Blog update - Movin' on up

MaxMax Technical Director, Unknown Worlds Entertainment Join Date: 2002-03-15 Member: 318Super Administrators, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, Constellation, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts, Future Perfect Developer
edited May 2007 in NS2 General Discussion
Since people seem to enjoy the blog updates, we're going to try and post more frequent, but smaller updates. Please post your thoughts on the latest <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/blog/2007/05/movin_on_up.html" target="_blank">blog entry</a> here.

Max

Comments

  • KungFuDiscoMonkeyKungFuDiscoMonkey Creator of ns_altair 日本福岡県 Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14555Members, NS1 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos
    If you got this much work done while 3,000 miles away, I'm sure you'll be getting even more done now <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
  • Zor2Zor2 Join Date: 2005-01-13 Member: 35341Members, Constellation
    Definitely agree! Keep them coming please <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
  • locallyunscenelocallyunscene Feeder of Trolls Join Date: 2002-12-25 Member: 11528Members, Constellation
    What did Charlie get you as an apartment warming gift? (besides ton of work on NS2)
  • RokiyoRokiyo A.K.A. .::FeX::. Revenge Join Date: 2002-10-10 Member: 1471Members, Constellation
    Face to face programming is so much better than anything else I've come across. The internet really fails to deliver in the group software development department. So long as you two are working on the same or similar stuff, it can only mean good things in the long run.
  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    San Francisco, eh? Well, I suppse you could certainly do worse.
  • moultanomoultano Creator of ns_shiva. Join Date: 2002-12-14 Member: 10806Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Gold, NS2 Community Developer, Pistachionauts
    I'm down in Mountain View. We should hang out sometime. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

    If you are ever in the area and want free lunch at the googleplex, let me know.
  • rsdrsd Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13405Members
    edited May 2007
    Keep the posts coming! It's great to see activity, even if you aren't revealing anything about the game itself.

    Edit: Also, are you guys looking for web developers?
  • DrummerDrummer Join Date: 2004-02-18 Member: 26654Members
    UWE technically has "offices" now. Yay for furthering the company
  • SLizerSLizer Join Date: 2003-11-07 Member: 22363Members, Constellation
    yay! face to face <3
  • GeminiUKGeminiUK Join Date: 2003-12-30 Member: 24880Members, Constellation
    Big commitment Max, the forum salutes you!
  • puzlpuzl The Old Firm Join Date: 2003-02-26 Member: 14029Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    edited May 2007
    Ah cool, glad you got it sorted. Now you can finally figure out which of you is king at guitar hero!!
  • AndosAndos Join Date: 2003-10-17 Member: 21742Members
    Congrats <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
    Look forward to countless hours of pure geekness <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
  • douchebagatrondouchebagatron Custom member title Join Date: 2003-12-20 Member: 24581Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    i like this idea of more frequent updates, even if there isnt much to reveal. just showing that youre alive can bring a lot of attention. have you thought about making sort of a weekly update type thing? 'Tuesday Night Fireside chats with Chuck and Max' would be pretty spiffy.
  • tigersmithtigersmith Join Date: 2004-11-11 Member: 32749Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Supporter
    <!--quoteo(post=1625856:date=May 9 2007, 03:36 PM:name=Max)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Max @ May 9 2007, 03:36 PM) [snapback]1625856[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Since people seem to enjoy the blog updates, we're going to try and post more frequent, but smaller updates. Please post your thoughts on the latest <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/blog/2007/05/movin_on_up.html" target="_blank">blog entry</a> here.

    Max
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Congratz on the safe journey away from boston, about hr and a half away from where i live..I love it there...lol

    but its for the best..hope you like it over there on the west coast! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wow.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":0" border="0" alt="wow.gif" />
  • ChocolateChocolate The Team Mascot Join Date: 2006-10-31 Member: 58123Members
    Yay for updates! It's great that you guys are working in an office finally. I'm sure we'll see the same cool stuff coming out still, just faster (and maybe better?)! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

    Keep the updates and especially the good stuff coming!

    <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/marine.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::marine::" border="0" alt="marine.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pudgy.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::gorge::" border="0" alt="pudgy.gif" />
  • HazeHaze O RLY? Join Date: 2003-07-07 Member: 18018Members, Constellation
    I demand both of you parade around in gorge suits for a webcam between the hours of 4 PM to 9 PM.
  • grepdashvgrepdashv Lord of the Bugs Join Date: 2002-11-13 Member: 8487Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester
    edited May 2007
    Welcome to the West <strike>Coast</strike> Hive!
  • MaxMax Technical Director, Unknown Worlds Entertainment Join Date: 2002-03-15 Member: 318Super Administrators, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, Constellation, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts, Future Perfect Developer
    <!--quoteo(post=1626033:date=May 10 2007, 12:57 PM:name=6john)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(6john @ May 10 2007, 12:57 PM) [snapback]1626033[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    i like this idea of more frequent updates, even if there isnt much to reveal. just showing that youre alive can bring a lot of attention. have you thought about making sort of a weekly update type thing? 'Tuesday Night Fireside chats with Chuck and Max' would be pretty spiffy.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    We've thought about it, but we're not sure that we're very interesting to listen to.

    Max
  • surprisesurprise Join Date: 2003-01-16 Member: 12382Members, Constellation
    well, i guess its kinda hard to convince you of the opposite <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />

    all we can do (and did) is to say we love frequent updates
    now go and post another one (please?) ^^
  • ShockehShockeh If a packet drops on the web and nobody&#39;s near to see it... Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9336NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    Good to hear Max, that must have been a daunting move. I'd say any development project, software or otherwise is much either with people face to face, it's so much quicker to bounce ideas, try things, see how they work out etc it's a definite positive choice.

    A few random pictures of UWE would be cool, rather than just being a webserver 'somewhere', hell, even a 3' cubicle would be interesting. (Assuming you don't accidentally take pictures of things you don't want us to see yet)

    On the topic of the weekly update, you'd be surprised. Fans are by definition, fans, they don't care how much game information is really in it, communication of nothing much is better than nothing. Feel free to tell us how you're finding San Francisco, is it a nice place, if you hit any crazy snags that take you ages to resolve, whatever. It's all interesting. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

    - Shockwave.
  • glimmermanglimmerman Join Date: 2004-04-29 Member: 28300Members, Constellation
    More updates please. Even if they contain very little game info, just give us a heads up on weekly progress etc.
  • tigersmithtigersmith Join Date: 2004-11-11 Member: 32749Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Supporter
    <!--quoteo(post=1626139:date=May 10 2007, 11:54 PM:name=Max)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Max @ May 10 2007, 11:54 PM) [snapback]1626139[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    We've thought about it, but we're not sure that we're very interesting to listen to.

    Max
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    you would lol
  • WurmspawnWurmspawn Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 19Members
    yay san fran!
    watch out for all the hippies! ~: P
    congrats
  • schkorpioschkorpio I can mspaint Join Date: 2003-05-23 Member: 16635Members
    generic uplifting forum comment <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
  • the_x5the_x5 the Xzianthian Join Date: 2004-03-02 Member: 27041Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1626139:date=May 10 2007, 11:54 PM:name=Max)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Max @ May 10 2007, 11:54 PM) [snapback]1626139[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->We've thought about it, but we're not sure that we're very interesting to listen to.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I disagree, if you are stuck just remember you fan base loves anything gaming related or especially Natural-Selection related. Heck, remember we are real people too so a little down to earth about the real daily/weekly life behind a new company in the game industry would be interesting if you don't have much new to tell about NS2.

    And even more appealing that the blog itself is the fact that you all actually talk with the community about the blog in threads on the forum such as this one. That's the best thing of all to see. If you haven't noticed, the NS2 Gen. Discussion and Ideas & Suggestions forums are much busier than all the other forums on this board with of course the exception of the never-ending Off Topic (or "OT" as it is know here) forum. A lot of that interest and participation is cause by you all showing interest in the community.

    It's a rare thing for a community to be involved in actual conversations with the developers making the game on any kind of basis let alone a semi-regular one, and I think it's Natural-Selection's best asset overall. If anything, I'd encourage you, Charlie, and other team members to be <i>regularly</i>, not just occasionally involved in conversations with the people in this community. I honestly feel that doing so will both help your publicity and your production quality massively in the long run. There are some cool people in this community, it's good to get to know one another. As is my sort of personal life motto: "Just have fun, and do your best." Meaning make the best product you can and have fun doing it. I see this community holding <i>far</i> more potential than any of you seem to realize.
  • CanadianWolverineCanadianWolverine Join Date: 2003-02-07 Member: 13249Members
    edited May 2007
    <!--quoteo(post=1626281:date=May 11 2007, 08:18 PM:name=the_x5)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(the_x5 @ May 11 2007, 08:18 PM) [snapback]1626281[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I disagree, if you are stuck just remember you fan base loves anything gaming related or especially Natural-Selection related. Heck, remember we are real people too so a little down to earth about the real daily/weekly life behind a new company in the game industry would be interesting if you don't have much new to tell about NS2.

    And even more appealing that the blog itself is the fact that you all actually talk with the community about the blog in threads on the forum such as this one. That's the best thing of all to see. If you haven't noticed, the NS2 Gen. Discussion and Ideas & Suggestions forums are much busier than all the other forums on this board with of course the exception of the never-ending Off Topic (or "OT" as it is know here) forum. A lot of that interest and participation is cause by you all showing interest in the community.

    It's a rare thing for a community to be involved in actual conversations with the developers making the game on any kind of basis let alone a semi-regular one, and I think it's Natural-Selection's best asset overall. If anything, I'd encourage you, Charlie, and other team members to be <i>regularly</i>, not just occasionally involved in conversations with the people in this community. I honestly feel that doing so will both help your publicity and your production quality massively in the long run. There are some cool people in this community, it's good to get to know one another. As is my sort of personal life motto: "Just have fun, and do your best." Meaning make the best product you can and have fun doing it. I see this community holding <i>far</i> more potential than any of you seem to realize.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I agree with you. I did see something that struck me as a bit off though, it isn't that rare for a community to be involved in conversations with developers. I know the people who made Galactic Civilizations (I & II - Stardock) and Neverwinter Nights (Bioware 1st and Obsidian 2nd) were pretty involved in feed back to their games during development. Then again, maybe its rare in comparison to the number of developments.

    The point being, there are examples of developers discussing development in the past that may help in fostering a good community during development. I am only speculating but I could have sworn that involving the end user in a discussion of the product they wish to buy increases initial sales.
  • KassingerKassinger Shades of grey Join Date: 2002-02-20 Member: 229Members, Constellation
    For the sake of argument and deeper discussion, I'd like to challenge the notion of the value of a lot of community involvement at this time.

    I think the community will become more useful for UWE later in the development, after the release of the Tech Release and in beta testing. I'd view the importance of the community at this stage as sort of semi-dormant. Charlie probably got a lot out of the interviews for taking high-level decisions etc. But when I look at the NS2 forums, the I&S forums specifically, only a small minority of the topics seem to actually be asking good questions, and only some of those again have any good answers.

    And when it comes to most of the suggestions; they are either too unrealistic, specific (as we hardly know any details about how NS2 will play), and often totally off the mark of what NS is. It would be improper to mention examples, though you understand what I mean, they shouldn't be hard to find in great numbers.

    One thing is to write blogs and make podcasts, these potentially reach a lot of people. But we shouldn't overestimate what value the NS2 forums have yet. They <b>potentially</b> have great value, but probably not before later in development.

    Of course community involvement both ways is a great thing, but we can easily overestimate how much UWE actually gains from that involvement. I'd be interested to hear arguments for what gains more investment of time and resources in such will give.
  • Gr3T_HUNGr3T_HUN Join Date: 2006-11-09 Member: 58487Members
    I would be happy with even just a daily comment or concept art pic or anything related to unknownworlds, especially NS <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> I think that working in the same room is greatly improves the progress, I can't wait. Spare us 7 mins on an evening to write something for us Max! I bet that it will be greatly appreciated:)
  • AnimeLOLAnimeLOL Join Date: 2006-11-02 Member: 58275Members
    I think, should you decide to make regular updates, the time period should be two weeks. Once a week makes it too short and could wind up taxing the developers thinking of things to report on.
  • NEX9NEX9 Join Date: 2005-03-08 Member: 44299Members
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