The Early Access Dilemma: When 1.0 Releases Fall Short

[ChunkieXL]

EDIT: Wow I am genuinely stunned at the comments being so bereft of original thought and critical thinking. You couldn't even help yourselves, could you. Next time you go pissing your pants when the next AAA game comes out buggy as all get out, remember that you voted with your wallet and said that behaviour was acceptable. Thank ♥♥♥♥ I didn't buy this game.

Also - for the droolers who haven't figured it out yet - family share is a thing LOL


It's disheartening to see Satisfactory, like numerous other Early Access indie games, prematurely claiming readiness for a full 1.0 release despite being woefully unprepared to leave the Early Access phase.

Hey, you. Yes, you—the one who finds joy in these games. Before your fingers go aflutter on a comment about how wronged you feel that the developer you've put on a pedestal is being criticised, I want to be clear: I'm not here to diminish your enjoyment. It's perfectly fine, even commendable, to appreciate a game despite its imperfections. I, too, derive great pleasure from Satisfactory and many other titles in this genre.
The crux of the matter lies in the disproportionate praise lavished upon indie developers, often by default. This occurs largely because the bar has been set remarkably low, given the current state of the AAA gaming industry. While it's admirable that you, hypothetical indie developer, show genuine care and strive to deliver a quality experience, this doesn't grant you license to perpetuate the very issues that you and your player base—myself included—vehemently criticize elsewhere.

Just as I don't expect accolades for refraining from violence (a basic societal expectation), we shouldn't glorify indie studios merely for meeting the bare minimum standard of attentiveness to their fan base. Clearly, this praise isn't stemming from the release of truly polished, ready-for-market games.

It's absurd that so many people instantly cite the size of the development team as an excuse, when the primary benefit of using Early Access is precisely to provide as much time as necessary to ensure the game meets the required standards upon release.
Consider this game as an example: CoffeeStain's eagerness to upgrade from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5 has resulted in severe memory leak issues, causing significant stuttering for players after relatively short sessions—sometimes as brief as 30 minutes. While it's understandable to enjoy the game, it's crucial to view this situation objectively.
It's perplexing that we readily criticize other developers, regardless of their size or status, yet seem to give CoffeeStain a pass for similar issues. This engine conversion decision was made well before the 1.0 release, allowing ample time for reconsideration or resolution.
For instance, playing for hours with Global Illumination set to medium poses no issues, but loading a save file with identical settings can trigger a crash, erroneously citing insufficient VRAM.

It's truly perplexing when developers create a new game, the core mechanics of which have been masterfully executed by others, yet they disregard the wealth of established knowledge and best practices. This approach often results in reinventing the wheel—poorly. There's no shame in adopting successful elements from similar games; in fact, it's the essence of artistic evolution—building upon what works and innovating from there.
The sheer number of basic quality-of-life features missing from this game is astounding. While hardcore fans might overlook these issues, it's crucial to remember that games of this scale attract a diverse audience, especially post-1.0 release. It's incredibly frustrating for new players, lured by enthusiastic praise, to discover a game that's objectively still quite unpolished.

Take, for instance, the inability to pull building materials from nearby storage. It's maddening to be unable to construct a power pole next to a container full of cables simply because your inventory is short by one. The "realism" argument falls flat here, considering we're dealing with a game set on an alien planet where players can slide-jump acrobatically and clip foundations into cliff faces.

Or the lack of an aerial build mode. Forcing players to grind extensively for equipment that should be available much earlier, is another glaring issue. This design choice reeks of artificially inflating playtime in a game that's already considerably lengthy.

These aren't insurmountable problems. Implementing a machine to address the storage issue or adjusting the availability of crucial equipment could significantly enhance the player experience. It's baffling that such obvious improvements are overlooked or deliberately withheld behind extensive grinding.

To be clear, I'm not suggesting that Satisfactory isn't an excellent game, nor am I implying that CoffeeStain Studios doesn't merit some of the acclaim they've received. However, it's crucial to recognize that the gaming industry's landscape will remain largely unchanged if we continue to uncritically embrace popular indie titles simply because they outshine the often lackluster offerings from AAA studios.

[RadioIesbian Fluid]

Kinda sounds like you haven't played satisfactory a whole lot with those issues.

They have adressed inventory issues with the dimensional depot system in 1.0 which is unlocked fairly early with steel production.

Aerial build mode is available early on in form of overlook towers, then jet pack then hover pack. Part of the game is unlocking new technologies to progress and make things easier.
You can also enable flight mode in the advanced game settings if you want to.

I've played this game for over 16 hours in one sitting with zero memory leakage. So i havnt seen that particular issue at all. No frame dips or stuttering at all. Suspect that more stems from a you issue with your pc and its drivers/hardware.

Old saves crashing can be a multitude of reasons, most common is an old game where you played with mods, and now you dont have the same mods installed. That can brick your save. Modding isnt officially supported.

[Kage Goomba]

People really have a funny notion of 1.0 release - that it means "finished product"

No product is ever finished.

I've yet to ever see a fully released product/game without issues - and it never ceases to amaze me the level of drama people will drum up for it.

For example the fact you complaint about pulling building materials from nearby storage is proof you never played the game far enough to learn about the Dimensional Storage.

Also the dev's are not here to entertain AAA type things - its a factory game - so maybe you should adjust your expectations.

Also there's such things as a hoverpack.

Maybe play the game a bit longer before you judge it?

52 hours - that's nothing.

People really need to learn to research things before they jump to conclusions.

[Fenix]

You had ChatGPT write this didn't you....
I only skimmed it.. Because TL:DR, but what I did read sounded AI wrote.
My only real issue with v1.0 was and still is, bugs that really should have been fixed long ago... Multiplayer really needs some love.

[Rockethead293]

This isn't the reviews section

[HuskyDynamics]

Well, if I "view this situation objectively," I haven't had any of the issues you're talking about, and I only bought the game after 1.0. Soooo......

Like Kage Goomba said, it sounds like you perhaps haven't progressed far enough in the game to unlock some of the tech that lets you do exactly what you're describing?

[Mochan]

Originally posted by ChunkieXL:

It's disheartening to see Satisfactory, like numerous other Early Access indie games, prematurely claiming readiness for a full 1.0 release despite being woefully unprepared to leave the Early Access phase.

blah blah blah

SNIP

Read through 5 paragraphs and you haven't even talked about the game or what the problems are.

Whatever you were trying to say, it's not worth listening to.

[Mr. Me]

AI bot post farming for steam points. Dude doesn't even own the game.

[Googalabon]

Originally posted by Mr. Me:

AI bot post farming for steam points. Dude doesn't even own the game.

Well he does if you look at his profile, no mouse symbol by the name is weird though. Probably a setting in steam I'm not familiar with.

[Cheesecake]

Originally posted by Mr. Me:

AI bot post farming for steam points. Dude doesn't even own the game.

Remember it's on Epic and they dont have forums.
Well, even just a hover over the name displays Satisfactory.

[curtyuiop]

Originally posted by cboath11:

Originally posted by Mr. Me:

AI bot post farming for steam points. Dude doesn't even own the game.

Remember it's on Epic and they dont have forums.
Well, even just a hover over the name displays Satisfactory.

Haa Haa, he has hours in the game but doesn't own it, means he removed it from his library! Ha Ha Ha Ha Haaaaaaa! Thank you for your purchase!

[Dirtyshadow]

Disproportionate praise... what for creating an innovative game that isn't the yearly cookie cutter release schedule of AAA game development.

Technical issues... sorry but every game has them, even AAA has disasterous releases just look at the drama around GTAV supposedly enhanced edition. Mostly when a game has technical problems, it can come down to technical limitations of the users hardware more than the game itself. I am sorry your experience was technically flawed, but at the same time... if your hardware can't run it at max setting, maybe don't run it at max.

I am aware of the Early Access has its own turmoils, you give players early access to an incomplete game in hopes that a final product is superior because of it. I think Coffee Stain did a good job in this regard (better than many I played) they kept secret the final phase, added QoL improvements with new tools like the Dimensional Uploader and Production Amplifiers and delivered a neat game that was mostly bug free through my experience (your experience my vary).

I think a perception problem exist for some players, they expect everything that every other game has, build modes, certain tool sets, comparing it to everything from Minecraft, Valhalla, Factorio... that is in my opinion insulting to the design decisions or the technical limitations set by the games fundamental design concept. A design they spent years crafting with players inputs.

Also 50 hours played, you must of hit the wall... the moment where a player on their first time realises they have been playing it wrong. You got angry... when most just restart the game with a clear vision they know how to play and go on to build wonderful starter factories in the right place.

[ChunkieXL]

Originally posted by Fenix:

You had ChatGPT write this didn't you....
I only skimmed it.. Because TL:DR, but what I did read sounded AI wrote.
My only real issue with v1.0 was and still is, bugs that really should have been fixed long ago... Multiplayer really needs some love.

I love people who lack the reading comprehension of a kindergartener.... That's quite literally what I said lol. No I get it, words are tough

[ChunkieXL]

Originally posted by Dirtyshadow:

Disproportionate praise... what for creating an innovative game that isn't the yearly cookie cutter release schedule of AAA game development.

Technical issues... sorry but every game has them, even AAA has disasterous releases just look at the drama around GTAV supposedly enhanced edition. Mostly when a game has technical problems, it can come down to technical limitations of the users hardware more than the game itself. I am sorry your experience was technically flawed, but at the same time... if your hardware can't run it at max setting, maybe don't run it at max.

I am aware of the Early Access has its own turmoils, you give players early access to an incomplete game in hopes that a final product is superior because of it. I think Coffee Stain did a good job in this regard (better than many I played) they kept secret the final phase, added QoL improvements with new tools like the Dimensional Uploader and Production Amplifiers and delivered a neat game that was mostly bug free through my experience (your experience my vary).

I think a perception problem exist for some players, they expect everything that every other game has, build modes, certain tool sets, comparing it to everything from Minecraft, Valhalla, Factorio... that is in my opinion insulting to the design decisions or the technical limitations set by the games fundamental design concept. A design they spent years crafting with players inputs.

Also 50 hours played, you must of hit the wall... the moment where a player on their first time realises they have been playing it wrong. You got angry... when most just restart the game with a clear vision they know how to play and go on to build wonderful starter factories in the right place.

So cope cope cope? Every game has bugs? Brain dead take. Imagine being so horny for a game that it ruins your adult brain's capabilities of critical thought.

[ChunkieXL]

Originally posted by Mr. Me:

AI bot post farming for steam points. Dude doesn't even own the game.

Imagine being so childish that you jump to this mentally deficient defence rather than spending five seconds on a cursory Google search. Hey, you drooling ape/moron, you ever heard of Steam family share? I know better than to buy games like these for the list of reasons I mentioned in the post.

[ChunkieXL]

Originally posted by Kage Goomba:

People really have a funny notion of 1.0 release - that it means "finished product"

No product is ever finished.

I've yet to ever see a fully released product/game without issues - and it never ceases to amaze me the level of drama people will drum up for it.

For example the fact you complaint about pulling building materials from nearby storage is proof you never played the game far enough to learn about the Dimensional Storage.

Also the dev's are not here to entertain AAA type things - its a factory game - so maybe you should adjust your expectations.

Also there's such things as a hoverpack.

Maybe play the game a bit longer before you judge it?

52 hours - that's nothing.

People really need to learn to research things before they jump to conclusions.

"No product is ever finished". Dude, what? This is seriously your argument? Yikes.

"The dev's are not here to entertain AAA type things" Like, releasing a game that doesn't ♥♥♥♥ the bed in a half hour because of known memory leaks?

"For example the fact you complaint about pulling building materials from nearby storage is proof you never played the game far enough to learn about the Dimensional Storage." You've literally proven my point lol I know reading is extremely tough. Oh so many words, make brain hurt. But if you'd had bothered to read you'd have seen "Forcing players to grind extensively for equipment that should be available much earlier, is another glaring issue. This design choice reeks of artificially inflating playtime in a game that's already considerably lengthy."