Subnautica Dev Update 3: Early Access?! - Subnautica
System
Join Date: 2013-01-29 Member: 182599Members, Super Administrators, Reinforced - Diamond
Join Date: 2013-01-29 Member: 182599Members, Super Administrators, Reinforced - Diamond
Subnautica Dev Update 3: Early Access?! - Subnautica
Following development of Subnautica will give you two things. The first is a rollicking roller-coaster ride of game development fun, in which you will see an underwater adventure game go...
Comments
Radiation-prooof BIIIIIIIIRDS
But, please, add co-op or multiplayer gameplay at sometime!
Agreed. At least one full sub should be implemented before "early release" starts.
We also want to take the time to do the Cyclops justice, and not rush it out half finished. The sub is really cool, and there are a lot of gameplay elements that go along with it, that will take a fair amount of time to implement. But it likely will be one of the first big features we work on very soon after SEA release.
Definitely don't rush our mobile home in the ocean
Would it be possible to then have more downward visibility in the seamoth?
I love cruising in that thing, but its a pain to find places I want to dive into without getting out every time i see something promising, and I feel like players are missing out on a lot with only being able to see their legs in it.
edited because english is stupid.
This is really important - in fact if players had access to the big achievements they'd quickly lose interest in the game or rate it bad based on their experience.
Having backed Star Citizen I must say I'm really happy with their approach, releasing smaller but seemingly more refined modules first. Also modules that will not affect later gameplay at all. This way the player can test the individual mechanics without spoiling the game. Also it's easier to refine things in a smaller scope than the whole game.
Will their be any multiplayer / co-op during the SEA? If yes then I'd advise providing little mini activities to bond players to each other and the game. Like having to actually work together (maybe finding bigger parts that can't be moved alone), interacting with sea creatures or diving races (challenging factors could be currents or geographical factors (like caves).
Will I get bored?
For me personally, I am not really interested in the game part of Subnautica. For me the freedom lies in putting on the oxygen cheat, giving myself some fins, and then just swimming around freely exploring. As you may realise from GorgeCraft, I like to take rules and gameplay out of games, and establish complete player freedom to do what they want.
From this perspective, and with Subnautica being a static pre-crafted world, how long will it be before I get bored of exploring the level?
Will there be a game mode for me?
While not necessarily an Early Access question, it is one early access purchasers might want to know.
People like different things, as clearly seen from the posts of @MycroftCanadaNS he is very much into the survival and complex parts of the game.
I am hoping for a mode where I can just swim around in the water, interact with the animals without being attacked, but be able to dig terrain and maybe seed plant life into the tunnels and reefs I create, in other words, I see an open-world GorgeCraft type game, without oxygen, and other dangers, basically, no survival at all.
These two extremes do fit the concept of Hardcore and Freeform modes, as you have specified in the menu, with a balanced normal mode, but do you see these being developed, or will you go for a single development with different modes of difficulty? Or will you be able to turn off predators and other stuff in the menu to fine tune the game to your liking?
Is it too early for Early Access?
I feel you have the basis for a spectacular game, but I do feel with the things like static world etc, you run the risk of shortening the replayability of the game the earlier you release. This results in lower playing time after release, and then makes a game look like it is not as good as it is.
There are some issues, unexplained deaths and such that I think would be a bit too much for early access. As a general rule of thumb, IMHO, I think a game should be a well developed Alpha build before release to Steam Early Access.
I think there are one or two issues and lack of content that prevent Subnautica being at that build just yet. Of course 6 weeks is a good amount of time for you to get your teeth into this, but I would personally like to see a working sub in the game before Early Access. I mean the game is called SUBnautica.
Maybe not worth the effort as players wont be spending much time out of the water. Just thought I should mention it here (after seeing Michael standing on that rock).