So, about reinforced...
Brad2810
Join Date: 2013-03-24 Member: 184313Members
I'm probably wrong in thinking this, but the reinforced program was there for people to donate so future updates to NS2 could continue. and so far, (disregarding 265, because from what i hear it was largely done by the community.) it seems like all we've had is broken patches, with 2 month long gaps in between.
The reinforced update itself was broken as hell (i stopped playing for a couple weeks) and the next 5 patches were cleaning up it's mess. since then, we've had patches that have included game breaking bugs (Force even crash, mineshaft, docking) That have STAYED broken until this most recent patch mostly made by the COMMUNITY.
maybe i'm missing something here, but it really does feel like UWE is just pushing ns2 aside, and letting the community handle it, which is fine.
BUT it feels like it was just a way to gain extra cash for their next project, when Reinforced was DONATIONS to continue updating ns2 which is completely wrong.
I'm all for them using profit from the game/dlc ect for underwater-game-thingie, but not IF they are using money from donations.
AND if they aren't useing money from reinforced, then what have they done with it then? they should have used the money to focus on not releasing broken patches and or hotfixes, which i remember an excuse for being time/money, what was reinforced for!? you have the money part at least! and 2 of 3 game breaking bugs could be fixed right away, and were, by samus with mods. (barely any servers used them though)
Like I've said, i'm probably wrong, but it really does feel like this to me.
all right, i'm done.
The reinforced update itself was broken as hell (i stopped playing for a couple weeks) and the next 5 patches were cleaning up it's mess. since then, we've had patches that have included game breaking bugs (Force even crash, mineshaft, docking) That have STAYED broken until this most recent patch mostly made by the COMMUNITY.
maybe i'm missing something here, but it really does feel like UWE is just pushing ns2 aside, and letting the community handle it, which is fine.
BUT it feels like it was just a way to gain extra cash for their next project, when Reinforced was DONATIONS to continue updating ns2 which is completely wrong.
I'm all for them using profit from the game/dlc ect for underwater-game-thingie, but not IF they are using money from donations.
AND if they aren't useing money from reinforced, then what have they done with it then? they should have used the money to focus on not releasing broken patches and or hotfixes, which i remember an excuse for being time/money, what was reinforced for!? you have the money part at least! and 2 of 3 game breaking bugs could be fixed right away, and were, by samus with mods. (barely any servers used them though)
Like I've said, i'm probably wrong, but it really does feel like this to me.
all right, i'm done.
Comments
Thats why they came up with a new idea, the kodiak DLC, which i think is the perfect way to do things.
But, if that is the case, i apoligise and i still think they should have actually tested the previous patches.
if it is true, my point still stands.
I don't think they ever stated that the Reinforced program was there specifically to fund future updates. Rather a way to recoup some if their investments of previous patches, while seeing if this way of funding might be or might not be viable enough to keep development of NS2 going for some time longer.
IF you dont , and poor like me >>> No one judge you when you only bought NS2
http://unknownworlds.com/ns2/reinforced-expansion-released/
Then, I guess you have your answer now.
In my opinion, this isn't too bad to pay / donate for Subnautica. But, when you have, like last Build 265, a whole patch created by the community itself, I can understand people (who paid for Reinforcement Program) who feel ripped off, especially when we can still see many bugs. But that is another debate.
2 - It was stated many times that the Reinforced donation program was to cover the cost of the Reinforced update (which in total cost twice as much as the money that has come in from the donation program), not for future updates...however
3 - We still ended up putting out many more patches beyond Reinforced, including this patch http://unknownworlds.com/ns2/return-to-eclipse-2/, with the Eclipse map. That map alone also cost close to 100K to create all of the unique assets and for all of the mapper time spent on it.
I think the biggest issue with Reinforced not paying off was that most of the player base from release was gone. The number of players playing was quite low at the time.. so the number of potential reinforced donors was even lower than what could have been possible.
http://steamgraph.net/index.php?action=graph&jstime=1&appid=4920&from=1375333200000&to=1385791200000
Sure, people came back but not the full force that was around during release days.
Plus, the build broke a lot of stuff for a while. Can't forget that bit unfortunately.
Reinforced was just to pay for reinforced and as a donation to NS2, nothing else.
No problem with this dlc. Seems legit.
In addition, they are not extremely expensive and people can choose (if more packs out) to choose which ones they prefer.
Give me 100k and Ill be happy to make you a map. Heck, I'll go one better and do it for 50k!
Had I known they go for 100k a pop I'd be all over that editor from day one!
Call me so we can discuss this further.
Reading comprehension is helpful when on forums.
Also, I appreciate the sentiment of wanting to donate over uwe's head, but purchasing the dlc will ultimately go much further for the hopes of future development of ns2. I can see you have a vendetta, though, so I don't think any amount of reason will curb your on nay-saying. All the while enjoying ns2 in the background...
If uwe had abandoned ns2, we would not have the kodiak update with all it's community magic inside, nor would we have had any updates..
Honestly, even if I didn't know how to do any of this, I'd be willing to learn if I was promised a sum close to $100k per map.
you are saying making assets and 1 map cost 100 000 dollars? but to put that it in perspective:
if u pay lets say 50 induvidual mappers 1000$ each - (i bet they would cough up better maps then eclipse) and 50 guys making assets that is receiving a 1000$ paycheck once 1 map is final and completed...it all adds up but sounds like fantasy numbers and is completely unrealistic. how many mappers did u have for eclipse 2,3,5? then thats 50.000 to split, they would have to take 10.000$ each i doubt that is what happend, so maby u got 1 person making the trailer? did the 5 mappers take the unrealistic 1000 dollar each and he the unrealistic 45.000 left for mappers just for 1 trailer? haha u have to be kidding here, also dont say its elictricity, u dont even have 50 mappers developing 1 map.
it still does not make sense, Honestly what did u spend the amount of money on, best way to break the game?
honestly the latest build cannot even run my fucking game 2.418 hours into playing it. Finally i get frozen main menu while loading it, congratulations to the best build
- validating steam cache, dont work - deleting local content, dont work - even after reinstalling game, dont work - oh also...sending the crash report, dont work.
Who knows maby it does but after saying SENDING for over 13 hours while i was doing other shit i just turned my pc off and could not even play the best community maps of all times. What happens if i want to support loki and buy the dlc? i cannot even PLAY. i know this is some indie development but that does not justify crashing game updates. maby spend money on making a build that will optimize ns2 once and for all, tell me when build 300 is out maby i can play then
You'd have a pretty awesome career in game dev if you learned to do all that on your own, and was good at it!
You see, that's the problem. You (as part of UWE) give arbitrary numbers but don't break them down into actual costs, which you probably should when asking for donations to compensate for development. Now, I realize that making a map requires knowledge of several tools and a lot of work, but $100k is still a rather steep figure for a single piece of content, especially since a sizable chunk of your contributors are volunteers (like the testers). Care to go into a little more detail? Believe it or not, I'm not trying to troll you or call you out on a bluff, I'm genuinely interested in how you came up with that number.
@SteveRock
I'm actually dead serious Steve, if someone was willing to pay me that kind of money to make maps, Id be all over every tool needed, working my ass off to polish my skills.
Honestly, it's mostly going to billed hours. If you want good talent making your assets and code you need to pay competitive compensation. It's oddly very easy to overlook the human element when it comes to breaking these costs down given that they're hands down the most significant element.
Actually, I'm not overlooking it. In fact, I kind of hope I missed something (a big something) in my own assessment because at the moment its billed hours that factor into most of what I came up with. Assessing costs based on your own compensation then calling it steep would be a very bad PR move so I'm assuming there's got to be more to it.