New Egosoft Game

[wormhole]

Alfa beta or other pre-releases are always a prime excuse for features not being there or such ones not working well. Hmmh, why do you think they are excuses? Alpha version is not ready but under development and that's why the product most likely doesn't work as expected. Early Access doesn't force anyone to support the project. Those who wants to wait the final release are able to do so. Early Access gives players change to support the project, help developers and give them valuable feedback. Many software projects fails and Early Access projects are no exception: http://calleam.com/WTPF/?page_id=1445[/url]

[XenonS]

Hmmh, why do you think they are excuses? Alpha version is not ready but under development and that's why the product most likely doesn't work as expected. In this case, why releasing the game then? Better release it when reasonably polished and ready to play. No sorry, I see only few exeptions where pre-releases make sense, also from marketing point of view. The game needs to be in a good state already and not run the player into trouble that will get him away from the title.Empyrion Galactic Survival is a 'good' example for a pre-release, others generally are not. The overall economic market principle applies whether you invent alpha, beta or other Kickstarter-like pre-releases: In my profession (language and communication), I cannot do half of the work and ask others to help me, even for a discounted final price. That's ridiculous. I'll have to do my job at 100%. The same applies for gaming articles: if you release an alpha game you are asking the gamers to pay for it and to help the developers. Humm.... Generally the market says you get paid when working, not the contrary... Then, in spite of pre-release you can do as Rodina does: it's a full released game ready to play, but because features will be added then the price tag is appropriately low to start with. And a full release doesn't surely hamper player's feedback, there is a lot of such in Egosoft games, and the devs listen I think. XenonS

[wormhole]

In this case, why releasing the game then? Better release it when reasonably polished and ready to play. Why wouldn't game developers release their games? Its their professions and their name/face, reputation and career depends on it. So what's wrong with giving players to help testing and giving feedback during the development cycle?I tested X Rebirth Linux alpha version and sent developer feedback about issues I found. I'm doing that with Star Citizen and I would do that with a new Egosoft X-game as well if it would be possible - voluntarily, for free. It is common in open source development as well. Early Access is a great way to support projects you care about financially:http://www.pcgamer.com/wasteland-2-early-access-sales-helped-double-the-games-kickstarter-budget/[/url] In most cases crowdfunding / Early Access is the only way developers are able to develop and publish their games. Crowdfunding has been a huge success on PC and it has brought us many good games and more to come.

[Pinback]

I can however imagine a 'simplified' planetary world where factories or other special structures are visited and can be built on the surface, maybe some hardpoints to attack and a landscape that gives the player tactical opportunities to use the terrain as a shield in air-to-air engagements. It would point towards an analogue system to the space station building in X-Rebirth, but expanded on planets, I think this is more realistic considering the current game state of the previous titles. You can see them doing some thing like that as it would fit into the X game world and given that most of their competition are already doing planets, if they go in that direction.

[XenonS]

Why wouldn't game developers release their games? Its their professions and their name/face, reputation and career depends on it. Very fine, they should go on (but see next response). So what's wrong with giving players to help testing and giving feedback during the development cycle? What's wrong is. they charge for it to get help. Is Pioneer charging anything? No.. A game is ready to be paid for or: it is not.My response is in the quote, sorry...I'm not contrary to any pre-release of course, but for beta releases and such there must be a serious reason for the dev to do so AND it must make sense for him as for sellings in the future. My guess is that such pre-releases you see on Steam (Valve) are all over the place, biasing any serious intentions to improve the titles further, not every game author has this aim, but it's just the impression I have when browsing. XenonS

[wormhole]

My response is in the quote, sorry...I'm not contrary to any pre-release of course, but for beta releases and such there must be a serious reason for the dev to do so AND it must make sense for him as for sellings in the future. My guess is that such pre-releases you see on Steam (Valve) are all over the place, biasing any serious intentions to improve the titles further, not every game author has this aim, but it's just the impression I have when browsing. XenonS Unfortunately there are always people who are ready to misuse features to gain money if possible. Some rule of thumb I'm using:- Don't support the project if you are not ready to lose your money- Don't support project if the developers are not showing their faces and use their real names- Don't support the project if you are fine that the project doesn't get funded- Be skeptical

[XenonS]

I think that I have over-reacted in the last posts about pre-releases, it's my deception about some titles going into stagnation :spiteful:I encourage (and I do if possible) funding serious games if I'm interested and the authors show to need help, wether buying releases or pre-releases. XenonS

[wormhole]

I think that I have over-reacted in the last posts about pre-releases, it's my deception about some titles going into stagnation :spiteful:I encourage (and I do if possible) funding serious games if I'm interested and the authors show to need help, wether buying releases or pre-releases. XenonS Well, it is not bad idea to be skeptical and careful. There are and has been lots of plain hoax projects. Unfortunately some projects started with good intentions but eventually failed - that's why it is good to be ready to lose pledged money. It will be interesting to see what Egosoft is going to do in future. Starting to communicate with the community and let them help with the development shouldn't be a bad idea.