The game might be feature complete but only because certain features such as real dynamic infestation were cut from the plan for 1.0...
This is completely fine however, if you release a really optimized version of 1.0. The reviewers usually don't care about missing features but they DO care a lot about performance, bugs and a bit less about balancing. If 1.0 is not optimized to the point where we get around 2x of current fps and way less fps drops in combat the review scores will be underwhelming.
Please, just push the release as far away as necessary to really optimize performance and polish it up.
Everyone here wants to see NS2 succeed and yield you guys a lot of money because you deserve it. However the current state of performance even with the expected 20% or so increase until 1.0 will permanently damage NS2s rating and therefore future sales.
Why is everyone always asking about when we will have "dynamic infestation"?
The current infestation is dynamic - it is not a static map feature like in NS1.
It isn't as cool looking as the 2006 video, but given the performance issues the game has, I can think of a huge list of features that should go in before it is worth spending CPU cycles on replicating the 2006 video. Especially considering that a large chunk of the code for it would have to be in lua.
Stick with the current infestation implementation - just improve the textures on it (as Cory mentioned) and add a few more "lump" models to vary the look a bit.
<!--quoteo(post=1959102:date=Aug 8 2012, 10:27 PM:name=JuCCi)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JuCCi @ Aug 8 2012, 10:27 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1959102"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->OCT 31 ! 10 years of NS release!!!!! It would be epic :D<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Part of me thinks this has been the (non-public) plan all along.
IMO the only good reason for it not to have been the plan is that the money really wouldn't last until then. And the increase in sales since Total Biscuit should have fixed that.
NolSinklerOn the ClorfJoin Date: 2004-02-15Member: 26560Members, Constellation
<!--quoteo(post=1958905:date=Aug 8 2012, 12:26 AM:name=Squeal_Like_A_Pig)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Squeal_Like_A_Pig @ Aug 8 2012, 12:26 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1958905"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Yes, it will be before 1.0
Games have come out with ugly bugs and get good reviews anyway. Remember The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion? Fable 2? Fallout New Vegas? Dead Island? TW: Shogun 2? To me, review scores mean anything but to the masses of a young generation who play games, reviews mean buying or skipping the game completely.
<!--quoteo(post=1959387:date=Aug 8 2012, 01:32 PM:name=CobraCommander)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CobraCommander @ Aug 8 2012, 01:32 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1959387"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Games have come out with ugly bugs and get good reviews anyway. Remember The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion? Fable 2? Fallout New Vegas? Dead Island? TW: Shogun 2? To me, review scores mean anything but to the masses of a young generation who play games, reviews mean buying or skipping the game completely.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
All of those games are sequels, except Dead Island. All have major publishers.
<!--quoteo(post=1959393:date=Aug 8 2012, 04:41 PM:name=Ryne)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ryne @ Aug 8 2012, 04:41 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1959393"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->All of those games are sequels, except Dead Island. All have major publishers.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Natural Selection 2 is also a sequel...
But I very much agree that if the game doesn't get a serious coat of polish then the reviews aren't gong to be as good as they might be, which might hurt the game in the long run in terms of picking up new players. To the extent that the developers are worrying about making people mad by delaying even longer, I wouldn't mind: anyone who has problems with delays is probably long finished with caring about NS2. Those of us who have stuck around are fine with playing a good game no matter when it comes out.
Comments
This is completely fine however, if you release a really optimized version of 1.0. The reviewers usually don't care about missing features but they DO care a lot about performance, bugs and a bit less about balancing. If 1.0 is not optimized to the point where we get around 2x of current fps and way less fps drops in combat the review scores will be underwhelming.
Please, just push the release as far away as necessary to really optimize performance and polish it up.
Everyone here wants to see NS2 succeed and yield you guys a lot of money because you deserve it. However the current state of performance even with the expected 20% or so increase until 1.0 will permanently damage NS2s rating and therefore future sales.
The current infestation is dynamic - it is not a static map feature like in NS1.
It isn't as cool looking as the 2006 video, but given the performance issues the game has, I can think of a huge list of features that should go in before it is worth spending CPU cycles on replicating the 2006 video. Especially considering that a large chunk of the code for it would have to be in lua.
Stick with the current infestation implementation - just improve the textures on it (as Cory mentioned) and add a few more "lump" models to vary the look a bit.
And post 1.0 will be Biodome ( can't wait for that one :D )
see here:
<img src="http://i50.tinypic.com/10d5lkn.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Part of me thinks this has been the (non-public) plan all along.
IMO the only good reason for it not to have been the plan is that the money really wouldn't last until then. And the increase in sales since Total Biscuit should have fixed that.
[...]
--Cory<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm so excited.
E.g. spawning stuck. It is borderline ridiculous that this still happens :( Even on old maps like Summit!
All of those games are sequels, except Dead Island. All have major publishers.
Natural Selection 2 is also a sequel...
But I very much agree that if the game doesn't get a serious coat of polish then the reviews aren't gong to be as good as they might be, which might hurt the game in the long run in terms of picking up new players. To the extent that the developers are worrying about making people mad by delaying even longer, I wouldn't mind: anyone who has problems with delays is probably long finished with caring about NS2. Those of us who have stuck around are fine with playing a good game no matter when it comes out.