The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - An Open Letter

[Pajkes]

I already see that this place is becoming like Bioware's forum or Bethesda's.

Our glorious dev can NEVER be wrong.They are life....they are love....my firstborn will be named after them.



Praise the devs.You want more info?How dare you..you're miserable...unworthy....economically unimportant....just a crumb on a market.

If that's so than CD Projekt Red has grown up and they have become a new Bethesda...they can start from now on posting on forum once per decade and all they need is annoying douchy PR manager with twitter account...someone like Pete Hines and they can say goodbuy to making games they like and hello to steady profit increase for a x number of quarters.

Like those things are impossible to coexist (profit and commitment to making not yet another dumb-downed,downgraded,overhyped ultra giga action adventure with few rpg elements coughSkyrimcough).

OK what's my point.....of course of course of course do whatever you want....and it seems that playing unofficial CD Projekt's lawyer is the most popular one right now.

I said I loved both previous Witcher games,I said how I love them as devs,I said how I don't mind delay and I said and I repeat:

Something caused it and it would be really nice if they would show us like...at least some of the mechanics they hyped (mounted combat among many others),actual gameplay,current build etc.

They don't have.....and they are business (no shit Sherlock and I thought they were tooth fairies) but they are also CD Projekt RED and they are or maybe were known for being open and transperant about their games.If that has changed than......good for them I guess.I'll see on release how things turn out but I'm dissapointed (in before hater,whiner,crybaby,blasphemy,negative nancy,downer debbie etc.)

 

[Garrison72]

Succinct article by Erik Kain that I agree with. Put off announcing a date for the game until you know it's in the final stages. Then investors don't get cold feet and fans don't have reason to speculate. Everyone wins. I mean, did CDPR really need 2+ years to hype this game? It's not like their marketing has been stellar anyway.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/12/09/assassins-creed-unity-vs-the-witcher-3-why-video-game-studios-should-wait-to-announce-a-release-date/

 

[GuyNwah]

Succinct article by Erik Kain that I agree with. Put off announcing a date for the game until you know it's in the final stages. Then investors don't get cold feet and fans don't have reason to speculate. Everyone wins. I mean, did CDPR really need 2+ years to hype this game? It's not like their marketing has been stellar anyway.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/12/09/assassins-creed-unity-vs-the-witcher-3-why-video-game-studios-should-wait-to-announce-a-release-date/

It's a good point, though I think the situations with Ubisoft and their investors vs. CDPR and their investors are different enough to warrant comment themselves.

Yeah, Ubisoft got whacked, hard, in the stock market when they announced delays last year. 32% is more than just investors discounting sales into future quarters. It represents more than that; there's some amount of good will and investor confidence burned up, too.

So what happened to CDPR's stock after they announced the latest delay? Not much, in comparison. They opened down 9%, recovered, and closed down just 3%. That's not a bad outcome when your stock's at an all-time high and you have to announce really bad news. It means the people who vote with their bank accounts are not worried, just realizing that it will take longer to get payback on their investment.

Still, it's better not to have to go back on announced schedules. CDPR's been erratic with their publicity, the fans become more nervous each time, and even patient investors have their limit.

 

[mavowar]

Those people leave their cars under your responsability. You own them something. You both (you and your costumer) have a contract.

CDPR has none of our property which may be appealed as evidence of breach of contract. Not until the product is technically and legally ours.

Here the only ones who could demand some response would be companies with which CDPR has a contract based on the game TW3.

No promise is 100% executable. The promises are overvalued and within that fiction even superhero breaks their promises. Or anyone with common sense can expect the fulfillment of a promise without being based on a complete and blind faith to whoever makes it.

A promise is a strong desire to be able to meet the wishes of a third party. Believing in 100% compliance is to believe in the impossible.

There are only two reasons for not fulfilling a promise: 1- the occurrence of unanticipated beyond our control elements 2- the will not fulfill even taking all means to do it. So then, until nobody prove me that CDPR has no will to fulfill their promises I will believe in the first reason

I paid Steam for there product which they have failed to deliver twice now on dates they set. In the world of business keeping your word is paramount. When you start letting people down your reputation regardless of the situation(less natural disaster. sickness or death) you keep your word otherwise. My company would be out of business if did not deliver consistently.

I will put it another way that is very similar to what CDPR does. See, I do not, but we have "programmers" at my shop too. We custom make things for people who need one off custom items to small limited runs of parts. The other thing we do is supply CAD and CNC "code" for others to do their own work. This is very similar to developing a game. The programmer or "Dev" sits at a computer and "programs" what needs to be done. If we take money from a customer and do not deliver the "Program" in a bug free working order on time and then promise a second date and fail yet again that would be ok for you? What if "your" business needed this program to manufacture whatever was on the program. You think that is fair? If you accept mediocrity then that is on you. I assure most other people would not and do not. We would have given whomever wanted that program written a full refund and ran the parts free for them to keep them some what satisfied. Game development is a business like any other. So far CDPR has postponed every game they have made multiple times. In the world of business that does not look good regardless the fact the finished products are outstanding(CDPR makes great games).

I also have 2 PC collector editions on pre-order. I also had planned on buying it from GOG besides Steam(If you need proof I can give you my steam name).I also have the 3 hard copies of the original Witcher game, plus on steam ,and GOG. I have W2 2 hard copies, on steam, and GOG. So, I have done my part as the consumer and supported them. Now if CDPR would get it's act together and deliver a product and for once on time, perhaps I can trust them again. At this point I trust them to deliver a great game. I do not and will not trust them to deliver a game on time until they earn that trust. As a result I do not see me pre -ordering CyberPunk nor buying more than one copy of the game on Steam.

In any event I as a consumer was assured and promised by CDPR there would be no more delays. I have already paid for this product. I understand in your eyes they can do no wrong. In my eyes I am let down. We can each have our own opinion of the situation, Such is life.
Best Regards.

 

[shawn_kh]

Something caused it and it would be really nice if they would show us like...at least some of the mechanics they hyped (mounted combat among many others),actual gameplay,current build etc.

What difference does it make if they tell you what went wrong ? Nothing what so ever.
Why aren't they showing more footage ? because the game is not ready to be shown, and that's why the game got delayed. They need 160 more days to finish it. They have almost half a year to finish the game, why show footage of a product 160 days away from release.
Why aren't they showing more footage that is going to hurt the game and the company ? because they are not fucking stupid.
Why do you think that they need to share sensitive business informations that even shareholders and business partners may not know ? Only God knows.
What my advice is to you ? If you don't trust CDPR, then cancel you pre-order. Wait for the game to get released, read reviews, watch some gameplay footage on youtube, then spend your precious 60$.
What is your answer to my advice? No shit Sherlock.
What my comeback is to your answer ? No shit Watson.

 

[Arnull]

I guess you didn't read the "So, no more delays." comment in the article.

 

[Crivilnite]

I guess you didn't read the "So, no more delays." comment in the article.

Guess you ignore they already said that after the first delay in March 2014.

 

[wichat]

@War Machine, I don't know the law in your country. In mine, you can claims only for a product you have bought. Having bought others products from the same company does'nt give automatically the same right over a product that you have not bought YET.

As as a fan you can ask for explanations, you can express your frustration or your happiness. But, for now no one can demand anything for a product you don't have paid for it. Pre-orders? Till you don't have the final product in your possession to personally verify its possible defects all your demands become prejudices and unfounded complaints.

That's is the little diference I try to explain.

 

[ummagoomba]

I fully support this decision. I want a good, polished game. The Witcher 1 &2 were outstanding, it is good that CDRED are not bowing to pressure from shareholders, fans, or the industry. They care about giving you a great product, it's a shame others like ubisoft do not do the same and instead send a half finished game, full of bugs and missing content, which they then sell you back as DLC.

CDRED care guys, give them all of the support they need, they are the standard all other companies are measured against for me.

 

[witcher22]

I can understand wanting more info, but the fact of the matter is. It was delayed because of it's conditon. So you would be getting busted gameplay and images which defeats the point.

If im not mistaken the game is feature complete and they are more or less having major stability issues and adding/ changing effects.

 

[gregski]

CDPR addressing the issues in more detail during a press/investor event: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-12-10-witcher-3-dev-market-is-afraid-of-badly-polished-games-on-next-gen

"Gamers ..." he said (in a translation supplied by Eurogamer Poland), "took our decision very well. [The] market is afraid of badly polished games on next-gen platforms."

"We want to disarm the opinion that [The Witcher 3] doesn't exist," he went on, tackling another concern. "It will be closed by the end of the year in line with the schedule.

"There's a lot of small errors though, because the game is huge. It's the only reason behind the delay. We didn't assume it will be this big. Only after putting all the pieces together it turned out it's bigger than the two first put together. Let me remind you: it's open and not linear. We are just learning how to play it and we have to catch the little pieces. We know what to do, we just have to do it. We don't want to release the game with bugs that undermine the gameplay."

"We want to put our names under this game," Kiciński stressed again, "it has to be fun."

AND THE PART THE EUROGAMER MISSED FROM THE TRANSLATION WHICH SOUNDS MOST IMPORTANT:

Kiciński added that "in the coming days" we will know the hardware requirements which will be as precise as possible

They also added that the production cost will go up "a few million PLN" which will be mostly spent on wages.

 

[mavowar]

Wichat, I have paid for the product already. I paid for it on Steam, Then Steam pays CDPR. CDPR has received my money via Steam already. I am not even mad about them having my money or not having a product. I am mad that I have twice now made vacations at work that can not be rescheduled. I feel like you do not have a job. If you did you would understand how important vacation time is to hard working people such as myself. CDPR " Promised" no more delays. The Co-Founder said" no more delays, we are not newbies" (talk about open mouth insert foot lol)!!! I made plans 2 times based on their promises that can not be easily fixed. That is what i am upset with. My time is just as important as yours, theirs or anybody else. I work 12 t o 15 hour days 6 days a week. I make damn good money as a result. It is my job as a man to take care of my family. I do what I must to achieve that end. So, any time I have off time it is important I plan ahead of time months in advance. I understand "stuff" happens. The first time didn't phase me in the slightest. This time really irked me. I have no more vacation time for 4 mths after the release of the game. Now I have to wait even longer to enjoy playing it in a relaxed, controlled enviroment. I have no idea why you do not understand this.

I have said my piece. I will say no more about it. It is what it is. I trust CDPR to make W3 a great possibly legendary game, I do not trust them to deliver it on time. In fact I expect another delay or the game gets released due to pressure in a buggy mess. EIther way CDPR reputation will tank. I hope for the best but expect the worst at this point.

---------- Updated at 11:33 AM ----------

@War Machine, I don't know the law in your country. In mine, you can claims only for a product you have bought. Having bought others products from the same company does'nt give automatically the same right over a product that you have not bought YET.

As as a fan you can ask for explanations, you can express your frustration or your happiness. But, for now no one can demand anything for a product you don't have paid for it. Pre-orders? Till you don't have the final product in your possession to personally verify its possible defects all your demands become prejudices and unfounded complaints.

That's is the little diference I try to explain.

aasa

 

[LarsenHQ]

CDPR addressing the issues in more detail during a press/investor event: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-12-10-witcher-3-dev-market-is-afraid-of-badly-polished-games-on-next-gen







AND THE PART THE EUROGAMER MISSED FROM THE TRANSLATION WHICH SOUNDS MOST IMPORTANT:



They also added that the production cost will go up "a few million PLN" which will be mostly spent on wages.

Finally some straight talk, thanks.

 

[Snake9027]

AND THE PART THE EUROGAMER MISSED FROM THE TRANSLATION WHICH SOUNDS MOST IMPORTANT

PC requirements? :comeatmebro:

 

[sidspyker]

PC requirements? :comeatmebro:

As opposed to console system requirements?

 

[Crivilnite]

Smart move, game get delayed but they release Reqs so everyone know what to get for Christmas...

 

[Dprelate]

I see this as a good news.

Dear CDPR
I'm an experienced and aged gamer and if you accept me as one of your fans, please take this advice to your heart. keep close attention to motion capture. flaws in animation is one of the first things that become apparent. this factor is essential for any game that has a combat aspect and it's not too difficult to make it look great with resources and technologies available in these days.
Best Wishes

 

[skazclaw]

No problem cdprojektred... better delay than release a buggy as game that ruins the immersion and experience. Looking at you Bioware and DA:I...

 

[Dilber]

Like I said earlier ,watch the disclosure to investors. They aren't lying there because that would open them up to lawsuits. It's nothing major, and it's a polishing issue.

 

[Vigilance.492]

Well it's nice to hear a little more about the delay decision... I guess it really is just what was assumed, more time to polish. If they need 5 months to ensure the game comes out relatively bug and issue free, then that's what is most important.

However as I said previously it also puts them under pressure, and definitely in the spotlight... Because if the game comes out still riddled with bugs and issues, and/or the game doesn't match the graphical quality we've previously seen in Trailers, then people are going to seriously question CDPR and I suspect a great loss of trust in them and their QA ability.
Really The Witcher 3 is a whole different beast to either of the previous games, and I gladly accept the delay because TW3 really needs to be as shiny and perfect as possible. As Marcin said, it truly is "the most important game in CDPR's history", it could make or break CDPR's acceptance into the Mainstream and have a large affect on people's opinion of them going forward. They really need to get it right.

There's a lot of pressure on you guys, all the best to everyone at the Studio and please, please, don't screw it up