Well I'm finally trying out the game after dropping it almost a year ago. Renders look...better so far. Perhaps Arnold? Smoother mapping and possibly some better bump maps as well. I'm still early in and I'm reminded of why I dropped it, story is boring, at least to me, not really my cup of tea. From what I hear, it gets better later, specially with the changes. Don't know if I'll have the patience to continue, I actually think that the story behind the fiasco with the community and the dev is more interesting.
I'm still not entirely clear of all the cogs behind it, perhaps that's what makes it more interesting though. I hear some people wanted some different ending but the dev said early on he had a planned story and would not change, but people were still upset about the directions and others were upset at those people because they were upset at the creator. Yada yada yada, typical internet feuding nonsense whining and whiteknighting between tribes of ideas, coupled with the usual cuckery and trolling right? But what's this? The dev actually delivered on different endings, as well as some other complaints? And some of his early defenders are pissed at him for capitulating, some are more like "meh" And ofcourse you'll always have those who are never appeased. It's starting to look conspiratorial, and it's free? or was it? Don't really care, the unknown makes it better. Was he just being nice? Or perhaps he knew this was his change to shine in the community?
Personally, I tend to think the drama drove publicity and attention to the dev, which in turn makes him more popular and therefore famous, or even infamous. Notoriety brings home the mula after all. Good for him I suppose, the dynamics behind of this so far boring game made it for me.
Maybe I'll give it another shot later, while thinking about all of you and the dev.