PC *Long Read* 2.0 Anticipation meets great disappointment.

R

RandomSurvivor

Refugee
I'm not sure if it will matter to most.. perhaps an oversight. Thought it worth mentioning.

Backstory

I'm quite invested into 7D2D. As a staple of our family gaming nights for years - we logged hundreds, if not thousands of hours on the legacy console edition. The news of 1.0 coming to console was one of the most anticipated things of 2024 for us. Our excitement was overwhelming. As was the realization that we were easily 1k in the hole to achieve this.  It was then that we realized our first gen OneX (3) were no longer suitable. We purchased four copies of the game, replacing all three consoles with new gens, for no other reason than restoring our 'family gaming tradition'.  Of course, one of these upgrades was the brand-new series X, required to host for 4. Now don't get me wrong, I was all too happy to buy into it, so I'm not here to complain about my own decisions on that point.. but why it's relevant is merely to highlight the lengths we have gone to, so that we can enjoy this amazing game. 

Fast forward a few months, the TWITCH thing in the options menu becomes more and more curious as the 'new' progressed into just being 'familiar' once again. I was well aware of what TWITCH was, but was not a regular user & was very curious/intrigued by this new layer of content I hadn't yet experienced. A quiet and generally reserved guy, who did the unexpected.. I said to hell with it & jumped feet first into the world of "live-streaming'. It was like entering a whole new world, with a different language, ettiquites and traditions than anything I'd seen before.  --- After all, this layer of content was presented on the options menu on my console. Designated for exactly this purpose... As a console user, vanilla is what we get. This certainly raised the level of intrigue with Twitch Integration, as there was very little that we could look forward to otherwise, with any certainty. 

To date, I've been streaming for about 6 months. Went from being an acquaintance to TWITCH at best, to at least understanding the process much better. I stream 7 Days to Die content almost exclusively, slowly learning how to grow into this experience. To this point, the content I create is niche(hardcore runs), in an already niche market of viewership. 

Now that I've covered a little backstory, it brings me to the real reason for this posting. 

Since I began streaming, I've made adjustments to content and adapted to the learning curve of being a streamer. Trying, anyways..  Some of these adjustments may have just been what type of content I want to make, but always feeling a little bit like I will have to work EXTRA hard to bring in viewers who will be 'entertained enough' to join your community while streaming a VANILLA EXPERIENCE... after all, the great majority of streamers doing 7D2D -- are doing so from a PC, which without question dominates the space. That much is expected, and even acceptable if you understand hardware limitations. Furthermore, the PC community (with all due respect) has really been the lifeblood keeping the game alive for all these years... So state for the record, this isn't even a jab at the PC community at all.. but more to poke in the direction to just be able to say.. WTF guys?

Console was late to the party, old news for PC users was still fresh content for console. I can accept 4 player server limits, no-mod support and the fact that there will only ever be the vanilla experience if that is how it plays out moving forward. I can accept the paywall that a would-be streamer is up against if they didn't already invest into a decent PC, just to have a reasonable-quality stream with a few alerts that will actually show up when someone engages with your stream. [Paid subs to Streamlabs or Lightstream for an overlay...] 

Why any of this matters to anyone? Likely, it doesn't to most.. I'm sure many would be pressed to critique my rambling here and thats okay. I needed to vent this, as a console user and streamer. Twitch Integration was added for us, therefore we have to assume it was intended to be used for this purpose...

So my question is, now that we have this on console, with crossplay etc-- Why are we doing experimental releases that are exclusive to PC? For your average console player, it wouldn't be anything other than a day to mark and look forward to on the calendar... but for someone streaming, from a console, with already somewhat outdated content when compared to the modded streams; making it more competitive and even at a disadvantage of time served, so to speak...

We (console and PC) can't be equal in every way.. but come on guys, by the time we get a stable version of 2.0.. it will be up to 45 days out of date already.. that's assuming no more delays or issues arise. 45 Days where we are unable to avoid spoilers because we support other streamers each day... If spoiler was the worst, I wouldn't waste my energy here.. It's that this update is GOING TO BE A DAMN GOOD ONE. It will bring new experiences, new content and new/returning viewers who are looking to get their drops, and the latest scoop on the update. The uptick in this will be old news by May. we will miss that spike in viewership and since consistency is pretty much #1 in streaming... we won't just go on hiatus, no.. we will just be streaming old and outdated content.. still. I will add, EVERYONE including myself is going to want the Twitch drops... so now even our regular viewers will go to another channel to earn their drops because they have something that you cannot provide them with.

I've chatted among the networks of 7D2D streamers I am involved with, many of which are PC streamers and have learned that I'm the anomalous complainer who's disgruntled about the upcoming time line, and how that translates to someone trying to create content.

The easy solution WOULD have obviously been buying a gaming PC, but rounding back to the backstory.. it would have been counter-intuitive to playing with my family. Streaming came second, but now tends to be at the forefront of my focus..

In all, I have to say.. I'm feeling pretty defeated and seemed like the only thing left to do was jump up on my soapbox here for a few minutes to vent the frustration. No disrespect to the PC community at all, I just wish these things were taken into consideration. For us, it's like watching a re-run of the super bowl when we already know who wins.

A solution you ask? 

Release the experimental to us too... who cares if its flawed, needs patched or updated again?   Pushing streaming as though it's an equality feature and letting us fall behind as a content creator once we do, all because we can't get updates across all platforms on the same date is just wrong imo. It's not even feeling me entitlement; it's literally there staring us in the face as a method of maximizing the available content the game has to offer. God forbid anyone get too curious without extensive research... you will be disappointed. 

Signed, My unpopular opinion.

Still love you TFP.. just disappointed in you. Have a great day. 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
If you want someone to read multiple pages, make a MUCH BETTER SUBJECT LINE so we know if this is worth opening and spending 5min or not on this. If you do that, I'll read it.

 
As Vaeliorin mentioned, the decision isn’t really up to TFPs. It’s largely due to the restrictions imposed by console manufacturers to protect their interests—some for valid reasons, others less so.

That said, I am sure there’s a market for console play throughs. There are plenty of unique play styles and self-imposed challenges that can create engaging content, even with just the vanilla game mechanics.

Don’t get caught up in what you can’t do on console, like overhaul mods or Twitch Integration. For every viewer who enjoys Darkness Falls and Twitch Integration, there’s another—like myself—who prefers content without them.

Great content isn’t just about mods or high-level game play. Most gamers don’t watch purely for skill; they tune in for an engaging personality, interaction with the community, and an authentic experience.  Personally, I have dropped two streamers.  They both are great at the game and popular but they let their disingenuous personalities show through.  That really killed the enjoyment for me so I find others to fill the time.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
As stated, TFP doesn't get to choose to make experimental available to console.  That is up to Sony and Microsoft, who won't allow it.

And just a tip: Most people won't read such a long post.  It is best to keep suggestions or requests short and to the point if you want people to read it.  Now, I tend to write long stuff as well, so I don't have much room to talk, but your long post basically came down to a one liner... Please let console have access to experimental.  You can put in sight about streaming and spoilers, but at least start with your suggestion our request so people can respond even if they don't want to read all of that just to find out what they are responding to.  You will get better responses that way.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
TLDR - The reason they don't release experimental updates on consoles is the same reason they hardly release early access games on consoles.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but this game was designed 1st for PC, then Tell Tale was responsible for porting it to console, that was a giant clusterF*CK for years and put them way behind in bring a new build for you guys. So keep this is mind. Controller support is a nice to have, it wasn't intended from the onset if I am not mistaken. The amount of Sh!T that flies at you as a dev when you break a save game/world is monumental. The last user base to get a build is Console, because they need to take what they KNOW works well on PC and then port that to Console for similar reasons. I think this is a pretty common practice and I would expect most games do experimental builds on PC first and release stable to console.
 

 
You gotta look at it like GTA. PC has to wait at least half a year if not a year after the console release. A bit over a month is nothing compared to that.

With Baldurs Gate 3 you have a closed stress test for content patches. Not everyone get´s in. And that´s more than a month, it´s already 3 months with the newset patch i think. And i avoided spoilers so far, even though i would really like to know the new sub classes. 

If you really, really feel the need to support your favorite streamers you can still let the stream/video running muted without watching and staying subscribed.

I could go on with other games, but i guess you get the pont. It´s business as usual. Many people have to deal with that.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
All valid points, some I was unaware of. I genuinely hadn't considered Microsoft/Sony would have viewed it different than a standard Non DLC patch, or update?  I guess this does put it into perspective, so I gladly retract from any blaming TFP directly or indirectly. 

I appreciate the clarifications & those who took time to add some thoughtful reasoning.  I'd like to reply to each, but have said more than enough.. Thanks for hearing me out/correcting the misunderstanding... I'd love to stay and vent more, but now I must set ablaze the Sony and Microsoft forums instead!

All jokes aside, there's not many games that can keep me engaged like 7D2D.. Few other things worthy of a 2 page essay with a follow up. Cheers guys.

 
8_Hussars said:
As Vaeliorin mentioned, the decision isn’t really up to TFPs. It’s largely due to the restrictions imposed by console manufacturers to protect their interests—some for valid reasons, others less so.

That said, I am sure there’s a market for console play throughs. There are plenty of unique play styles and self-imposed challenges that can create engaging content, even with just the vanilla game mechanics.

Don’t get caught up in what you can’t do on console, like overhaul mods or Twitch Integration. For every viewer who enjoys Darkness Falls and Twitch Integration, there’s another—like myself—who prefers content without them.

Great content isn’t just about mods or high-level game play. Most gamers don’t watch purely for skill; they tune in for an engaging personality, interaction with the community, and an authentic experience.  Personally, I have dropped two streamers.  They both are great at the game and popular but they let their disingenuous personalities show through.  That really killed the enjoyment for me so I find others to fill the time.
Click to expand...
You are absolutely right and there's no guarantee it would make a difference in the grand scheme of things. Some valid points made here and other replies offered what I was hoping to reach here. --  Some of the streamers I watch are so focused on the community, expressing their gratitude etc that their gameplay produces next to nothing in the end, but a great energy that is hard not to enjoy, so I fully agree with you there. 

Tunnel vision in the discoverability challenge. Just a baby streamer trying to find his way. Thanks again!

 
RandomSurvivor said:
I genuinely hadn't considered Microsoft/Sony would have viewed it different than a standard Non DLC patch, or update? 
Click to expand...
I think their issue is that it is a test release that could have a lot of bugs and perhaps security concerns and they don't want such things on their consoles.  But that's just my personal belief and may be incorrect.

 
Id say that even if you invested in Xbox gaming for the purpose of playing together as a family and that your newfound hobby of streaming your gameplay wasn’t on your radar when you bought the consoles, now that streaming has gained some primacy in your enjoyment of 7 Days that it’s time to make the logical next step. 
 

Even if TFP included twitch integration for streaming using an Xbox because they wanted console gamers to get into that part of the hobby, a console can only realistically be considered a dabblers tool or a beginner’s stepping stone. 
 

Sounds like you’re quite serious about streaming  now and if you know that the bug has well and firmly bitten you and you will definitely continue in the future then make a serious investment in that future and rig up with a PC. 
 

sounds like you’ve got the means to do it and it’s not like this will be a frivolous purchase. It’s definitely a justifiable investment if you want to grow. Also, there’s no need to abandon your family. You couldn’t have played with them at the time of 1.0 but you can now. With a beefy enough rig you can even be the most stable host in the family. 
 

Take the next step and get in on the experimental branch so your channel keeps growing.  I’m betting part of you posted here hoping people would encourage you to do what you know you want to do. 
 

Hell, could someone encourage ME to upgrade my rig? I keep guilting myself out of it to pay bills and feed my family. Someone tell me to level up!!

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Roland said:
Hell, could someone encourage ME to upgrade my rig? I keep guilting myself out of it to pay bills and feed my family. Someone tell me to level up!!
Click to expand...
Maybe you can trade them for a better rig? I'm sure there's a dark corner of the interwebz for these kind of trades.

Ps: This option might be extremely productive to your cause, I still won't recomend you let them read any of this.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top