Why We Need A Release Date

[Dr. Goner 661]

Work expands to fill the time you allow for it.

[Barack Obama 215]

wat?

[Inception. 9443]

Having a release date means that the forums are flooded with a ridiculous amount of whinging, should Rocket "fail" to release it on that date.

 

We needn't have a release date. Dean says he will not give one at this moment, either.

 

On that note, please elaborate upon your original post.

Edited September 18, 2013 by Inception.

[Statik (DayZ) 2695]

I understand those words individually, but not when compiled in that foreign sounding manner.

[Max Planck 7174]

Yep, let's set a release date so the unwashed impatient hordes can throw a gigantic collective fit when it gets broken.

Or as an alternative, release before it is ready just to keep the date.

 

Good idea, thumbs up.

Edited September 18, 2013 by Max Planck

[Dr. Goner 661]

It's Parkinson's law. Basically you'll use whatever time you define for a task to complete the task. If you give yourself a week to write a report it will take a week. If you give yourself two days you will crank it out in two days. There's a shit ton of science to back it up. I assumed people would be familiar with it. Here's a link:

 

Ah! Just google Parkinson't Law. The link to the wiki has an underscore in it so it won't take you directly there. Sorry.

 

Here's a nice link about how to use it to your advantage, Dean should read this:

 

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/how-to-use-parkinsons-law-to-your-advantage.html

Edited September 18, 2013 by DrGonzo

[fez0r 23]

WHo is this 'we' you speak of?

 

Some of us have patience, and do not mind waiting for the product to be sorted.

[Wolfensteinsaurus 2252]

For gods sake, not this again...

[Inception. 9443]

It's Parkinson's law. Basically you'll use whatever time you define for a task to complete the task. If you give yourself a week to write a report it will take a week. If you give yourself two days you will crank it out in two days. There's a shit ton of science to back it up. I assumed people would be familiar with it. Here's a link:

 

<a data-ipb="nomediaparse" data-cke-saved-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson" s_law"="">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson's_law

 

Oh.

No, it is still a bad idea. Having a release date and then releasing the game on the specified date does not equal a good quality game. 

Just let Rocket and co. release it when they find it appropriate. Nothing wrong with that. 

Be patient. 

Edited September 18, 2013 by Inception.

[Max Planck 7174]

It's Parkinson's law. Basically you'll use whatever time you define for a task to complete the task. If you give yourself a week to write a report it will take a week. If you give yourself two days you will crank it out in two days.

 

 A report 'cranked out' in two days would suffer for the rush.

 

Why is it that you have such a hard time waiting?

It's a fucking computer game dude, bugging the developers like that seems borderline crazy to me.

Edited September 18, 2013 by Max Planck

[Dr. Goner 661]

 A report 'cranked out' in two days would suffer for the rush.

 

Why is it that you have such a hard time waiting?

It's a fucking computer game dude, bugging the developers like that seems borderline crazy to me.

I would appreciate what you say if it was accurate as far a science is confirmed but it's just not the case. Your logic is flawed, read about Parkinson's Law. Seriously people if you want to comment on the big boy topics get informed.

[Wolfensteinsaurus 2252]

My Velociraptor is getting hungry...

[Dr. Goner 661]

My Velociraptor is getting hungry...

This seems like an opportunity for learning in your case, but I understand the urge to stay ignorant. I state facts backed up by science and you say "my velociraptor is getting hungry". Seems fitting here. Also, GIFs in the signature are annoying just to let you in on a little secret.

[Max Planck 7174]

I would appreciate what you say if it was accurate as far a science is confirmed but it's just not the case. Your logic is flawed, read about Parkinson's Law. Seriously people if you want to comment on the big boy topics get informed.

 

All right big boy, enlighten me.

How has 'Parkinson's Law' been scientifically proven?

[dgeesio 1034]

and so it begins .....

[rossums 2190]

"Parkinson's Law is a purely scientific discovery, inapplicable except in theory to the politics of the day"

[weparo 613]

Oh.

No, it is still a bad idea. Having a release date and then releasing the game on the specified date does not equal a good quality game. 

Just let Rocket and co. release it when they find it appropriate. Nothing wrong with that. 

Be patient. 

 

Well, depends. Imho, the best thing to do would be to have an "internal" release date, of which I am sure that they already have. But they are not telling us because, as mentoined above, little whiners would fill the forums again. I am very confident that rocket and his team are working with dates, but after making public the last release dates, people just complained too much and now they just keep them to themselves. Good for them! Just some patience, one day it'll just be there, released and ready for testing.

 

Weparo out

[rossums 2190]

Well, depends. Imho, the best thing to do would be to have an "internal" release date, of which I am sure that they already have. But they are not telling us because, as mentoined above, little whiners would fill the forums again. I am very confident that rocket and his team are working with dates, but after making public the last release dates, people just complained too much and now they just keep them to themselves. Good for them! Just some patience, one day it'll just be there, released and ready for testing.

 

Weparo out

They will definitely be aiming to work within a certain time-frame, the fact is at the moment if any issues are to arise they have the flexibility to spend more time on it, this wouldn't really be the case if there were a concrete release date announced.

I'd rather they aimed for when they are aiming (End of this yearish) and had time to iron any problems out that they encounter rather than running into problems just before release and having to push out shoddy work.

[Dr. Goner 661]

All right big boy, enlighten me.

How has 'Parkinson's Law' been scientifically proven?

It's most often seen in large organizations and government because the law can be applied to resources as well. For example, an insurance company doesn't set a limit on the amount it will pay for a tooth brush, next thing you know, medical bills include the cost of a toothbrush at one hundred dollars. 

 

Like wise, work without a deadline takes longer to complete than work with a deadline. Obviously, the deadline must be set by an informed impartial group and then monitored by said group. Honestly, there's a ton of information out there on this. Another one that applies here is The Peter Principle written by a Canadian school teacher around 1950. It states that the most competent employees will always be promoted to their level of eventual incompetence. For example, the best programmer is almost definitely not the best lead developer. 

 

They are the most important two basic facts to keep in mind when running a business and completing projects. 

 

EDIT: Most people have a strong interest in ignoring these two facts or writing them off outright, and I admit there is information out there that disputes them. But be assured, there is an equal or greater amount supporting them.

Edited September 18, 2013 by DrGonzo

[Dr. Goner 661]

"Parkinson's Law is a purely scientific discovery, inapplicable except in theory to the politics of the day"

Ha! This is ridiculous. What did you do google "parkinson's law debunked"?

 

There is an equal amount of current information that supports this basic rule. I can't believe that most of you didn't know that it was common knowledge.

 

Are you on the dev team? 

 

EDIT: Just note the first half of the sentence and you would be correct. "Parkinson's Law is a purely scientific discovery". I would have no idea what the "politics of the day" would have to do with anything.

Edited September 18, 2013 by DrGonzo

[terrvik 2409]

How do you know they have no internal deadlines anyway? Just because we aren't informed about them doesn't mean they don't exist.

[OrLoK 16186]

Hello there

 

Keep it nice guys.

 

Whilst the law may hold up I do think that in many situations it can lower the quality of work and the effect on the workforce can be negative.

 

There are a lot of things in this world which can be theorised and be proven to work on paper, but when these theories encounter real world situations, things can often change.

 

Rgds

 

LoK

[Dr. Goner 661]

How do you know they have no internal deadlines anyway? Just because we aren't informed about them doesn't mean they don't exist.

Now this is an informed statement. You have my beans.

[SmashT 10907]

FYI, they do have internal milestone/functionality targets.

[dgeesio 1034]

the law may stand up but people forget the whole idea of making money :lol:

 

 

all projects have a end date or release date planned. you need to hit targets and you need to sell your product to make money. most often games are launched in periods of high sales potential so the next big window is halloween then christmas. christmas is the best selling period in videogames fullstop. whether whats achievable hits the window of sales may govern how and when its released. steam may play a part in this. without all the facts its all a load of guess work. :)

Edited September 18, 2013 by dgeesio