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1: Games that are in limited launch on iOS are not permitted to carry our marketing and/or PR activity prior to their worldwide release. This restricted any/all information about the update we were developing during the period from May 16th to August 8th, including the PC version as the two platforms play pretty much identically at present. This affects all iOS games that conduct a limited launch phase on the iOS App Store. For example, much of the blog that was published on Friday was written in mid-June, as that's when the design work was starting to be implemented. However due to concerns that this would be seen as promoting a game while in limited launch, we could only talk about our ideas without detailing specifics gameplay developments, hence the philosophy article and the what's missing article. Obviously, this was not good for 22cans as it meant that community frustrations with us were compounded, but it was definitely what was best for the game.
2. We we had to observe a press embargo for reviews timed to the worldwide release of the iOS version. Again, this meant that all the details about the Settlement update, the Astari, the new farming/mining mechanics etc had to be kept on the down low. Going out with those details in advance would have rendered any review coverage as no longer being newsworthy, thus negatively impacting launch coverage. In the end, we were able to find a reprieve in that any changes in graphics wouldn't be a core part of any reviews that would be published, which is why we were able to share details about those changes the week before last. Again, this was good for the game in that it would receive a greater amount of exposure timed to launch and increase awareness of the game, however it was bad for the studio as it meant we were unable to share our ideas with you in advance, thus leading to further accusations of not being open/honest/transparent or just plain misleading. It also meant that we weren't able to gauge the response to planned features prior to implementation, invariably leading to more work for us down the line.
3. In order to meet both of the above criteria, it meant that we couldn't release the Settlements revamp to the Opt-in branch of Steam in advance of the worldwide release on mobile. This was especially limiting as it would have been great to have given PC players, who are without question the most vocal members of the Godus community, a chance to play with the new features and functions first as that would have led to increased feelings of inclusion and value. As it was, we went out with details of the iOS version first which, as anyone whose seen the comments on our Kickstarter updates can attest, fostered a lot of negativity and resentment towards 22cans, so it wasn't great for the company. It was, however, good for the game as it gave the release on iOS the best possible chance to be highlighted both by the media as the content was previously unseen and also by Apple in their Editor's pick, which despite what you may think cannot be bought or influenced in any way, thus substantially increasing the game's visibility with new potential players.
These are the facts of what happened. None of the above is unusual or even irregular when it comes to the development and distribution of videogames - this is reflective of standard industry-wide tendencies and practices. As such, I don't think that discussion of this issue is any way helpful to the development of either the game or the Godus community and would invariably lead to melodramatic arguments over actions that do not directly concern gameplay. Therefore, I will lock this thread if such non-constructive arguments occur.
Rest assured with the good news being that now we have launched worldwide, the reviews are out of the way and the coverage all online, there's no reason I can think as to why we would ever have to go dark in our communications again. That means from this point forwards, we should be in a position to share granular details of any work-in-progress developments for the game, as well as our intentions for upcoming content/features/functions.
Well you where right, I didn't like it. Personally I wouldn't say any of these where good for the game OR 22Cans. This is just a side effect of selling on Apple.
Thank you again for explaining the reason, it was both fascinating (genuinely) AND made me feel confident that we wont have this again
What a bizarre reply...
Given that you've been promising this explanation for weeks, it would seem to me prudent to place it a little more prominently than buried in some random user thread.
Still, your house, your rules, I guess
Personally I think it merits it for a week, maybe 2 tops. I ONLY say this because during this silence you did promise to explain why the silence happened and it would be a nice bold way of showing 22Cans is keeping it's promises :-)
To me I think it would be a good way to show that 22Cans is being more open, which would be a good thing for community relations. Just my opinion there, you are the CM so it is your call :-)
As will I George if I spotted it 1st, to save you some work :-)
Thanks again though, it was defiantly interesting to discover how this sort of thing works in the industry :-)
I'll get around to writing up a critique soon. I've just build a settlement and have just unlocked the annoying astari festivals. I'm out of mana and I've finished the first two of the voyages. I only have about 50gems after going them. Some things are better but on the whole it's a needlessly slower game in my opinion.
Please don't start that crap reasoning and apply it to any other topics beyond this one.
Deciding the only thing that needs to be clearly available information wise is things tied to specific 'as a game' details is bollocks.
As a CM (I seem to recall you're the CM anyway), keeping the community informed and making sure the community has clear access to information about all things Godus is your job.
Not just "Specifically the parts labeled as about the aspects of the game". And not just in hidden threads that you hope will be buried in 2 hours time and hard to pull back up in a weeks time, let alone a months.
Hopefully George agrees that if this information was on going, it would have fallen into having to do with Godus as a game.
It's the reasoning he gave for not clearly making the information available that would then be applied to other things in the future I was commenting on Kai. Not if this specific information itself should be stickied.
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