Is Indie Stone the only company you can trust with early access gaming?

[Timpo]

I have an array of pre release games but PZ in my opinion is the only one worthy of any faith.Ithink I started on build 19 and have been amazed at Zomboids evolution to the point I would have paid twice as much for it even then and this game came outta nowhere(for me anyway)Can any1 think of any other early access games that have a lot of promise but also deliver on that promise? cause iv found none.

[Ficelle]

Early access games are a gamble.

You can never know how it will turn or even if the game will be done one day.

So many bad things can happen, scam, different approach to what you expected, lack of interest, money problem, huge IRL problem for the main programmer/designer...

I trust TIS and like their way of doing things and the genre of the game, but some have done good job too (provided you like their game and their vision).

7 Days to Die, Grim Dawn, Prison Architect, Rimmworld, Subterran come to my mind.
There are plenty of others ive not tried due to lack of time.

Now, there are far more bad ones...

[fUn*z13l5ch31b3]

not the only one... the Hinterland-Studios doing a great job as well (The Long Dark) .

[Quikel]

Well, these devs are definitely doing great.
I read some article these past weeks, checking on the first 50 Early Access games on steam.
Around half of them havent had a patch the past 3 months while roughly 10% of them have been completely abandoned. Another 8% (i guess) have become huge successes and the rest i cant remember. I will link the article once i find it again.

At any rate - As it has been stated: It is a gamble, cause you buy a product based on future promises.

Edit: Found it!

http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/PaulAllen/20160211/265598/Is_Steams_Early_Access_a_ticking_time_bomb.php

[DeadlyDanDaMan]

If they ever decide to do another EA game after PZ, I would trust them 100%. They have conducted themselves VERY well during this whole process, a few learning bumps along the way to be sure, but they have the right formula for EA that most Dev's do not. To me, they have set the standard for all future EA titles to be judged by.

[Death]

Publicado originalmente por EnigmaGrey:

PZ is likely the first and last EA game for TIS. :)

I hope not. I've enjoyed the ride with this game. Not like a couple of others I have. The Dead Linger and Beasts of Prey, i'm looking at you.

[Axz]

Publicado originalmente por Death:

Publicado originalmente por EnigmaGrey:

PZ is likely the first and last EA game for TIS. :)

I hope not. I've enjoyed the ride with this game. Not like a couple of others I have. The Dead Linger and Beasts of Prey, i'm looking at you.

I trusted The Dead Linger, I thought it was going to be the best zombie game since RE 2, but alas....

As for TIS / PZ, I'm happy with 99% of it, ofc it'll never be 100% as nothing's perfect but they actually have a vision and care about it. They're not just some AAA company churning out any old ********, taking the cash from the gullible and running from the fallout.

It's taking a bit longer than I would have liked, but ultimatly do you want it done fast, or right?
PZ will be one of the best zombie games ever when it's finished, it's so "realistic" you can't actually see where the end is, you just have to keep going until you're told to stop.

[Crohns Racing]

Introversion Software is another amazing indie developer. Back in Feb. their hit game Prison Architect left Early Access. I watched it develop from a pretty primative management game to one of the largest tycoon/building/management games out there.
https://www.introversion.co.uk/

[Atwood]

Publicado originalmente por Death:

Publicado originalmente por EnigmaGrey:

PZ is likely the first and last EA game for TIS. :)

I hope not. I've enjoyed the ride with this game. Not like a couple of others I have. The Dead Linger and Beasts of Prey, i'm looking at you.

I love Early Access. I think it's a great possibility for developers with bright ideas and limited capital to get a start and try to make a game. But the well waters have been quite thoroughly poisoned by crappy developers that release cut and run garbage and customers with unrealistic expectations for how games are made and how long it takes. I wouldn't blame the devs at all if they kicked the Early Access method of game development to the curb the second they could and ran like hell.

Don't look back, TIS. Don't look back.

[Electric Knight]

Publicado originalmente por EnigmaGrey:

PZ is likely the first and last EA game for TIS. :)

Why? Are you shutting down after this? Is there not enough money in it? Moving to another platform?

[DeadlyDanDaMan]

Publicado originalmente por Agent:

Publicado originalmente por EnigmaGrey:

PZ is likely the first and last EA game for TIS. :)

Why? Are you shutting down after this? Is there not enough money in it? Moving to another platform?

Probably because it's just too stressful compared to traditional internal game development. And hopefully, with the success of PZ, they won't need to use EA ever again.

[lemmy101]

Publicado originalmente por DeadlyDanDaMan:

Publicado originalmente por Agent:

Why? Are you shutting down after this? Is there not enough money in it? Moving to another platform?

Probably because it's just too stressful compared to traditional internal game development. And hopefully, with the success of PZ, they won't need to use EA ever again.

This. Also the stigma and reputation EA has with a lot of people can get frustrating, people make a lot of assumptions about you and the game based on the label. Also that we doubt we'll do anything quite as big as PZ again.

that all said there are plenty of great Early Access games, a lot mentioned in this thread.

[Space Karen]

Project Zomboid is such a great game in its current state and has been for some time. To think it is still EA I can only imagine what version 1.0 will be. Keep it up devs, I don't care if it takes another 3 years to finish the game as long as you keep adding content this is all cool!

Other great EA games and some that are out of EA:
Sunless Sea
Prison Architect
The Long Dark
The Forest

[Timpo]

now we have a list of what to try which are the titles we should avoid i.e:Romeros Aftermath

[zeral_storm]

Publicado originalmente por fUn*z13l5ch31b3:

not the only one... the Hinterland-Studios doing a great job as well (The Long Dark) .

I agree that Hinterland is doing a pretty decent job, but they seem a bit over focused and over protective of their story mode.

About PZ, I just want to say, that in my opinion, game mechanic wise, it sets the bar for how a zombie survival game should be!

Lol I already spent 645 hours playing it, which is waaaay more then I played many fully released titles!

[MrElix3r]

I think the only EA game I own that's ever actually released is Grim Dawn.