Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2015 10:36 pm
MarshalJean wrote:I'm sorry, but there is too much in this post that just doesn't add up. First of all, the release weeks are not "wasted." A lot of us have had fun, we've found problems with a VERY complicated game that the devs are going to fix, tomorrow, I think I saw in another thread...less than two weeks after release. Second, no one is being silenced. Disagreement is not the same as disenfranchisement. Learn the difference. If the devs wanted to, all those offering critiques could be banned from the forum. That would constitute being silenced. Thirdly, no one is saying that critique isn't justified. No one. Not even the devs! They KNOW their product has problems. They always know it when they release it. They are a very small team making very complicated games. What works on their computers sometimes doesn't on someone else's, and the reasons for a particular problem can be manifold and hard to find, as vicberg well knows. Finally, you can't try to be the "voice of reason" in a debate and call "scam" accusations "hyperbole" and then in the same sentence accuse the devs of "trying to trick people into buying something." What do you think a scam is? Tricking people for financial gain is probably a decent definition. So which is it? A scam, or not? Those involved in trickery and scamming don't stick around to fix products in the few days following a sale. They're gone and covering their tracks. So let's stop with this.
All of this to say, we all agree that the game has problems. Those who have played AGEOD for a while knew when they bought the game that they were buying an extremely complex game developed by a very few people that would need a patch (and would get one!) within a couple of weeks. Their expectations are being met. Those unfamiliar with AGEOD (and maybe a lot of other games in this genre, possibly) were expecting a game with very few problems right out of the box. Their expectations have not been met and they are therefore upset. This is about expectations and knowledge of a product and its development that we each bring to the buying/playing process. I think we can all agree that what we have is unlike any other Napoleonic game and therefore is a great achievement. We can all agree that it has significant problems that need to be addressed quickly. We can all agree that based on past performance, the devs will address these problems quickly (in the next couple days, I believe it has been said). And we can all agree that this great game will only get better. What we can't seem to quite agree on is how much patience adults should have...a virtue we seem to be lacking way too much of.
Aight, this will require some explaining:
1. They are "wasted" in the sense that if they had released the game after creating the patch, instead of the other way around, they would have sold more copies faster because fewer of these issues would be happening. I have never said that the game can not be fun or playable.
2. The silencing was in reference to the idea of some fans that we should forget about some of the current, hopefully temporary, faults in the game because it has "potential" or because "it will all be fixed soon!". Statements such as this shows the problem:
"I wonder how many prospective game buyers have visited this forum, interested in this wonderful new game, and have been scared off by all the premature pronouncements of "unplayable, " "broken," "un-tested" and a "scam." And the tragedy here is that by reducing sales, we are hurting the chance of getting expansion kits for this incredible game." The majority of critique does not talk about the game being "unplayable" or "scam", but there are certain things that ARE broken in the game and denying it is an attempt to silence critique. And people should not buy in order to maybe get an expansion later on, but to enjoy what is currently released.
3. So no, I do not accuse the developers of silencing anyone. I think the developers are working hard to get this patch out, and that is admirable. I am looking forward to the upcoming patch with joy.
4. Nor do I accuse the devs of tricking people into buying something, in fact there has been a lack of advertising for this game all over the place.
5. I agree with everything in your second paragraph except for the patience bit. It is not about patience, it is a good business decision to release a polished product because that gives a good first impression. I understand that AGEOD is not a large company, but it would be great for all customers if there is a bit less of this in future releases.