That’s not how the game dev industry works unfortunately. They got their initial launch cash flow and it will have already started dropping off and over the next few months will drop off almost entirely with just occasional pick-ups on PS4 or Steam. Do you know how MMORPGs bring in new customers regularly? Expansions and massive patches packed with lots of new features. Do you know what Boundless isn’t doing and apparently isn’t planning to do?
I’m not purposely trying to be combative here. I’ve worked in the industry. I know how things work. The money dries up quickly unless you do one of a few things:
Unless the game is simply good. So many ps4 players are not hardcore mmo players. There isn’t a lot of true mmo’s on consoles. So the initial influx had the curious, had the new ps4 players, and then a lot of hardcore “how fast can I do everything and get bored” players.
A lot of players didn’t realize that this is a casual crafting game. But it’s in their inventory now, and they will be back. Because building stuff is fun. It’s also one of the least toxic communities out there.
The other thing to keep in mind, is they just released a patch with new stuff. So they are adding to the game regularly. You said they need to release regularly. They do. But It’s not everyone cup of tea. So many kids just like killing people in games. This has none of that. There is still double the players than we had in the alpha. So The people who like this style of game stays. The other players move on until they get the itch to come back. But every game has an increase when it launches ofcourse. then naturally there is a drop for a time afterwards. It does not mean the game died, and the devs used this as a money grab. That actually insulting to all the backers that have worked hand in hand with the devs since the beginning.
But yes the industry is like that for the 90k ■■■■ games from India, which Steam, rolls over and over until I want to puke seeing them advertised every single day, like their a good game. And most of those games has zero devs anymore or support and majority bad reviews. And they were quick cash grabs. But you don’t have to be here long to realize this isn’t one of those. I’m surprised you can’t see the difference just by being in this forum, a forum which all those other games don’t even have.
Seeing as machines are worth Prestige, and a fair amount at that, there was an issue during beta with people carpeting their base in furnace bases and such, which would lag out everyone in the area.
There are some locations that make my frame rate drop even now with a 500 cap - and I have a pretty beastly PC.
Except it’s not a casual crafting game. It’s a hardcore economic sandbox with rpg elements. According to the marketing material I’m supposed to be traveling between planets to take control of resources, buying low and selling high, charging people to access my beaconed off areas of the world and becoming an economic power house through my store. I’m also supposed to be traveling to distant worlds to defeat exotic wildlife, killing ancient oort protectors and grouping up friends to raid giant flying titans.
During my downtime I’m supposed to be focusing on my craft because to be a master crafter I need time, skill and a well equipped workshop so I can become known as the best crafter in the area, which will help me become to economic master I was talking about before.
Nothing about this game was marketed as just casual crafting
The remaining 10% were low percent regions, based on almost all of our ancestors travels from Africa, into the Caucasus(I’m white). My math is 100% correct, as those numbers are based on DNA tests. If you read a little further down, you would see the remaining 10% in a picture I posted of the actual results.
Unless they have investors giving them the runway. I work in the industry also, and your model (or proposed solutions) are not the only ones. I believe they have mentioned many times already that they are doing this as a slow burn - they are in no rush to satiate the people burning out early (as would lead to an unstable/rushed mess).
So many threads/posts are from people panicking about the pop numbers, yet look at some facts - have the team been desperately appealing for shares/help yet? - nope; That alone should start to make sense to their direction. They don’t want the numbers at the moment - why? Ask that question (If you’re in the industry, you’ll know why).
All the content will come in time, and the stability also…
Consider also the other factors in development (If you’re an industry head) - Staffing… as they scale they can’t just plop a new guy in, as the learning curve moves into months. So imagine the complexity of a new AWS dude landing in the mix - the impact and improvements will take months to trickle through (along with a host more bugs!)
I guess my counter is that you’re not really looking at the larger mass of factors, and expecting - albeit demanding more from a team focused on crafting their product carefully (which this product oozes). Thankfully, they won’t rush, thankfully they are treading carefully.
I had a discussion with someone last night about this burning issue - and there is a polarization of viewpoints. You’re obviously not happy with the pace of the larger content, and passionate about the game, and some are very happy with what’s there and the direction etc… The solution might be that @james gives the community access to the development milestones to appease the stressed out players that are so into the game that they are consuming the content faster than it’s created, while being ‘kept in the dark’. It would also help the community to educate new players on the expected content - let us be your ambassadors, community managers… give us the knowledge to inform these people! (unless these documents are already in the wild?)
The team must have milestones, and would be a pity if they feel as though they want to keep it secret - maybe a middle ground can be found to title the milestone cryptically enough to keep all parties happy?
I am, unfortunately, on the same page as Dhusk. The game promised a great deal on the steam page that won’t be viable for months, if not a full year. I’l come back, but there’s just no meat on this game’s bones as of yet.
I mean, we don’t even have any lore on why we undertook the Great Transmigration or even who we are - neither of which would require coding of any kind and both of which would help flesh things out.
Still have great hopes for the game, let’s see if they pan out.
