PC Developer Discussions: Alpha 17

[Deceiver101]

Nothing is holding up the progress. The developers are methodically working through their tickets which include tasks to finish features and fix bugs. The testers are writing new tickets for the developers to fix as they find issues while playing. Everything is progressing well but there is a lot to do. As you know Madmole has been working on the perk system and designing what all the perks are going to do when purchased. Gazz is going behind him and hooking them up so that they will actually do what the descriptions state. faatal continues to work on pathing and vehicles. Prime is finishing quests and working on the user interface for things like vehicle inventory and other issues regarding the interface. Kinyajuu has been working on Area of Effect issues and buffs and random gen.
Changes made just the other day required all old saves to be deleted and a fresh start made. It's changes like that which prevent the game from being appropriate for general consumption.

Progress is happening all the time.

Thanks for the update! This is the communication I like.

 

[Drithyl]

Btw @Roland

I think it would be good if someone on the dev team or the mod team checked the new Steam reviews every so often, particularly the negative ones, and commented on them. There's a lot of misinformation spread in them, especially regarding the attitude of devs and mods towards users, and I think that even a single comment in them displaying a friendly, constructive presence would serve to palliate the negative effect of such reviews (especially since whenever it's a dev that responds, Steam adds a special mention on the review indicating that a dev has responded).

People saying you are banning users for asking questions while being nice, or criticizing some of the dev choices without being well-informed (like the whole Unity update thing), etc.

EDIT: an example just now https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198076525376/recommended/251570/

 

[spacepiggio]

Btw @Roland
I think it would be good if someone on the dev team or the mod team checked the new Steam reviews every so often, particularly the negative ones, and commented on them. There's a lot of misinformation spread in them, especially regarding the attitude of devs and mods towards users, and I think that even a single comment in them displaying a friendly, constructive presence would serve to palliate the negative effect of such reviews (especially since whenever it's a dev that responds, Steam adds a special mention on the review indicating that a dev has responded).

People saying you are banning users for asking questions while being nice, or criticizing some of the dev choices without being well-informed (like the whole Unity update thing), etc.

EDIT: an example just now https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198076525376/recommended/251570/

Why, you made enough comments for everyone, left that little tid-bit out didn't we...

Drithyl 11 minutes ago

- Various bugs: All the ones mentioned have already been confirmed to have been fixed for a17, including the minibike falling through the world and the zombies' AI.

- Have not played PvP, so can't really comment on that. I always play PvE with a couple friends and it's a blast.

Overall, I do recommend the game even in its current state because it's extremely fun. But perhaps even more I'd advise to wait until a17 is released, hopefully soon, to find out whether the wait will have been worth it. I think it will be, but we'll see if I'm proven wrong!

3/3

Drithyl 11 minutes ago

- "It's done when it's done": I don't understand why people take this the wrong way. It's the truth of the matter; even devs can't have an exact date of when it's going to be released. Plus, when they keep giving estimates for people to be satisfied, those same people take it as a promise and give the devs flak for not meeting it. It's not a personal attack that people should be defensive about. It's not a snarky response.

- Long dev cycle: Earlier alphas took a bit less than the upcoming a17. It's true, it's already taken a year. In fairness, this is the alpha where they're using all of the experience and tests from previous versions to refactor it all and bring it close to the full release state. They hired new people to do so as well, so of course those people needed to be brought up to speed. Well, whether you like it or not, it takes as long as it takes. The game is extremely fun as it is right now, and I'm sure it'll be even better. Time is not an issue.

2/3

Drithyl 11 minutes ago

Nice review. I appreciate the fact that you took the time to make it long and cover all of the points. A few counterpoints:

- Disrespectful mods/devs: I frequent their forums every day, and many of the people complaining that they got banned or moderated is because they deserved it. Buying a game does not entitle you to be an abusive jerk towards developers. People saying that they get banned for asking things nicely is straight up BS. There's also a misunderstanding: buyers are not investors. You can read the early access disclosure to understand this, but it boils down to the fact that you buy access to a game that's still unfinished; not more, not less.

1/3

 

[Drithyl]

Is that... is that a bad thing? D:

 

[TSRViper]

Is that... is that a bad thing? D:

I don’t think so.

Half(?) of the bad reviews on steam are for completely the wrong reason - people upset about a long update for a game they obviously love - so give the game the review it deserves and put in the caveat that the update cycle is a long one...

 

[Zadwanaa]

wall of text

Yep! He did, and how dare a fan of the game try to clarify things!

Seems like he's just bringing up the fact that there's so many negative reviews and that a mod would carry more weight than a random person

 

[PiercedFromWithin]

It also helps to show that the devs are paying attention to things and, you know, want people to give the game a chance. I'm just me, but when I'm browsing games and looking at reviews I do tend to be more likely to look at the comments on reviews that get developer responses(even if the review itself is kinda jackass-ey). I can't entirely say how much of that is because Steam makes it obvious that a developer has commented versus being more interested in what they say than just other gamers... but some of it is definitely wanting to hear the developer's perspective.

Of course if a dev responds and sticks their foot right in their mouth... it could backfire.

Then again, a couple of calm responses versus a flood of angry group-thinkers might not make that much difference.

 

[canadianbluebeer]

I'd rather the devs concentrate on getting A17 out the door, than answering the unanswerable. (head meet brick wall kind of thing)

All of this is a major drawback to early access. select alpha/closed beta the old way avoided all this. Open beta, caused some, but those were generally short before gold release. (stress testing)

Current form IS playable. Yes has bugs. It ain't done yet. That's life.

Cheese truck is over there, and yes, I still have to go to the bathroom.

:argue: :deadhorse:

 

[Doombringer101]

I'd rather the devs concentrate on getting A17 out the door, than answering the unanswerable. (head meet brick wall kind of thing)
All of this is a major drawback to early access. select alpha/closed beta the old way avoided all this. Open beta, caused some, but those were generally short before gold release. (stress testing)

Current form IS playable. Yes has bugs. It ain't done yet. That's life.

Cheese truck is over there, and yes, I still have to go to the bathroom.

:argue: :deadhorse:

Agreed.

 

[Drithyl]

I'd rather the devs concentrate on getting A17 out the door, than answering the unanswerable. (head meet brick wall kind of thing)
All of this is a major drawback to early access. select alpha/closed beta the old way avoided all this. Open beta, caused some, but those were generally short before gold release. (stress testing)

Current form IS playable. Yes has bugs. It ain't done yet. That's life.

Cheese truck is over there, and yes, I still have to go to the bathroom.

:argue: :deadhorse:

I agree, which is why I mentioned that perhaps someone on the moderation team should do it. Or a dev whenever they have some free time because their particular list of bugs has been handled, or whatever.

 

[NukemDed]

not a lot of wisdom around here...

1 - the devs are busy. leave them alone.

2 - im sure the owners have pr people (think streamers getting their hands on a17 first) and if they were worried we would see them in action

3 - the game isnt finished yet so what does a review or opinion mean?

4 - any publicity is good publicity right?

5- have patiernce, its a virtue.

reminds me of a joke.

an old bull and a young bull were wandering along one day and crested a hill to see a big herd of heifers

young bull - 'lets race down there and do a few!"

old bull - "no - lets walk down there and do the lot"

 

[Roland]

I have answered several in the past and was careful to be upbeat, kind, and respectful of their opinion. They almost always deleted my comments. Of course this was particularly hilarious from the ones who’s main complaint was that they were censored on the forums....

I’ll do another round tonight for a bit. Maybe some of you will get to read them before they disappear. But I get it. There can’t be much that is more satisfying for a disgruntled 7 Days fan than to ban Roland from your own review.

 

[Doombringer101]

I have answered several in the past and was careful to be upbeat, kind, and respectful of their opinion. They almost always deleted my comments. Of course this was particularly hilarious from the ones who’s main complaint was that they were censored on the forums....
I’ll do another round tonight for a bit. Maybe some of you will get to read them before they disappear. But I get it. There can’t be much that is more satisfying for a disgruntled 7 Days fan than to ban Roland from your own review.

That sounds like a particularly onerous job to me... Good luck!

 

[TSBX]

Proof that gamer culture is largely trash.

 

[NukemDed]

how about you make a thread and put their review and your comments up. that way there's a record of it...

don't know why you would bother to engage them anyway - let the game speak for itself.

they are only tetchy 'cause its so good and they want it NOW

that 25 year old from before - if my son was that disrespectful of ANYTHING he would be over my knee. yes at 25.

 

[SittingDuck]

@ Roland everybody loves the villan !

Do your worst ;-P Keeps things fun while we wait for the update...

 

[Crater Creator]

how about you make a thread and put their review and your comments up. that way there's a record of it...
don't know why you would bother to engage them anyway - let the game speak for itself.

I’d say no, because that would seem too much like naming and shaming the ‘bad’ reviewers, something we fight against as moderators.

 

[NukemDed]

fair enuff

line 2 then and ignore them

 

[Drithyl]

don't know why you would bother to engage them anyway - let the game speak for itself.

Because many people won't know the bliss that is playing 7 days to die because of some of those unfounded negative reviews. Sure, if everyone first played the game and read the reviews, the idea of letting the game speak for itself would make sense. The problem is that many won't get to that part because of the negative reviews about the devs or moderators, and that's a damn shame.

 

[NukemDed]

no. just no. it ain't your worry or your problem.

soon the reviews will be different when its finished and they will join in.

anyway - i don't care what anyone else says.

i like it, am happy to wait, and that's it.

bit of context - on nov 3 i am off on a 2 week fishing holiday in Northland nz when all the big fish are in close and hungry. (look it up) and i wont give a toss about nuttin but KILL FISH. i've been nukemded since diablo1 came out, was fishkiller before that

then i get back to a big garden in full swing and dry tracks to bring logs to my sawmill - bliss

so, devs, take your sweet time

maybe a lesson in... life carries on