On the upcoming Steam release

[RickyMartini]

Seems like a good choice, it will be one thing less to worry about on vacation.
In my opinion vanilia rimworld could use some polishing before relealse, since even now with its all cool futures, player wont be using even half of it, becouse the game dont encorage them to do that or they dont know about of thier existance. And as much i hate to say it mods wont help at the beginning, even thrugh they help highligh various game features, its all about first impression, and most ppl will just dont use mods at the start.

Now that I think of it, Tynan might have to wait for the Wiki to be fully updated and completed. Also, I have played so much and never again have I taken a look at the tutorial at the beginning. I needed so much time to get used to the vanilla game, and I started using mods after 2-3 weeks. So the first impression is always going to be vanilla with tutorials and no knowledge, and I agree it was difficult.

[Skirmish]

I'm worried about if I cannot get a steam key because of late purchase

I also think that the game must be teach the new players by it self for all features. Current tutorials on basic tools are good, so I think extending that to the advanced functions will be nice.

Hope good luck for steam release and I hope to see you again in months later with new Rim World update

[Vas]

I think it should be delayed and put into early access after his break. Going onto Steam is a big move, and I think considering that after his break would be better than treating like something that needs to be done before it.

I'm leaning more and more in this direction.

Another piece of news: Piotr Walczak is back to help again after his year at school, so I'll have some coding help until the end of September. You may recall he wrote the original code for the health system last summer, as well as various other smaller things. So that'll enhance Ludeon's output.

I'd say, wait till after the break, then release as early access on steam for maybe a year before going full release so you can get the nice large flood of suggestions and figure out if you are going to do any further major game changes before release.  People don't like major game changes on full releases that much.  So anything too major may make a lot of people upset if it's on a non-alpha, where as alpha, you can make any change you want.

You know what I would have enjoyed?  That other game you had in your prototype pack.  The one where you were in space and stuff.  I'll have to go get that again to find the name. 

[Tynan]

Starship Architect

I think it would be doable as a RimWorld mod actually.

[Vas]

Starship Architect

I think it would be doable as a RimWorld mod actually.

I actually had a complex idea for someone's mod that might actually be good as a whole new game or a Rimworld 2 or maybe a really good large new feature to Rimworld.    But yea, maybe I'll post it to the forum sometime after we think things out and such.  Short version; an orbital station that lets you drop colonists anywhere on the map to start multiple bases.  A whole new goal rather than just "escape the planet".

[Kegereneku]

My opinion on this :
- Tynan is entitled to taking a 6 month break if he want
- I see no legal lies in switching a Early-Access game into a completed game whenever he want
- All further opinions are thus a question of Relation with the Community and Marketing

Tynan,
As said earlier, it is unavoidable that some people bought Rimworld in an early-access state expecting a minimal amounts of amelioration... after-all Early-Access is born to allow Independent developers to get funding for the Development of the game.

If one bought A10 and is satisfied by A11, then it is great for him.
I however, must admit that for a game paid 30€ I really hoped to support the development of a game concept that would have been a very risky gamble otherwise.

For the comparison with Banished which cost 20€ I also do, like Vas, consider it abandoned and not much replayable without mods. Terraria just had a very very big patch a days ago. Unepic although a different genre or development team definitely feel complete (in the sense that whatever addition we could ask would feel like a minor details)

So myself I would be disappointed if Rimworld didn't meet some objectives, although I find very very honorable for you to tell everyone to NOT expect more than they have and completely agree with the logic that you are not forced to oblige.

To be said : Rimworld have a GREAT engine. What is lacking (IMHO) is contents, precisely for the replayability discussed earlier by SSS. That's case is actually quite rare for a game. Many developers spammed contents desperately to improve a game with a gameplay too weak for that content to make a change.
This is why I would be saddened for Rimworld to waste this potential. What is the point of having 100 parameters if you only exploit a dozens ? Minecraft player would kill to have a system of seasons/temperature/health/

Note : Unsurprisingly to me this content is summed up by enough Events to make Themed Storytellerviable (for modding at least) with some Ending. I'll add that Rimworld could get some UI improvement (multiple selections and all).


As for the question of whether or not to release it on Steam as Early-Access...
After reading all opinions here, I would also be split.
- 6 month would give a good time for a modder community to develop.
- Steam will definitely attract a lot of people
- Yet it would be great marketing for you to preserve that fast spaced development rate.
- But you still need a break, or more people working with you.
Still, a 6 months delay before an update is not something rare at all on steam, so I see no reason to not do it at least in Early-Access, you'll definitely get a lot of suggestions. The forum will definitely have a lot of newcommer (and you might face the Public Relation KSP faced)

Ps : A friend of mine waiting before buying the game is asking if you intend to let Steam have Discount like -50%.

[Vas]

Kegereneku, generally new steam games don't get discounted for more than 10% at most.  As you said, developers need to make money.  Discounts happen later on when the game doesn't have much going on anymore and doesn't need as much upkeep and such.

I think Tynan should take his break, then do the steam stuff.  After considering the fact that it will be a very long break, steam release may cause some people to think he has run off.  So, waiting till after the break to put on steam (just in case of some serious steam related bugs that require an active game developer around), would give him more opertunity to think about the future of the game, and consider whether he should indeed release as early access for a duration of time before marking as full release.

Tynan, this method of releasing as early access first, gives you the opertunity of two "releases" on steam.  You'll basically get your game on the front page twice.    As well as not annoying anyone too much with major changes made during early access.

In short, I believe the best course of action would be to break first, then early access release for a period of time before a full release.  What do you think?

[Tynan]

Tynan, this method of releasing as early access first, gives you the opertunity of two "releases" on steam.  You'll basically get your game on the front page twice.    As well as not annoying anyone too much with major changes made during early access.

In short, I believe the best course of action would be to break first, then early access release for a period of time before a full release.  What do you think?

These are basically my thoughts on the matter. I think ultimately I will end up doing EA for a while before the final release.It gives you two PR bumps, and there are things to learn during EA. It doesn't have to be a super long EA period (though it could be). It's good to have the flexibility.

[RickyMartini]

Fully agree with Kegereneku and Vas about the steam release.

[isistoy]

Fully agree on "taking the break first, then releasing" moves.
You'd be facing diff. concerns that would potentially appear when out with a reposed mind, fresh thoughts, recovered efficiency and so on...

[SadisticNemesis]

Kegereneku, generally new steam games don't get discounted for more than 10% at most.  As you said, developers need to make money.  Discounts happen later on when the game doesn't have much going on anymore and doesn't need as much upkeep and such.

I think Tynan should take his break, then do the steam stuff.  After considering the fact that it will be a very long break, steam release may cause some people to think he has run off.  So, waiting till after the break to put on steam (just in case of some serious steam related bugs that require an active game developer around), would give him more opertunity to think about the future of the game, and consider whether he should indeed release as early access for a duration of time before marking as full release.

Tynan, this method of releasing as early access first, gives you the opertunity of two "releases" on steam.  You'll basically get your game on the front page twice.    As well as not annoying anyone too much with major changes made during early access.

In short, I believe the best course of action would be to break first, then early access release for a period of time before a full release.  What do you think?

^this.

And to be honest I and most are fine with you taking a break, I mean you have been working full time on this and giving us almost monthly alphas and the coding must be a nightmare lol.

I honestly will be fine with a finished state IF it has atleast everything that was promised in kickstarter. and to be honest thats already almost done, all you need is more with archaeology *I know ruins are in the game but more could be done with it. like finding ancient tech when digging through, so on* the religion system. *and thats already started, even mildly by the praying joy action* and the relationship system. all of these things will give you more things to acomodate in the game and make it more different each time. So I think they're a must as they're promised anyway. But after that I think it'll be a good idea to get away for 6 months or so, get a fresh mind on things and if you want to add more at that point that'll be our greatful bonus to this amazing game that has godly protential, within mods and development.

And I personally just want to say thank you Tynan, you've done an amazing job so far and I hope you continue the good work

[magicbush]

No true sense of how much content would be in the game when it was finished was ever established, meaning consumers had to make some degree of assumption

What he said :p. I bought the game for the fairly high price assuming more content would be added(note I did not read the rest of Tynan's responses so if he's stated other-wise ignore this post lol I don't have time to read through 7 pages). Its in alpha at the moment and has been since I purchased it. This has always meant in gaming development history that features are being added. It then should hit beta were content and bug fixes happen, and then release with post release bug fixes missed. I have to agree I am disappointed in hearing this news very much and do not agree it is "done". To many EA Games I have bought get development cut early in the last few years . We all understand no game is perfect and you could be in development forever if that were the case. However when I purchase a product, I expect full support for a normal life cycle.

On another note I wish I could randomly decide to take a 6 month paid vacation at my job(Im In the wrong profession apparently). I can understand a break of a few weeks or even a month.. but thats ludicrous honestly lol. It sounds like your taking the money, as you stated this was very profitable, and turning your cheek. Which I hope is not the case and you really do finish what you started here considering how close you are. Not that you care, but dont expect money from me in the future if this is the end.

[Coactum]

Been away on holiday so late the party, but I reckon a full release next year and patching similar to Terraria or FTL would probably be more beneficial. If it's on Steam as a 1.0 release there won't so much be a demand for extra content as there would if it was in early access because to your average Steam user that kind of implies new content every 3 days or else. It could be business as usual on the Ludeon forums and if there ends up being people passionate enough coming over from Steam they'd be more informed as to what's going on, but your average Steam user won't have anything to pick at as a "not recommended".

It'd give you much more room for larger updates over longer periods of time without really having to say much to the general Steam community about what's going on. I guess what I'm trying to say is if it's not openly offered or suggested it won't be missed in the first place, and anyone who cares enough about the game to end up on these forums to find out more will most likely care enough about the game to be far more patient and supportive. That FTL Advanced Edition update came out of nowhere and it was awesome, no-one really expected it if I remember, and the Terraria updates, very little is said from what I'm aware until it's basically on top of us.

[pktongrimworld]

*grats Tyran*

[Toggle]

On another note I wish I could randomly decide to take a 6 month paid vacation at my job(Im In the wrong profession apparently). I can understand a break of a few weeks or even a month.. but thats ludicrous honestly lol. It sounds like your taking the money, as you stated this was very profitable, and turning your cheek. Which I hope is not the case and you really do finish what you started here considering how close you are. Not that you care, but dont expect money from me in the future if this is the end.

Eh... Tynan has been posting, reading, updating, working on rimworld for awhile. 6 months is a large amount of time though, so I see what you mean.