Important BETA RELEASE DISCUSSION - DECEMBER 4TH (*ALL* beta discussion goes here. Other threads deleted)

I know that one of the biggest reasons they said the i49 Demo was not available or good enough for the public masses, is because they openly admitted they had to "turn off" several things in the game to get the Demo working, on top of a Major Game Breaking Bug at the last minute before Yogscast played it. Every one of the Dev's there will probably mention the amount of nerves they had during the game play hoping that it would just play.

So the Third question you proposed is actually something that was inside my first numbered post but left outside the numbered paragraphs. So i'm going to try and sum your thought with mine into a meaningful question.

I dunno, can some one correct my thinking and rewrite that better?

 

I've said it many things before and will say again: I have no issue with "turned off" features if it means we get beta. Most likely other people don't mind turned off features as well. And that "game breaking bug" was fixed, so what's the deal?

 

TuefelHundenIV - Could you specify on #8 if that is supposed to mean NPC or PC?

Also, I may be a little late on the topic for #8....
Are you guys meaning like they are going to have a Multiplayer Server that ALL the players will connect to, and be able to travel to everyones planets? Or will servers be local to the players that their friends can connect to, but we all start on different planets and have to travel to each other?

So basically is this going to be an MMO? That seems like way more hassle to me...

 

I assumed it to be talking about PC, as the wording states "Player populated".

Chucklefish have said that they've thrown the idea around of having an MMO-like official server, but everyone else will have the ability to create their own server regardless of that. Aside from that, we don't know very much about how multiplayer will work in the final release.

 

Ok here is the list again. #8 has been adjusted as suggested to make it more. Other small tweaks and some work on Xanders questions.

1. Why is adding monsters, bosses, mini-biomes, and dungeons important for beta? Some of the community feel they are not necessary for a sandbox beta but are key to a more final release or future post beta updates. Couldn't this material be added after a beta release as either updates or part of a complete game release?

2. Why is it such a concern that the Story Line must go "this far" before Beta? Certain content like how to play the game and basic quests is notably important but the story would not be necessary for a beta. So why stress over getting the Storyline out, when you can hold it off until Full Release?

3. We have not heard much on party or multiplayer mechanics and many in the community feel this is something important to have for beta. Some also believe the devs are still disabling certain things to make multiplayer work. Is this accurate? If so are there plans, if any, to get functioning party/multiplayer in before beta? If it is not accurate what is the current status of the party/multiplayer part of the game?

4. While the game will be available on steam and benefit from it's patching service, will there be any non-steam alternatives? If so how will patching be handled for those alternatives?

5. Some of the community are worried that the dev team will miss another deadline by the end of the year and just further delay beta and/or full release. While we understand the teams view behind taking their time to work on the game, the community would be more comfortable with either a earlier release or an actual "set will be met" date for at least beta. We know the absolute latest date beta is intended for 12/31/13 for a date something more specific then just end of the year statement. Can either of these conditions possibly be met?

6. Do the devs believe there is a possibility of the beta being delayed to 2014? If yes, why do they believe that may happen?

7. What can players possibly expect as far as in game progression in the beta?

8. Considering the size of the game will there be a easy way to find player populated planets on a multiplayer server?
--------------
Xander: Here is the first shot at your questions. Click the Hidden tab. Tell me what you think and what we can change around.
-----------

Original
1. Why have the team focused on showing us progress on small feature development, but not on areas one could argue are vitally important to the game. Rather, why are they prioritizing seemingly random features - over things like we actually implemented a vital feature x-y-z? Could they reveal the thought process at least behind the decision behind how they are assembling the game since we can't get their to do list? (Aside: Because it seems all over the place.)
-------

I broke the first one down into two separate questions.

1. When doing work on the game what is the thought process that goes into deciding what feature to work on next? Is there a guide or plan in the place that is directing the development, is it on an as needed basis, is it random as in hey this is great lets put this content in, or is it something else like combination those things?

2. What are the minor or smaller features vs the Key or Vital features ? How have the Key or vital progressed development wise ?
---------
Original
2. Several times they believed themselves capable of reaching estimates but couldn't. Some was zeal but I don't believe them incompetent - they do know some of what they are capable of by now. Knowing they didn't manage to reach their goals - what changed have they made if any to improve how they are working on things? What actual changes have occurred from 2012-2013, in how they are actually working on the game to get closer to the goals they themselves want? In other words how are they going to fix (or did fix) what has caused many forms of delay.
-----
3. The community and the dev team are well aware of the delays in the past. With that in mind has anything been done to try and arrive at announced goals in a more timely manner? Now that the dev team has more progress as a team and made more progress in the games development, what goals if any has the team set for themselves and what is the general plan to reach those goals?
-----
I think part of this covered by at least one of the other questions is there anything you wanted to salvage or reword specifically or should we just leave it out?

3. I'll be blunt. At several points the team has been asked to release what they have in a beta state by the fans. From summer when it was in a state that could be played reasonably well by their "alpha" testers, to I49.. to now. Why are none of these builds acceptable enough, despite being able to be played and enjoyed by many others? Controlled state alone doesn't explain this fully.. everyone understands a beta is unstable and doesn't represent the final product and would be glad to receive less then polished or even an unsavable version to try. Many clamored for the same ability to play the demo others had at I49 at home. Why was this refused so flatly? (This maybe covered but, people have repeatedly expressed a desire of a less featured beta, why has that not been quite.. acknowledged I guess in someway by them?)

---------------
Ok folks I am likely heading off for the night. Post any other questions and I will get around to them when I can tomorrow.

 

Go play a game to occupy yourself. No matter how hard I whine, D3:RoS isn't coming any quicker. The same applies here.

 

www.isStarboundoutyet.com

I figured this would be an excellent go to source.

P.S.) Its not real.

 

You paid to fund the game first, then this will score you a beta and the game...in that order. If you did not understand this, then you should have read what you were buying. Buyers remorse is not a valid reason to ask for a refund, especially when you failed to understand what you did in the first place.

Paco

 

Looks good, lets go with that

I have some concerns with how they're handling er.. public relations so to speak. That doesn't really affect beta (directly, even if beta affects it) so.. probably not for this list. Also again sorry for last night and leaving a jumbled mess. Seems you got it sorted before I could wake back up.

One minor question might be good to throw in about beta. | System specs. It has been some time since the last mention of a macbook air running it. Do they think they can give a rough pc requirement list as to what the game will run on minimal yet? We understand this may change with future content additions, and naturally will vary from full release specifications.

Maybe add to #3: Do you have a set vision in mind yet for how a typical multiplayer session between friends will be handled and play out? Will the connections act more like a mmo/blizzard game where there is a central server or serverlist you join to, or will players themselves need to handle the details and connect via IP address like minecraft?

 

Wow, just Wow. You wrote 500 plus words on the topic. Bottom line is that this is a GAME and you funded development. The odds are most if not all game companies delay release dates. If you are not willing to do this, don't fund development. Take it as a lesson learned, next time realize you do not have the patience or discipline to make this type of commitment with you money.

Now, I am going to go fishing on da Nile, hoping to catch some *chuckle* fishes.

Peace to you forum gangsta leaners.

Paco

 

I believe I know the answers to several of those questions, and that the devs have also previously responded about some of them, but in the interests of forum harmony I won't address them. This is a far better way of dealing with the anger that has been bubbling away, and I don't want to rock the boat.

 

Edit: I was going to address about my end.. but I think it it better to ignore it.

Going to say one thing though. You make it sound like a kickstarter project, when it wasn't.

 

Yes, you know answers, keep thinking that, you'll feel better </sarcasm> </fakehtml>

 

good luck with the list of questions guys. im sorry to say i think it will be a waste of time .

 

You funded development plain and simple, if you cant do that then don't and take this as a lesson learned for future situations. Not sure how that statement of fact is belittling to you, but being an adult is making decisions...you live with them right or wrong. You can state you opinion all day long, I was just shocked by your lack of awareness in regards to the decision you made. That is all.

Peace, love and happiness.

Paco

 

The post about denial was how their delays/reactions to people are likely killing their pr and will hurt future projects when it comes time to get them off the ground. How ignoring that, and how people will remember this all.. is a bad thing to do in the long run probably and how handling beta like this isn't likely to end well.

Zip about my own money I put in.. just want to clarify that since it seems you missed the whole post - and ignored my edit and want to paint it as something it wasn't.
Also I didn't fund anything in a backer/investor sense, as much as a customer. I pre-ordered. Different expectations on that, which Chucklefish hasn't done a good job toward meeting.

Edit: And I'll gladly "live with my choices" regarding Chucklefish. I still have a few left to make after all, including the decision if worse comes to worse to request a refund for not meeting obligations and promises stated at the time of purchase. I won't do so silently since I want them to succeed since looks like they are making some large mistakes which may impact future choices with them as well. In no way does that somehow make me unaware of decisions I made. Maybe a fan, and interested in see promises delivered - but not unaware.

 

You're a real pleasant person, you know? </sarcasm> </irony alert>

 

There is a significant difference between funding and purchasing. Backing something on kickstarter is funding, Pre-ordering starbound is a purchase.

 

Meh, there's no reason to be rude and snarky about it you know

 

"rude and snarky you about it you know"
Aw, I'm sad that I can't edit your post to fix your grammar as was so selflessly done for llort