Comments on: Patch the Patch http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/08/17/patch-the-patch/ a group of adventurers on an epic quest Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:28:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Actual Imbalance at Kill Ten Rats http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/08/17/patch-the-patch/comment-page-1/#comment-27448 Actual Imbalance at Kill Ten Rats Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:03:04 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=1749#comment-27448 [...] rant. Hey, I segue that into rant rant rant about the state of Conan four months into it and how nothing is ever fixed or done right ran rant rant. Good [...] [...] rant. Hey, I segue that into rant rant rant about the state of Conan four months into it and how nothing is ever fixed or done right ran rant rant. Good [...]

]]> By: Jezebeau http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/08/17/patch-the-patch/comment-page-1/#comment-27271 Jezebeau Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:29:11 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=1749#comment-27271 Zubon: Once or twice a year, yes, but that's more a testament to having to put up with that production behaviour in other mediums than an excuse for extended-production gaming development teams to continue to do so. Zubon: Once or twice a year, yes, but that’s more a testament to having to put up with that production behaviour in other mediums than an excuse for extended-production gaming development teams to continue to do so.

]]> By: Openedge1 http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/08/17/patch-the-patch/comment-page-1/#comment-27238 Openedge1 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:27:36 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=1749#comment-27238 I just don't know what game you guys are talking about.. *blink, blink I just don’t know what game you guys are talking about..

*blink, blink

]]> By: Zubon http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/08/17/patch-the-patch/comment-page-1/#comment-27232 Zubon Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:50:34 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=1749#comment-27232 Jezebeau: Yes but you pay at least $7 to see a two-hour movie with plot holes. Jezebeau: Yes but you pay at least $7 to see a two-hour movie with plot holes.

]]> By: Sente http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/08/17/patch-the-patch/comment-page-1/#comment-27230 Sente Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:48:42 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=1749#comment-27230 It really bugs me when a representative for one of those MMO game companies in response to the problems encountered says "every other MMO has the same type of problems". If a company spends millions and spends years to develop a product I would expect that they would be able to manage scope and schedule accordingly. Especially when it is not the first time they are developing an MMO product in particular or a game in general. It really bugs me when a representative for one of those MMO game companies in response to the problems encountered says “every other MMO has the same type of problems”.

If a company spends millions and spends years to develop a product I would expect that they would be able to manage scope and schedule accordingly. Especially when it is not the first time they are developing an MMO product in particular or a game in general.

]]> By: Shalksi http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/08/17/patch-the-patch/comment-page-1/#comment-27229 Shalksi Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:27:31 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=1749#comment-27229 The thing that makes game development different from other software development is that game developers don't want the beta testers to test all parts of the software. Lo and behold, those untested parts usually contain bugs. It's the same with the game mechanics themselves. If you keep them secret, you don't really get accurate bug reports when the testers have no clue how it's supposed to work. And that's just the stuff that can be objectively tested. Game balance issues are a whole different beast, and some of the worst ones surface only with specific gear and skill combinations. If your testers don't have access to those talents and gear, you aren't going to find that bug. The thing that makes game development different from other software development is that game developers don’t want the beta testers to test all parts of the software. Lo and behold, those untested parts usually contain bugs. It’s the same with the game mechanics themselves. If you keep them secret, you don’t really get accurate bug reports when the testers have no clue how it’s supposed to work. And that’s just the stuff that can be objectively tested. Game balance issues are a whole different beast, and some of the worst ones surface only with specific gear and skill combinations. If your testers don’t have access to those talents and gear, you aren’t going to find that bug.

]]> By: Jezebeau http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/08/17/patch-the-patch/comment-page-1/#comment-27228 Jezebeau Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:59:46 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=1749#comment-27228 I'm not sure that you can call it cheap when we're paying $15/month waiting for fixes on issues that we shouldn't have had to pay for in the first place, and sometimes never get fixed. I'm reminded of the problems with taunt in CoX, where in Issue 11 the devs investigated the taunt code and found out it didn't work the way they thought it did. If one's not documenting their code in a project of that magnitude, how can they even pretend responsibility to their subscribers? Trial and error isn't really an acceptable update schedule. I’m not sure that you can call it cheap when we’re paying $15/month waiting for fixes on issues that we shouldn’t have had to pay for in the first place, and sometimes never get fixed.

I’m reminded of the problems with taunt in CoX, where in Issue 11 the devs investigated the taunt code and found out it didn’t work the way they thought it did. If one’s not documenting their code in a project of that magnitude, how can they even pretend responsibility to their subscribers? Trial and error isn’t really an acceptable update schedule.

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