the current development state, thoughts and a poll

Hi everyone,
as CA just gave us another development update i really want to discuss a few things with you guys and hear your thoughts about the development of Stardew Valley. First of all, keep up the good work CA, you are doing an amazing job!

Now, when I think about the tasks CA mentioned that he still has to work on, some things come to my mind. With the recent update surely everyone noticed that the completion of the game will still take a good amount of time. So we won't have it by tomorrow and while I can picture a lot of you (me included) wanting the game sooner than later, I feel the need to say that I can't wait for the release to happen and therefor arguing about some things:

I really hope CA thinks about any form of pre-release, so people (maybe just few chosen ones) we can at least help him with the testing, tweaking and polishing of the game. I think that would lift some weight off CA's shoulders and help finishing the game in a balanced and bug-free way.

Additionally, I would personally prefer the first release without the Joja Corporation storyline arc and have it patched into the game later on. That would certainly pull the release date closer to us. I started a poll to see how everyone thinks about that. Feel free to take part in it.

With all that said, I can imagine a release in September/October this year, but not sooner. When do you guys think the game will be ready for release?

Also, feel free to tell me your thoughts about other aspects concerning this matter. I'm looking forward to your comments.


finally, plz don't mind my bad english I tried my best
have a nice day

 

“A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad” Shigeru Miyamoto.
I have waited over 14 months for this game i will be happy to delay that by some months if it means in the end we will get a more polished product (excuse the text style i messed it up somehow).

 

If anything Harvest Moon or Rune Factory has taught me, patience is important.
I'll also be honest I really DON'T, want a early release, it just tempts developers so much to not do as much as a good job as they would otherwise.

Also, when I read the update, it didn't really quite say WHY he'd want to cut the Joja Storyline. For all we know maybe he thought it simply wasn't good enough.

 

[EDIT] And nevermind, I just saw he finally updated the home page. Maybe he hasn't walked off after-all.

 

I would personally like to have the game released without the story arc and then include it in a later update. That way the players can find and report any bugs that CA missed or so that he could add some story special stuff. This would actually be a great summer game to have,but that's my logic. That and I've already beaten Super Mario Sunshine another summer game.

 

I'm curious as to why the storyline might be cut.

 

Joja Corp was supposed to add branching changes to the town, and sort of act like Monsanto - at least in terms of their bullying behavior, so I hear.

Maybe it's being cut because it's too much work just for replayability, or the game doesn't need a villain, or... avoiding controversy? :/ I dunno.

 

I wouldn't care either way~

 

while that might be true sometimes
duke nukem forever kinda makes it false
and terraria was rushed and look how well it turned out

anouther good rushed game is Majoras Mask witch to meny fans is the best zelda game

 

I think the majority of games that have been rushed for various reasons (whether it might be a specific date or just forcing the team to work on dlc),have turned out a bummer or not what the developers expected for it at least.
But some of the games you have showed had some base in your point, but Terraria for instance needed to be patched and content updated a long time after its release to work fully functional.

 

yah you gotta point
but there have been games that would be good but never came out

 

50% of me wants to play it when it is released according to the time table of CA.
49% of me would like some beta testing before release.
01% of me is just impatient and wanted it yesterday.

So take your time for it, CA and especially don't forget to have a break once in a eon, a blue moon, a while (yes, that's the word ).

 

49% of me wants beta testing too.
50% of me is on here once a day to see how its doing

 

Not every game needs to be in beta.

One of the many problems with all these Early Access craze is that it almost tears down the wall for a release date in the eyes of consumers. Early Access these days isn't so much about the beta testing, as it is a way to release an unfinished product. Plus this is the type of game where Early Access would NOT work, like ever. These are the types of games where you put in a large number of hours into, and "testing" that without the proper admin tools would be a living nightmare.

Also, as a consumer, ask yourself a question.
Would you rather see a complete and (hopefully) visioned game?
Or would you rather see an incomplete game with the risk of it being never complete, and likely never becoming the final true vision that ConcernedApe has?

I personally would rather see what ConcernedApe can do, there is no need and no real benefit for an Early Access.

 

I'd rather beta it and help with the bugs then ConcernedApe releasing it and everyone finding out issues in the actual release and QQ'ing over it.

 

You know he can test it himself to you know?

How do you think they did it BEFORE this whole open beta thing became a craze?

 

He can but there will be things that are missed.

And with Beta testers that were hired like they still are?

 

Then what would be the point of us?

A hired Beta tester would be far more skilled than we are.

 

If CA wants to have a public alpha/beta test, then sure.

But otherwise he's free to finish the game at the pace he wants before releasing it. Just don't give empty promises of release dates.

 

They also cost money which CA may not have. Volunteer beta testers aren't a recent phenomena, by the way. There has always been a need for extra eyes on projects where there isn't a budget for paid testers. It usually happened by invitation to a closed beta in the past, though, rather than the recent trend of selling early access and opening testing to the masses.