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Post by Mandrake on Jan 6, 2016 2:14:42 GMT
Without exception, periods of silence from 22Cans in the past have been followed by something deeply unpopular happening. Grab the popcorn! After what little 22cans have shown in updates this year (including the rather funny joke of the opt-in build), generally how they've fumbled algorithms into each other (there's supposedly someone working in Production of this title?), basically making a stage production of cloning buildings from other games (ah, there is the "Production"), and toying around with arrow colours and card graphics...there could have been only one supportive narrative for that - for as many people claimed to be working upon the title, and what little they could present to the public, that the title was put into post-release maintenance with no further serious development intended on part of the studio. With that, it's not too surprising that they turned off the empty hype train except for deniable agents. I can only point out that they know what kind of reaction they plan to receive, since they also know from history of their own actions and have been going by the same playbook, and so we get to wonder for a bit on what form 22cans' next devtroll takes. Well, devtrolls other than the silly updates. From the non-information present for a studio supposedly working upon a game for a year and 6+ developers regularly claimed, the scant material presented in the updates now looks more like an attempt to just fulfill contractual tickboxes with VALVe. 22cans' publisher DeNA obviously couldn't care less, so... |
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Post by earlparvisjam on Jan 8, 2016 4:42:53 GMT
I predict we'll get a "new hire" community manager in Feb-March right before the "release" of the combat update/free expansion late March. It'll be a steaming pile of buggy mess that barely resembles anything we want to be playing and the community will go ballistic (as expected). A lot of the worst will be cowed because people don't want to harsh on the poor new guy that was suckered into taking such a dirty job. Then, we'll have 3 months of fairly active "fixes" before things slow down and people realize there's nothing else coming out this year. We won't hear what's next on the plate beyond a "story line revamp" or another Settlement Refactor.
Sure, a lot can happen since we are nearing the 1 year since poo storm anniversary, but this is turning into a pretty dead horse to beat on so I'm uncertain the media's going to bother until PM tries to reveal the Trails and gets raked over the coals.
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Post by hardly on Jan 8, 2016 6:23:16 GMT
I predict we'll get a "new hire" community manager in Feb-March right before the "release" of the combat update/free expansion late March. It'll be a steaming pile of buggy mess that barely resembles anything we want to be playing and the community will go ballistic (as expected). A lot of the worst will be cowed because people don't want to harsh on the poor new guy that was suckered into taking such a dirty job. Then, we'll have 3 months of fairly active "fixes" before things slow down and people realize there's nothing else coming out this year. We won't hear what's next on the plate beyond a "story line revamp" or another Settlement Refactor. Sure, a lot can happen since we are nearing the 1 year since poo storm anniversary, but this is turning into a pretty dead horse to beat on so I'm uncertain the media's going to bother until PM tries to reveal the Trails and gets raked over the coals. Speaking of the Trail, I'm surprised they haven't squeezed that one out sooner. They must be eager to get a new cash flow going. |
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Post by hardly on Jan 20, 2016 6:22:05 GMT
The whole - 22Cans will go dark for four months - was supposed to be a joke not a prediction. WTF is going on at 22Cans? They aren't even pretending to work on this game anymore.
Lets review recent history: - No game updates
- No communication
- No plan
22Cans have taken a prediction of incompetence, sloth and bad faith and implemented as if it was an acceptable way to do business. 22Cans are proving themselves to be complete and utter fuckwits. They don't even try to be decent human beings or to meet their promises.
colin22cans we have tried to be patient and reasonable. If you don't want to develop this game anymore (that means releasing updates and communicating with your customers) then take it down off steam and start issuing refunds. I realise you are just doing your job, but if "doing your job" requires this level of assholeness then its time just to quit like so many before you.
If you are doing something worthwhile then you owe it to the people here, the people you took money from to report to us on what you are doing.
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Lord Ba'al
Supreme Deity
Posts: 6,260
Pledge level: Half a Partner
I like: Cats; single malt Scotch; Stargate; Amiga; fried potatoes; retro gaming; cheese; snickers; sticky tape.
I don't like: Dimples in the bottom of scotch bottles; Facebook games masquerading as godgames.
Steam: stonelesscutter
GOG: stonelesscutter
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Post by Lord Ba'al on Jan 20, 2016 7:17:34 GMT
Maybe he doesn't work there anymore.  |
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Post by nickthesane on Jan 20, 2016 7:33:23 GMT
Maybe he doesn't work there anymore. Given what happened with Dave and the fact Colin is no longer coming online let alone posting I suspect that Colin left at the end of December |
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Post by hardly on Jan 20, 2016 8:19:05 GMT
Maybe he doesn't work there anymore. Stranger things have happened. You have to wonder who is still working there at this stage. I don't know why they aren't more honest about what's going on. Colin and Simon posted here a bit when they started but over time it just diminished and now they are just giving us the middle finger. Why does 22Cans have to be so so bad? With a little bit of effort they could be just moderately bad instead of comically terrible. |
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Post by hardly on Jan 20, 2016 8:20:50 GMT
He was here yesterday, he keeps watch but doesn't post. Why? Either he has left 22Cans or starving us of information is a deliberate 22cans strategy.
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Post by totallytim on Jan 20, 2016 9:24:54 GMT
Well you can't really expect much from the person who came to the conclusion that people are happy with 22Cans because the latest few articles in the Steam 'news' section had a positive like to dislike ratio with a total of less than 50 votes. Don't mind the negative reviews or the burning forums riddled with complaints and suggestions, which were blatantly ignored.
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Post by nickthesane on Jan 20, 2016 10:59:05 GMT
Well you can't really expect much from the person who came to the conclusion that people are happy with 22Cans because the latest few articles in the Steam 'news' section had a positive like to dislike ratio with a total of less than 50 votes. Don't mind the negative reviews or the burning forums riddled with complaints and suggestions, which were blatantly ignored. Oh they realise .... they're just hoping that if they keep this crap up then the people that paid them to make a PC game will just fuck off so they can make another crapy cow clicker. 22Cans know what they are doing and are more evil than EA because of it. Occasionally EA does a move that is good for the consumer, ok not often but it is more than can be said for 22Cans |
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Post by Crumpy Six on Jan 20, 2016 11:13:52 GMT
I'm not defending their strategy, but I imagine they're doing it because they have rationally assessed that there is zero benefit in maintaining communications.
If they maintain open communications they will receive questions and feedback from the community, which they have no intention of answering or acting on. Then, when they release the product (which will not reflect any of the aforementioned feedback) it's even more fuel for the fire, because people will say "we told you we didn't want this, and you said our feedback was valuable, so why did you do it anyway?"
Screw the Kickstarter commitments and the spirit of Early Access. They have no interest in feedback from the community. Most of us are just Early Access customers who have already given them money. The mobile players, who are still a potential source of income, don't much get involved in the online community so bad press online won't really hurt that market. We're also dwindling in numbers: many people have lost interest in Godus. It's from 2013. It's an old, unfinished, crappy game.
It does remain interesting as an example of everything wrong with Early Access and software Kickstarters. Where that is concerned, it only becomes more interesting (to me anyway) because I'd like to know how long this abortion can be dragged out before consumer law catches up with it.
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Post by Spiderweb on Jan 20, 2016 14:31:48 GMT
I didn't realise how close 22cans are to Guildford Hospital, I've been there twice recently. I could of popped in to say hello (among other words)! oh and Konrad is still play testing (156 hours in the last 2 weeks).... steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198013512309 |
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Post by nickthesane on Jan 20, 2016 14:45:50 GMT
I didn't realise how close 22cans are to Guildford Hospital, I've been there twice recently. I could of popped in to say hello (among other words)! oh and Konrad is still play testing (156 hours in the last 2 weeks).... steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198013512309If we have their address why not share it and we can start sending physical letters of complaint to, possibly sending copies of the letters to the press. Maybe this will get a response for 22Cans. Even dodgy companies tend to respond to this tactic so there is a chance 22Cans might |
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Post by nickthesane on Jan 20, 2016 14:47:41 GMT
I didn't realise how close 22cans are to Guildford Hospital, I've been there twice recently. I could of popped in to say hello (among other words)! oh and Konrad is still play testing (156 hours in the last 2 weeks).... steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198013512309Well one must assume that Konrad is still working on the game as he is playing it now. I can't imagine anyone would want to still be playing the abomination for over 500 hours without being paid for it |
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sjoerd93
Wannabe
Posts: 20 
Pledge level: Patron
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Post by sjoerd93 on Jan 20, 2016 15:06:27 GMT
I am 99% sure they're working on the game. As can be seen from the Godus Wars found in the SteamDB.
How many people I don't know. I am expecting actually one or two actual coders. But no-one high-profile, just some inexperienced blokes who have made the mistake of accepting the job.
The question is more what are they working on.
Disclaimer: All below is pure speculation. All is based on what the emerald prophet (or whatever he called himself) has said. And the discoveries of Godus Wars on the SteamDB. As Godus Wars was discovered after the leaks from the emerald prophet, I feel fairly confident that his observations could actually be true.
My money is that Godus Wars will be the PC-implementation of Godus.
They will release it as a separate DLC, free for all current Godus owners. (If that is not the case, hell will really break loose).
The reason for releasing it separately is probably to get rid of the negative steam rating.
It will probably offer a better experience (I know, call me a dreamer) than the current version, and I expect a half try at an actual combat system. (However, a rock-paper-scissors balance for units will probably be too much too ask from 22Cans. I will not be surprised if there's only one type of unit).
Basically I am expecting a watered down RTS with some Godus elements in it.
Not saying it will be a good game. But I do expect something that will 'technically' check some boxes of the kickstarter promises.
I think they are being quiet on this because they broke all promises with the deadlines. At the moment they should release their promised update according to their deadlines, they were probable miles away from anything viable. I reckon they figured that saying that it could take another six months would offer greater backslash than remaining quiet.
I think they've thrown huge parts of the game overboard and got back to the drawing table and are trying this scheme.
In fear of fucking up any further with communications, and of people getting mad for throwing everything away. They decided to simply go into darkness and come back when they have something to show for it.
That being said. Being quiet on this is what is considered in bird culture, a dick move.
They have the moral obligation to keep their kickstarter backers in the loop. Throwing everything away and starting a half-assed attempt on an actual game (what seems to be the case in my speculation) would be an improvement over what they have shown over the past two years. It really surprises me how they keep fucking up their PR.
Again, I would keep expectations low. But I am fairly sure they're working on something. And it will be most likely be combat-oriented. I am expecting a watered down RTS with god-elements.
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Post by Spiderweb on Jan 20, 2016 15:23:34 GMT
FYI-Their address is all over the 22cans forum, as it was Dave's signature before he left.... David Jackson – Community Manager 22cans, Stirling House, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7RF @22cans | Facebook.com/22cans | YouTube.com/22cansOfficial If they don't respond to email, I doubt they will respond to a letter. |
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Post by Spiderweb on Jan 20, 2016 15:24:32 GMT
and this www.22cans.com/contact-us/ shows their location on a map. Its also interesting that they are next door to Lionhead Studios. |
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Post by nickthesane on Jan 20, 2016 15:42:00 GMT
FYI-Their address is all over the 22cans forum, as it was Dave's signature before he left.... David Jackson – Community Manager 22cans, Stirling House, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7RF @22cans | Facebook.com/22cans | YouTube.com/22cansOfficial If they don't respond to email, I doubt they will respond to a letter. You'd be supprised how often it does work, especially in bulk AND with the press included to |
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Post by hardly on Jan 20, 2016 18:22:45 GMT
I didn't realise how close 22cans are to Guildford Hospital, I've been there twice recently. I could of popped in to say hello (among other words)! oh and Konrad is still play testing (156 hours in the last 2 weeks).... steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198013512309Why would he be playing GODUS (present steam version) if they have an advanced new version yet to be released? This suggests the GODUS Wars development is a hoax. |
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Post by hardly on Jan 20, 2016 18:27:12 GMT
I am 99% sure they're working on the game. As can be seen from the Godus Wars found in the SteamDB. How many people I don't know. I am expecting actually one or two actual coders. But no-one high-profile, just some inexperienced blokes who have made the mistake of accepting the job. The question is more what are they working on. Disclaimer: All below is pure speculation. All is based on what the emerald prophet (or whatever he called himself) has said. And the discoveries of Godus Wars on the SteamDB. As Godus Wars was discovered after the leaks from the emerald prophet, I feel fairly confident that his observations could actually be true. My money is that Godus Wars will be the PC-implementation of Godus. They will release it as a separate DLC, free for all current Godus owners. (If that is not the case, hell will really break loose). The reason for releasing it separately is probably to get rid of the negative steam rating. It will probably offer a better experience (I know, call me a dreamer) than the current version, and I expect a half try at an actual combat system. (However, a rock-paper-scissors balance for units will probably be too much too ask from 22Cans. I will not be surprised if there's only one type of unit). Basically I am expecting a watered down RTS with some Godus elements in it. Not saying it will be a good game. But I do expect something that will 'technically' check some boxes of the kickstarter promises. I think they are being quiet on this because they broke all promises with the deadlines. At the moment they should release their promised update according to their deadlines, they were probable miles away from anything viable. I reckon they figured that saying that it could take another six months would offer greater backslash than remaining quiet. I think they've thrown huge parts of the game overboard and got back to the drawing table and are trying this scheme. In fear of fucking up any further with communications, and of people getting mad for throwing everything away. They decided to simply go into darkness and come back when they have something to show for it. That being said. Being quiet on this is what is considered in bird culture, a dick move. They have the moral obligation to keep their kickstarter backers in the loop. Throwing everything away and starting a half-assed attempt on an actual game (what seems to be the case in my speculation) would be an improvement over what they have shown over the past two years. It really surprises me how they keep fucking up their PR. Again, I would keep expectations low. But I am fairly sure they're working on something. And it will be most likely be combat-oriented. I am expecting a watered down RTS with god-elements. I completely agree with your interpretation but the absolute and complete silence surprises and offends me. Periodically I reach the limit of my patience when 22Cans undershoots my lowest expectations. GODUS should be removed from Steam. It no longer meets the definition of a game in early access as far as I am concerned. |
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