About the development of Blackenrock

[[ICE]_Beastman]

There has been some confusion on the The Last Crown Blackenrock releasedate which we would like to clear up.

The latest date mentioned in several media is one by media that use bots that dig into the Steam admin for release dates and that stumbled on a mere administrative date (1-dec-17) which was set by us, the publisher, in the Steam administration after the last delay, simply because we have to set a date. On the store page the game has a more generic date of ‘2018’. We should have amended that date of 1-dec in time and pushed it, but admittedly forgot about that. This has now been corrected.

The reality is, is that this game is on a ‘When it is done’ status. We would have liked to seen a release for it a long time ago but the developer has kept on adding and adding to the game, creating a bigger and bigger game. They have also been creating assets for the sequels to come, The Last Crown The Haunting of Hallowed Isle, and The First Crown. Blackenrock has now become so big that is has a current estimated playthrough time of 100 hours (we’ll have to see if that holds up but yes it is immense), and while there is an asset-stop and scene-stop, the developer is working on putting all scenes and puzzles together, which is proving a very challenging job for a team of 2 people, where they are best left alone to enable them to actually finish it. In addition QA will be needed as well.

Asked why the game became so big, the developer explains that Blackenrock is simply a huge story to tell. We are pleased that despite all delays there is still a loyal following, waiting anxiously and probably disappointed it is taking so long. Rest assured though that we have confidence the finish-line is in sight, but at the same time can’t put a realistic date on it. When we do see one, know that we as the publisher will announce that via press releases, and you will not need to rely on some digging bots to find out.

Erik Schreuder
CEO
Iceberg Interactive

[gwifa]

This is one of my most easily anticipated games.

I catch myself every month or so searching "blackenrock" on the Steam Store page and clicking on Discussions to see if there has been any more developments/news.

I really do hope this game comes to fruition!

[dom_bailey]

What would you do if you were CEO of a development co. Virtually all of his fans have given up. We are all 10 years older. Not many will still be playing these games or any games.

[Diogenes the Dog]

To anyone saying "all his fans have abandoned him" etc. Watch when the game does come out how well it sells... bet your lame ass is gonna play it too.... you might even think your nasty comments helped speed up the process. Go on and keep complaining. No one cares.

[midianmistress]

Publicado originalmente por MellowCell:

To anyone saying "all his fans have abandoned him" etc. Watch when the game does come out how well it sells... bet your lame ass is gonna play it too.... you might even think your nasty comments helped speed up the process. Go on and keep complaining. No one cares.

Stop being such a butt nugget, would ya? People ARE allowed to feel their frustration, and after 10 years, severe frustration. Why do you think you get to police everyone else's feelings and thoughts. Guess what? You don't, so...stop trying. Also, kinda sad that you feel the need to insult others for speaking their minds, repressing others makes you look very, very bad.

[Maestro DPL]

I find sad that a respectable company like Iceberg Interactive is supporting such an ass as Boakes. Nothing more, nothing less.

[JOS87]

Publicado originalmente por MellowCell:

To anyone saying "all his fans have abandoned him" etc. Watch when the game does come out how well it sells... bet your lame ass is gonna play it too.... you might even think your nasty comments helped speed up the process. Go on and keep complaining. No one cares.

You're insulting people randomly and talking like they're actually working on the game at all, lol. Boakes just posts Lammana updates sometimes, another game that was supposed to come out a year ago. Matt Clark just posts about how sad he is that everyone is bothering him about how the game hasn't come out while he's probably not working on it at all.

[madgrace]

You can't care more about a game than the developers, and if you do, you're sure to be disappointed. I understand being frustrated. I don't understand obsessively complaining about the situation. That seems pretty unhealthy. If waiting forever and maybe not getting a payoff is so upsetting to you that you can't let it go, you should probably spend your time elsewhere, maybe find another developer that you like who produces content more regularly.

[midianmistress]

Publicado originalmente por madgrace:

You can't care more about a game than the developers, and if you do, you're sure to be disappointed. I understand being frustrated. I don't understand obsessively complaining about the situation. That seems pretty unhealthy. If waiting forever and maybe not getting a payoff is so upsetting to you that you can't let it go, you should probably spend your time elsewhere, maybe find another developer that you like who produces content more regularly.

Again, you fail to realise that how YOU feel doesn't give you the right to dictate how others feel, nor how they choose to vent their over a decade frustrations. No one is violating any terms of service, are they harming YOU? Despite how you might feel, the answer is no, no one's hurting you. People are venting the fact that they have repeatedly been lied to, they feel (justifiably) that they're still being lied to. That you continue to get all anal retentive about the fact that others have given up...well, stop making yourself do that. You can't bully folks out of their justified feelings and thoughts.

[Diogenes the Dog]

Publicado originalmente por griffabee:

This is one of my most easily anticipated games.

I catch myself every month or so searching "blackenrock" on the Steam Store page and clicking on Discussions to see if there has been any more developments/news.

I really do hope this game comes to fruition!

Me too ^_^ When the game does cross my mind every now and then, the thought of it makes me happy...

[madgrace]

Publicado originalmente por midianmistress:

Publicado originalmente por madgrace:

You can't care more about a game than the developers, and if you do, you're sure to be disappointed. I understand being frustrated. I don't understand obsessively complaining about the situation. That seems pretty unhealthy. If waiting forever and maybe not getting a payoff is so upsetting to you that you can't let it go, you should probably spend your time elsewhere, maybe find another developer that you like who produces content more regularly.

Again, you fail to realise that how YOU feel doesn't give you the right to dictate how others feel, nor how they choose to vent their over a decade frustrations. No one is violating any terms of service, are they harming YOU? Despite how you might feel, the answer is no, no one's hurting you. People are venting the fact that they have repeatedly been lied to, they feel (justifiably) that they're still being lied to. That you continue to get all anal retentive about the fact that others have given up...well, stop making yourself do that. You can't bully folks out of their justified feelings and thoughts.

Hey, if this is how you want to spend your time and energy, that's completely up to you. I really don't care; I just find it illogical and a waste. But if stewing in your resentment is your cuppa, drink away.

[Diogenes the Dog]

Publicado originalmente por madgrace:

Publicado originalmente por midianmistress:

Again, you fail to realise that how YOU feel doesn't give you the right to dictate how others feel, nor how they choose to vent their over a decade frustrations. No one is violating any terms of service, are they harming YOU? Despite how you might feel, the answer is no, no one's hurting you. People are venting the fact that they have repeatedly been lied to, they feel (justifiably) that they're still being lied to. That you continue to get all anal retentive about the fact that others have given up...well, stop making yourself do that. You can't bully folks out of their justified feelings and thoughts.

Hey, if this is how you want to spend your time and energy, that's completely up to you. I really don't care; I just find it illogical and a waste. But if stewing in your resentment is your cuppa, drink away.

I agree. Its weird when people get so mad. Especially when Jonathan Boakes does this as a side thing. These games are more a labor of love than a job... so to those complaining... maybe make a better game? lol

[CAN PENAASO]

Boakes = FAILURE

[chgojj]

My two cents...for the venters, remember its a computer game, not the end of the world as we know it. There are more important things in the world to vent your spleen on. There are thousands of other titles you can try that are available now. If you are unhappy with the developer or the course of progress, so be it. Does complaining make things better? I doubt it
I have played the Lost Crown series and have enjoyed it. While I am disappointed that this new entry has had a long gestation period, I will patiently wait for it.

[midianmistress]

Publicado originalmente por chgojj:

My two cents...for the venters, remember its a computer game, not the end of the world as we know it. There are more important things in the world to vent your spleen on. There are thousands of other titles you can try that are available now. If you are unhappy with the developer or the course of progress, so be it. Does complaining make things better? I doubt it
I have played the Lost Crown series and have enjoyed it. While I am disappointed that this new entry has had a long gestation period, I will patiently wait for it.

Pretty sure not one of us has whined that it's the end of the world, and most of us acknowledge that yes, it's just a game. Thanks for overlooking every valid point we've brought up, and demeaning it, just so you could post an ego boost for yourself. That is so appreciated, and doesn't make our valid feelings of having been lied to (we have, for ten years!) and being disappointed that a much anticipated sequel became vapor ware for us.

[bluelazer7427]

Publicado originalmente por chgojj:

My two cents...for the venters, remember its a computer game, not the end of the world as we know it. There are more important things in the world to vent your spleen on. There are thousands of other titles you can try that are available now. If you are unhappy with the developer or the course of progress, so be it. Does complaining make things better? I doubt it
I have played the Lost Crown series and have enjoyed it. While I am disappointed that this new entry has had a long gestation period, I will patiently wait for it.

All valid points, but I think the main issue for most of us here are the multiple broken promises about release dates. Go through the other threads and you can find multiple Facebook/Twitter posts from Boakes about how the game will be out "before the first snow of the year!" or "sometime between Christmas and Easter."

His other game, Lamanna, had a promised release date of March 29, and then the day of, he made a post about an "unexpected iceberg" and announced the game would be delayed a day or two. It's now August and still nothing. The Steam page for "Silent Night" still has a release date of 2020.


You're absolutely right that there are other games to play and better ways to spend time than harassing the developers, but it's hard not to get frustrated when he repeatedly announces release dates and then fails to meet them.