A year and a half ago, they talked about a MAJOR update...where is it?

[Bud]

I am one of the few that still play this simulation but even I am annoyed that stars won't be created or end and the mild errors with the game. The creator swore to a massive upgrade for this simulator and as the timeline for release has long since passed and no peep as far as I can see.

It begs me to ask, where is it? Has it been canned or are they still working on it after all this time? Whats going on with it?

[Dan Dixon]

It's still totally happening and becoming better than I imagined it could be when I announced it ~18 months ago.

In fact there are now 4 full time (including me) and 2 part time team members working on it (including an astronomer and most recently we've added a climate scientist to the team).

Screenshots
http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,6467.0.html
http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,8261.0.html
http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,8012.0.html

Video
http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,7572.0.html

Info on Release & Beta
http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,8350.0.html
http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,8358.0.html

[Bud]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Dan Dixon:

It's still totally happening and becoming better than I imagined it could be when I announced it ~18 months ago.

In fact there are now 4 full time (including me) and 2 part time team members working on it (including an astronomer and most recently we've added a climate scientist to the team).

Screenshots
http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,6467.0.html
http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,8261.0.html

Video
http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,7572.0.html

Info on Release & Beta
http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,8350.0.html
http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,8358.0.html

Fair enough, I will be completely honest on how I believe that this is a niche game and far less people will buy this than what SHOULD buy this. I am not trying to badmouth, just trying to help.

If the update is truly worth it, I would even be extremely happy with donating money or buying an update for your constant work on this patch as I don't think a great deal of people would buy it but it is still highly appreciated.

If from no one else, thank you.

[Dan Dixon]

It is niche, but with a world wide audience you can sell to just 0.005% of the world's population and do quite well.

The next version will be a new product on Steam and will require a new purchase.

[Bud]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Dan Dixon:

It is niche, but with a world wide audience you can sell to just 0.005% of the world's population and do quite well.

The next version will be a new product on Steam and will require a new purchase.

Fair enough and it does make sense. Thank you.

[Dan Dixon]

And I didn't think you were badmouthing. Thanks for your honest feedback and comments.

[ShotoGun]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Dan Dixon:

It is niche, but with a world wide audience you can sell to just 0.005% of the world's population and do quite well.

The next version will be a new product on Steam and will require a new purchase.

I doubt anyone will buy your products if you make them rebuy it every update.

[Sonderbehandlung]

The program about to be released is not a simple patch. It is a new program so to speak. It is 100% re-written from scratch, the collective work of many minds. I might be wrong, but judging by the pictures and videos, this new version will blow the old one away.

A nice analogy would be the Call of Duty series. If you got one, you still have to pay for the other, or Office, you got the 2010, then you'll get some sp's for it for free, but when the 2013 comes out, you'll have to pay for it also.

I'll buy it. I find the current version awesome. Just can't wait for the next.

[Dan Dixon]

And unlike many updates of Call of Duty, this is a brand new engine, new graphics, new data, new interface, almost every aspect of the program is being rewritten and rethought and redesigned...

Here is a full explanation for why I'm charging for the new version:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3008969

[Bud]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Dan Dixon:

And unlike many updates of Call of Duty, this is a brand new engine, new graphics, new data, new interface, almost every aspect of the program is being rewritten and rethought and redesigned...

Here is a full explanation for why I'm charging for the new version:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3008969

I would certainly hope so. Companies that produce "run of the mill" products liek COD or to be blunt...be EA and make expansion after expansion of mundane software. Ideas like that should be shunned, not rewarded.

[Imperator Marc]

I would certainly hope you cut some slack on Dan here, Bud. He's been working hard on this project for years and now he finally has a team that's going to make his game closer to his invisioned reality. Maybe if you took the time to Google the game you would have seen all the links/sites he just posted.

Anyways, not everyone is bothered by your lack of progress, we're eagerly waiting for your next update Dan! Take your time guys, and make it good!!

[Bud]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Marc Antony:

I would certainly hope you cut some slack on Dan here, Bud. He's been working hard on this project for years and now he finally has a team that's going to make his game closer to his invisioned reality. Maybe if you took the time to Google the game you would have seen all the links/sites he just posted.

Anyways, not everyone is bothered by your lack of progress, we're eagerly waiting for your next update Dan! Take your time guys, and make it good!!

Oh no, I think I miss wrote or maybe misunderstood. An insult isn't what I meant at all. I was more saying that, and in a horrible way, that I respect the work that the makers of this software do and I hope they keep it up.

That I would hate them to do the basic stuff and demand so much out of their mediocureware LIKE those I mentioned, not that the Universe Sandbox makers do that at all. I just hope they keep doing what they have been doing and I honestly don't want to wait for this next version and I hope the team all the best.

[LordHallowSoul]

I already bougt Universe sandbox an i remember you saying that anyone who had bought it would get this new version free on here and on your website. are you saying that i now halfto pay again for this new version even though it was stated several times people who bought the old version would get the new one for free?

I am not trying to be a ♥♥♥♥ i just want to know whats going on here.

[Dan Dixon]

@TheLastHallow
You're right... I said that over a year ago and since then many thing have changed. I've hired more help and the scope and complexity of the new version has broadened. I had imagined it would have feature parity with the current version, but now we're working on 100% procedural planets with adjustable ocean levels and ice caps that you can melt (as one of the many new complex features in v3 that's never been done before in any software (as far as I know)).

Please read this for a full explanation and let me know if you have any questions:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3008969

[Bud]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von TheLastHallow:

I already bougt Universe sandbox an i remember you saying that anyone who had bought it would get this new version free on here and on your website. are you saying that i now halfto pay again for this new version even though it was stated several times people who bought the old version would get the new one for free?

I am not trying to be a ♥♥♥♥ i just want to know whats going on here.

I'm not with them, I just understand them. I can see why the need to sale it as they need money for time spent as well and this is a niche program for only a few so it seems. And besides, the twenty from last time if memory serves me right (Alzheimers at thirty and all...) is far less than the sixty dollars for a game that will last around twenty hours of total use.

[76561198081886274]

Indeed. This reminds me of the early days of the appstore and the hackulo gang. People use to complain about 2.99 apps, just because the majority of the apps were 0.99. I mean 2.99? And people complaining... wth!

I do understand the general frustration, but that doesn't mean I agree with it's moral grounds. Morally speaking the reasons given for why this will be paid, are understandable and 120% reasonable.

Totally out of topic, but... I wish I knew how many of those complaining about this AFTER reading the proper explanation post are lets say going to the streets to complain about for example the Obama Care. You said no, but he's doing it anyway. You said no to bailouts, was done anyway.

Makes ABSOLUTELY no sense to me how can people complain about 20 dollars of a 100% re-written awesome sweet software, and when they are robbed of about 45 billion in cash used as bonuses to CEO's CFO's and MOFO's, and about 15 trillion in derivatives, they voice absolutely nothing about it. o.0

Yes we can... rob you of your pension funds. Ok then... complain away I guess.