At a certain point they just need to release something or they're going to find themselves stuck in development hell forever. And I have a feeling whatever they do end up releasing will be far inferior to the other VR games on the market, simply because it's taken them so long and they've so little to show for it.
I hope I'm wrong.
First of all, xstoryplayer is a VR possibly supported, but certainly not exclusive or "developed for" title.
Expect first release without any VR functionality apart from crude stereoscopic mode.
They have historically been close mouthed and only a couple weeks ago released the statement that I attached in my earlier post.
Last I checked they were supposed to be 3 guys developing the engine in their free time after their daytime jobs.
While I fully understand the point you are trying to make, it is in my opinion not comparable to Duke Nukem Forever and will most likely not take as long.
They don't need to release anything. They are not greedy Patreons dragging their feet either, in fact they do not have any income apart from the rare person buying Xstoryplayer for their VR and the odd donation. Barely anyone knows about Xstoryplayer nowadays, so there is little income, and especially
no obligation to do anything or appease anyone.
Development being the part time nature that it is, and nothing can be guaranteed as people are juggling their own private life, plus a failed crowdfunding in the past are likely the reasons for them not to try crowdfunding or patreon again so far. They rather just do it at their pace, in silence. If they would respond to every single person complaining or pressuring them to show something, that would seriously take time off their already extremely limited time to work on it. It's their project, and they will eventually release it. You can then buy it / get it on here, or leave it.
I understand everyone is passionate about it because XSP is one of a kind and a great "game". But If you don't want to pay their rent, car, gas, taxes, whatever, then be patient, is what I try to tell everyone all the time. If I had a donkey shitting gold and assurances, I would probably give them a hundred thousand or more to get them on it full time - but alas, I don't even have actual donkey shit.
Remember, private people silently working away when they have a breather outside of their family and work life.
Just imagine yourself in their shoes, you sleep, go work a full day, come home, shower, cook, eat, spend time with family/friends, probably want to play some game or watch a movie or a show, take a shit, masturbate - then there is still that game you were working on.
You and I wouldn't be The Flash of video game development in their shoes either.
