Wait for it.. -> I did not pre-order yet, at all

Shock! Unbelieve! The horror!

But yes, I did not pre-order yet. Why?

Let me explain by giving some very clear points on why I am doubting to pre-order.

1. The price isn't high, unless you go higher tiers, but you can get it for $15. So I pay $15, what do I get? Not much, infact only a OST that I can find on youtube already. Why bother, right? Why not wait until the actual release?
2. Support for the DEVs? Thats nice, but seeing how much money they ALREADY collected, I don't think they particularly need it that much. I can see where this can possibly turn into the Minecraft-alike money grabbing and I'm not fond of that at all (Minecraft iOS APP actually costing ALOT of money, no matter if you already own it on PC).
3. Release-date. Nothing is clear, not even for the beta. All is said is "2013". This could be December 2013 for all we know (for both the beta and full release!). And even then it's not clear if 2013 will really be the release year, it could end up taking alot longer.
4. Advancing in tiers. What do you get specifically? Forum badges? Cool but.. wait, a forum badge for HOW MUCH dollars you said? Lets look at it this way, cool, fun and all that, you get "ingame" stuff like your name of choice in the NPC name generator (but did anyone even think this through? Currently there's nearly 2000 pre-orders with their own name in the generator.. exactly how much NPCs are you thinking you will have? Big chance your name wont show up for a very long time, if at all), or look .. your name in the credits "I did nothing on the game, but I paid just alot of money to be part of this list". I admit it's cool to see your name rolling in the credits but you didn't really participate with anything, now did you. Further down the line it just gets more ridiculous with your ingame statue that your paying $2000 for! While at the same time only granting you "one copy of the game", you'd think you atleast would get a 4-pack for laying down 2000, but no thats the money for your statue. Ingame pixels are expensive these days! Dont you think?
5. What's up with that new race on the $500,000 mark? I think it's a bit odd. Yes I get that your trying to get more money and attract people to pre-order, but what if you don't reach that mark? Your NOT gonna release the new race you just kind of announced? Or you are gonna release it anyways.. but why just not announce the race instead of trying to get more and more money? Your probably gonna get that mark by tomorrow anyways, whether you put down the mark or not. It's just a bit unnecessary to lure buyers like that.

Look. I'm obviously excited about Starbound, I think it's gonna be great and definitely looks promising. But I just can't see myself putting down this kind of money for so little. Yes, I hear you yelling "then pay tier 1! no one is forcing you to buy the extras!", and I agree I guess the extras are more for the richer among us who want to support something. But without any clear release date for the game, or even the beta, I can't see myself putting down money for it. No not even for a forum badge or an (admittedly) cool soundtrack.

Come back with a release date or target on when we can actually get something and I will much more likely lay down that $15. But right now, it's just stretching it a tad too far.

 

I see where you're coming from, and I agree with some points, but I do feel you are being a bit critical of the tier system and new race.
The way I look at it, that kind of personalisation is what some people want in a game like this, and if they are going to pay a premium (it is very expensive) that is their decision and doesn't massively affect you - though I see why you do not want to pay for this service.
As to the new race, it builds hype to know that this could happen if people reach a goal, ultimately it may persuade those who were thinking of buying to take the step to do so. While they would blatantly release it later even if they didn't reach the goal (which I assume they will, if not achieving it, get very close to) they are doing this in order to get more money, so that more time can be spent on the game and to lessen the time they need to produce it.

Or maybe I am not informed and completely wrong.

 

How about this: when you preorder, you get the game for cheaper than if you were to wait for release.

EDIT: preorder also helps get Novakid into game at release.

 

I completely agree with all of your post, I didn't go above pixel tier because i don't find monetary value in forum badges or a silly gun that i personally designed.

I preordered because i feel having my money on the project somehow ensures this game comes out not only the best thing ever, but before the year 2170.

 

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Did you really thought pepole spent 2000$ just for the statue and the name in the credits?They are doing this to support the team.Your name in the credit,the statue are not rewards for paying more,simply the devs just want to thanks pepole that pay so much even if we know so little.
Also,the 500.000$ race thing is probably because under that much,they could not afford artists to do the novakids sprites and such.They get payed monthly,they are a company after all.

 

Then don't?
It's not like it's a massive problem just because one person does not pre-order.
If you see so much problems and have to make such a big deal about buying a game early, then just don't.

 

Well, the purpose for the higher tiers is to support to developers.
That is the only real reason why there are higher tiers. If you are very willing to support the game, go ahead and buy the next tier after $15.
You don't buy for the rewards. You only buy to show your 'love' for the game.
Think of it as a donation. Other than that, getting your name in the credits is not a bad idea.

 

The pre-order FAQ answers/responds to some of these concerns nicely IMNSHO.
The reason the pricing structure is as it is (Kickstarter-style) is that there are those folk who do not mind paying extra for a game to support the developers. As for "Money they have already collected" they are paying for the development of the game out of their own pockets and from other jobs they work; the pre-order that has just started is their attempt to secure funding so they can work on the game full-time
From: http://playstarbound.com/store/faq.php

As for the 500k Stretchgoal: It has already been stated that funding/development time considerations were the only thing keeping them out of the game. If they do not have the funds to pay their team to do the work, nothing gets done. The plan for the revenue mark is to actually hire additional team members to work on this race (and other aspects too) expanding how much content can be delivered.
From: http://playstarbound.com/stretch-goal-1-the-novakids/

 

I can see where you're coming from. Last time I payed to support a game that wasn't even out yet, they dev ended up shutting down the project and running off with all the money, however the Starbound devs don't seem like that type of people.

 

$15 will grant you early access to the game's beta and get a copy of the actual game when it's launched on Steam. You could see the OST as a bonus for helping the devs. Since Tiy has stated that the pre-orders for the game will cost less then the actual release, why WAIT until the actual release? Even if the release date is unclear as you suggested on 3., either way you'll be getting the game for less. If you pre-order the game, you will bring the new race into the game a bit faster and boost Chucklefish's workers' lives so they can put food on their family's table/ work full time on the game. From what I see, $15+ < Starbound.
If you want to play Starbound, do please pre-order. It's a better choice then to buy the game when it's actually released.

 

Cool story bro... I did preorder and I am very glad I did.
If you change your mind, the link is right there

 

I mostly agree with you, however.
1. This is more of a kickstarter than a preorder, you basically give them as much as you want to give them to help speed up development.
2. The novakids were a fan suggestion, they mentioned that after release they will start implementing all the coolest suggestions, they are going to add the top 10 hats of the hat contest as an example. So the Novakids are probably getting released one way or another, the thing is, if they add them now without the funding they will have to make art for all the armors/sprites/buildings and so on, plus lore. With the funding they can just hire one more artist to do that for them without having to wait till post-release.
3. 2000$ is a lot of money, yet if you have a few millions lying around then it's the same as buying an ice cream... you are basically telling the developers that their ice cream is very good, and barely spend any money. It is not a tier meant for the average Joe.

 

I understand where OP is coming from as well. I had a Kickstarter I supported flounder and the dev walk away from the project. However, I have preordered Starbound because I have confidence that I know who the devs are. I have had Tiy, Bartwe, Omni, Etc. actually respond to my questions and posts here and on Reddit, so I have a bit of personal trust in them. The OP obviously doesn't have this trust, which is fine. He shouldn't do something that makes him uncomfortable. (on the flip side, he should also read the many other threads addressing the stretch goal, and the tiers, rather than asking the same questions they have asked, and answered already)
Edit: Tiy's response about the Novakids: http://community.playstarbound.com/...d-new-starbound-race.17267/page-5#post-716779

 

It's pretty obvious people aren't spending extra just to name an NPC or get a badge, it's mostly to support the developers and get the game released sooner/with more content.

 

Whilw i understand not wanting to finance a project without clear concise deadlines funding was one of the teams major issues and look at how long they tried to forgo it not only that but if you already know your going to like it and i know i am why not put your reservations in early assuming you can afford it want to help the team and dont mind some waiting yeah the release deadlines could be more clear but at 15 dollars thats less than the cost of a movie around here


Also the team specifically said higher tiers are for people who want to pledge more support so yeah the rewards arent crazt but
This is as close to donating as it gets were basically donatingand making reservations at the same time

Also i trust chuckle fish this isnt some unknown kickstarter team ive tweeted this people ive ircd these people ive even emailed these people and they have replied back everytime in a friendly manner i dont think they will shaft us

 

more money they have more stuff they can do, the people who preordered the game want to play beta and also help the game, this is not EA, is a small group of friends trying to make an awesome game

 

I'm not sure why you're complaining about them making money off making this game. They may enjoy doing it but they need to get paid. Obviously the intent was to be financially successful here, not to make it for the good of the gamer populace and expect no return. They need to make a living so I don't think there's a problem with the monetary aspects of their pre-order system. I'm actually glad they're exposing so much of the game because I know exactly what I'm going to be getting into and I know for certain I won't be disappointed. Game development is a career as well as a hobby. You get paid for it, Chucklefish isn't donating this game to us.

The new race idea is genius. They're going to implement the race even if they don't meet the 500k goal before the game launches, they'll just have to wait. They need money to support development and to hire new people to make that extra content, so clearly it's a good idea. The new race is amazing and giving it to us is generous if nothing else. People will complain about anything, evidenced here in the OP.

'

If we manage to hit $500,000 in pre-orders, this race will be added to the base game and will be playable upon release. They will also be fully integrated into the lore!​

We’ll be using the extra money to pay for an additional artist to create their assets, so their creation won’t delay development at all.'​

'upon release' and 'won't delay development' imply that they want to put the race into the game but want extra help so it doesn't slow the game development. They released that new race way too fast after the pre-order went live for them to have shoe-horned that in. They must have already had that planned for a while.

 

Ah I see, fair enough. Did not read that post but it does indeed explain their actions on that part.

Yea.. I'm fairly obvious it's NOT. Just look at all the people who make topics about "look at my awesome new badge!" or "what did you name your npc?", etc etc. I get it though, it's cool stuff, but don't claim people only pay that for "support". Remove all the extra things people get from every tier pre-order and guess which one people would buy? Mostly only the $15 one.

I am NOT complaining about them making money. I'd love them to. I am only stating my doubts about paying MY OWN money for what exactly? As I said, without a release date its hard for me to put down money. Especially after seeing so many kickstarter projects just vanish into thin air, im just lucky I didn't pay for those.

 

Even though I have pre-ordered Starbound myself, I do agree with some of your points. The most concerning one to me is the release date, now I'm not trying to rush development or anything but '2013' does seem a tad too vague. Now that people have put down money on Starbound I do think that an estimated release date is becoming necessary, even though it's clear that Starbound isn't vapor-ware - the '2013 we promise' release date will pu probably quite a few people off pre-ordering the game.

 

Let me get this straight, you don't want to pre-order because you don't have a release date? Does it matter? The game is going to come out in 2013, who cares if you know exactly what day. Btw, they added the goal so they have enough money to do the new race, and if they don't get it, it has been stated it would probably come out in free updates. If you don't want to support the developers, that's your prerogative.

EDIT: This game isn't going to vanish into thin air, don't be ridiculous.