- Jan 2, 2020
- 466
- 241
"I know i'm grabbing the first part out of context at this point, but in the same post you do argue that working on something else contributes to the classification as a scam and that not working on something else unless the patreon income is stable enough is stupid"I think there is a point to be made for philosophies like "enjoy it while it lasts" or "the journey is as important as the destination", but in general i agree with you on the first part. As you said, even if the money that has been sunk by a patron can be rationalised or justified, abandoned projects also tend to leave a lot of bitterness and resentment and that is not something people want for their money.
Your second paragraph is the mixed part now, and before anything else, i'll ask you to please clarify something to me, because there seems to be a bit of contradiction among the things you wrote.
I know i'm grabbing the first part out of context at this point, but in the same post you do argue that working on something else contributes to the classification as a scam and that not working on something else unless the patreon income is stable enough is stupid.
I mostly agree with the reasons you listed along with this quoted ones, except for the classification of milking and scam. Scamming would require a malicious intent and i've yet to see anyone who can back that claim up. The question of milking is trickier. As i see it, basically all their faults can be marked down as a lack of exoertise on a field. Hreinn has an artist, a programmer and a writer, but no manager and nobody who is good at honest PR. As the example shows, those are very important jobs even on this indie level. In the case of any project that works better, someone on the team can handle multiple roles. For example Sierra was not just the writer but also the PR behind the first game and the difference in communication is the most visible part of her absence.
You might want to consider a few things in this matter.
As i've mentioned, Noxian Nights took 2 years to be made and while i think that's an awesome game, it has a way smaller scope than KoD. Full linear story, no choices until the very end, small scale art without backgrounds, very few characters. These are not bad things, but KoD aimed to change these and while i also think that Hreinn bit more than they can chew, it can't be realistically expected to be finished in a similar time frame.
And the larger project with fewer people mentioned was Valheim. Just a quick look at their wiki page shows that this example is false. Valheim's development also started in 2017, but it had a bit of exisiting foundation as the head of the game has worked on his side project along with his regular job for a while. The team also had 5 experienced developers, not 2 and later 3 like Hreinn does (with only one programmer). Valheim is also a literal one in a million project. You can probably count on your hand the number of times a game by 5 devs sold 5 million copies.
You really managed to twist my words,i hope that ain;t intentional...anyway the point is that ONCE you start making a game you SHOULD have a stable financial situation which for most people means having a job,the " they are probably working on another game or something in real life" part is about something else,there i meant that they are already working on another game example: KoD and they promise their community that they are working on it but the truth is that they are keeping appearances so the cash keeps flowing while they are working in secret on something else,sound like a scam yet? If they officialy abandoned KoD and started another game or got a real job then it wouldn't be a problem,bc they wouldn;t be taking KoD money while not doing anything for it.
" I mostly agree with the reasons you listed along with this quoted ones, except for the classification of milking and scam. Scamming would require a malicious intent and i've yet to see anyone who can back that claim up. The question of milking is trickier. As i see it, basically all their faults can be marked down as a lack of exoertise on a field. Hreinn has an artist, a programmer and a writer, but no manager and nobody who is good at honest PR. As the example shows, those are very important jobs even on this indie level. In the case of any project that works better, someone on the team can handle multiple roles. For example Sierra was not just the writer but also the PR behind the first game and the difference in communication is the most visible part of her absence"
Scaming and milking are 2 faces of the same coin and thats a fact.
All that talk of PR is nonesense,you dont have to hold speeches,streams or conferences,they JUST have to talk to their patreons and community about what their doing and the status of the game,keeping people that PAY you in the dark is a huge Dick move.
Then they should rehire her if they cant even communicate with their community.
" And the larger project with fewer people mentioned was Valheim. Just a quick look at their wiki page shows that this example is false. Valheim's development also started in 2017, but it had a bit of exisiting foundation as the head of the game has worked on his side project along with his regular job for a while. The team also had 5 experienced developers, not 2 and later 3 like Hreinn does (with only one programmer). Valheim is also a literal one in a million project. You can probably count on your hand the number of times a game by 5 devs sold 5 million copies"
Point still stands that its been a long while since 2017 and its a valid point to make that they are moving slower than they should,why aren't they hiring more people? Why aren't they reducing the scope of the game if they bit more than they can chew? In those years sure we got a somewhat good story,a moronic combat system,little freedom after a point in the game (around mid game i think),some scenes are great and i hope they keep going for quality over quantity but most are average or below,sub and dom stats are kinda useless right now (very little difference between them as of now) and as some have pointed out which saddened me,is that the whole map will not be explorable and the universe will be barely unique.