I think there is a misconception about this whole process. There are no people at Beamdog just sitting around looking for things to do, ignoring this thread.
The process of putting up new screen shots and video is not as simple as snapping pictures and uploading them to the web. The people developing the game have been very clear on how strict the contract for this product is. The strict nature is probably due to the hesitation to re-release a 15 year old product on the behalf of the license holders. So for that, all photographs and video must be approved before release, which takes weeks if not months.
Also keep in mind that the game was pushed back 10 weeks, which clearly tells me it was an unfinished product. I wouldn't be surprised if they are still putting finishing touches on the UI and such at this very moment, and do not expect them to release unfinished UI shots. Point is, by the time a screen shot is approved, the game/ui/graphics may of drastically changed or improved from the point it was taken. Why release screen shots of a product, which quality changes on a weekly basis, that would no longer be properly represented by said released screen shots?
If you have bought this game already, great, they need the support. You are not owed anything by them though except to release the game in a bug free, playable state. Do you want them to stop working on that goal and instead spend time trying to leverage out screen shots of an unfinished product?
I want to see screen shots and video as much as the next guy but give them a chance to finish the game first.
@bigdogchris - It's more that people want something, so they whine for it. And then they fall to the easiest logic, such as:
1) We pre-paid, so we're owed (fill in blank). I don't remember BD/OVHL promising me early looks at anything in the product, actually; any screenshot/video type stuff is for marketing, not a settlement of obligation to pre-purchasers
2) Other products issue such things early, but this doesn't, which means that shots and movies should be released now. This is a special case, where the license owners are not the developer ( @bigdogchris describes this in detail)
3) To prove that you're on track for delivery, prove it with screenshots and trailers
There are probably some that I haven't outlined. My point is that it has more to do with the authors of such posts wanting the releases now, rather than a firm justifiable reason that it (shots/trailers) must be released now.
To be fair, the only thing currently going on with the GUI is polishing. The last "big" visual thing was the portrait icons with what your character is doing.
The approval process is apparently just slow as hell.
To be fair, the only thing currently going on with the GUI is polishing. The last "big" visual thing was the portrait icons with what your character is doing.
The approval process is apparently just slow as hell.
True, but this whining has been going on for months, even back when the game was undertaking big changes. So while what I said may hold more truth a few months ago, the concept is still the same.
I don't mind this on a personal level. I am excited about this game already and have already pre-ordered and just want the possible final product.
I find it mildly discouraging because it is a big miss for basic marketing. It is a big missed opportunity to not have out HD screenshots, a trailer, etc. less than 2 weeks before the release date. The interviews that are being done now (good thing) should be accompanied by screen shots, links to the trailer (or embedded trailer), etc. I have no doubt that Tanthalas is right about the approval process but that is a process failure by the chain of people involved to the extent these items are not already out there.
@AHF - It's not going to hurt marketing, or I don't think it will. In the past, there was a media blitz because hard copies were being printed and distributed, so there's a huge initial cost to recoup. This is a lot different and a somewhat unique situation for BG:EE. They're not trying to sell a fixed number to justify another production run and whatnot.
Yes, maybe we are whiney. I wish I was less anxious about the wait. Getting previews is not about being entitled to something, but about us BG-addicts needing something to sooth our brains, in my opinion. But I perfectly understand the approval is a wait for the Overhaul team as well and they aren't sitting idle like we do but working hard to finish the game in time. Us idly waiting and looking at the clock makes our head spin, but I wouldn't want to swap places with the team, looking at the clock and feeling the stress of the deadline. Some people in Edmonton deserve some long vacations after the 20th, I guess.
First Rule in Combat.. Before you enter a battlefield, check if your Sword is sharp enough!
In other words... Of course it will have some Impact!
Lately i found some posts in various Roleplay Fan boards where people's opinion turned very disappointed because the official site only offers blurry low resolution or also partly blurry Mid-Resolution Pictures.
Even more of that, people said they would not buy because having only bad screenshots available, which created for them the point of view that the finished product features such a "blurfest".
A big enough fail in Marketing Terms, which will INDEED have an impact on Sales Numbers. People tell the "News" others and soon you have a big amount of negative publicity.
If you do not offer at least one good reason why buying a game in the first place on the official site then do not wonder why you have suddenly people are pissed.
I just hope that that many marketing mistakes will not be repeated with BG2:EE - Because the more mistakes you do, the lesser the selling numbers are in the end.
And it is very difficult to show a driven away customer that the reasons why he/she is not buying the game are the wrong ones.
Yes, maybe we are whiney. I wish I was less anxious about the wait. Getting previews is not about being entitled to something, but about us BG-addicts needing something to sooth our brains, in my opinion.
I am completely with you on that.
I just don't like reading post which are borderline insults towards the development team.
I think that the thing to note here is that, although most of us forumites are unnaturally good people (and modest too), the internet as a whole is much more of a mixed bag. While a lot of us, myself included, don't mind the dearth of information, I've seen a lot of people on other boards who are disappointed by the lack of info/new stuff in the EE. Why not release some info to prove them wrong?
First Rule in Combat.. Before you enter a battlefield, check if your Sword is sharp enough!
In other words... Of course it will have some Impact!
Lately i found some posts in various Roleplay Fan boards where people's opinion turned very disappointed because the official site only offers blurry low resolution or also partly blurry Mid-Resolution Pictures.
Even more of that, people said they would not buy because having only bad screenshots available, which created for them the point of view that the finished product features such a "blurfest".
A big enough fail in Marketing Terms, which will INDEED have an impact on Sales Numbers. People tell the "News" others and soon you have a big amount of negative publicity.
If you do not offer at least one good reason why buying a game in the first place on the official site then do not wonder why you have suddenly people are pissed.
I just hope that that many marketing mistakes will not be repeated with BG2:EE - Because the more mistakes you do, the lesser the selling numbers are in the end.
And it is very difficult to show a driven away customer that the reasons why he/she is not buying the game are the wrong ones.
I think people are mostly annoyed not by lack of updates, but rather of lack of already announced (thought only on twitter) things. We know that there should be trailer, but people are waiting for weeks in vain, whats annoys them.
One isn't dissapointed for lack of changes, but rather of unmatched expectations. IMO.
Comments
The process of putting up new screen shots and video is not as simple as snapping pictures and uploading them to the web. The people developing the game have been very clear on how strict the contract for this product is. The strict nature is probably due to the hesitation to re-release a 15 year old product on the behalf of the license holders. So for that, all photographs and video must be approved before release, which takes weeks if not months.
Also keep in mind that the game was pushed back 10 weeks, which clearly tells me it was an unfinished product. I wouldn't be surprised if they are still putting finishing touches on the UI and such at this very moment, and do not expect them to release unfinished UI shots. Point is, by the time a screen shot is approved, the game/ui/graphics may of drastically changed or improved from the point it was taken. Why release screen shots of a product, which quality changes on a weekly basis, that would no longer be properly represented by said released screen shots?
If you have bought this game already, great, they need the support. You are not owed anything by them though except to release the game in a bug free, playable state. Do you want them to stop working on that goal and instead spend time trying to leverage out screen shots of an unfinished product?
I want to see screen shots and video as much as the next guy but give them a chance to finish the game first.
1) We pre-paid, so we're owed (fill in blank). I don't remember BD/OVHL promising me early looks at anything in the product, actually; any screenshot/video type stuff is for marketing, not a settlement of obligation to pre-purchasers
2) Other products issue such things early, but this doesn't, which means that shots and movies should be released now. This is a special case, where the license owners are not the developer ( @bigdogchris describes this in detail)
3) To prove that you're on track for delivery, prove it with screenshots and trailers
There are probably some that I haven't outlined. My point is that it has more to do with the authors of such posts wanting the releases now, rather than a firm justifiable reason that it (shots/trailers) must be released now.
The approval process is apparently just slow as hell.
I find it mildly discouraging because it is a big miss for basic marketing. It is a big missed opportunity to not have out HD screenshots, a trailer, etc. less than 2 weeks before the release date. The interviews that are being done now (good thing) should be accompanied by screen shots, links to the trailer (or embedded trailer), etc. I have no doubt that Tanthalas is right about the approval process but that is a process failure by the chain of people involved to the extent these items are not already out there.
I hope it won't negatively impact sales.
First Rule in Combat.. Before you enter a battlefield, check if your Sword is sharp enough!
In other words... Of course it will have some Impact!
Lately i found some posts in various Roleplay Fan boards where people's opinion turned very disappointed because the official site only offers blurry low resolution or also partly blurry Mid-Resolution Pictures.
Even more of that, people said they would not buy because having only bad screenshots available, which created for them the point of view that the finished product features such a "blurfest".
A big enough fail in Marketing Terms, which will INDEED have an impact on Sales Numbers. People tell the "News" others and soon you have a big amount of negative publicity.
If you do not offer at least one good reason why buying a game in the first place on the official site then do not wonder why you have suddenly people are pissed.
I just hope that that many marketing mistakes will not be repeated with BG2:EE - Because the more mistakes you do, the lesser the selling numbers are in the end.
And it is very difficult to show a driven away customer that the reasons why he/she is not buying the game are the wrong ones.
I just don't like reading post which are borderline insults towards the development team.
What does that mean? If you release Screenshots on the future page, then only in that case when the Screenshots really are flawless ones
One isn't dissapointed for lack of changes, but rather of unmatched expectations. IMO.