Explanation
#1
Posted 22 February 2006 - 09:00 PM
Since the last server test (last year), a new version of Flash (the software used to develop GSW) has been released and the new version of my encryption program (which will remain unnamed) has been released. The combination of these two new releases has rendered the working version of GSW unusable, but I did not realize that until it was too late. I had spent so much effort trying to find a working server that I neglected proper testing of the game itself before announcing the server test last week.
So now I have two options really: spend several weeks revamping the current version of GSW to work with the new software versions and release it as-is, or I can simply proceed on with the overhaul that AveneR and I had planned for GSW. Let me lay out the pro's and the con's and I'll let you all discuss and help decide:
Revamping the current version would allow you all to play again within the next month or so, but it would just be another release of essentially the same game most of you have played before. The current incarnation of the GSW code is pretty limited, and thus it will be hard for me to release new features.
AveneR and I had planned before the last server test to begin work on rewriting a large portion of the game engine and switch to a more robust version of the server software, allowing us to more easily add mini-games and other truly interactive features (such as battling sometime in the future). It would also allow us to have more believeable and GS-esque NPC characters which move around and interact with people like they do in the games instead of just standing around not even blinking. While all of this is certaintly exciting, it will of course take several months, meaning the next release probably would not be until early to mid summer.
So those are the two choices, and I'd be happy to entertain questions, concerns, opinions, etc. in this thread. I wouldn't mind doing either option, though obviously the second will lead to a better game sooner. This game is for you all though, so I want your input before moving on.
#2
Posted 22 February 2006 - 09:05 PM
#3
Posted 22 February 2006 - 09:06 PM
#4
Posted 22 February 2006 - 09:07 PM
#5
Posted 22 February 2006 - 09:14 PM
1) If we revamp the current version, this will allow people who have yet to play GSW (like Split Infinity and Toasty) try it out in the server test next month.
2) If we proceed with the overhaul, this will let you get some work done a bit faster and add in some much-needed features for that summer release. GSW was decent the way it was, but it needed some serious improvements, especially for object boundaries. It'd be awesome to see NPCs actually show some life. =D
Personally, I think the overhaul is the best way to go at this time. But if enough people are impatient enough to try it again (with the revamp), I wouldn't mind. <_<
#6
Posted 22 February 2006 - 09:46 PM
#7
Posted 22 February 2006 - 10:08 PM
#8
Posted 22 February 2006 - 10:20 PM
#9
Posted 22 February 2006 - 10:56 PM
Realize this though, anyone who wants the server test sooner rather than later: If we get a server test now, it won't be nearly as good, and it'll be a mere three to five days. If we wait until summer, we'll not only get a revamp, but the server test will likely last an entire week, if not a two weekend week( 9 days, Saturday to following Sunday). So, it's really a matter of whether you want a higher quality server test, or a server test sooner.
I definately think it'll be worth the wait...
#10
Posted 22 February 2006 - 11:08 PM
#11
Posted 22 February 2006 - 11:51 PM
#12
Posted 23 February 2006 - 02:28 AM
#13
Posted 23 February 2006 - 08:56 AM
For anyone who says otherwise: Is 3 days of the current GSW worth the extra months of waiting for the real GSW?
I think not ;P
#14
Posted 23 February 2006 - 09:00 AM
#15
Posted 23 February 2006 - 10:38 AM
#16
Posted 23 February 2006 - 11:04 AM
I can stand the wait. Compared to some games this is barely a delay.
#17
Posted 23 February 2006 - 01:28 PM
I've got school now, so GSW will probably make me study less(MUCH less) if it was to be released in a month. Also, I've waited for a lot of things for much longer than a few months and I think I could live with this being pushed. It's probably easier for you and Avener, Max.
Oh, but please try and get it released in June. That would be perfect for me, because that's when my school finishes.
#18
Posted 23 February 2006 - 02:11 PM
Platinum Sun: No offense, but I think that I would know better what is "easy" for me to do, especially when it comes to developing complex games. The new modular engine will be magnitudes easier to add features on than the crappy version we have now. So that really isn't a valid argument, as development has to start over (almost) for the new version.
Isaac702: While that would of course be a preferrable method, the game has to be recompiled every time the server is changed. Unfortunately, all the versons of GSW are currently pointing to a server which no longer exists, and thus are unusable.
I said this in an earlier post but let me just repeat it in case people missed it: the code overhaul will happen regardless, but if I do a revamp of the current version it will take about a month and will delay the next release until the fall (past when school starts). I personally feel that it would be a better time investment to just move on, but I want to give everyone some time to think about it. I will have a poll up tomorrow after you all can discuss it some more.
#19 Guest_seeviper_*
Posted 23 February 2006 - 03:50 PM
#20
Posted 23 February 2006 - 05:28 PM
#21
Posted 23 February 2006 - 08:11 PM
#22
Posted 23 February 2006 - 08:56 PM
Sure, it's fun to have an old version to play around with but we want progress, not more waiting in the long run.
#23
Posted 24 February 2006 - 03:23 AM
I'd rather play a full game sooner than a 'demo' game now.
#24
Posted 24 February 2006 - 05:23 PM
#25
Posted 24 February 2006 - 05:54 PM
#27
Posted 26 February 2006 - 12:02 AM
I think we can wait.
Sort of like the moderators used to say...
[Cased Closed]
... Until someone else has two cents to give us. O:
#28
Posted 26 February 2006 - 03:57 AM
#29
Posted 26 February 2006 - 06:46 AM