@vonbek777 Actually I like the abruptness in which Trent did it. It's like ripping someone's bandaid off before they know whats happening. You would have complained no matter what, so...stop complaining. Style points to @TrentOster for a nice quick rip. I love it.
Actually, no I wouldn't have. I have lots of hoop jumping myself to do. I understand project management quite well in fact, and it is no fun being stuck in the middle. The new date for release is better for me and the wife anyhow. But a little communication or hint of a delay earlier, and the wife would not have been taking a week of leave off next week that we will now have to rush to undo before next week.
So... could we get a run down of specifically what is causing the delay? What you till be working on until Nov. 30? Should we expect another delay close to the release date? That would be nice to see what you are fixing to give us a better experience...
I don't think anyone is disputing that waiting for release is a good idea. I don't think Trent wanted the delay, given the tight budget they likely have. Interestingly, there's a whole thread on this exact topic: http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/45681/#Comment_45681
About 70% of fans wouldn't mind a delay anyway. Myself included.
At the same time, Vonbek makes an important point. Honest, early and effective communication is important to establishing long-lasting customer relationships. The bottom line is that this is really late notice. No one really here cares since we're devoted fans anyway. But casual fans and other enthusiasts are quickly turned off by this sort of thing. So while I don't mind, I'm worried a lot of other people do.
I think the delay will likely make the difference between the "Newest version of Baldur's Gate" and the "Definitive version of Baldur's Gate"
As hard as it is to accept, it is important to understand that delaying the release is the correct when compared to the other options. With digital downloads and constant patches it has become all too easy nowadays to release products which are "nearly finished" and try to patch them up to speed in the next few months. This is the better option I think. I want my first playthrough to be as good as it is possible to get.
Better to make it better for release and ready, than to ship it without it being ready. I think that although some people might not like this, the final product could be much more appealing with the date pushed-back.
What is that little extra you're working on? :P
I don't suppose you found the art assets for the character models eh? The answer is no obviously but oh well :P
But a little communication or hint of a delay earlier, and the wife would not have been taking a week of leave off next week that we will now have to rush to undo before next week.
I don't think they withheld the info deliberately as that would serve no purpose.
They were probably struggling to meat the deadline (you can tell by the screenshots and UI preview coming out so late) but were still looking to release. However, people then asked for UI revisions and what not and with things already being hectic there was probably a period of confusion/denial/evaluation/negotiation and the final decision to postpone simply came late because everything was already late prior.
The length of the delay, I expect, is due to coding shenanigans (mostly).
I just want to know why it's delayed 2+ months. Are they adding more stuff? Is it broken? Or is it two months of polish? I love Trent's twitter because he updates us constantly and tells us about progress, let's hope he continues to keep us in the loop about what is going on.
2 1/2 months more waiting? That make me sad While I 100% agree that they should only ship the game if it's completly done and bug free, I 100% agree with the people who said that the communication should be better. It would be nice to know what they try to accomplish in the 2+ months, what they are currently working on etc. I know its difficult because of the contract etc. but at least a little bit more feedback would be nice.
I just finished the games I was playing was looking forward to BGEE..but then...wow....so sad... that's really a long delay date with such short notice...
it is very .. unexpected news. I waited so long out, and suddenly have to wait .. but I hope BG will become even better than it was. for the birth of a legend does not have to hurry.
But a little communication or hint of a delay earlier, and the wife would not have been taking a week of leave off next week that we will now have to rush to undo before next week.
I don't think they withheld the info deliberately as that would serve no purpose.
They were probably struggling to meat the deadline (you can tell by the screenshot and UI preview coming out so late) but were still looking to release. However, people then asked for UI revisions and what not and with things already being hectic there was probably a period of confusion/denial/evaluation/negotiation and the final decision to postpone simply came late because everything was already late prior.
The length of the delay, I expect, is due to coding shenanigans (mostly).
Perhaps the level of interest has raised concerns about distribution as well.
I just want to know why it's delayed 2+ months. Are they adding more stuff? Is it broken? Or is it two months of polish? I love Trent's twitter because he updates us constantly and tells us about progress, let's hope he continues to keep us in the loop about what is going on.
My hope is that the extra two and a half months will mean Trent gets to bed before 4am once in a while. While I admire his dedication, a rested developer (or team of developers) is a happy developer.
The real issue is in the bureaucracy involved in negotiating any change in contract. I hope that the various parties involved can see the effect that it has when they wait so long to approve these kinds of announcements.
On the bright side, the delay now puts the game right in the middle of the pre-Holiday season, which means for those of you who maybe couldn't afford to buy the game for yourselves (#highschoolstudents), you won't have to wait nearly as long to ask for it as a Christmas present.
I support you guys, Trent. Take another 6 months if you need it, I trust you will put out the absolute best version you know how to make and I'm sure you really want to get it right, so forget about the complainers and crack your whip harder on your boys, haha.
I just want to know why it's delayed 2+ months. Are they adding more stuff? Is it broken? Or is it two months of polish? I love Trent's twitter because he updates us constantly and tells us about progress, let's hope he continues to keep us in the loop about what is going on.
I'd imagine they chose 2 1/2 months so that they wouldn't have to make this announcement again in 1 and 1/2 months
That's the most important here- "when". It is obvious that they didn't noticed today or yesterday "oops, I think we won't get it for 18.09". And it was also almost obvious that they won't release it on 18th because of "preview" they got. That is of course joke because there was no preview except some screenshots (9!) and few artworks. I don't know any game studio with wouldn't want to "glory" their product week (or much more like month(s)) by some trailer, video, etc.
I thnik it won't even be ready by the end of this year... :>
Rushing things of such complexity is never the right choice to make, my personal disappointment in a delay is negligible compared to how a buggy and ham-fisted release would make me feel, so heres hoping for the most enriching BG experience possible!
Comments
It sucks that we have to wait a few more months, but at least I've got other games to tide me over.
I'm ok with this decision as I feel this game must be the best possible, but making this sad announcement only 4 day before launch, It's hard.
http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/comment/45681/#Comment_45681
About 70% of fans wouldn't mind a delay anyway. Myself included.
At the same time, Vonbek makes an important point. Honest, early and effective communication is important to establishing long-lasting customer relationships. The bottom line is that this is really late notice. No one really here cares since we're devoted fans anyway. But casual fans and other enthusiasts are quickly turned off by this sort of thing. So while I don't mind, I'm worried a lot of other people do.
As hard as it is to accept, it is important to understand that delaying the release is the correct when compared to the other options. With digital downloads and constant patches it has become all too easy nowadays to release products which are "nearly finished" and try to patch them up to speed in the next few months.
This is the better option I think. I want my first playthrough to be as good as it is possible to get.
What is that little extra you're working on? :P
I don't suppose you found the art assets for the character models eh? The answer is no obviously but oh well :P
They were probably struggling to meat the deadline (you can tell by the screenshots and UI preview coming out so late) but were still looking to release. However, people then asked for UI revisions and what not and with things already being hectic there was probably a period of confusion/denial/evaluation/negotiation and the final decision to postpone simply came late because everything was already late prior.
The length of the delay, I expect, is due to coding shenanigans (mostly).
Business wise though a good decision I think.
While I 100% agree that they should only ship the game if it's completly done and bug free, I 100% agree with the people who said that the communication should be better. It would be nice to know what they try to accomplish in the 2+ months, what they are currently working on etc.
I know its difficult because of the contract etc. but at least a little bit more feedback would be nice.
was looking forward to BGEE..but then...wow....so sad...
that's really a long delay date with such short notice...
I don't think Trent is about to go silent about this, but I'm not sure if there will be specifics about the reasons for the delay.
Yeah I'm just bummed about not being able to play till December...
In all seriousness though I don't really mind it. Somehow I feel the player base you have here is more of the patient type
The real issue is in the bureaucracy involved in negotiating any change in contract. I hope that the various parties involved can see the effect that it has when they wait so long to approve these kinds of announcements.
On the bright side, the delay now puts the game right in the middle of the pre-Holiday season, which means for those of you who maybe couldn't afford to buy the game for yourselves (#highschoolstudents), you won't have to wait nearly as long to ask for it as a Christmas present.
Seriously.
I thnik it won't even be ready by the end of this year... :>
This is just another example of why I should stop preordering things...