Guessing Game - How long do you think until Starbound is out? :O

Quite true. Before that last stream who would've even known that sand flowing was going to be in the game or even needed to be done? There's probably tons of things they're working on that they aren't showing us so there's no real way for us to know how much is left to do before the game's done.

 

Also it'd be worth mentioning that a "Here's what's left to go before release" post would probably lessen some of the venomous posting about why the game isn't out yet, how long, what are they doing, etc.. It would also let us know if there is a lot to do or a little, giving us a little insight as to whether we should be hawking the forums every day looking for a scrap of info regarding release or whether the game will not be anywhere close to done and we should wait a while and just let it go. I've said it elsewhere and i'll say it again here. Two comments made make us (or at least me) believe the game is very nearing release. "by the end of the year" not happening tells us they figured it could be done by then. Since it wasn't it seems like it could be soon. Following new years day we got a comment "let's make this starbound's year" which further fostered feelings that the game is close to completion. This is awesome, but with not a word to the contrary or in agreement to these hints we don't know what to think.

If the game is gunna take a while, fine. If the game is around the corner, fine. Just give us something. If you're holding back because you want to see the reaction of us waking up one morning and starbound just being on steam or available elsewise i can assure you it's not worth it. People aren't going to avoid purchasing the game if you keep tight lipped, but at the same time no more people will buy it if it's a surprise. I can't speak to everyone but i can say that knowing the game will come out within the month won't make that release day any less sweet for me. If anything it lets me know not to waste money buying some other game in the mean time that i'd play for a total of a day or two.

 

First, just wanted to say that no promises have been made. It's important that we keep that in mind. We have an "estimated release window", which is a lot different than saying "it will definitely be out between X and Y".

And with that said, though I'm hopeful the game will make that window of course, it wouldn't shock me at all if it were to miss it. To this outside observer, it seems like there's still an awful lot left to do. But I'm making that statement based on the limited media and information we have at this point. If they're just being uncharacteristically (for the industry at large) tight-lipped about just how far along they are, then we could indeed be very close to release.

Bottom Line: For a team the size of Chucklefish, what we've seen makes me think the game is still several months away from completion. But it really just comes down to what the ratio is between what we've been shown, and what's actually done.

 

Ocean biomes. What they're doing has absolutely no relationship with the release date :/

 

... if they're still working on ocean biomes, chances are there's a lot of stuff that still needs to be put in. pets, space station, homeworld, storyline, NPCs, these are all things we have not seen any footage of.

 

Agreed. It really does feel like the game could be around 5 months or so away when you really think of it... Chucklefish is only like 11-12 people. That's not a lot, and we haven't really SEEN a lot of the game yet. But, I have high hopes, low expectations, as I should.

 

There may be just reasons for them not to show it.

 

This is true. Have you not seen this IRC dump from yesterday?
http://pastebin.com/B9Du3L2k
It has a ton of information about how things are going and what still needs a lot of work.

 

... I had NOT seen that, and bless you sir for posting it. That helps a LOT.

 

That helps to put the long droughts of information into perspective, Zellman. Thanks for sharing it. Sounds like they're doing a lot of work now, to make it easy to add in content later. A rather front heavy method of programming, guessing from my layman's point of view, but I bet it'll be really awesome once it's done. A lot more forward and long term thinking than Terraria's development too.

Ah well, this probably means though that the early 2013 estimate is going to be missed, judging from what they have left to implement. But I can wait. Don't cut any corners, I say. Take your time, and make sure this gem is polished to perfection.

 

I meant 4 not 2! I meant in May.

 

Indeed, this is very helpful.

Exactly what I was hoping for. That will ease the tension

 

reasons like it not being in any kind of presentable state yet

no i had not seen that :O thanks for the link, it's very informative and i'm looking forward to the roadmap.
but it more or less confirms what i've said. large parts of the game aren't ready yet. when tiy says "almost ready", this means it takes up to weeks to actually finish up. it's something all developers do, underestimating time needed to finish something

 

I dont care when, as long as its this year and sometime around summer. Dragons...will...BE...RIDDEN!

 

Fixed that for you.

 

Thanks for the link! That made me exited about starbound again, I was starting to loose interest.

 

2014, September 7, 4:14am PST.

That's my guess.

 

I think you want the Dragonborn DLC for Skyrim. Should keep you busy until Starbound's out

 

Hmm...I have not heard a single mention of dragons in the game though. They're just such a fantasy thing, this is more of a sci-fi game. I won't be expecting it at all... not to mention riding them. But mountable creatures would/will be cool.