My feeling is they're having major setbacks - possibly from a lackluster closed beta, or from overwhelmed programmers trying to keep up with a deadline. First removing 2 classes and the possibility of removing features from launch (prestige classes) and soon after, an 8 week delay. I can't imagine 8 weeks is going to make a huge different in how polished/finished the game is, we can expect to see AoC around Fall, I think.
Not surprised, given their spectacularly bad AO launch (nearly as much rubber-banding as EQ Day 1) they're bound to be a bit gun-shy.
However, first off remember that this is a European development team, meaning their workforce has considerably higher amounts of vacation time available. So the idea of "taking December off" is probably not that far from reality.
Second, we know that the technical parts of the game are running, but the largest group of journalists they've allowed to demo at the same time is right around 8-12. Menaing dealing with largest situations is bound to lead into more performance issues related to their toning down the combat system.
Will 8 weeks be sufficient? Only if they were to open the Beta to 10k today and begin to do a true stress test and correction. Finding out that content is the reason they're pushing the game back is a kick to the nether regions. Performance is going to be this game's issue; server and local.
Right now I'd put them in a 50/50 boat between having their game cancelled like G&H or going gold with it. If they push back again, those odds will become quite a bit longer.
Feels like this game can't live up to the hype, or wants to, but just doesn't have the quality
/discuss
MAN PLEASE! the game will be good when its ready to be good, doesnt matter if its today, tommorow, or next year. Noone else is doing anything new except WAR and the hopefull new SW game, so to be honest, it will be good in may or may of next year, as long as its ready.
PS. after the vangaurd incedent, you would think alot more of you would get this by now!!!
Why so much talk about this? The beta testers said it wasnt ready so they delayed it two months....and people are already beginning to scream vaporware?? What is this....the Darkfall trolls??
Just relax, soon you will sit and play AoC and be happy for the polished gameplay.
I would rather a company push back release 10 times than release the game before they feel it is ready. I was in LOTRO beta and I was hoping they'd push it back another 2 months, but it still had a smooth launch.
I agree, however, it doesn't mean that the fact that they had to push back 10 times isn't reason for suspect. I have seen this happen enough that I recognise that push backs, often at the last minute shows a great deal of mishandleing by the development management.
Age of Conan is NOT vaporware, get real. There are tons of videos if the OP bothered looking that show the clear progression of the game during its development over the last couple of years.
There are clear differences between AoC and games like Gods and Heroes and Hero's Journey and all the other games in development that were more empty ideas and a video or two rather than actual substance.
The OP and everyone in the MMORPG community should be able to tell the difference by now. Leave the term 'vaporware' for the games that deserve it. Age of Conan may be delayed, but by now it should be obvious that it is real and it will be released.
What happens after that is in the hands of the Devs.
Comments
http://forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php?t=52918
Not surprised, given their spectacularly bad AO launch (nearly as much rubber-banding as EQ Day 1) they're bound to be a bit gun-shy.
However, first off remember that this is a European development team, meaning their workforce has considerably higher amounts of vacation time available. So the idea of "taking December off" is probably not that far from reality.
Second, we know that the technical parts of the game are running, but the largest group of journalists they've allowed to demo at the same time is right around 8-12. Menaing dealing with largest situations is bound to lead into more performance issues related to their toning down the combat system.
Will 8 weeks be sufficient? Only if they were to open the Beta to 10k today and begin to do a true stress test and correction. Finding out that content is the reason they're pushing the game back is a kick to the nether regions. Performance is going to be this game's issue; server and local.
Right now I'd put them in a 50/50 boat between having their game cancelled like G&H or going gold with it. If they push back again, those odds will become quite a bit longer.
PS. after the vangaurd incedent, you would think alot more of you would get this by now!!!
Why so much talk about this? The beta testers said it wasnt ready so they delayed it two months....and people are already beginning to scream vaporware?? What is this....the Darkfall trolls??
Just relax, soon you will sit and play AoC and be happy for the polished gameplay.
A game can't flop until it's released.
As long as a game is delayed, you can still milk investors for more funding.
Watch the latest episode of "The Guild" and other Pwnage videos from around the net--also post your own: http://PwnerTV.com
I agree, however, it doesn't mean that the fact that they had to push back 10 times isn't reason for suspect. I have seen this happen enough that I recognise that push backs, often at the last minute shows a great deal of mishandleing by the development management.
Well not sure how many times it's been delayed but multi delays come down to three options.
The company internally fighting between the team and the money people for a release date.
The Devs simply believing they can produce the game they want faster then they can in reality.
The Dev Teams ablitiies are not up to Testers expectations/demands.
In any of those three choices the delay is far better then to release at a randomly picked dated that they are hoping to start making money on.
Age of Conan is NOT vaporware, get real. There are tons of videos if the OP bothered looking that show the clear progression of the game during its development over the last couple of years.
There are clear differences between AoC and games like Gods and Heroes and Hero's Journey and all the other games in development that were more empty ideas and a video or two rather than actual substance.
The OP and everyone in the MMORPG community should be able to tell the difference by now. Leave the term 'vaporware' for the games that deserve it. Age of Conan may be delayed, but by now it should be obvious that it is real and it will be released.
What happens after that is in the hands of the Devs.