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[Column] General: Star Citizen and Revealing Games Too Early

SBFordSBFord Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129

Players Versus Player is MMORPG’s bi-weekly debate column, where two columnists sound off on each side of the issues you care about. This week, Chris and Ryan are hot on the heels of the controversy surrounding Star Citizen. It all comes down to one question: Are games being revealed too early?

Read more of Christopher Coke's and Ryan Getchell's Player vs Player: Star Citizen & Revealing Games Too Early.

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Comments

  • CaenthCaenth Member UncommonPosts: 13
    And the point of this is?
  • Righteous_RockRighteous_Rock Member RarePosts: 1,234
    I think the point is to get readers to think about what's better for the games and the genre as a whole and perhaps push for more of a standard approach to game launches rather than deal with the complicated methods we have today that allow game developers to just pull the wool over our eyes without any ramification. Like collecting kickstarter mmoney and taking the money and running.
  • SlyLoKSlyLoK Member RarePosts: 2,698

    As long as devs dont LIE about where the game actually is I think it is ok. As long as they give updates once they announced early then it is ok. 

    Once they say " We have had a year worth of work done before doing crowdfunding " to push sells of tiers and then proceed to make mini games instead of the actual game. Once they start selling concepts instead of actual content that exists. And then never show the actual game they are supposedly making. Etc. Etc. Etc. Then it isnt ok.

    In other words. Do the opposite of what SC is doing.

  • ReklawReklaw Member UncommonPosts: 6,495

    Originally posted by Ryan:

    "I think it’s a catch 22. We can’t always trust the developers because everything they say is in mind of the company, but you can’t always trust a random YouTuber who is out to get views. Remember, negativity will always outshine positivity. So who do we trust?'

    With games the only one I trust is myself. Playing/experiancing/testing a game myself beats every other persons opinion alway's. Sure I do like/love reading other people's opinions and sometimes we cross paths in opinions, sometimes reading certain complaints seem to be + feature's/gameplay I actually want. But over the years I often seen most complaints not even coming close to my own complaints which are minor in the grand scheme of this genre.

    As for Star Citizen I really have mixed feeling mainly based because I aint playing or able to play the game. 

    I also think anyone into a alpha/beta state of a game knows developers do speak/communicate while that communication might be behind member acces only.

    Hype is also something I believe is build more by gamers then the gamecompany's. Hype might be triggerd by a gamecompany, but it's the gaming community that actually creates the Hype!

    I also think with games being indie there are too many idea's that will cause delay's especially when you have funding as big like SC has compared to initial cash needed.

    I do hope the game will be release with most promises but do feel if so it might be a wait of 2 to 3 years to be released.

     

  • midnitewolfmidnitewolf Member UncommonPosts: 64

    I have to admit, I think games are hyped to early.  I have $65 invested in Star Citizen myself but haven't once logged into the game.  Why?  Because when the started selling stuff I was expecting their dog fighting module to release within 6 months and the rest of the game following shortly.  I had exactly zero idea that 3+ years later I would be still waiting for the release of the game.

    Feeling the same way about Black Desert right now to.  This game was announced back in 2010, released to at least a playable state for many countries but isn't even  really on radar for a NA release yet and most of my friends don't even believe it will be released so it isn't even on the radar for them anymore.  Basically the hype has burnt itself out.

    That being said, I don't think a game should be hyped more than an year in advance in in most cases if the game isn't at least closed beta stage in development, it absolutely shouldn't be sold.  

     

     

  • JonBonJawaJonBonJawa Member UncommonPosts: 489

    Get your facts straight. It has been announced 2.7 years ago, not 4

     

    And technically announcing a Kickstarter campaign is not exactly an "announcement".

    also this it total nonsense:

    this isn’t the game backers originally put money down for and they should be offered refunds

    also wrong.

    ->It´s damn well exactly the game, reading comprehension is required though.

    -> it´s only 7 months past the Kickstarter ESTIMATED DELIVERY date, Elite was 12 months over the date and don´t get me started on Broken Age. Yet, they love to make up that BS about Star Citizen.

    I wonder why people enjoy spreading false information so much particularly about THIS project.

    btw good job regurgitating that Smart BS again. No one gives a damn about an opinionated loser´s hate trolling who has on top of that never made a single relevant game.

     
     
     
     
     
     
  • MukeMuke Member RarePosts: 2,614
    Without the Kickstarter idea behind SC this game wouldn't even got past the 'idea phase'.

    "going into arguments with idiots is a lost cause, it requires you to stoop down to their level and you can't win"

  • DistopiaDistopia Member EpicPosts: 21,183
    An odd choice to base the article on, how is a studio to fund a kickstarter if they don't reveal the product people are kickstarting?

    For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson


  • KanethKaneth Member RarePosts: 2,286
    Originally posted by Distopia
    An odd choice to base the article on, how is a studio to fund a kickstarter if they don't reveal the product people are kickstarting?

    One of the many problems with crowd-funding. They have to announce the game far too early than what would be normally considered a good time for a public announcement. The backers the expect some type of a time frame that sounds reasonable. Then regardless of communication there's going to be a decent portion of the backer-base who are going to be pie-eyed and not expect any delays what so ever, and get made when the delays happen.

    With that said, many of the complaints I have seen on various forums and also from personal friends who are backers of the original kickstarter campaign don't seem to be angry over the relative delay. They seem far more angry over the monetization of the game, as RSI is selling ships at various price points, most of them pretty ridiculously priced. Lack of apparent progress on the game, but plenty of progress selling numerous ships, etc.

    I would say that SC is a good example as to how kickstarter can work really well, as RSI raised tens of millions through the kickstarter and pledge campaign. It's also example of how kickstarter can blow up in your face, as there a lot of negative press that seems to be snowballing much to the detriment of RSI and the development of SC.

    When it finally releases, will the negative press and negative forum posts have done too much damage for outsiders to give the game a shot?

    Additionally, with the release of No Man's Sky rapidly approaching, is your average user going to give SC a second look? Allowing the competition to get a head start is never a good idea.

  • user547user547 Member UncommonPosts: 150

    Just stating that there is controversy does not mean that one actually exists.  There are a few people displaying extraordinary butthurt over nothing, and a few gaming "journalists" who want something to write about.  To the outside observer nothing is wrong, just the usual grousing about something not being out yet.

    A lot of people have lost perspective on reality.  Time to get a grip and stop the rage.

  • tammerlanetammerlane Member UncommonPosts: 11
    holy crap.  "agreeance" is a Bushism, not a word.
  • KefoKefo Member EpicPosts: 4,229
    Originally posted by user547

    Just stating that there is controversy does not mean that one actually exists.  There are a few people displaying extraordinary butthurt over nothing, and a few gaming "journalists" who want something to write about.  To the outside observer nothing is wrong, just the usual grousing about something not being out yet.

    A lot of people have lost perspective on reality.  Time to get a grip and stop the rage.

    Sticking your fingers in your ears and yelling that no controversy exists doesn't actually make it go away either.

    Your last line can be applied to the fans of SC who see RSI and CR as being perfect.

    No side is exactly 100% right in this debate. Each side of the argument has their good points and their crazy ideas/people.

    I personally think this will all blow up in Mr. Roberts face at some point in the future but that is just my opinion, one that I have formed long before Derek Smart took centre stage.

    I think it says a lot about your perspective on reality when you imply that a, more or less, opinion piece (with some facts that are debatable) that paints SC in a potentially negative light you need to attack the people who wrote it by implying they aren't actual journalists.

  • madazzmadazz Member RarePosts: 2,115
    So.... nice argument and all... but Star Citizen wasn't revealed too early. It was a project idea presented to the public for funding. Very different. So its not really a good candidate for this conversation.
  • KefoKefo Member EpicPosts: 4,229
    Originally posted by madazz
    So.... nice argument and all... but Star Citizen wasn't revealed too early. It was a project idea presented to the public for funding. Very different. So its not really a good candidate for this conversation.

    We are in agreeance on that point ;D

  • SlyLoKSlyLoK Member RarePosts: 2,698
    Originally posted by madazz
    So.... nice argument and all... but Star Citizen wasn't revealed too early. It was a project idea presented to the public for funding. Very different. So its not really a good candidate for this conversation.

    Supposedly it was more than just an idea as they said that they had already worked on the game for a year prior to crowdfunding. That doesnt seem to be the case.

  • ErillionErillion Member EpicPosts: 10,328

    Get your facts straight:

    Its not three years since Kickstarter, its less (End October 2012 til now).

    It has not been in development a year before Kickstarter, it was only a few months to create the trailer  (CIG was founded in April  2012, not autumn 2011).

    CIG is not "constantly adding things". The last real stretch goal added was one year ago. Another stretch goal added since then (Pets) is a thing that is already existing in the CryEngine and needs no extra work. "New" ships are not new, they were known for quite some time and are just coming out of the ship development line. Ships named as stretch goals where usually in development for the Squadron 42 solo game anyway and also no extra work.

    The revised timeline (4-5 years instead of 2 years) was known for years now, after the crowdfunding brought in so much more than expected. It has been announced time and time again and should not come as a surprise to anyone.

    And if you want Kickstarter money, you have to announce your plans to make a game. Thats not "announcing too early". Its a necessity for crowdfunding.

     

    Have fun

     

  • jesteralwaysjesteralways Member RarePosts: 2,560
    Originally posted by CanthGaming
    And the point of this is?

    They are practicing yellow journalism and helping derek "moron" smart take over rsi.

    Boobs are LIFE, Boobs are LOVE, Boobs are JUSTICE, Boobs are mankind's HOPES and DREAMS. People who complain about boobs have lost their humanity.

  • mcrippinsmcrippins Member RarePosts: 1,642
    I'll be honest and say I didn't read the article, just the headline.. but was anyone expecting this game to be fully developed before 2016? I actually expected a release date of early 2017 back when they first started showing off the game. Mainly because I think hardware will need to catch up a bit before we can have a capable environment to play in. 
  • DistopiaDistopia Member EpicPosts: 21,183
    Originally posted by SlyLoK
    Originally posted by madazz
    So.... nice argument and all... but Star Citizen wasn't revealed too early. It was a project idea presented to the public for funding. Very different. So its not really a good candidate for this conversation.

    Supposedly it was more than just an idea as they said that they had already worked on the game for a year prior to crowdfunding. That doesnt seem to be the case.

    That could really mean anything, from coming up with design docs and concept art to 3d models or story-lines.

    For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson


  • LobotomistLobotomist Member EpicPosts: 5,981

    At this point , as original kickstarter backer , i would be glad to get refund and buy the game regularly when its released - if reviews are good.

    At the moment the game is not progressing in any form towards what was promised. And it seems like we are going to end up with fancy space combat simulator in instanced small areas, with ships you have to buy for real money. Not even close to massive multiplayer version of Freelancer.

    I dont even want to play this new game.



  • Starbuck1771Starbuck1771 Member UncommonPosts: 375
    someone needs to buy Ryan a calendar. It  will not be 3 years til October 18th. On top of that there have been games that took seven years to make. Plus the fact more features were added into the mix via community vote which changes the time frame for the release. Derek Smart only gives Chris Roberts trouble because Derek has always failed in the game industry where Chris has not. Anyone with an inkling of knowledge of both of their reputations can see why Derek doesn't like Chris and wants the game to fail.

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  • SpottyGekkoSpottyGekko Member EpicPosts: 6,916

    "Are Kickstarter projects for MMORPGS inherently flawed ?"

     

    That should've been the title of this piece, not the cheap-shot clickbait title that was used. It's a really shallow attempt to capitalise on the recent heated discussions around the SC project.

     

    The whole premise of the article is flawed. How on earth can crowdfunded game projects NOT "reveal the game too early" ? By it's very nature, a Kickstarter campaign has to generate excitement before the game development even starts. How else will they persuade backers to part with their cash ?

     

    I always expected that backers would run out of patience in the case of crowdfunded MMORPG's. With privately funded MMO's, you never hear anything about the game until about 1-2 years before release. Players can deal with a 2 year wait, they are accustomed to that. There's a perception that the time between parting with your money and playing the game is at the most 6 months to a year. Be it pre-orders or an Early Access program.

     

    If SWTOR had been announced with great fanfare in 2006 when development started, you can bet it would have been called "vaporware" by 2009.

  • booniedog96booniedog96 Member UncommonPosts: 289
    Originally posted by Deyirn
    Originally posted by midnitewolf

    I have to admit, I think games are hyped to early.  I have $65 invested in Star Citizen myself but haven't once logged into the game.  Why?  Because when the started selling stuff I was expecting their dog fighting module to release within 6 months and the rest of the game following shortly.  I had exactly zero idea that 3+ years later I would be still waiting for the release of the game.

    Feeling the same way about Black Desert right now to.  This game was announced back in 2010, released to at least a playable state for many countries but isn't even  really on radar for a NA release yet and most of my friends don't even believe it will be released so it isn't even on the radar for them anymore.  Basically the hype has burnt itself out.

    That being said, I don't think a game should be hyped more than an year in advance in in most cases if the game isn't at least closed beta stage in development, it absolutely shouldn't be sold.  

     

     

    I've played Blade & Soul on the Russian server, the game is really mediocre and boring, I don't know why people are going apeshit over it. It's boring, graphics are horrible and the game play is a no-brainer. To fix your weapon you need to be around a campfire, then you press a button and a magical anvil appears out of nowhere so you can fix your weapon, then it disappears on its own. :D :D :D

     

    Even after it's officially released, I'm not playing that garbage.

    BNS?  I think you might have posted in the wrong thread.

  • JonBonJawaJonBonJawa Member UncommonPosts: 489
    Originally posted by Lobotomist

     

    the game is not progressing in any form towards what was promised.

    that´s a lie.

    Originally posted by Lobotomist

    we are going to end up with fancy space combat simulator in instanced small areas

    a juicy lie going to be debunked once and for all on Gamescom

    Originally posted by Lobotomist

    with ships you have to buy for real money.

    fat lie

    Originally posted by Lobotomist

    I dont even want to play this new game.

    you obviously never wanted or you wouldn´t spread disinfo.

    And it´s not a new game, it´s exactly the game that was pitched in Nov. 2012 and with stretch goals met in December 2012 (FPS)

  • LobotomistLobotomist Member EpicPosts: 5,981
    Originally posted by JonBonJawa
    Originally posted by Lobotomist

     

    the game is not progressing in any form towards what was promised.

    that´s a lie.

    Originally posted by Lobotomist

    we are going to end up with fancy space combat simulator in instanced small areas

    a juicy lie going to be debunked once and for all on Gamescom

    Originally posted by Lobotomist

    with ships you have to buy for real money.

    fat lie

    Originally posted by Lobotomist

    I dont even want to play this new game.

    you obviously never wanted or you wouldn´t spread disinfo.

    And it´s not a new game, it´s exactly the game that was pitched in Nov. 2012 and with stretch goals met in December 2012 (FPS)

    At this moment the game is as far away from massive multiplayer online version of freelancer as it was from moment it was announced. We didnt see nothing even close to shared persistent world , nor anything of the sort was covered in any developer interview or blog since the game started production.

    All we have is multiplayer arena where you fly ships against each other in lobby matchmaking scenario , and troubled FPS deathmatch ( and even that is proving a problem for them ). This is nice providing we are talking a team of 10 people in somebodys basement. But between lobby space shooter to actual MMO in space with twitch flight, there is light years of difference. For one we already seen tons of lobby deathmatch space sims - it was done many times before. The MMO in space with twitch gameplay , was never done before.

    So if they are having trouble with first and are working on it for so long time, i can not even imagine how they will reach the later ?

    On the end we will maybe have a nice single player game ( done before ) , instanced multiplayer death matches, where you can earn ships trough F2P like gameplay or buy them with cash and similar FPS shooter game.

    Thats is what we are going to get. And even for that we will have to wait a long time.

    Not what i signed for.

     

    As for buying ships P2W.

    When kickstarter started they gave one starter ship insurance as reward. Namely if your ship is destroyed you can always get it back for free.

    Now they are selling ships (technically the same insurance) for money. So you can pay lot of money and have real powerful ships in unlimited supply. While the guy that didnt pay will get starter ship when he dies.

    If that is not P2W i dont know what is.



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