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General discussionDevs suddenly abandoning games(10 posts)(10 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted September 18, 2024
I feel like bringing up this issue because it seems to happen from time to time. The newest example is most likely Astrox Imperium, the dev was not updating the build since end of 2023... not a single time anymore, neither GoG or any other site. Previously he was updating the game around 5-10 times a year. Not a single comment regarding its/his status... in general it is always happening with this pattern, if it happens at all. https://www.gogdb.org/product/1472214470#builds

However... i had about the same thing happening on Between the Stars which was in development for some years and then suddenly it seems to be abandoned. Most likely more than a year after, the devs was finally showing some "life sign" and was explaining some difficulties on how to handle it. I guess they had 3 devs in the beginning, not sure anymore, but it was more than one. Anyway, as we know, with some luck they finally was continuing supporting it as it even has been released now as a "finished game", yet of course not the biggest game ever made, but a pleasurable experience from devs who surely love space games.

Another game, with a very promising start from a single dev which seems to have big skills is Space Bourne 2 ... but, over time it was clear to the gamers that this huge project is simply surpassing the thing a single dev can raise and some people even was suggesting to increase the team somehow. As far as i can say, they was increasing the team now... most likely there are now several devs working on it, which is required else i consider it a impossible task. This game is still very young and so far it seems to be supported, but... i can not help it, somehow i still fear something "might happen", leading to "stop". Another thing with some concerns: GoG version is still V. 4.0.2 https://www.gogdb.org/product/1649813385#builds , which has been released 5 months ago. Newest build is 4.2.0 with one major update in between. Guess they are not updating GoG version for more than once every 6 months anymore, until this point it is pretty much broken. In my mind they should at least release every major update "on time".

With Astrox Imperium the difficulty is bigger because it is a extremely demanding project and i did fear... in the beginning, that it will break down the single dev involved, it is just to huge of a task. Although there have been some support from outside i think it still takes several devs who know what to do and beyond purely financial interest; else it will not be possible finishing it at the shape intended. Of course he was promising that he "will not drop support" but this promise is always given... words and actions are not the same.

I just wonder, what do people think? How does it look and are you experiencing similar issues at one of your games? In general, is this a big issue or rather rare?
Post edited September 18, 2024 by Xeshra
Posted September 18, 2024
I consider it a problem only if the game seriously needs fixes and updating. If it works fine, then I am not expecting further updates for it.

This is nothing new, I don't think Bethesda fully fixed e.g. TES: Daggerfall, ever. It received lots of fan-made fixes, and even with them it still feels quite broken, you can still fall through stairs and shit.

Or, say, Fallout Tactics, lots of things broken within the game that some fan-made mods tried to address somehow. Not necessarily even fixing things, but just pointing within the game itself "BTW don't pick this perk, it doesn't work correctly".
Post edited September 18, 2024 by timppu
Posted September 18, 2024
A Bethesda game without bugs? Is this heaven? I guess i am realistic and not expecting something impossible.

I do not think that the amount of bugs are the parameters deciding if a game "has been finished or abandoned" or not... unless it is totally game breaking of course, but i do not know those kind of "super bugs" there.

In general, by abandoning i rather descibe a action... and a game involved... in a clearly unfinished shape in comparison to its true intention as a finished game. Always have to look at the whole picture in order to see "where does it stand".
Posted September 18, 2024
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Xeshra: I just wonder, what do people think? How does it look and are you experiencing similar issues at one of your games? In general, is this a big issue or rather rare?
Happens a little too often.
One of the main reasons many people don't buy InDev/EarlyAccess games. Too many cases of ''Slap a ''it's done'' on it. We're done.'' or games being outright abandoned. The reasons vary. Too ambitious a project. ''grab & run'' scheme. Unforeseen complications...
Posted September 18, 2024
I don't mind buy an "In development" title provided that what is offered is already solid and enjoyable.

If its more of a "looks promising, hopefully the final product will be solid", then I'll wait.

To me, conceptually, it is not that different from devs who release "completed" games, but then iterate tons of upgrades over them after release.

The only thing that really p*ss me off is when they update them elsewhere, but not here. That they are not willing to do that extra bit of effort to maintain parity between their different customers irks me. They are not working for Steam afterall.

Otherwise, overall, we should not expect devs to maintain their games eternally. They are sold as goods, not services. The only obligation from the devs is to fix the bugs, that's it.

For porting games to new iterations of OSes, its nice, but provided that they don't actively make awful design decisions (sometimes the case), the onus there is on the gaming industry as a collective (starting with game vendors) to get their heads out of their asses and collaborate on vendor-agnostic open long term platform solutions. Can't expect game devs to do OS port patches indefinitely.
Posted September 18, 2024
Well, even if it is on Kickstarters, with some more commitment.. certain promises still may not become real. For example the Sea of Stars-Devs did not provide a GoG copy, although it has been told so at that time.

Finally they did not care one bit (anymore) and even was willing to reimburse anyone who did not get their "GoG copy". They had apparently a pretty huge success, so, it was just peanuts to them.

But in general, according to my experience, in term the stuff has never been on Kickstarters... the commitment can be very low and indeed, it is always a big question if this game may become true in any adorable shape.
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Magnitus: The only thing that really p*ss me off is when they update them elsewhere, but not here. That they are not willing to do that extra bit of effort to maintain parity between their different customers irks me. They are not working for Steam afterall.
I am not so sure anymore. Sometimes i truly get the impression they are working for them... because all they need to do is to hand over sufficient coins and those doing it will kinda become "your chief".
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Magnitus: Otherwise, overall, we should not expect devs to maintain their games eternally. They are sold as goods, not services. The only obligation from the devs is to fix the bugs, that's it.

For porting games to new iterations of OSes, its nice, but provided that they don't actively make awful design decisions
Yet they want to become a eternal copyright-holder of things but without eternal support...

Reality is, eventually everything may fade and even a copyright may not last eternal because at some point it may go over to the "ownership of humankind" as a immaterial heritage. At least according to my logic but the interest is generally "one sided" and with ownership there comes some obligations... power and rights are not free.

Actually many games are almost lost... because the company got "busted" and even the source code has been lost... things like that already happened, not beyond reality.

But, indeed... the most sad thing is probably if it is getting abandoned right at the dev-stage.

I think it is important to know what it means to honor something, not to let people and gamers down who are willing to trust you, and putting trust into you. But i guess this "honorable thing" does not really exist as a company... most likely just between good friends and family.

Guess i am just way to much of a "good human" who does not understand that this world is most likely... corrupted and screwed, and the one who got a saying here is usually the one with sufficient power.
Post edited September 18, 2024 by Xeshra
Posted September 18, 2024
I don't think it's THAT common, but of course some devs can feel the burnout after a long developing time, or want to move on because updating the game is less profitable than releasing a new one, it is what it is

But nowadays most games do get patched up and updated with worthwhile content, even if the game is in a good place already
Posted September 19, 2024
Sadly, the Aircraft Survival (currently on sale) devs have abandoned the game (on GOG). On Steam they delivered multiple bug fixes and two dlcs, but not here... *sigh* A look at the GOG game forum shows three threads asking for updates which were never answered let alone follow-up with actions.
Posted September 19, 2024
Another sort of "abandoned" it seems. But the most mean thing is in this case: It looks like finished but in fact it is a highly broken condition and the worst: On another platform it is not broken at all or at least with a way better shape. In such a case the question surely is valid if those publishers "abandoning the GoG version" should still be welcome here. Not that they care, but it hurts the GoG gamers...

Anyway, even on Steam this game is still very buggy and it seems you do not miss a lot just not to buy the GoG version. In case "they are surprised at the low sells"....there is no reason to be surprised about.
Post edited September 19, 2024 by Xeshra
Posted September 19, 2024
All the more reason to refrain from immediately buying games on GOG that are currently in development. One way to be sure is to always check the games' respective subforums, and if you see threads saying that the games are behind in terms of updates compared to their Steam versions, then better save your money for a different game or something else, like groceries maybe.
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Community
General discussionDevs suddenly abandoning games(10 posts)(10 posts)
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