Is 1.0 even the same game?

[Lawn-Mower]

So many changes; like 3 or 4 previous updates in 1. Feels like we've been largely out of the loop for a couple years.

Given the time they've had a branch split (an in-house version vs the one they give us access to), this makes sense, but I still feel ripped off - I thought I was playing Early Access, not a fork so outdated it's almost a different game. I thought we were supposed to be coming on the journey with the devs; certainly doesn't really seem like that for a while now.

What we will be given on the 10th is simply an open beta - what we should've already been playing, and will be riddled with bugs like any prior release on experimental branch, only more like 3 updates due to how many changes are incoming.. Should closed betas be a thing when the game's been in EA for years?

The reason seems to be so they can build more hype and have a bigger 'release' when the game officially hits 1.0. Nothing about this is for the benefit of the loyal playerbase.

[joe_schmoe_gamer]

Why not hold judgement until the release, huh? Coffee Stain has been more forthcoming and open about their vision for the game then any other company. Just what to you think "early release" means? You know what your were getting, or should have if you read the statement about early release.

[Zak]

Yeah, that closed beta was a bit awkward, I felt like yeah, we, the early access players, were left off, away from the development process. Lots of people didn't even realize we have been playing a forked alpha all this time and that a split off branch has been in development separately.

But whatever, I had fun, I paid $15, I got 1200 hours out of it, it was a pretty good game, so I don't feel ripped off, but yeah, I feel somewhat disappointed in this whole early access experience. It was my first EA game and probably the last one. I don't think I want to get into this again. I'm gonna wait for these titles to complete.

At least it was a good deal considering the price is now $40.

[Lawn-Mower]

Originally posted by Zak:

Yeah, that closed beta was a bit awkward, I felt like yeah, we, the early access players, were left off, away from the development process. Lots of people didn't even realize we have been playing a forked alpha all this time and that a split off branch has been in development separately.

But whatever, I had fun, I paid $15, I got 1200 hours out of it, it was a pretty good game, so I don't feel ripped off, but yeah, I feel somewhat disappointed in this whole early access experience. It was my first EA game and probably the last one. I don't think I want to get into this again. I'm gonna wait for these titles to complete.

At least it was a good deal considering the price is now $40.

Don't get me wrong - I don't feel financially ripped off. And I've certainly had fun and even continue to do so knowing that the save I'm currently working's going to break in a few days.

It's perhaps more emotional; I guess it never really sunk in just how much the in-house fork would diverge.. And an in-house fork goes against my interpretation of the EA ethos.

[anmana]

I thought partly the same, especially the "it is another game" thought. But I am so in awe and hope I have the time to fully enjoy the game after 1.0 within the first couple of days...it was an awesome ride the last 5 years and even though I might feel betrayed a little bit I did know there were parts missing for the full release.
Cave´s are the best example - so many obviously sealed entrys on the 0.8 Map with nothing behind but emptieness but I don´t feel ripped of, rather the opposite and I bought the game not only on epic but even here because of the game. So I still paid less then the lucky one´s who are buying the game at or after the release and which are going to play this beauty for their first time in a few days.

Thank you Coffee Stain for an awesome experience and for beeing able to take part in giving feedback and seeing your and our vision of this game becoming true in most parts. I can not express how thankful I am for having a good EA experience with this one.

[Zak]

Originally posted by Lawn-Mower:

Originally posted by Zak:

Yeah, that closed beta was a bit awkward, I felt like yeah, we, the early access players, were left off, away from the development process. Lots of people didn't even realize we have been playing a forked alpha all this time and that a split off branch has been in development separately.

But whatever, I had fun, I paid $15, I got 1200 hours out of it, it was a pretty good game, so I don't feel ripped off, but yeah, I feel somewhat disappointed in this whole early access experience. It was my first EA game and probably the last one. I don't think I want to get into this again. I'm gonna wait for these titles to complete.

At least it was a good deal considering the price is now $40.

Don't get me wrong - I don't feel financially ripped off. And I've certainly had fun and even continue to do so knowing that the save I'm currently working's going to break in a few days.

It's perhaps more emotional; I guess it never really sunk in just how much the in-house fork would diverge..

Ah, so you feel ripped off in terms of the EA experience, yeah, that kinda makes sense.

Yup, I mean these devs are great, I enjoyed Jace's and Snutt's videos, and I know I'm gonna have lots more fun with the game, but I do feel some degree in disappointment. But I ain't complainin' :)

[kLuns]

The closed beta may have been unexpected but another reason 1.0 is 4 updates in one is because it's a big wall where all postponed fixes would come.
Tier 1-8 will be the early game once 1.0 is out.
I'm looking forward to see my nuclear power plant in the swamp break down coming tuesday :)

[Lawn-Mower]

Originally posted by Zak:

Originally posted by Lawn-Mower:

Don't get me wrong - I don't feel financially ripped off. And I've certainly had fun and even continue to do so knowing that the save I'm currently working's going to break in a few days.

It's perhaps more emotional; I guess it never really sunk in just how much the in-house fork would diverge..

Ah, so you feel ripped off in terms of the EA experience, yeah, that kinda makes sense.

Yup, I mean these devs are great, I enjoyed Jace's and Snutt's videos, and I know I'm gonna have lots more fun with the game, but I do feel some degree in disappointment. But I ain't complainin' :)

Here's to hoping it'll be more playable than not on the 10th! ;)

[Kylnoffey]

Originally posted by Lawn-Mower:

The reason seems to be so they can build more hype and have a bigger 'release' when the game officially hits 1.0. Nothing about this is for the benefit of the loyal playerbase.

I guess the benefit is that there are enough new content during release for "loyal playerbase" that has probably already finished most possible things. But they likely still wanted opinions to make it correctly, even if I see too the weirdness of a closed beta in an early access.

I think it will also be polished enough to be at release quality and not "an open beta", unless they made a useless closed beta and I have very small doubts on that

[Zak]

Originally posted by Lawn-Mower:

Here's to hoping it'll be more playable than not on the 10th! ;)

I'm optimistic, which is actually not natural for me, I was born pessimist but Snutt seems to be so genuinely excited about 1.0 so I feell that it's gotta be good. Sure, there will be bugs, but I think the release will be a great improvement.

[craigbeck]

Originally posted by kLuns:

The closed beta may have been unexpected but another reason 1.0 is 4 updates in one is because it's a big wall where all postponed fixes would come.
Tier 1-8 will be the early game once 1.0 is out.
I'm looking forward to see my nuclear power plant in the swamp break down coming tuesday :)

Same, I used beacons or whatever and are no longer in game so it's going to come to a shuddering halt, not to mention the nodes. I'm starting over again anyway but I will go back and repair my old save just because it's fun.

[Seb]

No 1.0 is a racing fps rts game.

[Doctor Zalgo]

Originally posted by Lawn-Mower:

So many changes; like 3 or 4 previous updates in 1. Feels like we've been largely out of the loop for a couple years.

Given the time they've had a branch split (an in-house version vs the one they give us access to), this makes sense, but I still feel ripped off - I thought I was playing Early Access, not a fork so outdated it's almost a different game. I thought we were supposed to be coming on the journey with the devs; certainly doesn't really seem like that for a while now.

What we will be given on the 10th is simply an open beta - what we should've already been playing, and will be riddled with bugs like any prior release on experimental branch, only more like 3 updates due to how many changes are incoming.. Should closed betas be a thing when the game's been in EA for years?

The reason seems to be so they can build more hype and have a bigger 'release' when the game officially hits 1.0. Nothing about this is for the benefit of the loyal playerbase.

Here's an alternative take:
If Satisfactory 1.0 released with only a few minor changes, people would be very mad.

[Lawn-Mower]

Originally posted by kLuns:

The closed beta may have been unexpected but another reason 1.0 is 4 updates in one is because it's a big wall where all postponed fixes would come.
Tier 1-8 will be the early game once 1.0 is out.
I'm looking forward to see my nuclear power plant in the swamp break down coming tuesday :)

To be fair, I've been on the hype train since announcement too, and I'm not jumping off.

[MetalSpaceDust]

Reading some of these posts. I don't think people understand what EA is.

[BeastMTL]

Originally posted by MetalSpaceDust:

Reading some of these posts. I don't think people understand what EA is.

After all, blaming customers to have certain expectations always ends well.

I don't feel ripped off in the slightest. After all, got over 1k hours in the game, so have gotten my moneys worth.

That being said, the OP's opinion is not less valid because it's EA. EA is a very delicate balancing act between generating interest and delivering a consistent experience.

In this, I think CSS did a poor job. For the consumer, EA is always a blind leap of faith since they are not privy to a lot of the game design information. Either way, it is what it is now.