Game News Divinity: Original Sin alpha delayed, alpha and beta now open to all Kickstarter backers

[Mrowak]

they made an agreement with retailers that it'd be out on the shelves on February 28.

Really? Where did you hear that?

http://www.lar.net/2013/09/26/why-did-we-stretch/

Swen in your last blog entry you said "The most important one for me was that in the future I’ll try to only commit to a release date when the game is actually done.", and what have you done in todays update and blog entry: specify a release data before the game is done. Doh! (Note the KS update says "specifically" for 28th Feb, and your blog is "most likely")

Hi Robert - I'm quite aware of that DOS is a game that's already in production with real contracts in place, so there's only that much I can do, and I did the maximum I could to extend development. I hope that for our future games, I'll be able to apply my own lessons.

So the alpha isn't even there yet... and they plan to release the full game in 3 months time. That bodes really well for them...

 

[Gragt]

they made an agreement with retailers that it'd be out on the shelves on February 28.

Really? Where did you hear that?

http://www.lar.net/2013/09/26/why-did-we-stretch/

Swen in your last blog entry you said "The most important one for me was that in the future I’ll try to only commit to a release date when the game is actually done.", and what have you done in todays update and blog entry: specify a release data before the game is done. Doh! (Note the KS update says "specifically" for 28th Feb, and your blog is "most likely")

Hi Robert - I'm quite aware of that DOS is a game that's already in production with real contracts in place, so there's only that much I can do, and I did the maximum I could to extend development. I hope that for our future games, I'll be able to apply my own lessons.

So the alpha isn't even there yet... and they plan to release the full game in 3 months time. That bodes really well for them...

I warned you all but you wouldn't listen.

 

[Zeriel]

I have the feeling that, development troubles notwithstanding, these mid-sized studios are simply afraid of making their alphas and betas public. Now, this might be for good reasons, but if they're really that afraid of the consequences of releasing these, then they shouldn't fucking put it in their reward tiers. I honestly doubt it has much of an influence on the pledge levels.

Anyone should be terrified of releasing an unfinished product, no matter how many disclaimers they provide. The market has no mercy, and doesn't give a shit about logic or rational analysis. There's a reason Blizzard "betas" are more polished than the finished products from other companies: they understand that as soon as they put the game in players' hands, most players see it as a released product.

 

[Metro]

Game is not being released in three months.

 

[Todd_the_Liar]

ah fuk it's got "i'm for sale" Jesse Cox in it. Lost all respect for the guy when he said Elder Scrolls Online will be the best game eva after getting a wad of cash from Bethesda.

edit: btw when will this moderation end fags? it's been weeks since i signed up

 

[Morality Games]

Game is not being released in three months.

From where I'm standing it sort of looks like it. All of December, all of January, nearly all of February.

 

[Metro]

It's not even in alpha...

 

[Roguey]

Game is not being released in three months.

They have to honor the contracts they made with retailers. Larian isn't some AAA publisher, they can't renege on their deal.

As with Dragon Commander, I'm sure it'll receive multiple post-release patches. DC had five in the first month of its release.

 

[Cenobyte]

Well, Larian is known for releasing their games a little bit too early (due to publisher pressure and whatnot). But so far they have always provided very good support for their games, so I'm not too pessimistic about this game for the time being, the delay notwithstanding.

 

[evdk]

Game is not being released in three months.

They have to honor the contracts they made with retailers. Larian isn't some AAA publisher, they can't renege on their deal.

As with Dragon Commander, I'm sure it'll receive multiple post-release patches. DC had five in the first month of its release.

So not only the backers will get to play the beta! to Larian bros.

 

[Mrowak]

Game is not being released in three months.

They have to honor the contracts they made with retailers. Larian isn't some AAA publisher, they can't renege on their deal.

As with Dragon Commander, I'm sure it'll receive multiple post-release patches. DC had five in the first month of its release.

So not only the backers will get to play the beta! to Larian bros.

To be honest at this point it feels like they really need a bunch of playtesters to test their game i.e. it's not really a favour.

 

[evdk]

To be honest at this point it feels like they really need a bunch of playtesters to test their game i.e. it's not really a favour.

... that's what I've said. I've humorously implied that even the release version will be actually a beta and anyone who would D1P it would become an unwitting betatester.

Please don't make me explain my shitty jokes.

 

[imweasel]

Game is not being released in three months.

They have to honor the contracts they made with retailers. Larian isn't some AAA publisher, they can't renege on their deal.

As with Dragon Commander, I'm sure it'll receive multiple post-release patches. DC had five in the first month of its release.

So not only the backers will get to play the beta! to Larian bros.

To be honest at this point it feels like they really need a bunch of playtesters to test their game i.e. it's not really a favour.

Having 20,000 playtesters work for free pay you to playtest is priceless. Playtesting and quality assurance are extremely expensive, Larian would be dumb not to exploit this opportunity.

BTW, this is also the sole reason that Steam Early Access even exists.

 

[Severian Silk]

What's up with hiring C-list internet celebrities to hype games? Also in before vaporware.

I told you guys Larian is a bunch of dorks!

 

[deamento]

am I supposed to know who these two doofuses are

they're 2 youtubers who, during the kickstarter, made videos with swen (i think) to hype up the game some more

 

[deamento]

Game is not being released in three months.

They have to honor the contracts they made with retailers. Larian isn't some AAA publisher, they can't renege on their deal.

As with Dragon Commander, I'm sure it'll receive multiple post-release patches. DC had five in the first month of its release.

So not only the backers will get to play the beta! to Larian bros.

To be honest at this point it feels like they really need a bunch of playtesters to test their game i.e. it's not really a favour.

Having 20,000 playtesters work for free pay you to playtest is priceless. Playtesting and quality assurance are extremely expensive, Larian would be dumb not to exploit this opportunity.

BTW, this is also the sole reason that Steam Early Access even exists.

fair enough, but the problem is that a lot of the feedback larian will get with the free alpha will be bullshit by retards who've never played a crpg in their life

 

[evdk]

fair enough, but the problem is that a lot of the feedback larian will get with the free alpha will be bullshit by retards who've never played a crpg in their life

Larian's KS was not like Double Fine's - the percentage of people pledging just because it was the in thing to do at the moment should be pretty low.

 

[deamento]

fair enough, but the problem is that a lot of the feedback larian will get with the free alpha will be bullshit by retards who've never played a crpg in their life

Larian's KS was not like Double Fine's - the percentage of people pledging just because it was the in thing to do at the moment should be pretty low.

oh wait, isn't the alpha free for everyone? or just for backers?

 

[Infinitron]

fair enough, but the problem is that a lot of the feedback larian will get with the free alpha will be bullshit by retards who've never played a crpg in their life

Larian's KS was not like Double Fine's - the percentage of people pledging just because it was the in thing to do at the moment should be pretty low.

oh wait, isn't the alpha free for everyone? or just for backers?

Backers.

 

[Zed]

beta "very soon" -- pffrrffft.
swen, never break a promise with a new promise. that's like a root cause for unhappy relationships or something.

 

[Metro]

fair enough, but the problem is that a lot of the feedback larian will get with the free alpha will be bullshit by retards who've never played a crpg in their life

Larian's KS was not like Double Fine's - the percentage of people pledging just because it was the in thing to do at the moment should be pretty low.

Where's my key, bro? I even bought a CPU today. Should reward me.

 

[evdk]

fair enough, but the problem is that a lot of the feedback larian will get with the free alpha will be bullshit by retards who've never played a crpg in their life

Larian's KS was not like Double Fine's - the percentage of people pledging just because it was the in thing to do at the moment should be pretty low.

Where's my key, bro? I even bought a CPU today. Should reward me.

Pics or GTFO.

 

[Overboard]

Specs or GTFO.

 

[kris]

I have the feeling that, development troubles notwithstanding, these mid-sized studios are simply afraid of making their alphas and betas public. Now, this might be for good reasons, but if they're really that afraid of the consequences of releasing these, then they shouldn't fucking put it in their reward tiers. I honestly doubt it has much of an influence on the pledge levels.

Anyone should be terrified of releasing an unfinished product, no matter how many disclaimers they provide. The market has no mercy, and doesn't give a shit about logic or rational analysis. There's a reason Blizzard "betas" are more polished than the finished products from other companies: they understand that as soon as they put the game in players' hands, most players see it as a released product.

Starcraft BETA was a mess with a million bugs and unit abilities that was far from balanced. so this at most apply for their more recent titles.