Have these devs completely abandoned Planet Explorers?

[DimePS]

I'm wondering if these guys are ever going to finish Planet Explorers or if that was a quick cash grab released from EA half done? If they're not going to finish Planet Explorers that's very unfortunate being as that game had so much potential and also colors the devs as very untrustworthy and oozing of that awful stank juice. If the devs can answer or if anyone knows that'd be great.

[David Davidson]

No idea
I did hear that people who owned planet explorers before MTAP were getting MTAP free (or something like that, maybe someone else can clarify) or being given steam keys for MTAP.
If the above is the case it may be that planet explorers was too ambitious for them at the time or for some other reason they abandoned it, but are offering another game (which is still getting regular updates) to old planet explorers players as a kind of apology.

If the above is correct (and as I've said, I saw a thread a day or two about it but never owned PE so didn't pay much attention) this would put the devs way ahead of plenty of big game companies (like Bethesda with fallout 76, or Christ Roberts (as his fans call him) with Star Citizen) as they're giving a new game away for a bad old game.

If it is the case I know it's hardly optimal, though it's better than being told "you bought a product in EA, sucks to be you".

[G Willikers]

Originally posted by Schlomo Shekelshoastein:

No idea
I did hear that people who owned planet explorers before MTAP were getting MTAP free (or something like that, maybe someone else can clarify) or being given steam keys for MTAP.
If the above is the case it may be that planet explorers was too ambitious for them at the time or for some other reason they abandoned it, but are offering another game (which is still getting regular updates) to old planet explorers players as a kind of apology.

This is only true for people who kick-started planet explorers and this was already one of the rewards. People like me who bought it in EA are out of luck.

As much as I love Portia, Planet Explorers remains a huge black mark against this company and I hope one day they give it a real release

[Darknife777]

Originally posted by G Willikers:

Originally posted by Schlomo Shekelshoastein:

No idea
I did hear that people who owned planet explorers before MTAP were getting MTAP free (or something like that, maybe someone else can clarify) or being given steam keys for MTAP.
If the above is the case it may be that planet explorers was too ambitious for them at the time or for some other reason they abandoned it, but are offering another game (which is still getting regular updates) to old planet explorers players as a kind of apology.

This is only true for people who kick-started planet explorers and this was already one of the rewards. People like me who bought it in EA are out of luck.

As much as I love Portia, Planet Explorers remains a huge black mark against this company and I hope one day they give it a real release

Planet Explorers was always third or fourth place in its "category". That does two bad things: A) It hurts sales because people will buy the better game which means... B) There aren't continued sales to fund the continued development. I don't think they set out to make a product that wasn't as good, it just happens sometimes despite the best intentions. If you read the Kickstarter and EA warnings, this is a "thing", sometimes you back something that isn't a winner. Looking at Planet Explorers I don't think they made a "quick buck" or anything like that on it and took the money and ran, it was just that the project wasn't as successful as others. (EA is littered with other projects like this)
I've backed other games like this and it sucks, but when you back EA, you are making a bet, and not all bets are winning ones.
MTAP was a project they switched to, and it is a good game, still unfinished, but close. Some of the problems in this game are self-inflicted, but let's face it, it isn't like EA, Bethesda or others never make mistakes and they are much larger and better funded. I'm willing to cut these guys some slack because they didn't have to give PE backers MTAP keys, it was an attempt to trade out a "losing" bet for a "winning" one. If it isn't the type of game that interests you that does kind of suck, but at least the company tried to make you as whole as possible. I know that you might think that a full refund to all the customers would be better, but that money was spent on developing the game, it just didn't pan out.

[G Willikers]

When in God's name did I say any of those things you just attributed to me?

[Darknife777]

Originally posted by G Willikers:

When in God's name did I say any of those things you just attributed to me?

Okay, fine. They aren't going to ever give it a "real release" because the game in their eyes is done. The money is all gone for development and they gave you MTAP as a consolation. Also, it shouldn't be a black mark against them because they tried to make it up to you with a better game. Happy?

[G Willikers]

You are getting really defensive about this game that you had nothing to do with. My time at Portia is a good game and part of that is probably because they learned some lessons from how Planet Explorers went. That doesn't make me or anyone else happier about the 20 bucks I spent on a bunch of empty promises. Both those things can be true. I can also wish for a real release of a half finished game while acknowledging that one probably will never materialize.

And yes, "releasing" a half finished project as a learning experience for a better game is a black mark. It doesn't make them evil or bad, but you can't pretend it didn't happen either.

[DimePS]

Wow.. that's really sad and absolutely makes me question buying anything from these guys being as they just grabbed some cash, hung up the phone and abandoned PE. It definitely doesn't make them evil but is very telling of the business they are running and is unfortunate because PE has so much potential. Oh well, if that's how they're going to run their business and ignore all comments/questions on the PE discussions then that's how it is but doesn't seem to be affecting MTAP sales at all so bully for them. They got away with a nice half finished game released as complete and a very sweet cash grab.

A heads up on the store page would be excellent, a little honesty, but that might dissuade people from buying and that would be'a no goods. Nice integrity guys, best of luck on all your future endeavors.

[DimePS]

Do the devs ignore this discussion page too? If so that's unfortunate because I would love to hear from them. A free copy of MTAP would be fair and would be a very good way to correct the previous mistake. It'd get disappointed customers back on their side too which is great if they're going to continue developing games or they're just writing PE and it's customers off and just moving on, leaving them behind, which sucks'em but is definitely probable.

[David Davidson]

Originally posted by do87goodthings:

Do the devs ignore this discussion page too? If so that's unfortunate because I would love to hear from them. A free copy of MTAP would be fair and would be a very good way to correct the previous mistake. It'd get disappointed customers back on their side too which is great if they're going to continue developing games or they're just writing PE and it's customers off and just moving on, leaving them behind, which sucks'em but is definitely probable.

The developers do read this forum frequently.

If you recently bought planet explorers and don't like it, haven't played it for very long and feel it is unfinished you could try contacting Pathea/Team17 and politely explaining your situation and see if a refund or some sort of exchange can be organized.

I'm not saying they'll say yes. They may indeed say no, however I've found that being polite and patient with game developers/game moderators/etc will always get you a better result than acting like you're somehow entitled to reimbursement and being angry about it. Not that you're doing that now, you're being really level headed about things.

I would contact them and see if there is anything they can do. I don't know if MTAP costs more than PE, I've not checked; but no matter what; if they do help you out somehow, it's probably best not to go telling everyone what they did, otherwise everyone will want it done.

Steam support (probably won't, but) may give you a refund based on how you treat the situation. Though I would recommend contacting Pathea/Team17 first and if that doesn't pan out, contacting steam support and explaining that you bought what you expected to be a finished game, what you're let down by, that you have already contacted the devs with your issues and that it went nowhere and if possible you would like a refund so you can buy another game on steam.

Neither are guaranteed to work. However it's better than doing nothing. They may take some time to reply, so you'll likely have to be patient.

[Lorca]

Indeed it's not good PR if they aren't responding to anyone at their PE forum. But I highly doubt that they're some kind of nefarious people who did a cash grab on purpose. When I look at what they have said about the development of PE and the difficulties they have encountered with Portia, it is clear to me they're a studio that has done some bad business decisions which has hurt them a bit. The way I see this studio is that if they don't finish Portia, I won't buy another game from them until I'm 100% sure the game is really done.

[ferelden]

Originally posted by do87goodthings:

Do the devs ignore this discussion page too? If so that's unfortunate because I would love to hear from them. A free copy of MTAP would be fair and would be a very good way to correct the previous mistake. It'd get disappointed customers back on their side too which is great if they're going to continue developing games or they're just writing PE and it's customers off and just moving on, leaving them behind, which sucks'em but is definitely probable.

They probably aren't replying to this specific thread because they already left a very detailed reply on this forum a few weeks ago. They also left a reply on the PE forums. I'm much too lazy to do it myself, but if you search for "planet explorers" on this forum, you'll probably be able to find it. It was a nice response actually and explained a lot of things. That being said, a very early PE customer requested a free copy of Portia here a month ago and they ignored the dude for almost an entire month. This is after they told him to message them.

[Swagg]

Unfortunately, this is the way the industry has gone. It is a black mark, period. MTAP is a great game with issues that can and should be resolved. The difference is, at the price I paid for MTAP, I wouldn't be devastated if they walked away from it. I've had a lot of fun with it. Still, a black mark is a black mark.

[David Davidson]

I never even knew about Planet Explorers until I played MTAP.
I was quite excited to see that Pathea had another game until I got to "not completed" which is sad to hear.
Not sure when they were added in regards to MTAP and PE development, but maybe the "planet explorers" cassettes should go from the game; salt in wounds etc.
Or label them "an incomplete casette <in-game description>"
The latter at least acknowledges that mistakes were made.

MTAP is an excellent game, though they definitely need to work on things like the voice and sound acting.
My drum makes no sound when I play it. How hard is it to get some stock drum sounds?

[nadafinga]

Unfortunately, I hadn't heard of Planet Explorers prior to this game either. If I had seen those reviews, I would have not purchased this game. As it is, My MTAP game has been stuck for over a month at the Portia Bridge mission. I've basically paid full price for the same experience I would have gotten from just playing the free demo, which I've read ends at that mission as well.

The experience I've had is definitely a black mark on Pathea games for me (and to the same extent, Team17.) Releasing broken games from early access when they aren't ready is not a good or honest practice. It doesn't instill me with any confidence to keep playing when I read these boards and see others stuck on missions later in the game either. If this bridge bug ever gets fixed, I will probably backup the save files every 7 in-game days just to be safe and not get stuck again (which I shouldn't have to do.)

I rarely get time to game, as I'm a professional with a family to support. Every year during Q1 I get a 2-3 week vacation that I use to catch up on home projects and spend the rest of the time sinking hours into a newly purchased game. This year I chose MTAP as I had been watching it and waiting for it's full release. I ended up wasting the one stay-cation I get this year on a broken game. I feel pretty justified in being angry about it.

I realize game development is difficult, but if the player can make a choice that halts all game progress for the main story, with no way to reconcile the game save, then that is poor planning on the part of the developer. I'm sure there is more to it in terms of publishers, pencil pushers and other stakeholders moving things along before they are ready, but it's still no excuse and there is definitely a lack of accountability somewhere in Pathea's/Team17's pipeline.

Just my two cents...

[Lauren_Team17]

Hello!

Just to clarify something that's been mentioned in this thread - Pathea Games sent keys for My Time At Portia to Kickstarter backers of Planet Explorers.

If you have any issues relating specifically to Planet Explorers, please post in the Steam forum for the game. Sadly we cannot help in the My Time At Portia forum.