Please Update The Game

[John Helldiver]

If this is a dead game, then at least add things like a general chat or more custom game options, or at least give us an update on development.

[c2xtreem]

Same Problem worked last night

[ReoHays]

This game is far from dead, there was nearly 4900 ranked players last season and there are many who don't play ranked.

[Father of WAR]

updating the game is like updating chess. it just is not possible

[Julius Borisov]

The game is not dead. I don't understand or approve this common approach where gamers claim X game as dead. AAO has regular players who play custom and ranked games daily.

Yes, an update is something we want to do eventually. Beamdog as a company is small, and we have many games we need to support, on many platforms. So we're managing our resources based on the top priorities.

[Knox]

Originally posted by Julius Borisov:

The game is not dead. I don't understand or approve this common approach where gamers claim X game as dead. AAO has regular players who play custom and ranked games daily.

Yes, an update is something we want to do eventually. Beamdog as a company is small, and we have many games we need to support, on many platforms. So we're managing our resources based on the top priorities.

I see 8 total games associated with "Beamdog", and most of them suck. Players claim the game is dead because developers fail to update the game, not because of too few players. Released on steam in 2021...I mean, update the AI at least guys, you've not done a thing but fix errors you failed to catch on release. If Beamdog spent half the time improving their product as they do making excuses you might have more customers coming in than you do leaving due to boredom.

But what do we players know...shrug

[montrealsteak]

It's been explained in the past that chat is not included because they don't have the staff to police the messages and the potential liability outweighs the convenience, and the AI is only intended to get familiar with the UI. AAO is the best, if not the only, A&A platform when it comes to asynchronous play. If you enjoy playing against the AI, then the Triple A AI should give you a challenge. Just put it on the hardest setting.

Because it's a strategy game, there's not much room for upgrades like DLC's. I guess you could get a P-51 Mustang instead of the P-38 Lightning, but stuff like that doesn't do anything for me.

I take breaks from the game, but it's never because of boredom. There's nothing more exciting than abandoning Moscow and sending the Russian stack towards Berlin to do a 1, 2, 3 punch with Japan barreling down with its fighters and tanks, or taking London or Tokyo with 20% odds, or Germany taking Moscow on a 51% attack while the US is starting to build units on the money islands, or sacking San Francisco or Wash DC because the US wasn't paying attention. It may not have bells or whistles, but the action is the juice.

Give the game a chance and play ranked. You will eventually see awesome strats that you can learn and apply yourself. The best games are the ones you lose because they usually show you something.

[Julius Borisov]

The AI has never been our focus and will never be. Trent (our CEO) has explained that in detail a few times.

As for constant updates, well, you need to realize not every team is a AAA dev that can roll out patches on a regular schedule. BG:EE was released in 2012 and we still want to do another update for it. However, after years of updates, it would be impossible to continue at the same rate.

Same for AAO. The game had been in Early Access for a few years, and then received dozens of updates after the full release.

As for how the games were received. Look at the review ratings for each of them.

[simon_hibbs]

The game plays great, there are plenty of players so I never have to wait long to get a game, and it has an active community particularly on Discord. Happy customer.

[LtlMacMcG]

Originally posted by Julius Borisov:

The AI has never been our focus and will never be. Trent (our CEO) has explained that in detail a few times.

As for constant updates, well, you need to realize not every team is a AAA dev that can roll out patches on a regular schedule. BG:EE was released in 2012 and we still want to do another update for it. However, after years of updates, it would be impossible to continue at the same rate.

Same for AAO. The game had been in Early Access for a few years, and then received dozens of updates after the full release.

As for how the games were received. Look at the review ratings for each of them.

But Alien Isolation did it, why can't YOU?!!

(kidding)

[Knox]

Originally posted by Julius Borisov:

The AI has never been our focus and will never be. Trent (our CEO) has explained that in detail a few times.

As for constant updates, well, you need to realize not every team is a AAA dev that can roll out patches on a regular schedule. BG:EE was released in 2012 and we still want to do another update for it. However, after years of updates, it would be impossible to continue at the same rate.

Same for AAO. The game had been in Early Access for a few years, and then received dozens of updates after the full release.

As for how the games were received. Look at the review ratings for each of them.

First, if you read this, thank you. Its going to sound harsh at first, but to many blatantly rude posts drown the point I think.(Of that I am guilty of myself) I believe its a point that a good portion of your customers are begging you to see and come through on.

With all due respect, you just stated why you aren't ever going to be a AAA dev team. A good portion of your paying player base is asking, or would like you to update the AI, regardless of what your "focus" is or has been from the start. I mean, change it...that's just being stubborn. The group wanting some options on how the AI plays the game, or reacts to different situations would pay for a DLC or something of the sort that would allow that, I guarantee it. And I would bet they'd pay about what the game initially cost them when released. Please understand that demographic of player either doesn't have the time, patience or confidence to play online. However, they're still a loyal customer niche. Ill bet a buffalo nickel a couple of true/false changes in the games code forcing the AI to do "X" when "Y" happens instead of the normal routine wouldn't cost Beamdog much. Never leave money on the table. Successful companies adapt to what customers want, right?

As for how the game was received, its an amazing game still to this day. No one doubts that, but your team did finally fix a long standing bug recently. Did they not? One that released with the game.

We all love the game, and many of your customers are asking for something. Turning your back, or just saying no to them doesn't do Beamdog any good does it? Just look at the floods of negativity in many other games' forums, where other developers have done the same.

Anyway, I hope this isnt received too negatively. Just some constructive criticism. If it cant happen, then it cant happen. I feel like sometimes we aren't being understood in what we are asking exactly. We understand that per whatever contract you're under, Beamdog cannot change the games set-up and your hands are probably tied. I wouldn't think the AI difficulty would fall under anything restricted, but i could be very wrong about that.

[simon_hibbs]

@Knox

AAA is about budgets. Beamdog focus on niche geeky games that have a loyal and committed audience, but a limited audience. Axis & Allies is never going to be the kind of game that supports AAA budgets, that's just a fact of economics. It's audience and sales potential supports a given achievable revenue, which supports a given commitment of resources for development. That includes budget available for AI development. Any company producing an A&A game needs to operate within those constraints.

Be careful what you wish for. If you want Beamdog to become a AAA game publisher, you are never going to see them produce a game like A&AOL ever again, the kind of games they do are just not AAA budget compatible.

[Julius Borisov]

Thanks for sharing your opinion, Knox. It read much better than your initial "most of them suck".

While I totally understand you as a fellow gamer, you need to take into account the game development process (for any game). There are pre-production, production, alpha, beta, demo, release and post-release stages. At one point, there are simply not enough resources (neither money nor actual people aka developers) to continue regular work on the game that already released and sold the majority of copies it could ever sell. Then, there are also contract talks with the license holders (or publishers), there are fees and roalties.

Beamdog wants to be sustainable and economically successful. It doesn't want to create situations when something is no longer relevant. This is why it's a never-ending process of finding new resources and, at the same time, new ways to spend them.

That's why, for example, patches for Infinity Engine games slowed down substantially. However, newer OS and features such as controllers, Steam Deck etc might mean we will need to further update those games.

AAO is one of many games Beamdog has to support. We see a very active community (far from "dead" as some people here referred to), a community that introduces new forms to play the game (see the League, the A&A club, multiple tournaments etc), and we don't want to leave them. However, it will take time to get all the contracts in place for the current stage of AAO's life, and most certainly, changing (or, in your words, improving) the AI at this stage, many years after the game's release, would not be financially sustainable. In other words, that was one of the key design decisions for the game, that worked for some (those who prefer to play against other people) and didn't work for others, but it's too late to change it.

[Knox]

Originally posted by Julius Borisov:

Thanks for sharing your opinion, Knox. It read much better than your initial "most of them suck".

While I totally understand you as a fellow gamer, you need to take into account the game development process (for any game). There are pre-production, production, alpha, beta, demo, release and post-release stages. At one point, there are simply not enough resources (neither money nor actual people aka developers) to continue regular work on the game that already released and sold the majority of copies it could ever sell. Then, there are also contract talks with the license holders (or publishers), there are fees and roalties.

Beamdog wants to be sustainable and economically successful. It doesn't want to create situations when something is no longer relevant. This is why it's a never-ending process of finding new resources and, at the same time, new ways to spend them.

That's why, for example, patches for Infinity Engine games slowed down substantially. However, newer OS and features such as controllers, Steam Deck etc might mean we will need to further update those games.

AAO is one of many games Beamdog has to support. We see a very active community (far from "dead" as some people here referred to), a community that introduces new forms to play the game (see the League, the A&A club, multiple tournaments etc), and we don't want to leave them. However, it will take time to get all the contracts in place for the current stage of AAO's life, and most certainly, changing (or, in your words, improving) the AI at this stage, many years after the game's release, would not be financially sustainable. In other words, that was one of the key design decisions for the game, that worked for some (those who prefer to play against other people) and didn't work for others, but it's too late to change it.

My hats off to you sir, and your team. You're correct, in that I and many others do not understand the inside logistics of game development. So, thank you for taking the time to explain why the request isn't feasible. I'm sure that can get exhausting for you. That goes a long way with me personally, and I wish we had more like you.

So with egg on my face and foot in my mouth, I do apologize for the, "they all suck" comment. That was a knee jerk comment and I regret it. I will be following Beamdog from now on, and spending more of my money on your products in support of your company.

Best wishes to you and yours man. Keep up the awesome work.

[Knox]

Originally posted by simon_hibbs:

@Knox

AAA is about budgets. Beamdog focus on niche geeky games that have a loyal and committed audience, but a limited audience. Axis & Allies is never going to be the kind of game that supports AAA budgets, that's just a fact of economics. It's audience and sales potential supports a given achievable revenue, which supports a given commitment of resources for development. That includes budget available for AI development. Any company producing an A&A game needs to operate within those constraints.

Be careful what you wish for. If you want Beamdog to become a AAA game publisher, you are never going to see them produce a game like A&AOL ever again, the kind of games they do are just not AAA budget compatible.

I've never looked at it from that perspective, but I believe you hit the nail on the head. Very good point sir.

[Juggernaut]

wow what a wholesome exchange lol.