I've been developing software for over 4 decades. I understand your point, but at some level I disagree. None of us here pay his salary. He doesn't work for us. We are NOT his clients. We have nothing, seriously nothing, dependent on his making any date he gives us.
This feels intellectually dishonest. I think you're fully aware of what I intended by that statement as my use of the word "clients" can effectively be swapped for customers, patrons, anyone providing funds in expectation of a product or service.
He's completely transparent on his progress and anything that disrupts his schedule.
This is dishonest. Again, I want to preface this by saying it is not my intention to be demeaning, im not going out of my way to be spiteful nor troll but below is the opposite of transparency:
Hi,
Just a quick update and apology.
Sorry v0.10 hasn't been released yet. I'm still working on it.
I will release it as soon as possible and update you if anything changes.
Apologies,
DB
Allow me to explain. This message came through Sunday, the expected day of release. You ask for help or make the announcement when your feet are dangling above the fire, as you likely felt the heat long before then, not when they're already submerged in flames. This applies beyond visual novels and is what I mean when I say:
... all of this could be easily averted by not announcing unreachable deadlines on a whim
UPDATE 8th November:
I was hoping to get it finished and released today, but I'm not going to manage it.
So it will be released tomorrow evening.
UPDATE 9th November :
Just to give you an update because I know some people will be getting impatient.
It will be released tonight, but it will be late tonight my time, so that could mean another 8 hours yet.
I'll let you know when I start uploading it. That usually takes an hour and a half to complete.
Unless the status of this has changed (im not a Patreon nor on the Discord so it may have, please save your groans and hear me out) and the Patreon was never updated, this is another announced target that was missed. My point isn't to antagonize but to highlight the fact that this creates a problem that need not have existed in the first place.
I like the fact that he provides his best estimate and updates it as unforeseen factors or unexpected unknowns force those estimates to change. Your milage, obviously, may vary, but he's proven he's a serious committed developer and I value anything he cares to share.
DarkBlue can produce good content, he can write a compelling narrative, and he actually does research on his subjects that minimizes the suspension of belief that leaves you un-immersed among a library of other games that explain away inconsistencies using unsatisfying porno video game logic. With these things in mind, knowing that he wants to continue in this space, I would rather provide my 2C where I feel it could be helpful rather than continue to him watch him stumble.
Being a yes man has never helped anyone and I want to reiterate that this isn't something that should just be handwaved because it comes with a real cost so if I feel I can provide at least something of value that's what I will do. If he's UK-based, it's 2:30AM right now and I guarantee you he's still up working, likely rushing himself to the finish. This is something you should be more familiar with than myself as although i've been in the industry awhile im still in my 20s; the missed deadlines, the crunching, the crash you experience forcing productivity when your body and mind is practically zombified can last for days and by your own words...
he's proven he's a serious committed developer and I value anything he cares to share.
...I guarantee he's paying that price.
Again, all I sought to do with this is highlight that it's a price that never needed to be paid in the first place in the hopes that he doesn't do it to himself moving forward. It's exhausting, it's anxiety-inducing, it's a lot of things which is why I advocate he no longer does it both for himself and the community that claims to have his best interest in mind.
I am far too lazy to make another post like this, I need to make at least 10 shit posts to realign myself. Back to regular boop.
