<!--quoteo(post=1830363:date=Feb 7 2011, 08:33 PM:name=Max)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Max @ Feb 7 2011, 08:33 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830363"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->The technical tasks on the progress tracker page are my tasks, and the gameplay ones are Brian and Charlie's. Brian has made some enhancements to the engine, but he's mainly focused on gameplay improvements and bug fixes.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
hasnt there been a programmer called kurt? i think i can remember he was mentioned somewhere... maybe im wrong
<!--quoteo(post=1830462:date=Feb 8 2011, 08:50 AM:name=Squeal_Like_A_Pig)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Squeal_Like_A_Pig @ Feb 8 2011, 08:50 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830462"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Someone mentioned that our customer service is lacking, and I strongly disagree. We are on the forums every day informing our "customers" about the progress of the game, the issues that are going on, and explaining the development process. We try to help out people with technical issues as often as we can.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> I think the forum postings are nice, but they are no replacement for the solid core information. What at least some people are looking for is "OK, here's the plan, this is where we are aiming at and this is how all the ingredients are going to become The Greates Game Ever." in a more or less regular manner. Right now if I want any kind of up to date information, I have to read through a dozen dev posts with little bits of information scattered here and there and a lot of it is on "I think" or "We are hoping" level. All in all, there's a need for one backbone of communication, which can then get supported by more casual tweets, forum posts, NS2HD and all that.
Probably part of the unrest in this thread is because NS2HD represents a little similar kind of information that people already feel they're getting more than enough. There have been quite a few hype waves sweeping over the community already since the preorders opened. Each of them probably reduces the effectiviness of any future hype and increases the demand of actual solid facts and cold professionalism.
Making deadlines is obviously a double edged sword once again, but I think the community is really starting to need them. People who haven't got an increasingly playable game in their hands often see the game floating around instead of progressing steadily.
To add on to what Bacillus has said, I've said it before on a post and I'll say it again. If you want to go the 'casual' information route and social network route, Minecraft and Notch is the best example of a developer giving brilliant, to the point and constantly up to date information and communication with their community.
<!--quoteo(post=1830503:date=Feb 8 2011, 10:43 AM:name=Pr0n)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pr0n @ Feb 8 2011, 10:43 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830503"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->When I look at the Twitter feed and it says they have a prototype DI coming into the game, that is something that deserves a video immediately. You want people to literally see that the game is "just about to be done". I can't really think of a reason you would not show something like this when you've already shown so many other things that were still in "alpha" stages.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Video of DI was released before Spark was ever made. Now you want to see a video of a buggy, broken, prototype version? It would *look* like development has gone backwards, and would completely null any point to having a video made.
After everything's done, I'd LOVE to see a commentary of all the broken, funny ###### that goes down. (that exploding bug, for example, or everyone getting stuck on fire) But honestly, do you think a movie shows all its bloopers or behind-the-scenes footage before the film is released?
What's notch doing that UWE isn't? I'm missing something maybe because UWE updates their twitter, they have a tracker showing what they are working on, they frequently post on the forums and when they can make the time they'll throw a video up.
Kouji_SanSr. Hινε UÏкεεÏεг - EUPT DeputyThe NetherlandsJoin Date: 2003-05-13Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
<!--quoteo(post=1830552:date=Feb 8 2011, 07:28 PM:name=Deadzone)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Deadzone @ Feb 8 2011, 07:28 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830552"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Video of DI was released before Spark was ever made.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Not quite, it is a bsp map running in Max's engine (pre Spark name)
<!--quoteo(post=1830515:date=Feb 8 2011, 04:27 PM:name=nUfl0w)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nUfl0w @ Feb 8 2011, 04:27 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830515"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->hasnt there been a programmer called kurt? i think i can remember he was mentioned somewhere... maybe im wrong<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Kurt is no longer working here, and hasn't been for some time.
<!--quoteo(post=1830565:date=Feb 8 2011, 04:12 PM:name=Squeal_Like_A_Pig)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Squeal_Like_A_Pig @ Feb 8 2011, 04:12 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830565"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Kurt is no longer working here, and hasn't been for some time.
--Cory<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ah ok, sorry to hear that. Hope you find someone to replace him :) keep up th good work :)
<!--quoteo(post=1830553:date=Feb 8 2011, 07:29 PM:name=Supernorn)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Supernorn @ Feb 8 2011, 07:29 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830553"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->What's notch doing that UWE isn't? I'm missing something maybe because UWE updates their twitter, they have a tracker showing what they are working on, they frequently post on the forums and when they can make the time they'll throw a video up.
I don't really know what your expectations are.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He updates his twitter religously. He specifically replies to several people through out the day with their issues and thoughts. He updates his blog with to the point information and doesn't really hold back on showing anything "sekret".
His blog was updated 8 times in January and his Twitter, well, his Twitter is updated so much through the day and month, responses to people and personal things. It's that sort of working relationship which is really strong and gets the best out of him, his community, his game and his new company.
He's very focused on building bridges and worked really well on his community relationship, it shows as if you go to the Minecraft forums there is nothing but praise and rallying ideas of mods, texture packs etc. created by the community for minecraft.
He really has taken the time out for the people he's creating his game towards and for those that have paid for it and enabled him to get together his own development team.
EDIT: If you know anything about leadership styles and management styles, he comes across as a servant-leader; led by the people he's aiming at to be the best for them. It's a style that works very well and is very customer orientated and is leading to amazing business results.
<!--quoteo(post=1830572:date=Feb 8 2011, 04:32 PM:name=Thaldarin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thaldarin @ Feb 8 2011, 04:32 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830572"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->He updates his twitter religously. He specifically replies to several people through out the day with their issues and thoughts. He updates his blog with to the point information and doesn't really hold back on showing anything "sekret".
His blog was updated 8 times in January and his Twitter, well, his Twitter is updated so much through the day and month, responses to people and personal things. It's that sort of working relationship which is really strong and gets the best out of him, his community, his game and his new company.
He's very focused on building bridges and worked really well on his community relationship, it shows as if you go to the Minecraft forums there is nothing but praise and rallying ideas of mods, texture packs etc. created by the community for minecraft.
He really has taken the time out for the people he's creating his game towards and for those that have paid for it and enabled him to get together his own development team.
EDIT: If you know anything about leadership styles and management styles, he comes across as a servant-leader; led by the people he's aiming at to be the best for them. It's a style that works very well and is very customer orientated and is leading to amazing business results.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Regular twitter updates... check Replies to people's specific thoughts multiple times daily... check Replies to personal things from time to time... check Blog updated a bunch monthly... check Working relationship with community... check Taken time out for specific people... check (UWE is happy to meet with people at a monthly event in Seattle, I do believe, and that's not even counting Hugh's trip) (this isn't counting all the time they take for us on the forums) Serving the community while never surrendering "leadership" of their vision = servant-leader... check
Seriously, what is it UWE hasn't done, again? Tell me. Do you know absolutely EVERYTHING that Notch has planned for version 1.0 of minecraft? How about for updates beyond 1.0? No? Sorry, but he's got "sekrets" he's not blabbing to the public yet, then.
<!--quoteo(post=1830572:date=Feb 8 2011, 08:32 PM:name=Thaldarin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thaldarin @ Feb 8 2011, 08:32 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830572"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->He updates his twitter religously. He specifically replies to several people through out the day with their issues and thoughts. He updates his blog with to the point information and doesn't really hold back on showing anything "sekret".
His blog was updated 8 times in January and his Twitter, well, his Twitter is updated so much through the day and month, responses to people and personal things. It's that sort of working relationship which is really strong and gets the best out of him, his community, his game and his new company.
He's very focused on building bridges and worked really well on his community relationship, it shows as if you go to the Minecraft forums there is nothing but praise and rallying ideas of mods, texture packs etc. created by the community for minecraft.
He really has taken the time out for the people he's creating his game towards and for those that have paid for it and enabled him to get together his own development team.
EDIT: If you know anything about leadership styles and management styles, he comes across as a servant-leader; led by the people he's aiming at to be the best for them. It's a style that works very well and is very customer orientated and is leading to amazing business results.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So.. did Notch mind that you took your head out of his ass long enough to write this post? Jesus christ.
<!--quoteo(post=1830553:date=Feb 8 2011, 07:29 PM:name=Supernorn)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Supernorn @ Feb 8 2011, 07:29 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830553"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->What's notch doing that UWE isn't? I'm missing something maybe because UWE updates their twitter, they have a tracker showing what they are working on, they frequently post on the forums and when they can make the time they'll throw a video up.
I don't really know what your expectations are.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He's making a game that appeals to just about everyone on the planet and can run on just about any computer ever made and which barely requires the work of a single java programmer and 5 minutes in photoshop every now and then.
He has something of an advantage because of this.
The reason he spends so much time twittering and listening to the community is because he doesn't have to spend hours every day debugging movement code just to get the engine into a useable state.
Most game developers have to actually develop for most of their waking life. Notch on the other hand could walk out of the door right now and be a multimillionaire for the rest of his natural life.
He doesn't NEED to work, he does it because he likes to, that would make anybody amicable.
Kouji_SanSr. Hινε UÏкεεÏεг - EUPT DeputyThe NetherlandsJoin Date: 2003-05-13Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
UWE didn't make Minecraft and notch didn't make NS2. Minecraft has a much larger audience because it is tailoring to a very VERY broad audience. NS2 is and will always be a niche closer to the oldschool hardcore players then the casual crowd, even if NS2 seems to be getting easier to get into then NS...
You simply cannot compare the two as they are both in very different areas of interest, where one has a much broader audience. Besides judging viral video's and famous YouTubers, Minecraft also had and still has a lot more publicity on the net
Nizzotch (Notch), 37,497 Subs Seananners, 552,224 Subs jx23, 97,664 Subs X/davidr64yt, 123,514 Subs HuskyMUDKIPZ, 24,098 And a lot more in between 20000 and 1 subs.
Compare that to the main NS2 focussed channels:
NS2HD, 1,776 subs Me/Kouji82, 1,185 Subs (I'm not 100% NS2 related, mostly pimping the others and an occasional NS2vid) TheRealFlayra, 1,187 Subs unknownworlds, 567 Subs Natural Selection 2 PL, 235 Subs
You can't compare the games on a large scale, no. Although Kouji you can compare the community interaction from the developer and development team and their communication to the community.
Kouji_SanSr. Hινε UÏкεεÏεг - EUPT DeputyThe NetherlandsJoin Date: 2003-05-13Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
<!--quoteo(post=1830581:date=Feb 8 2011, 09:07 PM:name=Thaldarin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thaldarin @ Feb 8 2011, 09:07 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830581"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You can't compare the games on a large scale, no. Although Kouji you can compare the community interaction from the developer and development team and their communication to the community.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> True, but UWE has a much bigger and complex engine/game to build and is still having loads of issues, which eat away at time for PR. The upcoming QandA video's (if in-depth enough) might give a nice boost to community morale so to speak.
But you can't seriously come in here and say they aren't all that involved with the community... Sure we'd all love to know everything or at least more on what is going on and obviously where Cory gets his poking sticks and all. But in the end, UWE is indeed taking their time and the engine still has issues all over. But we certainly get a nice inside view for the most part, which is plenty IMHO :/
I think we get a lot more information through NS2HD than we do UWE at present. As someone said you have to search developer posts to find anything that could be substantially and a lot of things a "probably" or "hopefully"; like the recent Q&A.
Would be nice to see a real Q&A, or they just hire Hugh and get him to work like he currently is and add the old Zunni responsibilities. That'd work well.
Huh? I have only watched a few NS2HD videos, but I haven't seen any new revolutionary information on his channel. I agree that a lot of the most interesting insights are buried in the forums though.
<!--quoteo(post=1830581:date=Feb 8 2011, 04:07 PM:name=Thaldarin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thaldarin @ Feb 8 2011, 04:07 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830581"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You can't compare the games on a large scale, no. Although Kouji you can compare the community interaction from the developer and development team and their communication to the community.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo(post=1830574:date=Feb 8 2011, 03:40 PM:name=Deadzone)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Deadzone @ Feb 8 2011, 03:40 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830574"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Regular twitter updates... check Replies to people's specific thoughts multiple times daily... check Replies to personal things from time to time... check Blog updated a bunch monthly... check Working relationship with community... check Taken time out for specific people... check (UWE is happy to meet with people at a monthly event in Seattle, I do believe, and that's not even counting Hugh's trip) (this isn't counting all the time they take for us on the forums) Serving the community while never surrendering "leadership" of their vision = servant-leader... check
Seriously, what is it UWE hasn't done, again? Tell me. Do you know absolutely EVERYTHING that Notch has planned for version 1.0 of minecraft? How about for updates beyond 1.0? No? Sorry, but he's got "sekrets" he's not blabbing to the public yet, then.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
dead, what they havent done is the impossible. people seems to expect no less for 40 money (was it euro or usd? forgot by now :S).
I really like how there seems to be at the least 1 twitter post per day now, a few weeks ago there were a twitter drought at times (I like to see something just so I know they are alive, and maybe also what they try to fix). If they would do more twitters chances are that it would be a flood and ppl would complain they cant read all of them, so I think its perfect atm! ;D
What I would like, which is something that you didnt check on that list, is a faster rate of builds. When they talk about having a prototype di I really want to start the game and see what it is :P! Maybe if they did weekly builds which was uploaded automaticlly, some weeks being utterly broken, other weeks hold a sneakpeek of what would come. Sadly I know that it is unfeasible tho, as if they do so ppl wil lflame about how the latest versions being buggy (er than normal), and alot of other technical difficulties. Ignorance is bliss D:
<!--quoteo(post=1830590:date=Feb 9 2011, 05:24 AM:name=Thaldarin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thaldarin @ Feb 9 2011, 05:24 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830590"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I think we get a lot more information through NS2HD than we do UWE at present. As someone said you have to search developer posts to find anything that could be substantially and a lot of things a "probably" or "hopefully"; like the recent Q&A.
Would be nice to see a real Q&A, or they just hire Hugh and get him to work like he currently is and add the old Zunni responsibilities. That'd work well.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Technical Q&A is up, as I'm sure you are aware, and it's massive.
Also, have you had a look at Plasma's dev tracker? I've got it bookmarked, and I visit it before I come to the site.
<!--quoteo(post=1830686:date=Feb 9 2011, 03:32 AM:name=Harimau)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Harimau @ Feb 9 2011, 03:32 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830686"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Technical Q&A is up, as I'm sure you are aware, and it's massive.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Something I've asked at various points, for months.
It's really quite informative; however, everything Max says always is.
PS. Supernorn, does this mean my head is up Max's ass now too?
Minecraft blah.... if i made around 12.458.840$ minimum (only 10$ per game[dunno if it was €], since beta it costs <b>14.95€</b> => its actually a lot more $$ he made) with a game in alpha/beta stage - i would sit and answer twitter posts all day...
All we got is a beta version! YAY Minecraft 4tw! Take my money write on twitter and have fun! - Please dont use the money to develop the game further/faster - instead give me useless ingame items like cakes!
Edit: Sure im happy for him, and like the game very much(i play on vanillacraft, and on a private friend server from time to time) - still... lots of possible, lots of money... nothing really happens.
If I got the chance to visit the UWE office, I'd probably just end up like in Wayne's World when they meet Alice Cooper. "We're not worthy, we're not worthy!"
Seriously though, I enjoyed the latest video, but it didn't really seem like he gave them much of a chance to talk. "What do you do at UWE and what are you working on?" "Okay, that's great.... NEEEXT!"
Hopefully we'll get a new video that lets them talk a little bit more.
Kouji_SanSr. Hινε UÏкεεÏεг - EUPT DeputyThe NetherlandsJoin Date: 2003-05-13Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
<!--quoteo(post=1830836:date=Feb 9 2011, 05:15 PM:name=Koruyo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Koruyo @ Feb 9 2011, 05:15 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830836"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Minecraft blah.... if i made around 12.458.840$ minimum (only 10$ per game[dunno if it was €], since beta it costs <b><!--coloro:#FF0000--><span style="color:#FF0000"><!--/coloro-->€14.95<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></b> => its actually a lot more $$ he made) with a game in alpha/beta stage - i would sit and answer twitter posts all day...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->Fixed that for you
Also he is adding mod support, sure I've seen loads of people complain the game is not being developed fast enough. People tend to complain a lot, it is in our nature :D
Comments
hasnt there been a programmer called kurt? i think i can remember he was mentioned somewhere... maybe im wrong
I think the forum postings are nice, but they are no replacement for the solid core information. What at least some people are looking for is "OK, here's the plan, this is where we are aiming at and this is how all the ingredients are going to become The Greates Game Ever." in a more or less regular manner. Right now if I want any kind of up to date information, I have to read through a dozen dev posts with little bits of information scattered here and there and a lot of it is on "I think" or "We are hoping" level. All in all, there's a need for one backbone of communication, which can then get supported by more casual tweets, forum posts, NS2HD and all that.
Probably part of the unrest in this thread is because NS2HD represents a little similar kind of information that people already feel they're getting more than enough. There have been quite a few hype waves sweeping over the community already since the preorders opened. Each of them probably reduces the effectiviness of any future hype and increases the demand of actual solid facts and cold professionalism.
Making deadlines is obviously a double edged sword once again, but I think the community is really starting to need them. People who haven't got an increasingly playable game in their hands often see the game floating around instead of progressing steadily.
Video of DI was released before Spark was ever made. Now you want to see a video of a buggy, broken, prototype version? It would *look* like development has gone backwards, and would completely null any point to having a video made.
After everything's done, I'd LOVE to see a commentary of all the broken, funny ###### that goes down. (that exploding bug, for example, or everyone getting stuck on fire) But honestly, do you think a movie shows all its bloopers or behind-the-scenes footage before the film is released?
I don't really know what your expectations are.
Not quite, it is a bsp map running in Max's engine (pre Spark name)
Oh? I thought that was back in Source. I'm dumb.
Anyway, point stands that we already have a video that looks nice. Showing a video of anything except a better working version would tarnish it.
Kurt is no longer working here, and hasn't been for some time.
--Cory
--Cory<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ah ok, sorry to hear that. Hope you find someone to replace him :) keep up th good work :)
I don't really know what your expectations are.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He updates his twitter religously. He specifically replies to several people through out the day with their issues and thoughts. He updates his blog with to the point information and doesn't really hold back on showing anything "sekret".
His blog was updated 8 times in January and his Twitter, well, his Twitter is updated so much through the day and month, responses to people and personal things. It's that sort of working relationship which is really strong and gets the best out of him, his community, his game and his new company.
He's very focused on building bridges and worked really well on his community relationship, it shows as if you go to the Minecraft forums there is nothing but praise and rallying ideas of mods, texture packs etc. created by the community for minecraft.
He really has taken the time out for the people he's creating his game towards and for those that have paid for it and enabled him to get together his own development team.
EDIT: If you know anything about leadership styles and management styles, he comes across as a servant-leader; led by the people he's aiming at to be the best for them. It's a style that works very well and is very customer orientated and is leading to amazing business results.
His blog was updated 8 times in January and his Twitter, well, his Twitter is updated so much through the day and month, responses to people and personal things. It's that sort of working relationship which is really strong and gets the best out of him, his community, his game and his new company.
He's very focused on building bridges and worked really well on his community relationship, it shows as if you go to the Minecraft forums there is nothing but praise and rallying ideas of mods, texture packs etc. created by the community for minecraft.
He really has taken the time out for the people he's creating his game towards and for those that have paid for it and enabled him to get together his own development team.
EDIT: If you know anything about leadership styles and management styles, he comes across as a servant-leader; led by the people he's aiming at to be the best for them. It's a style that works very well and is very customer orientated and is leading to amazing business results.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Regular twitter updates... check
Replies to people's specific thoughts multiple times daily... check
Replies to personal things from time to time... check
Blog updated a bunch monthly... check
Working relationship with community... check
Taken time out for specific people... check (UWE is happy to meet with people at a monthly event in Seattle, I do believe, and that's not even counting Hugh's trip) (this isn't counting all the time they take for us on the forums)
Serving the community while never surrendering "leadership" of their vision = servant-leader... check
Seriously, what is it UWE hasn't done, again?
Tell me. Do you know absolutely EVERYTHING that Notch has planned for version 1.0 of minecraft? How about for updates beyond 1.0? No? Sorry, but he's got "sekrets" he's not blabbing to the public yet, then.
His blog was updated 8 times in January and his Twitter, well, his Twitter is updated so much through the day and month, responses to people and personal things. It's that sort of working relationship which is really strong and gets the best out of him, his community, his game and his new company.
He's very focused on building bridges and worked really well on his community relationship, it shows as if you go to the Minecraft forums there is nothing but praise and rallying ideas of mods, texture packs etc. created by the community for minecraft.
He really has taken the time out for the people he's creating his game towards and for those that have paid for it and enabled him to get together his own development team.
EDIT: If you know anything about leadership styles and management styles, he comes across as a servant-leader; led by the people he's aiming at to be the best for them. It's a style that works very well and is very customer orientated and is leading to amazing business results.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So.. did Notch mind that you took your head out of his ass long enough to write this post? Jesus christ.
I don't really know what your expectations are.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He's making a game that appeals to just about everyone on the planet and can run on just about any computer ever made and which barely requires the work of a single java programmer and 5 minutes in photoshop every now and then.
He has something of an advantage because of this.
The reason he spends so much time twittering and listening to the community is because he doesn't have to spend hours every day debugging movement code just to get the engine into a useable state.
Most game developers have to actually develop for most of their waking life. Notch on the other hand could walk out of the door right now and be a multimillionaire for the rest of his natural life.
He doesn't NEED to work, he does it because he likes to, that would make anybody amicable.
You simply cannot compare the two as they are both in very different areas of interest, where one has a much broader audience. Besides judging viral video's and famous YouTubers, Minecraft also had and still has a lot more publicity on the net
Nizzotch (Notch), 37,497 Subs
Seananners, 552,224 Subs
jx23, 97,664 Subs
X/davidr64yt, 123,514 Subs
HuskyMUDKIPZ, 24,098
And a lot more in between 20000 and 1 subs.
Compare that to the main NS2 focussed channels:
NS2HD, 1,776 subs
Me/Kouji82, 1,185 Subs (I'm not 100% NS2 related, mostly pimping the others and an occasional NS2vid)
TheRealFlayra, 1,187 Subs
unknownworlds, 567 Subs
Natural Selection 2 PL, 235 Subs
That's actually a good idea.
<img src="http://blackmage.org/supernorn/whoops.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
True, but UWE has a much bigger and complex engine/game to build and is still having loads of issues, which eat away at time for PR. The upcoming QandA video's (if in-depth enough) might give a nice boost to community morale so to speak.
But you can't seriously come in here and say they aren't all that involved with the community... Sure we'd all love to know everything or at least more on what is going on and obviously where Cory gets his poking sticks and all. But in the end, UWE is indeed taking their time and the engine still has issues all over. But we certainly get a nice inside view for the most part, which is plenty IMHO :/
Would be nice to see a real Q&A, or they just hire Hugh and get him to work like he currently is and add the old Zunni responsibilities. That'd work well.
I agree that a lot of the most interesting insights are buried in the forums though.
<!--quoteo(post=1830574:date=Feb 8 2011, 03:40 PM:name=Deadzone)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Deadzone @ Feb 8 2011, 03:40 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1830574"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Regular twitter updates... check
Replies to people's specific thoughts multiple times daily... check
Replies to personal things from time to time... check
Blog updated a bunch monthly... check
Working relationship with community... check
Taken time out for specific people... check (UWE is happy to meet with people at a monthly event in Seattle, I do believe, and that's not even counting Hugh's trip) (this isn't counting all the time they take for us on the forums)
Serving the community while never surrendering "leadership" of their vision = servant-leader... check
Seriously, what is it UWE hasn't done, again?
Tell me. Do you know absolutely EVERYTHING that Notch has planned for version 1.0 of minecraft? How about for updates beyond 1.0? No? Sorry, but he's got "sekrets" he's not blabbing to the public yet, then.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I really like how there seems to be at the least 1 twitter post per day now, a few weeks ago there were a twitter drought at times (I like to see something just so I know they are alive, and maybe also what they try to fix). If they would do more twitters chances are that it would be a flood and ppl would complain they cant read all of them, so I think its perfect atm! ;D
What I would like, which is something that you didnt check on that list, is a faster rate of builds. When they talk about having a prototype di I really want to start the game and see what it is :P! Maybe if they did weekly builds which was uploaded automaticlly, some weeks being utterly broken, other weeks hold a sneakpeek of what would come.
Sadly I know that it is unfeasible tho, as if they do so ppl wil lflame about how the latest versions being buggy (er than normal), and alot of other technical difficulties. Ignorance is bliss D:
Would be nice to see a real Q&A, or they just hire Hugh and get him to work like he currently is and add the old Zunni responsibilities. That'd work well.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Technical Q&A is up, as I'm sure you are aware, and it's massive.
Also, have you had a look at Plasma's dev tracker? I've got it bookmarked, and I visit it before I come to the site.
Something I've asked at various points, for months.
It's really quite informative; however, everything Max says always is.
PS. Supernorn, does this mean my head is up Max's ass now too?
It's really quite informative; however, everything Max says always is.
PS. Supernorn, does this mean my head is up Max's ass now too?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Only if you went on the Minecraft forums and started talking about how awesome he is.
All we got is a beta version! YAY Minecraft 4tw! Take my money write on twitter and have fun! - Please dont use the money to develop the game further/faster - instead give me useless ingame items like cakes!
Edit: Sure im happy for him, and like the game very much(i play on vanillacraft, and on a private friend server from time to time) - still... lots of possible, lots of money... nothing really happens.
Edit2: Fail beta number... whoops
Seriously though, I enjoyed the latest video, but it didn't really seem like he gave them much of a chance to talk. "What do you do at UWE and what are you working on?" "Okay, that's great.... NEEEXT!"
Hopefully we'll get a new video that lets them talk a little bit more.
Also he is adding mod support, sure I've seen loads of people complain the game is not being developed fast enough. People tend to complain a lot, it is in our nature :D