Early Access - a suggestion
Bear with me after reading this title, before you unleash the righteous fury upon me.
I am currently playing another game, since it was in alpha stage. It came over entirely by accident, I liked the idea (a turn-based game, mostly that) and I knew it was done by people who are reknown for their other games, so it was unlikely to be a scam or something poor. I bought access to it - along with a copy for a friend, but I have no idea whom to give it to, because I don't know too many people who like turn-based games - and started to play. I knew it was alpha, so I simply played and left feedback to the developers (bugs, suggestions, ideas, what's good, what could be changed, etc.). It was up to them to decide what's worth and what's not and proceed accordingly.
And then I saw - in the subsequent updates - how our input did matter. How the game was changing for the better. But for that to happen we did have to play, to experience it. I do understand that CDPR is listening to the feedback of the fans, but there is only so much feedback that can be given when all the would-be players have is the most recent news. I doubt CDPR will change their approach on a whim (and that's fine), but I put this thread as a suggestion and to discuss with the community if Early Access wouldn't be feasible in terms of supporting the developers even more while at the same time allowing the players to have impact on the game before all is set and ready for the final release.
Honestly I doubt Early Access happening, if they have a timetable - they most likely do, it's nothing out of ordinary - or making changes would be considered too much time and effort consuming, but if they do plan on making games in the future it might be worth considering different approaches than a traditional one when developer is making a game and is only releasing a finished product. Great games were made that way, but I always wonder if input from players wouldn't make it even better. Or worse.
What do you think?
Bear with me after reading this title, before you unleash the righteous fury upon me.
I am currently playing another game, since it was in alpha stage. It came over entirely by accident, I liked the idea (a turn-based game, mostly that) and I knew it was done by people who are reknown for their other games, so it was unlikely to be a scam or something poor. I bought access to it - along with a copy for a friend, but I have no idea whom to give it to, because I don't know too many people who like turn-based games - and started to play. I knew it was alpha, so I simply played and left feedback to the developers (bugs, suggestions, ideas, what's good, what could be changed, etc.). It was up to them to decide what's worth and what's not and proceed accordingly.
And then I saw - in the subsequent updates - how our input did matter. How the game was changing for the better. But for that to happen we did have to play, to experience it. I do understand that CDPR is listening to the feedback of the fans, but there is only so much feedback that can be given when all the would-be players have is the most recent news. I doubt CDPR will change their approach on a whim (and that's fine), but I put this thread as a suggestion and to discuss with the community if Early Access wouldn't be feasible in terms of supporting the developers even more while at the same time allowing the players to have impact on the game before all is set and ready for the final release.
Honestly I doubt Early Access happening, if they have a timetable - they most likely do, it's nothing out of ordinary - or making changes would be considered too much time and effort consuming, but if they do plan on making games in the future it might be worth considering different approaches than a traditional one when developer is making a game and is only releasing a finished product. Great games were made that way, but I always wonder if input from players wouldn't make it even better. Or worse.
What do you think?