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Re: Any new news? And who really wants network play? Vote here.

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Posted by Randy Bloom on July 01, 1999 at 14:05:32:
In Reply to: Re: Any new news? And who really wants network play? Vote here. posted by Chris Appel on June 30, 1999 at 11:44:15:
: 1) How important is multiplayer functionality to you in an RPG?
In "an RPG" it's something I can take or leave, but in THIS RPG it's something that has drawn me
since I first read about it (waaaay back when it was still under Virgin's umbrella), and if that
makes me and the 8-port hub in my house a minority, so be it -- the ability to bring characters
in or out of the game and have them retain everything means that my friends can play with me
in one campaign and if they all get busy, I can take "my" character and play differently 'til the
group resumes.
: 2) If multiplayer DID pose a delay to the game, would you prefer to see it released as a single player game with a multiplayer patch released later, or would you prefer we wait and release everything at once?
If you can't do it right, don't do it. We've been waiting this long, and have to wait for new
distribution anyhow, why branch the code now as a rush job for those with no friends? (Yeah, that's
flamebait . . . sue me.)
Seriously, I've been following the computer gaming industry (and been IN the software industry)
for so long, I'm so sick of what "internet development time" has done to software that I can't
really believe "ship it now and patch it later" is something anyone would vote for over "do it right
the first time". Anybody here old enough (and/or internet-savvy enough) to remember Quake? Back when
it was an anticipated follow-up to DOOM, and there was buzz about the game for over a year? What
if id had caved and said "Well, people want to be able to design their own levels, and we've meant to
do that all along, but we'll just ship it with only single-player and deathmatch and the levels we
want to give you" (or worse, no deathmatch)? Would you have wanted a patch for that?
I've never designed a Quake level in my life. I think I'm in the majority. I think you can still see my point.

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: : 1) How important is multiplayer functionality to you in an RPG? : In "an RPG" it's something I can take or leave, but in THIS RPG it's something that has drawn me : since I first read about it (waaaay back when it was still under Virgin's umbrella), and if that : makes me and the 8-port hub in my house a minority, so be it -- the ability to bring characters : in or out of the game and have them retain everything means that my friends can play with me : in one campaign and if they all get busy, I can take "my" character and play differently 'til the : group resumes. : : 2) If multiplayer DID pose a delay to the game, would you prefer to see it released as a single player game with a multiplayer patch released later, or would you prefer we wait and release everything at once? : If you can't do it right, don't do it. We've been waiting this long, and have to wait for new : distribution anyhow, why branch the code now as a rush job for those with no friends? (Yeah, that's : flamebait . . . sue me.) : Seriously, I've been following the computer gaming industry (and been IN the software industry) : for so long, I'm so sick of what "internet development time" has done to software that I can't : really believe "ship it now and patch it later" is something anyone would vote for over "do it right : the first time". Anybody here old enough (and/or internet-savvy enough) to remember Quake? Back when : it was an anticipated follow-up to DOOM, and there was buzz about the game for over a year? What : if id had caved and said "Well, people want to be able to design their own levels, and we've meant to : do that all along, but we'll just ship it with only single-player and deathmatch and the levels we : want to give you" (or worse, no deathmatch)? Would you have wanted a patch for that? : I've never designed a Quake level in my life. I think I'm in the majority. I think you can still see my point.
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