everybody is happy with (or at least understands) the idea that the game will be released when it's ready to be released and not before, we'll all be much better off.
Despite their best efforts Frontier or any developer cannot guarantee that their software will be 100% bug free on release because there are far too many variables involved and peoples hardware will be vastly different that there are bound to be issues. Having said that I actually think that the game in its current alpha 4 state is pretty stable and will only get better as we go through both beta phases and the gama phase.
Release date should be in September to mark the 30th anniversary of Elite
Well in his very interesting interview with Scott Manley David was asked if this date was in Frontiers thinking and while David didn't dismiss it completely he didn't confirm it either which lead me to think that perhaps this date was at least in David's thoughts if not the rest of the development team. I guess we'll find out around August time when I imagine an official announcement will be made one way or another.
Hats off to Michael (and Frontier) for replying in this thread, which inevitably becomes speculative, if left alone, with only FD knowing the real answer.
The thing about the September, 30th anniversary idea for the release date for the final game is that, to someone who had never heard of Elite eek or had never played an Elite game probably wouldn't care too much about the anniversary, and I would assume that most people who do know the significance of that date, are Probably in Gamma, at least, already...
But what do I know..... Damn it Jim .. I'm a sound Engineer not a Marketing expert! ..
eek or had never played an Elite game probably wouldn't care too much about the anniversary, and I would assume that most people who do know the significance of that date, are Probably in Gamma, at least, already...But what do I know..... Damn it Jim .. I'm a sound Engineer not a Marketing expert! ..
I want the game NOW.....
Im going to hold my breath until its ready so you all better be quick.....
Starting now.....
43 seconds later.....:
Seriously though, 10 months ago I paid a couple of hundred bucks for not only the game but the whole Elite experience, so far, very happy with my return, even though I have nothing tangible. I'm excited about my elite career to hit 30 years but am loving the whole anticipation gig too.
Take as long as it takes to make the game you want to play.... enjoy the journey of making the game as much as many of us are enjoying the regular snippets of what your doing and always, ALWAYS, check your boots before you put them on if you live in the outback, Australia....
Im going to hold my breath until its ready so you all better be quick.....
Starting now.....
43 seconds later.....:
Seriously though, 10 months ago I paid a couple of hundred bucks for not only the game but the whole Elite experience, so far, very happy with my return, even though I have nothing tangible. I'm excited about my elite career to hit 30 years but am loving the whole anticipation gig too.
Take as long as it takes to make the game you want to play.... enjoy the journey of making the game as much as many of us are enjoying the regular snippets of what your doing and always, ALWAYS, check your boots before you put them on if you live in the outback, Australia....
There were huge numbers of copies sold of the original Elite. Given there are less than 50K backers currently there is a huge quantity of people late thirties and above who may find the 30th Anniversary very compelling. The game now is how I imagined it back in 84 substituting pictures from books for the wire frame images.
For me thats a huge marketing opportunity to attract a group of players that normally a game would never target.
For me thats a huge marketing opportunity to attract a group of players that normally a game would never target.
Release date should be in September to mark the 30th anniversary of Elite
I see, rather, the gamma on this occasion
The thing about the September, 30th anniversary idea for the release date for the final game is that, to someone who had never heard of Elite
Yes the anniversary does not mean much to persons that knows no the history of Elite. This has even no interest to them. However, the term "30 years old", may make them want to discover the history of the game
We know the date, do we know the time?
As the title asks, does anyone know what time on Friday can we download the Premium Beta client, I've sifted through the forums but can't find anything.
I'd assume we'll get a notification of some sort but it would nice to be prepared.
Should I set my alarm for midnight on Thursday? Or will I have to await my return from work in the evening to get me mitts on it? I've waited twenty years for it's return so another 20 hours won't hurt I suppose
As the title asks, does anyone know what time on Friday can we download the Premium Beta client, I've sifted through the forums but can't find anything.
I'd assume we'll get a notification of some sort but it would nice to be prepared.
Should I set my alarm for midnight on Thursday? Or will I have to await my return from work in the evening to get me mitts on it? I've waited twenty years for it's return so another 20 hours won't hurt I suppose
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