Entrenchment Release vs Open Beta

If you release a software that requires patches, ppl get pissed off. If you release a beta for trials, ppl ask why is it so slow to release the whole thing. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Maybe the devs are taking into account a lot of feedback about gameplay/balance/features, maybe they want to make really sure about stability, who knows.. But I think the devs have good reason(s) for doing so - after all, the delay to release also means a delay for them to get paid, and as a small(er) software developer, trust me, such issues with cashflow and delays in recieving money are substantial considerations.. Let us just look on the positive side of things about this delay instead..

True. I am not mad more confused. Having it go off on the same day would have made it a non issue i think. So it is a game. Not really that big of a deal. I just want my starbase!

People tend to get more pissed off if a new release requires patches, than they do about a delay for the beta After all, the beta carries the implication that some things might be buggy. So people can still play it and instead of throwing fits about this and that bug, they get them fixed instead

Enthusiasts get mad when they can't get their hands on a new product, but the average joe tends to get indignant if a product is (god forbid) not perfect when they pay for it.

Generally, it is safer to only charge someone for a finished, polished product, lest we be forced to endure dozens of "this crappy developer released a half finished game" threads.

Re-iterrating what everyone else said really.

It's a strategy that means that those waiting for the expansion don't miss out and at the same time they know the code isn't really mature enough to sell at release.  We all win really, we get to play on the 18th despite it not being 100% ready and Ironclad don't take a shit load of slack on the forums from sociapathic ranting kids.

Just a slight correction.. 1.1 goes final on the 18th, the Entrenchment beta will be soon after that (but no definite date)

The newest version of the Gamers Bill of Rights is as follows:

1. Gamers shall have the right to return games that are incompatible or do not function at a reasonable level of performance for a full refund within a reasonable amount of time.
2. Gamers shall have the right that games they purchase shall function as designed without defects that would materially affect the player experience.
3. Gamers shall have the right that games will receive updates that address minor defects as well as improves gameplay based on player feedback within reason.
4. Gamers shall have the right to have their games not require a third-party download manager installed in order for the game to function.
5. Gamers shall have the right to have their games perform adequately if their hardware meets the posted recommended requirements.
6. Gamers shall have the right not to have any of their games install hidden drivers.
7. Gamers shall have the right to re-download the latest version of the games they purchase.
8. Gamers whose computers meet the posted minimum requirements shall have the right to use their games without being materially inconvenienced due to copy protection or digital rights management.
9. Gamers shall have the right to play single player games without having to have an Internet connection.
10. Gamers shall have the right to sell or transfer the ownership of a physical copy of a game they own to another person.

See number 2.  A released game from Stardock has to fulfill that, a beta does not.  In the end though; it allows us to have more input and make the game even better.  I'm down with that!

The other thing to remember is that with the whole "Gamer's Bill of Rights" thing that StarDock is pushing, it would be kinda embarrassing to have to release patches that fix stuff right after launch. Beta lets them test the software on a wide range of machines under real usage conditions, which is difficult even for the largest companies (Google and Microsoft literally have entire warehouses of computers so they can do lots of automated testing all at once, but that's the kind of thing that's a bit difficult for smaller companies to do).

Plus, balancing issues are one of the RTS (and other) genre's developer nightmares. When you figure that the people who are most likely to devote the amount of time to finding which units to user are also amongst the most likely to preorder and play the beta, it makes a lot of sense for them to spend a month or two letting people look it over before distributing it. Since they only plan to digitally distribute Entrenchment at launch, the developers can work right up to the wire if they have to in order to make the initial launch better, instead of having a prelaunch patch. Don't be surprised if they do something similar with the next 2 expansions.

Sounds good to me.

Thing that annoyed me slightly is that they announced this so close to the supposed release date. Surely they didn't just realise that they'd need so much extra time working out any kinks.

Yeah, if it was important enough to push the date back a month or two, they probably should have warned us sooner. They had to have know sooner than a week before launch that they needed or wanted a beta. Oh well. As long as the beta leads to improvements, its all good.

I think they just want us to play 1.1 since they put so much work into it. They know the second Entrenchment come out we will all have it. So all there 1.1 work would be for not. Oh we should have our star bases before we get Turkey.... I have big plans for sins, star bases and some friends

I bet it's not the work. The balancing must be way off.

I Pre-Ordered Last month and Impulse had a release date of Nov 18th. Today I look and it shows a release date on Jan 1, 2009.

Now that they are shifting the dates back, I hope they release a Beta for those of us who pre-ordered. Like most of you, I am sure you want your minefields and starbases just as much I do.

I do applaud them pushing the date back if they have issues, I just wish they would have announced it a little more openly rather than having to find out by looking at the pre-order page

Yes, we'll get a beta. And yes, they announced it openly:

https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/329778

My aplogizes, I totally missed that post.

Thank you for linking it.

i rahter have THEM take their time than actualy spend mine being a betatester.

I play games for fun, Not as a second job i have to fckn pay for.

So all power to them. ill thank them via the only means that truly counts: through my wallet.