Focus on a release date, then on more content in updates

I'm sure we all want a game to play by now and can wait for an update, just like we did with Terraria back in the day. I know you want the game to feel fleshed out and full, but I'm pretty sure if the player can arrange blocks and walk around their procedurally generated planets, that's more than enough for those who will play the game for their creative itches. We need a Starbound release. It was openly admitted in one interview that the team has been constantly adding new content in on the fly, but this will extend waiting time for the first release by who knows how long. We've already seen the developers/testers play around with blocks, so that's enough to tell us how far the game's core engine has progressed. I mean, come on! How far does the game have to be expanded on to get released? Both Minecraft and Terraria had humble beginnings, and even then people loved to play.

Update December 07, 2012: Why would they move a proper feedback thread into general discussion? It feels like an out-of-sight tactic. This was a properly thought out suggestion as to why they should focus on the content they already have in the game and to add more content as the game ages.

 

The game will be released when it's finished. Unless I'm mistaken, that has always been the official word.

 

That's vague, because the game can always have new content added to make it unfinished.

 

I think what he means is, the game will be released when the devs think it's ready. They have already talked about having features added after release, with the possibility of space combat and more. You don't have to worry about them going overboard with features making the release even later.

 

I feel like the staff keeps adding more content and doesn't even consider putting added content in at a later date, after the first release, because I remember clearly reading that this game would receive updates. There's just so much perfection you can strive for without allowing the game to be play tested by the actual players, who are the absolute most important to consider.

 

You have no idea how far along the game is aside from what you see in the streams they have been showing recently. But that's not a lot to go on. I think you should put more faith in the developers. Believe that they know what they are doing, and stop thinking that they are going to delay this game to the point where everyone loses interest.

 

I'll say here what I've said before:

We understand your frustration because we want the game to come out as much as you guys do. The plan is to continue to add content post-release, but that doesn't mean we're going to just say "Ah, screw it," and make people pay for a buggy, half-baked game for the sake of releasing it right this very second. The team's actively working on getting the game to a fun and playable state as quickly as possible.

"A delayed game is eventually good, a bad game is bad forever." - Shigeru Miyamoto

^ Listen to Mr. Miyamoto!

 

I have faith that the developers are going to release the game. I can't have faith that they'll ever be happy with their first product, because they've already delayed the game for several months and added more and more content along the way.

A delayed game can also be a vaporware game. Miyamoto also never touched a string of code in his life and was talking about games that won't get updated. He's an ideas guy and he tells the staff what he wants to see in a game. I'd also like them to focus on what they've already got in the game and not lose their focus on a release. No one wants bugs, of course.

 

We haven't actually been delayed, because we've only ever had estimated release windows. My point was that it's better for it to be a little later than people would like than to rush a release and disappoint people.

We are focused on what's already in the game. The focus is currently on getting more core gameplay features in.
Don't worry, man, we've got this. The game will be released. Nobody's abandoning ship. Careers and hopes and dreams and penguins depend on it.

 

THE PENGUINS! Think of the penguins! ;__;

 

The short of it is while your anxiousness for release is understood, the release plans are unlikely to change based on that.

 

half life 2 ep3

duke nucom forever

i was sure he made Mew in pokemon blue/red
thats why almost no one (even the devs) knew about it

im sure tiy sead end of summer and end of year, witch didnt happen witch tecknicly would count as delays

 

Don't worry bro, it will be fine.

Don't forget: First impressions are EVERYTHING
Think of Starbound as a job interview. If the initial impression is crappy, your employer won't want you, and even if you do change for the better, well they will still remember you from that one messup.

If Starbound isn't as good as expected upon release, well then it ruined its one chance right? And even if their are updates and bug fixes aome people are not going to give it a second chance, and that is that.

Even when Starbound is released it is still going to only contain about 40% of the content the devs want to put in.
Initial release is just the cake, but what about the frosting and sprinkles?

The devs want to spit and polish the game so our first contact will be an amazing experience that we won't forget.
And we all know that once we like something we want more, so comes the updates, and since we are already impressed we WILL give the game a chance to fix its flaws.

 

No.

Starbound is not Terraria nor is it Minecraft. If you just want to build, go play one of those while you wait for release. Chucklefish has laid out the features and content that need to be in place before the game is released. Half of that (maybe more) is incomplete and all of it is required to make the game fun and ready for release. Nothing you do or say will change this fact.

 

Pretty sure Tiy said end of the summer and end of the year "BUT" not set in stone... Meaning that technically doesn't mean it will be released then but they were trying to get it out then. I'd rather wait than have the game come out to early and be filled with bugs and problems like a lot of games now a days are doing.

 

Well, it has already been released that a lot of people will be put to work specifically on updates. So anything they add to the game will not delay the release, and if it will, they will just release that piece of content later as an update. Chucklefish know their market, and they know how to play it. They will not use forever making a game with every idea they ever had, they will make an awesome game within a specific time limit, but save some ideas and stuff for later updates. Just to keep the game "fresh".

I suspect that Starbound will be out soon enough to count as a "late Christmas gift" and I do not for one second think that they are stupid enough not to plan ahead by adding tons of random features. As Molly said, they need the money this game will provide, they can't keep living off Wanderlust profits forever.

Then again, what do I know of marketing, I only study it.

 

Minecraft and Terraria were successful even though they were released in early stage of development because there was nothing else like that in the gaming scene (I know people called Terraria a Minecraft clone, but I wonder if those even played the game).
Now games in this genre will need something more to lure people in, and Starbound still requires polishing on basic aspects like combat to make a first lasting impact.

 

Exactly, but than again, with the fall of Terraria, and the slow decent of Minecraft, Starbound has a good deal of potential players in wait.

 

The game will most likely be released within the next 40 days, so I don't really know why you are complaining.
I also don't see why you have to compare Terraria and Minecraft the Starbound. Just because they're all block-placing sandboxes doesn't mean that they are all the same game, or should follow the same marketing/release campaign.

<Edit>

Not to mention some of us have been waiting almost a year now, when you, Chippy, have only been on the forums for about three months.

 

I understand and share your some of your. Concerns, but I am confident that the debs know what they're doing and know when the game is ready to be released.
I'm just as anxious as anyone, but we can't become impatient after waiting 5 months..
...
And waiting...