Pre-purchase NS2?

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Comments

  • LazerManeLazerMane Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2135Members, Constellation
    I believe that based on the quality, originality, and extensive replayability of NS, i would give in my money to Flayra, simply because i know it will be used well.
  • aonomusaonomus Dedicated NS Mastermind (no need for school) Join Date: 2003-11-26 Member: 23605Members, Constellation
    I voted no, but only in context of pre-purchasing it now, mainly because I don't have much money to spend on gaming. If I knew NS2 was coming out with a definite release window and high percentage guarantee that it wasn't just vapourware or another TF2. However once I knew NS2 was coming out for sure and that I'd have the time to play it, I'd pre-order for a much higher price, comparable to something like HL2, UT2K4, Doom 3, etc.
  • JimBowenJimBowen Join Date: 2003-05-30 Member: 16873Members, Constellation
    I think the price should be higher than $25. I would glady pay $50 for NS2. NS1 is one of the greatest video games of all time, and it was free!
  • N_RecoupN_Recoup Join Date: 2005-01-17 Member: 36126Members
    Guys... shut up...

    $25 is a great price.... <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    *gags jim*
  • JimBowenJimBowen Join Date: 2003-05-30 Member: 16873Members, Constellation
    Mabey thoses who want to should be able to give a bit toward NS 2, hoping in some small way it helps the project to suceed. Most of the people I play NS with, do so because of the quality of the game. I honestly belive flayara has the intention of making NS 2 to the same high standards. Of course its a risk, but just look at NS 1. The guy cares about making great games, and as a gamer I respect that enourmously.
  • CingularDualityCingularDuality Join Date: 2004-05-17 Member: 28726Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Flayra+Jan 16 2005, 11:18 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Flayra @ Jan 16 2005, 11:18 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Frank and construction discussion appreciated!<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I don't even play NS, but it's a large portion of the gaming community that I call my online home. After dealing with so many other games that the developer and publisher don't care about, it's refreshing to see your involvement with the gaming community. You don't have this option for me to vote on, but if you promise to stay in touch with the community, I'll buy TWO "shares" of NS2! (offer void if you choose Ubisoft to publish your game...)
  • Guardian1Guardian1 Join Date: 2003-09-14 Member: 20853Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Flayra+Jan 17 2005, 11:49 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Flayra @ Jan 17 2005, 11:49 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Great comments. My big fear about this model is mostly world of mouth and publicity related. For instance, if we released the multiplayer first, then the first half of the single-player campaign, then the second half, then we released the full version to the public...wouldn't we have spread our buzz and excitement out over a 2 year period instead of unleashing it all at once? I wonder if this would make us less or more popular (though I realize that there would be some smaller buzz early on and that could have some cumulative effects). <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I think the end result might be very similar. The difference is in how you'll get there. If you have a large budget, then development should all be done on the final product and released all at once. If your budget is modest, then releasing in small chunks works better.

    It's good for people to see the development "back end" of things. It helps them understand just how difficult it is to put out a polished product in a reasonable amount of time. There are so many factors not even related to money that can affect the outcome. Then add the money factor and it seems a daunting task to anyone.

    No wonder every Tom, ****, and Harry aren't developing games... (Hey! That'd be a great name for a dev studio)
  • enf0rcerenf0rcer intrigued... Join Date: 2003-03-16 Member: 14584Members
    Just wondering - who exactly is part of Unknown Worlds. I get the impression it's not the current NS team as they are working on NS:Source. So it's a group of hired people that will be working on NS2?

    Anyway I said yes if you gave more information. Although I'd probably wait till the first few screenshots.
  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    25 Bucks, why not, but not right now. I don't even know a thing about the game except that "NS1 was the encounter, NS2 is the war"

    If I get some more info, I'd gladly pay 25 bucks. I'd toss in some extra bucks as well for consti, because even in the horrible misfortune that my money is wasted on NS2, I'll have the warm fuzzy feeling I contributed to NS1. Even if I've been saying that since the first days of the constellation program <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • SopsSops Join Date: 2003-07-03 Member: 17894Members, Constellation
    I would only pre-order it after I have seen some screen shots
  • xynthxynth Join Date: 2005-01-17 Member: 36066Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Flayra+Jan 17 2005, 01:49 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Flayra @ Jan 17 2005, 01:49 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Great comments. My big fear about this model is mostly world of mouth and publicity related. For instance, if we released the multiplayer first, then the first half of the single-player campaign, then the second half, then we released the full version to the public...wouldn't we have spread our buzz and excitement out over a 2 year period instead of unleashing it all at once? I wonder if this would make us less or more popular (though I realize that there would be some smaller buzz early on and that could have some cumulative effects). <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I personally think that spreading the buzz, as you say, over a period of time would maybe make NS even more popular (though certainly not less popular). Again, this depends on how big marketing hype are you planning for the product. In the end, I think that people would get a more polished product if it were done with the model I suggested, but there is a possibility that withholding concrete play experience from the public may generate more cash, because even those people would pay the full price of the product that would not enjoy it in the end. A turned down customer would hardly "subscribe" to future updates, thus generating only 10$ revenue (in the example I gave). Yet he may be compelled to stay, seeing that his opinion has more impact than on a conventional game which has its most intense development cycle behind it. He would provide valuable feedback to the developers, who could fix issues and implement features when they're needed/requested. Every developer knows how boring and cumbersome digging is in a finished code. The bigger and more complex the code is when the issues appear, the harder it will be to address them. In the example below, the developers clearly did not have the time and resources to finish and test their product:

    Look at games like FlatOut. A great concept, a game with some really nice features, but on the other hand completely unfinished network play, several missing playability features and a distinct smell of unpolished product. Since the project is now officially completed (with only a slight hope for some minor bug fixes), people will have to accept the game in its current state (not worth the 25$ in my opinion). There is no motivation for the developers and the publisher to incorporate features requested by the community. Most people - after reading their forums - will probably not buy FlatOut, and those who buy it, will regret their decision.

    Again, this is a question of how much money/work you plan to invest into the project and the assets you have already available. Given you know that you could gain the support of a large publisher for several years (I would assume 3 or even 4 years, 2 is overly optimistic), it would be feasible to develop in a "closed" manner, effectively building up the hype from the beginning, and then unleashing it on the eager public. Since you would have guaranteed support, you could guarantee some degree of quality in turn. However, if you deliberately depend on the public right from the beginning, a very effective and particularly low-risk model to pursue would be the tried one that I mentioned. I talk about how I see I could do what you want to do (ouch!), I see that without either generous support from a publisher or incremental builds thoroughly consulted with the community to ensure the products maximal acceptance, there is no chance of creating a product that could compete in terms of quality with the other titles at the time of its publishing.

    All the best,
    Xynth
  • ZdroneZdrone Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 3914Members, Constellation
    This is not meant to be a criticism of anyone or anything. Just my thoughts.

    I have donated money to the constellation program more than once. Would I do it again? Most probably yes. I enjoy the game and appreciate the efforts of the developers.

    I've been running servers for the game since it went public and have watched a slow erosion in the playerbase. Because of this, I wonder how much money could actually be raised to support the efforts of NS2. I also worry about moving what is effectively a "free" mod of the Half Life engine to a retail product. I know it will be a "new" game using a next-gen engine, but what of all the people that have invested time into the "free" version (not the server ops, but the people that have developed ideas/plugins that have become part of the game). Will this venture run into legal issues as those community members become disenfranchised?

    I would pay because of past entertainment, but until more is released, I would not expect much until I see a true plan for the game other than ideas.
  • SinisterWhisperSinisterWhisper Join Date: 2004-01-04 Member: 25043Members
    Sorry guys but I voted an outright no with much sadness <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    While the ns team has done great things with the halflife engine its been awhile since anything really great has happened. Things are starting to go the way of counterstrike in my opinion and what I mean by that is look at 1.6, condition zero, and source. Anyone feel like it is the same game with different graphics? You have the same weapons, same maps, same strats only difference is the packaging...

    Ns isn't nearly that far along but lets take a look at things as far as the version history has gone. I discovered the mod a few days before it came out and loved 1.0 heh it was an addiction. It was buggy, frustrating, and took forever to play a game all the way through but man it was a revolution unto itself. Then came the videos for 2.0 and I almost **** myself when I saw the new physics for skulks. I rembere one video shows a skulk running on the ceiling and getting hit with a nade, little bugger did a flip in mid air and I said wow. When 2.0 was released it was *prettier* in the sense of the new additions but the gameplay was to me lukewarm. The new crosshairs were neat and the weapons sounds were great but some of the changes had distorted the original game.

    Now we are in 3.0 beta and I have played every version of it but I play less and less often now. I play mainly with friends or combat if bb, zp, ts, esf, or even cs is getting stale. Classic is awful nowadays don't ask me to put my finger on it because it is just the game as a whole. I yearn for a return to 1.0 I suppose even if some of the bugs were downright maddening <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> . Combat is 3.0's only saving grace these days to me at least but I ramble. Point is nothing amazingly new has been implemented in awhile combat is fun but wasn't groundbreaking. The tweaks you keep putting in haven't made classic better, in fact the detract from it and I am not the only one who hates it these days.

    Still I have my ns poster above my comp because for all its issues its still a great project and as such ways to change so that I would pay the 25 (hell 50 if it was done)
    1. A clear outline of what you plan (at this stage) to put in the game. I tried to put together a mod team last year for source and the first thing everyone demanded was an outline. (got a team but we lacked motivation meh)
    2. Updates time to time because while it is understandable that things get delayed a quick snippet that your still alive.
    3. Something for our faith perhaps in the form of a special forum to discuss aspects of the game and/or the ability to read what you guys are discussing on the game? it would take away some secrets but hey we are risking our cash.
    4. A chance to play the multiplayer portion of ns as a beta later(much later) down the road. If you plan on releasing the game online I don't see this as a biggy to do.

    Regardless gl
  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    Also, know that the paying world is much less forgiving than the free one. Look at all the whining and complaining with NS1, then try to imagine the whining with NS2. Not to mention that some people will just have to start a case (god bless america) if you drop the project even if you clearly wrote there's no guarantee in the 25 bucks. Even if you win, it's not worth your time and money.
  • Hologram0Hologram0 Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9303Members, Constellation
    Im in the I would probally do it but im not sure...

    With out seeing anything, at all, it makes it hard to spend money especially since my faith in the NS dev team has dwindled sightly... Basically many players for saw the current state of decay NS is in and very little was done at the time to fix the problems, instead they labled anyone who warned the game had flaws a lunatic.

    I would probally do it just because NS was good and even if NS2 sucks then what have i lost... Also what does the investors think of something like this? they cant be happy with you "giving" away games like this...
  • slipknotkthxslipknotkthx Join Date: 2002-12-17 Member: 11016Members, Constellation
    My bad, but usually a preorder means you still have to pay for the rest, and I saw someone say something about paying full price even after the 25.
  • echsechs Join Date: 2002-12-27 Member: 11568Members, Constellation
    If I had more information first on NS2, I'd probably pre-purchase NS2...But only because I found NS to be one of the best online games I've ever played. And would hope NS2 to live upto that.
  • ComproxComprox *chortle* Canada Join Date: 2002-01-23 Member: 7Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Silver, Subnautica Developer, Subnautica Playtester, Pistachionauts
    <!--QuoteBegin-slipknotkthx+Jan 17 2005, 03:26 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (slipknotkthx @ Jan 17 2005, 03:26 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> My bad, but usually a preorder means you still have to pay for the rest, and I saw someone say something about paying full price even after the 25. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Flayra states somewhere in here $25 would buy the game, the $55 would be for people who didn't pre-order it.
  • CyndaneCyndane Join Date: 2003-11-15 Member: 22913Members
    I would pay if we had more information about the game. :-)
  • aonomusaonomus Dedicated NS Mastermind (no need for school) Join Date: 2003-11-26 Member: 23605Members, Constellation
    Heh *shameless plug* just because you don't pre-purchase doesn't mean you can't donate.... <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • SizerSizer Join Date: 2003-10-08 Member: 21531Members
    I wouldn't pre-order a copy as of this moment. Not even after the release of concept art - it would have to be after I see screenies and have a complete idea of what the game will consist of.
  • DaJMastaDaJMasta Join Date: 2005-01-10 Member: 34750Members, Constellation
    any word on whether pre-purchasers would be able to test beta versions? Like what valve did for CS:S?
  • itsmemoitsmemo Join Date: 2003-07-17 Member: 18232Members, Constellation
  • MackilaMackila Join Date: 2003-05-30 Member: 16867Members, Constellation
    I allready gave 25$ for NS, and I think it could be worth 50$.
    I would preorder. Free minds make better work.
  • CageyCagey Ex-Unknown Worlds Programmer Join Date: 2002-11-15 Member: 8829Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Locane+Jan 17 2005, 11:53 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Locane @ Jan 17 2005, 11:53 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->NS2 Won't be like NS?

    Flayra won't be leading the project?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Clarification - Flayra will personally lead NS2 development with the NS2 team out of the UWE offices, but he would be exercising final approval over NS1 maintanence and NS:Source instead of being the day-to-day lead on those projects, which will continue being worked on by volunteers spread around the world.

    Flay has to be the one to annouce the specifics for what NS2 is going to be since it's his design, but UWE isn't suddenly shifting to a completely different genre -- it won't be a side scroller or a turn based combat game. Flayra knows what he likes to play and he is designing another game that he will enjoy. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    <!--QuoteBegin-enf0rcer+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (enf0rcer)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Just wondering - who exactly is part of Unknown Worlds. I get the impression it's not the current NS team as they are working on NS:Source. So it's a group of hired people that will be working on NS2?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Correct, the NS2 team will be separate from the NS1 team... I'm back from EA and currently working with Flay on the technical side of NS2. Flay has people in mind for other key positions, but of course it's not appropriate to name people who aren't actually hired yet.

    In actuality, the NS team is still putting all of their efforts into finalizing NS 3.0 rather than NS:Source, so even though the plan is to have them create NS:Source, it's premature to say they're working on it now. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • WhiteZeroWhiteZero That Guy Join Date: 2004-06-24 Member: 29511Members, Constellation
    edited January 2005
    Wow, with the current votes, they could get about $10,000 to help out with development. I'm glad to see how supportive the community is.
  • XeerOXeerO Join Date: 2005-01-08 Member: 33948Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-SentrySteve+Jan 17 2005, 01:19 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (SentrySteve @ Jan 17 2005, 01:19 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I voted "no" because, although the first release of NS was impressive - in my opinon, it all went down from there and radical changes that were unneeded were done - making the game, in certain stages, less balanced and leaves it in it's current state where NS classic is just not fun to play. I also never understood why you didnt want to make NS Classic and Combat too different games - thereby allowing you to alter the health / armor points in one of the modes without effecting the other. If NS2 was just like NS1 I would not buy it for $50 becuase the game does not have the replay value that my $50 should warrant. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Agree 100%
  • WhiteZeroWhiteZero That Guy Join Date: 2004-06-24 Member: 29511Members, Constellation
    They've already said numerous times that NS2 wont be 100% like NS, so why would you even take into account that they are?
  • ZorZor Join Date: 2003-09-16 Member: 20911Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I voted "no" because, although the first release of NS was impressive - in my opinon, it all went down from there and radical changes that were unneeded were done - making the game, in certain stages, less balanced and leaves it in it's current state where NS classic is just not fun to play. I also never understood why you didnt want to make NS Classic and Combat too different games - thereby allowing you to alter the health / armor points in one of the modes without effecting the other. If NS2 was just like NS1 I would not buy it for $50 becuase the game does not have the replay value that my $50 should warrant.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I think the reason they did this was simply because of the HL engine and its weapon restrictions and so on

    Also how long until we can preorder this game <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->?
  • y3kflexoy3kflexo Join Date: 2003-04-04 Member: 15203Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Spooge+Jan 17 2005, 07:53 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Spooge @ Jan 17 2005, 07:53 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
    2.  It's more of an investment than a purchase.  Many entrepreneurs face financial difficulties and based on Charlie's last few years, I'm willing to risk my money.
    3.  Even after donating for Constellation, I don't think I've paid full price for the game that I play more than any other in my catalogue.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I Voted yes for these reasons as well. i've played NS more than any other game i have and i payed up to $80 for some of those. Even after donating to be a constellation member and paying the pre-purchase price it is as good deal in my mind. <!--emo&::tsa::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tsa.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tsa.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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