What You Paid $30 For - A Very Long Post About Early Access

[hells high 676]

First off, I'd like to clear away any notion of this being a "you paid for the privilege of testing this game" thread. Testing is something people get paid for in the games industry, and game companies have figured out that they can cut back on testing costs with things like early access. That might make it sound bad, but I actually think it can be a very good thing and I'll get to why in a minute.

 

Now, with the latest patch a lot of the back end stuff has been overhauled. With this kind of massive change to the bones of the game issues are to be expected, especially for anyone that has worked in software/game development. In a normal circumstance employed (or volunteer, coming from things like mod development) testers would launch the latest build of the program or game and say "whoa, shits gone awry son". They would then gather as much information as they could and send it through the proper channels. The appropriate party would then probably replicate the issue, and begin working on why it happens and a subsequent fix. Rinse and repeat.

 

As consumers who are generally exposed to nothing but the end products (or in some cases, highly polished late-beta products) this kind of process can be very alien, as anyone with experience can tell by some responses early access products get.

 

Usually when we get a piece of software touted as being finished and it has glaring bugs, unfinished features, and is broken or generally unpolished we toss it. Whether that means seeking a refund, warning others about it, or writing blog posts on things other than your blog about how angry you are. With early access, people unfamiliar with the process are expected to tolerate these kinds of things after having paid money.

 

Now this is where my point comes in; I've noticed an increase in "refund" posts since the latest patch. There was some internal testing at Bohemia, and some smaller scale external testing with the Experimental Build Branch of this alpha test; but now all of those back end changes have to be plugged into the entire public server population. Changes that, in some respects, rejig the bones of how the game interacts with servers/clients are plugged into public servers that have been doing their own thing on those bones. Its not going to be without a few hiccups here and there. Some people get that, but a large (and generally vocal group) doesn't understand that its part of the process. It's not that they are all stupid, its just an alien process.

 

So these people, whom are used to fairly solid software, revert to pre-early access ways and demand refunds or get angry. The thing is (okay HERE'S where my point comes in) you don't even have the product you paid $30 for. It doesn't exist. That thing is months and months and months away from existing. Go ahead, look on your computer, make sure to check the hidden files, I'll wait here...

 

Its not there. What you are experiencing bugs and issues and CHARACTER ROLLBACKS !!GASP !!SCREE OH THE HUMANITY on is an alpha build prototype of that end product. Its like a 20% finished sculpture or a 20% finished painting. Most people don't buy those because, who cares?! The difference is that games companies want you to help them make that 100% finished sculpture or painting the best one possible.

 

The point of testing is to get all of those evil bugs and broken or even dead-ended features fixed or replaced. For paid employees its all part of their job, for early access players like us its an opportunity (note that I said opportunity, not privilege) to make sure that $30 product we pre-ordered is the best $30 we ever spent. When you buy an early access game its because you BELIEVE in the developer's vision for it, and you want to see it fully realized. What you get is the opportunity to shape that by testing which features work in the game-world and what doesn't (and bug testing is just kind of a lame, but incredibly necessary step on that path) and of course the chance to try it early, which is HUGE in our instant gratification society these days.

 

So in conclusion, what did you pay $30 for? An idea. A product that doesn't yet exist until some programmers at Bohemia hit compile on some files titled version 1.0 (or whatever their internal build conventions are, same diff man!) What you get in return for investing in that idea and for believing in the developers is not only the final product, but also the privilege opportunity to provide feedback on what you like and dislike by playing the current prototypes, ultimately shaping the games final form. You are also inevitably bug testing on the scale that the full product will be on (more people = more chances to find bugs = more chances to fix bugs = better final product), which is mutually beneficial to everyone involved.

 

Apologies for the super cool blog story, I enlarged the important parts for my ADHD friends, but hopefully this will get some attention from the community here; and maybe JUST MAYBE we can see less "it's an alpha!" posts as a result.

 

Cheers,

 

HellsHigh

 

 

TL;DR its an al-..

Edited January 23, 2014 by Hells High

[Judopunch 523]

Hey, most of the people that need to read and comprehend this, they didnt read any of the alpha warnings. I mean, I suppose people can link to your post, but i prefer just to copy paste the disclaimer. You could have probably used your time more productively because you seem very articulate :) Help with bugs and feedback!

[SEC9 VANDEL 51]

good post man

[Jonah_Hobbes 171]

I've never had any problems with the Developers. Some of the other players well that's something else.

[hells high 676]

Hey, most of the people that need to read and comprehend this, they didnt read any of the alpha warnings. I mean, I suppose people can link to your post, but i prefer just to copy paste the disclaimer. You could have probably used your time more productively because you seem very articulate :) Help with bugs and feedback!

 

While that is true, I often feel compelled to say something in a relatively objective manner. If one person reads this and goes "oh, well I guess so.." I'll feel like its been worth it. ^^

 

I was actually trying to do something other than work on this 3d model of a VZ58 (which, would look great in the game DEAN, look you don't even have to pay an artist!)

[RedGuard 40]

If anyone flies the Battle of Stalingrad early access sim, they've set up a neat reminder everytime you launch indicating development progress :

25%

30%

38%

and so on.  

 

Still, some peeps scream about how come this, or how come that ?

 

A watermark top-right corner of the screen throughout the game should do the trick for the anxious ones.

 

Red

[hells high 676]

If anyone flies the Battle of Stalingrad early access sim, they've set up a neat reminder everytime you launch indicating development progress :

25%

30%

38%

and so on.  

 

Still, some peeps scream about how come this, or how come that ?

 

A watermark top-right corner of the screen throughout the game should do the trick for the anxious ones.

 

Red

 

I think we can blame that kind of selective viewing on people being conditioned to click "accept" or "ok" on Terms and Conditions and EULA's without reading them. South Park's Human Cent-iPad episode comes to mind.

[shael6636 10]

Well written post Sir <S>

 

Hopefully more people will read this and start contributing in a positive way instead of whinning on the forums, Sir you have my Beans :)

 

And for everyone else who disagrees .....its an Alpha.

[Humansteak29 6]

May I suggest a moderator pins/sticky this?
You sir, have my beans :beans:

[phoboss 224]

That's why I call early access games

An investment in the future.

[Demoth 366]

There is a third group you're forgetting about: jaded consumers who have been part of alpha early accesses and early beta builds who point out glaring flaws for months only to be ignored and have the retail release be a disaster.

I don't fall under that category, but I've beta tested games like APB Online (won't lie, I had fun with it until it died a month or two in), but those of us who did all the testing were reporting and documenting and even getting dev feedback only to get a buggy, hacker-rampant content starved game released.

I think some people make such a hoopla about their concerns because they're afraid Rocket will just ignore them and the game will release in a sorry stafe. Personally, I have faith.

[hells high 676]

There is a third group you're forgetting about: jaded consumers who have been part of alpha early accesses and early beta builds who point out glaring flaws for months only to be ignored and have the retail release be a disaster.

I don't fall under that category, but I've beta tested games like APB Online (won't lie, I had fun with it until it died a month or two in), but those of us who did all the testing were reporting and documenting and even getting dev feedback only to get a buggy, hacker-rampant content starved game released.

I think some people make such a hoopla about their concerns because they're afraid Rocket will just ignore them and the game will release in a sorry stafe. Personally, I have faith.

 

Very very true. People get burned, but there is ALWAYS potential for that when you pre-order an incomplete product. Again it all comes back to having to believe in the devs and the ideas. I had played and enjoyed the mod (and listened to Rocket's ideas for where he wanted to take the standalone), so I believed in the idea. I've also been playing Bohemia's products and supporting them for years. Consumers can't blame anyone but themselves honestly.

 

Really glad to see such constructive additions to the topic, thanks guys!

[MethHeadMario 27]

AWESOME POST!!!!!

[Lady Kyrah 1110]

I sort of disagree with some of the last statements of the OP, you don't get to shape the game by buying into an early access, the developers have no obligation to steer their vision to make it closer to yours.

[Lancer 2-2 14]

So these people, whom are used to fairly solid software, revert to pre-early access ways and demand refunds or get angry. The thing is (okay HERE'S where my point comes in) you don't even have the product you paid $30 for. It doesn't exist. That thing is months and months and months away from existing. Go ahead, look on your computer, make sure to check the hidden files, I'll wait here...

 

 

We DO have the product we paid £19.99 for... it is a discounted Alpha... same pricing model as Minecraft and ArmA 3.... the price (in £ anyway) will go up to £29.99 for Beta and will be £39.99 for the full game more than likely, just like ArmA 3.

 

Then over time and with Steam sales the price will gradually drop back down etc.. 

[Deity 54]

I think we can blame that kind of selective viewing on people being conditioned to click "accept" or "ok" on Terms and Conditions and EULA's without reading them. South Park's Human Cent-iPad episode comes to mind.

I'm 12 and what are these terms and conditions and EULA's. What is "reading"  /sarcasm 

Edited January 23, 2014 by Deity

[Hethwill_Khan 233]

Early Access buyouts are a "Prosumer" effect. This has been evolving since more than a decade but we had the massive migration of many studios ( and not only on the digital entertainment ) that saw the potential.

 

Prosumer is a Producer Consumer. He will follow the development and test the latest prototypes, ensuring the feedback to the core factory is honest and as detailed as possible, as a consumer.

 

In the end it will not erase the Q&A chain, but will reinforce it because the final Consumer is already proposing the changes necessary, as long as they are valid along the project lines detailed by the project management team.

 

In the case of a game, DayZee in our case, the prosumer community is usual very vocal to a point where information is spread out everywhere. The project has roadmaps and very detailed synopsis but the grand scheme of the product is not yet compiled, in good reason as the process is still early, but the Forum Volunteers ( mods, admins, etc ) team and PR could go through the most pressing information and have it "shoved" in the face of new prosumers with a bible kind of thread ( links, etc ).

 

Decisions of how the product evolves will never meet our expectations. Sometimes is not feasible. Other updates it will go beyond what we expected, and any good development team knows this. So far so good, DayZ delivers what it aims for.

 

Good thread OP.

 

Salute.

Edited January 23, 2014 by Hethwill_Khan

[AP_Norris 1018]

I sort of disagree with some of the last statements of the OP, you don't get to shape the game by buying into an early access, the developers have no obligation to steer their vision to make it closer to yours.

I think you could probably have the same effect if not more than most alpha buyers by just watching videos and frolicking around the internet.

I got Rocket to consider a C96 maybe we will hear more soon.

But I know that puts me above many so far and at the end of the day I didn't need the game to do it.

Overall though, I think people need to keep more up to date with the news, things like less M4 spawns and stuff have been confirmed a long time a go and they are going to get fewer and fewer as improvised weaponry improves <- right from Dean Halls mouth.

I wouldn't complain about these people too much there's nothing you can do when they've just made an account and their first post is a massive list of complaints in the suggestions topic.

[rickenbacker 190]

Long story short: Your $30 bought you a game that won't be out for another two years. But while you wait, you can help test it, and maybe have some fun on the side. If you don't like that, don't pay.

[P3Nn 53]

TL DR

[Kerwyn 77]

I clicked on this link thinking it was going to be another whine thread about how the game is broken (Why yes, I am a masochist, how did you know?) I can honestly say I am happy to have been completely wrong. Everything you've said here I absolutely agree with, and thus, I give you the highest praise I can on these forums, a can of beans. The Survivor's Toast, to a post well done!

 

:beans: Huzzah! :beans:

[hells high 676]

We DO have the product we paid £19.99 for... it is a discounted Alpha... same pricing model as Minecraft and ArmA 3.... the price (in £ anyway) will go up to £29.99 for Beta and will be £39.99 for the full game more than likely, just like ArmA 3.

 

Then over time and with Steam sales the price will gradually drop back down etc.. 

 

Okay, well I disagree, and I think this idea that you paid for the alpha is one of the biggest problems affecting Early Access games. Because when you pay early access you still get the finished product, regardless of whatever price increase comes about. They realize that investing in an idea and purchasing a game that isn't finished yet is a gamble, and make that initial investment for early adopters cheaper. In short, I still disagree, but thanks for your input, friend.

 

 

I sort of disagree with some of the last statements of the OP, you don't get to shape the game by buying into an early access, the developers have no obligation to steer their vision to make it closer to yours.

 

Well of course you don't get to turn a 3rd person air combat game into an FPS with laser beams or something, but the best way to see how certain things work is by play testing them on a massive scale. If you look at almost any early access page or statement, it will say something about "being a part of the development process" or "helping to make the game better." Buying into early access is kind of a statement of belief in the idea as it already exists, so claiming that you want to change the idea completely should and probably will be disregarded.

 

To me shaping involves more than just the overarching vision, its down to even the finer details. For example, there seems to be a bug right now where you can only load one bullet into the Mosin Nagant; or at least most people believe it is. What if it was a design choice? The player base has already expressed their feelings on this, generally being quite negative.

 

Now you are right, if this were a design choice the developers have absolutely no obligation to change it. Maybe the vast majority of the community will be annoyed but they'll get over it. However I would like to think that the team is working on this game because they love making games, and they want to make DayZ the best it can be. The whole reason we have these forums is to provide our feelings, experiences, and our ideas to the team. Then they can collect all of that data and see a general, overall feel about a certain area of the game. From there they can determine what players like and what they dislike, and then choose whether to disregard it, ask for (or look at already existing) suggestions, or come up with their own based on internal ideas.

[Jex 1104]

I paid my ££'s to support the game knowing it probably wouldn't run on my laptop (which it does - at about 3-5 fps). I've played twice so far for a couple of hours but I'll wait till I upgrade my pc. 

 

TL DR

 

 

Then what the fuck are you doing on a forum then?

 

fo·rum  (fôrm, fr-)

n. pl. fo·rums also fo·ra (fôr, fr)

1.

a. The public square or marketplace of an ancient Roman city that was the assembly place for judicial activity and public business.

b. A public meeting place for open discussion.

c. A medium for open discussion or voicing of ideas, such as a newspaper, a radio or television program, or a website.

2. A public meeting or presentation involving a discussion usually among experts and often including audience participation.

3. A court of law; a tribunal.

 

 

 

 

I highlighted the pertinent bits for you to help you out. Also, we couldn't give a fuck if you can't read it - why are you telling us this?

 

 

PS this forum editor sucks

Edited January 23, 2014 by Jexter

[Yummi 3]

I just really really wish when marketing they said you could preorder the game and get access to early alpha rather than try and sell the game in its alpha form. I feel like that simple wording would make it much clearer to people what they are doing when they play the alpha

[Hethwill_Khan 233]

I just really really wish when marketing they said you could preorder the game and get access to early alpha rather than try and sell the game in its alpha form. I feel like that simple wording would make it much clearer to people what they are doing when they play the alpha

 

The steam store page states the following:

 

WARNING: THIS GAME IS EARLY ACCESS ALPHA. PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE IT UNLESS YOU WANT TO ACTIVELY SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF THE GAME AND ARE PREPARED TO HANDLE WITH SERIOUS ISSUES AND POSSIBLE INTERRUPTIONS OF GAME FUNCTIONING.

 

It cannot be more clear unless they specify every single tiny infinitesimal detail that falls into the aforementioned statement. Maybe the 18+ is not only regarding the violent content and mature MP relations but also a requirement of interpretation of phrases context and full extent meaning. No pun intended, as maturity of understanding knows no age bounds.

Edited January 23, 2014 by Hethwill_Khan