PC Alpha 21 Dev Diary

[Aldranon]

Well, we get it the Monday right after Streamer Weekend, whenever that happens.  Streamers get it for the weekend and then we get it immediately afterwards.  It isn't like streamers will get it for a week or two.  The idea is that they get to show things off and also, as you say, walk through the mines for us.  There will be few people from TFP available to deal with bugs that crop up on streamer weekend.  On Monday when they release experimental to everyone, they'll all be there and ready to work on bugs that occur when everyone starts playing it.

Your right, it should be quick and painless (for us viewers).  One of the streamers I know I will watch is Jawoodle as he is completely immersed in the game and is pretty good at figuring the stuff out.   Neebs Gaming if they play it that weekend and then about a half dozen of my other favorites.

A weekend of super hype sounds great to me!

 

[LTKarhel]

It would be best not to give out any data at all. i mean when approximatley the game will be available Get the patch ready. Test it with the streamer and if everything runs fine, then announce an opening date. And then bring it out.

everything else is annoying just for you and for the gamers. Because now everyone is waiting for the weekend..wich weekend? next? about next? 2weeks?3weeks?june?..you now what i mean

 

[Riamus]

It would be best not to give out any data at all. i mean when approximatley the game will be available Get the patch ready. Test it with the streamer and if everything runs fine, then announce an opening date. And then bring it out.

everything else is annoying just for you and for the gamers. Because now everyone is waiting for the weekend..wich weekend? next? about next? 2weeks?3weeks?june?..you now what i mean

Everyone has different views on that.  Rick likes to give dates.  Lathan clearly didn't like that.  I prefer to have a general idea so I know what to expect.  The issue isn't really that they give estimated dates.  The problem is that too many people take these estimated dates as being set in stone.  They said they'd like to have it out for mid-May, but not that it would definitely be out then.  If everyone just accepted that this date isn't a guarantee and that it's just a general idea that could be changed, they wouldn't be so upset if it gets pushed back and we'd still all have a good idea that it is coming soon.  Besides, even if they didn't give that date, the fact they opened the streamer weekend applications already tells us this information in a somewhat more general way - not specifically mid-May, but instead "in a few weeks to a month" from when the applications were opened.  You can't entirely hide that this is coming soon and so not giving a general idea of the timeframe isn't really beneficial to anyone either.

 

[Jay_ombie]

 then do streamer weekend, then release that Monday after the streamer weekend.  This assumes no major bugs appear before then that may push it back.  Experimental does not include everything that is in A21, though most.  Certain things may be added during experimental like more POI updates and bug fixes before A21 goes officially live.

This burns, we waited over a year to be placed in a situation where we have a good weekend and opportunity to play along side the streamers share the fun plus experiance but instead we have to sit and watch agonisingly again ([SIZE=14.6px]dev streams [/SIZE]already[SIZE=14.6px] watched [/SIZE]before[SIZE=14.6px] hand) [/SIZE]before we get our hands on it 'some time after'.

Be nice if they changed this method of delivery and be fare to there supported loyal customer base and release into experimental to everyone at the same time which they so easily could do.

 

[Roland]

This burns, we waited over a year to be placed in a situation where we have a good weekend and opportunity to play along side the streamers share the fun plus experiance but instead we have to sit and watch agonisingly again ([SIZE=14.6px]dev streams [/SIZE]already[SIZE=14.6px] watched [/SIZE]before[SIZE=14.6px] hand) [/SIZE]before we get our hands on it 'some time after'.

Be nice if they changed this method of delivery and be fare to there supported loyal customer base and release into experimental to everyone at the same time which they so easily could do.

It isn't "some time after". It is the Monday after the Friday that the streamer event starts. 2-3 days from the start of the streamer event and usually a matter of hours after the streamer event ends. It has been this same exact formula now for about six years so I'm not sure why you think the amount of time you will have to wait is ambiguous.

You are correct that they could easily release it for everyone at the same time. It is the very simple matter of not putting a password on the experimental build. Since it is so easy there must be a good reason they don't.

Actually there are a few good reasons they don't but being as how this is the sixth year those reasons have already been repeated hundreds of times and obviously repeating them again isn't going to accomplish anything. Sorry you don't like the streamer event.

 

[unholyjoe]

seriously... again LMAO

the only change that will take place in how they release it will be that the last release was a20 and this release will be a21. the method is still the same as it has been for several alphas... TFP decides when should it be available for the public and then (then) they decide that the friday before will be for the streamers so a21 will generate more hype hopefully from stream viewers who havent played the game before.

but yeah... sorry to make some people mad but it goes out the same way now as it has in the past. but they do discuss amongst themselves when its ready for the public 1st  and 2nd when its going to go out to streamers.

I also want to add that to the BEST of MY knowledge, our builds were never based on any sales dates... they like it when they line up but no sale has been a factor of when an alpha drops for experimental.... some holidays maybe...sometimes but not 100% on that either.

 

[mstdv inc]

This burns, we waited over a year to be placed in a situation where we have a good weekend and opportunity to play along side the streamers share the fun plus experiance but instead we have to sit and watch agonisingly again ([SIZE=14.6px]dev streams [/SIZE]already[SIZE=14.6px] watched [/SIZE]before[SIZE=14.6px] hand) [/SIZE]before we get our hands on it 'some time after'.

Be nice if they changed this method of delivery and be fare to there supported loyal customer base and release into experimental to everyone at the same time which they so easily could do.

Exactly.Year.Nothing terrible will happen if you wait another 2-3 days from the streamers weekend .

 

[BFT2020]

Eh

With streamer weekend, the experimental releases on Monday.

Without streamer weekend, the experimental releases on Monday.

Not sure what the difference is (and yes, I understand the desire is to mass release it the same Friday as streamer weekend).  As someone that provides a lot of technical support, you never want to mass release a new project on a Friday if you want your people to have a weekend with their families after putting forth all the effort prior to the release.

And really, does 2 days wait really affect us that much?

 

[LewZephyr]

I'm glad for a Monday release (I don't give two flips about streamers).

This gives me 4 days or so to ensure my server is up and running how I want it and do some tests before we have a weekend long romp in 7D2D.

On the front of Dedicated servers, are there any specific changes to the server config file to be aware of?

 

[Javabean867]

This burns, we waited over a year to be placed in a situation where we have a good weekend and opportunity to play along side the streamers share the fun plus experiance but instead we have to sit and watch agonisingly again ([SIZE=14.6px]dev streams [/SIZE]already[SIZE=14.6px] watched [/SIZE]before[SIZE=14.6px] hand) [/SIZE]before we get our hands on it 'some time after'.

Be nice if they changed this method of delivery and be fare to there supported loyal customer base and release into experimental to everyone at the same time which they so easily could do.

This builds hype for the new alpha, this is what they have done for years, and i am excited to see what my favorite streamers get up to.  

 

[Riamus]

This burns, we waited over a year to be placed in a situation where we have a good weekend and opportunity to play along side the streamers share the fun plus experiance but instead we have to sit and watch agonisingly again ([SIZE=14.6px]dev streams [/SIZE]already[SIZE=14.6px] watched [/SIZE]before[SIZE=14.6px] hand) [/SIZE]before we get our hands on it 'some time after'.

Be nice if they changed this method of delivery and be fare to there supported loyal customer base and release into experimental to everyone at the same time which they so easily could do.

You never want to release to the public on a Friday because any game breaking bugs won't be fixed until Monday when the devs return.  Some studios do release Friday and more often than not, everyone suffers because of it.  Not only that, but streamers play a major role in game sales and so giving them a little bit of a head start (a few days is hardly a big deal) is a good thing.  You aren't waiting any longer than if they didn't do the streamer weekend anyhow.  They'd still release on Monday.

 

[SnowDog1942]

Is infestation a new quest type or is it a modifier for the current quest types.  For example can u have an infestion restore power quest or infestation find the courier satchel thing.  Or is it always kill all zombies?

Im thinking its a seperate type but would make more sense as a modifier?

 

[Javabean867]

Is infestation a new quest type or is it a modifier for the current quest types.  For example can u have an infestion restore power quest or infestation find the courier satchel thing.  Or is it always kill all zombies?

Im thinking its a seperate type but would make more sense as a modifier?

For now it seems to be its own quest type.  But I have a feeling they will add it as a modifier.  Fetch and infestation,  lol I was going to say a bunch of things, but I can't think of any lol.

 

[Riamus]

Is infestation a new quest type or is it a modifier for the current quest types.  For example can u have an infestion restore power quest or infestation find the courier satchel thing.  Or is it always kill all zombies?

Im thinking its a seperate type but would make more sense as a modifier?

From the way it sounds, it's just a clear.  I saw something about thinking about other quest types with the infestation "modifier", but I don't remember if that was just talk on the forum or if it was something said during the dev stream.  I think there are definitely options to expand it to other types of quests and I do agree that it would work better as a modifier than a separate quest.  But maybe they are doing it this way just as a balance on what quests you can get or something like that.

One thing I think they should be considering as they add additional quest types is having more quest choices available per day.  If they are concerned how many people might do in a day, then they could just let you do X number of quests per day, but give you more choices.  With additional quest types, there are going to be more chance of quest types people don't want to do and, like when you get 5 buried treasure or 5 restore power quests in a day, it just isn't a great thing.  Having more choices would really help to let people do the quests they enjoy.

 

[Old Crow]

Keep in mind that Mid-May is for experimental.  Most people who buy the game from that sale aren't going to be using experimental, so trying to align it with the sale wouldn't make any sense.  The plan is that they complete their dev streams (I think there might be one more this week), then do streamer weekend, then release that Monday after the streamer weekend.  This assumes no major bugs appear before then that may push it back.  Experimental does not include everything that is in A21, though most.  Certain things may be added during experimental like more POI updates and bug fixes before A21 goes officially live.

Ah, yeah. That's a good point.

 

[sillls]

Happy May first everyone. Mayday! Mayday! 

 

[david18]

sorry if this has been said already, but I've seen from the last couple of pages people talking about experimental on a Monday. do we have a exact date or is it kind of a timeline as i also saw a mid may comment but it wasn't from a fun pimps staff. have a great week guys cant wait for alpha 21 been playing 7dtd since alpha 14. 

 

[MajorMunchy]

so a question that may/may not have been asked...can we turn the fire gas hazards back ON? like, why not make it a trap and you can refuel it with fast. cause if they are prema off when you shut them off whats stoping someone from just making a horde base around those traps?

 

[Roland]

sorry if this has been said already, but I've seen from the last couple of pages people talking about experimental on a Monday. do we have a exact date or is it kind of a timeline as i also saw a mid may comment but it wasn't from a fun pimps staff. have a great week guys cant wait for alpha 21 been playing 7dtd since alpha 14. 

Pick from May 8th, 15th, 22nd, or 29th. I think we’ll know in the next couple days if it is the 8th or not. Weekend of the 15th is Mother’s Day. Weekend of the 29th is Memorial Day which is typically a day off for TFP. 
 

Im guessing it’s either the 22nd or it’ll be June. Of course, mothers can turn like anyone else so maybe the 15th.

Safest is to assume June honestly and then be pleasantly surprised if it happens this month. 

 

[beerfly]

Pick from May 8th, 15th, 22nd, or 29th. I think we’ll know in the next couple days if it is the 8th or not. Weekend of the 15th is Mother’s Day. Weekend of the 29th is Memorial Day which is typically a day off for TFP. 
 

Im guessing it’s either the 22nd or it’ll be June. Of course, mothers can turn like anyone else so maybe the 15th.

Safest is to assume June honestly and then be pleasantly surprised if it happens this month. 

I do respect you with all my heart, but I am just glad that you are not into a lottery tickets` sales.