3 years in EA....how close to being done is this?

[Hunter Este]

3 years in EA....how close to being done is this?
These games stuck in Early Access Development Hell make me sad.

[Doom Squid]

Originally posted by Hunter Este:

3 years in EA....how close to being done is this?
These games stuck in Early Access Development Hell make me sad.

Well, they're a small team. They have been actively working on the game, these things take time. So much has been added since the initial release. On their Kickstarter, all of their goals were met so they have a lot to work on. PvP, co-op, more weapon/armor parts, more weapon types, rex and spider frames(post 1.0 tho). Currently, they are working on the PvP, which will be made over the course of 2 parts, with stuff added on the side.

[Boomy]

We might see 1.0 this year, or early next year. That's just a prediction based on their update speed. Despite taking a long time to develop, the game has been making steady progress with no upsets to speak of.

[Ashcrawler]

Keep in mind there's only like 6-7 people working on this game, it's incredible they got this far and they are clearly trying to get things done, If you haven't worked on a game like this You really shouldn't talk like you could do better.

[Maverick]

Originally posted by Boomy:

We might see 1.0 this year, or early next year. That's just a prediction based on their update speed. Despite taking a long time to develop, the game has been making steady progress with no upsets to speak of.

Steady is....relative. Steady in terms of Valve time? Maybe.

Steady in terms of "At a reasonable pace for what people were asked to pay for?" eehhhh.....

"Lets make everything perfect then add multiplayer" is also a can of worms that essentially means 100% wasted development time. Multiplayer is the ONLY reason to play this game. the game has no actual story to speak of. The characters are completely throwaway. Nobody speaks naturally.

So, what happens when, invariably, the game is broken when applying sets of bonuses from a massive tech-tree? Do they just "scale up" everything so that it's "harder" because the numbers are higher? Because a random graze from a normally "weak" enemy suddenly does 90% HP? Because that doesn't make the game fun or interesting.

But if you just flood a place with enemies, suddenly carefully balanced encounters can become either cakewalks because of combined power, or if too many enemies are present it can make taking out indivudual enemies feel pointless, especially in objective maps. Kind of forces builds to go in specific directions and makes others just completely unplayable. Heavy Mechs already have no reason to exist already as it is. There's only downsides to having more MASS in your M.A.S.S.

Honestly....MASS Builder has just kind of fallen apart for me. It's too little, too late, and the way it's looking they're focusing on making the multiplayer PVP centric..... So it's just slowly becoming a knockoff Garrison Archangel....And nobody wants to go back to that toxic heap.

[Hunter Este]

Originally posted by Scrompfy:

Originally posted by Boomy:

We might see 1.0 this year, or early next year. That's just a prediction based on their update speed. Despite taking a long time to develop, the game has been making steady progress with no upsets to speak of.

Steady is....relative. Steady in terms of Valve time? Maybe.

Steady in terms of "At a reasonable pace for what people were asked to pay for?" eehhhh.....

"Lets make everything perfect then add multiplayer" is also a can of worms that essentially means 100% wasted development time. Multiplayer is the ONLY reason to play this game. the game has no actual story to speak of. The characters are completely throwaway. Nobody speaks naturally.

So, what happens when, invariably, the game is broken when applying sets of bonuses from a massive tech-tree? Do they just "scale up" everything so that it's "harder" because the numbers are higher? Because a random graze from a normally "weak" enemy suddenly does 90% HP? Because that doesn't make the game fun or interesting.

But if you just flood a place with enemies, suddenly carefully balanced encounters can become either cakewalks because of combined power, or if too many enemies are present it can make taking out indivudual enemies feel pointless, especially in objective maps. Kind of forces builds to go in specific directions and makes others just completely unplayable. Heavy Mechs already have no reason to exist already as it is. There's only downsides to having more MASS in your M.A.S.S.

Honestly....MASS Builder has just kind of fallen apart for me. It's too little, too late, and the way it's looking they're focusing on making the multiplayer PVP centric..... So it's just slowly becoming a knockoff Garrison Archangel....And nobody wants to go back to that toxic heap. :ggxxacky:

Thank you for your honesty. I've decided to skip this one as it does seem like it's trapped in Development Hell (EA forever). Just have to hold out hope for another completed mech game in the future.

[Ashcrawler]

Originally posted by Scrompfy:

Multiplayer is the ONLY reason to play this game.

No, if there's any sole reason to play this game, it is to build mechs, literally in the name, and that is their priority, stop whining that the game isn't a pvp game, it's suppossed to be a mech builder, the fact there's gameplay at all is great for a team of 6 people. Yes, this was and is being made by 6 people in total, if you don't know how hard it is to develop a game you really should stop acting so pompous and pretentious. And if you're upset that it costs more than you expected, maybe you should have got it on sale? instead of crying about it?

[Doom Squid]

Originally posted by Scrompfy:

Originally posted by Boomy:

We might see 1.0 this year, or early next year. That's just a prediction based on their update speed. Despite taking a long time to develop, the game has been making steady progress with no upsets to speak of.

Steady is....relative. Steady in terms of Valve time? Maybe.

Steady in terms of "At a reasonable pace for what people were asked to pay for?" eehhhh.....

"Lets make everything perfect then add multiplayer" is also a can of worms that essentially means 100% wasted development time. Multiplayer is the ONLY reason to play this game. the game has no actual story to speak of. The characters are completely throwaway. Nobody speaks naturally.

So, what happens when, invariably, the game is broken when applying sets of bonuses from a massive tech-tree? Do they just "scale up" everything so that it's "harder" because the numbers are higher? Because a random graze from a normally "weak" enemy suddenly does 90% HP? Because that doesn't make the game fun or interesting.

But if you just flood a place with enemies, suddenly carefully balanced encounters can become either cakewalks because of combined power, or if too many enemies are present it can make taking out indivudual enemies feel pointless, especially in objective maps. Kind of forces builds to go in specific directions and makes others just completely unplayable. Heavy Mechs already have no reason to exist already as it is. There's only downsides to having more MASS in your M.A.S.S.

Honestly....MASS Builder has just kind of fallen apart for me. It's too little, too late, and the way it's looking they're focusing on making the multiplayer PVP centric..... So it's just slowly becoming a knockoff Garrison Archangel....And nobody wants to go back to that toxic heap. :ggxxacky:

I have no clue what led you to that conclusion. They are merely adding a PvP, not making it their selling point. The campaign, and then Co-op campaign. Multiplayer isn't "the only reason" to play/get this game. The point is to be able to have a ultra customize-able mech you can make while not having to worry about clown-suiting since stats are separate. They've been adding new enemy variants, there bosses have been proven to be challenging. Weight was abandoned since it didn't do any good so now its just a flavor text.

[Doom Squid]

Originally posted by Hunter Este:

Originally posted by Scrompfy:

Steady is....relative. Steady in terms of Valve time? Maybe.

Steady in terms of "At a reasonable pace for what people were asked to pay for?" eehhhh.....

"Lets make everything perfect then add multiplayer" is also a can of worms that essentially means 100% wasted development time. Multiplayer is the ONLY reason to play this game. the game has no actual story to speak of. The characters are completely throwaway. Nobody speaks naturally.

So, what happens when, invariably, the game is broken when applying sets of bonuses from a massive tech-tree? Do they just "scale up" everything so that it's "harder" because the numbers are higher? Because a random graze from a normally "weak" enemy suddenly does 90% HP? Because that doesn't make the game fun or interesting.

But if you just flood a place with enemies, suddenly carefully balanced encounters can become either cakewalks because of combined power, or if too many enemies are present it can make taking out indivudual enemies feel pointless, especially in objective maps. Kind of forces builds to go in specific directions and makes others just completely unplayable. Heavy Mechs already have no reason to exist already as it is. There's only downsides to having more MASS in your M.A.S.S.

Honestly....MASS Builder has just kind of fallen apart for me. It's too little, too late, and the way it's looking they're focusing on making the multiplayer PVP centric..... So it's just slowly becoming a knockoff Garrison Archangel....And nobody wants to go back to that toxic heap. :ggxxacky:

Thank you for your honesty. I've decided to skip this one as it does seem like it's trapped in Development Hell (EA forever). Just have to hold out hope for another completed mech game in the future.

I'm disappointed that despite what others and I have said, this is the guy whose word you decided to consider. It isn't stuck in "developer hell". The only thing I can suggest is head to the Sekai Project Discord and you will find the M.A.S.S. Builder community, as well as Vermilion Digital, the developers of the game. They are quite responsive, so if you ask questions, you're sure to get answers, and can get a much better opinion and look of the game. If not, oh well, you can do as you want.

[Bernartive]

Originally posted by Scrompfy:

Originally posted by Boomy:

We might see 1.0 this year, or early next year. That's just a prediction based on their update speed. Despite taking a long time to develop, the game has been making steady progress with no upsets to speak of.

Steady is....relative. Steady in terms of Valve time? Maybe.

Steady in terms of "At a reasonable pace for what people were asked to pay for?" eehhhh.....

"Lets make everything perfect then add multiplayer" is also a can of worms that essentially means 100% wasted development time. Multiplayer is the ONLY reason to play this game. the game has no actual story to speak of. The characters are completely throwaway. Nobody speaks naturally.

So, what happens when, invariably, the game is broken when applying sets of bonuses from a massive tech-tree? Do they just "scale up" everything so that it's "harder" because the numbers are higher? Because a random graze from a normally "weak" enemy suddenly does 90% HP? Because that doesn't make the game fun or interesting.

But if you just flood a place with enemies, suddenly carefully balanced encounters can become either cakewalks because of combined power, or if too many enemies are present it can make taking out indivudual enemies feel pointless, especially in objective maps. Kind of forces builds to go in specific directions and makes others just completely unplayable. Heavy Mechs already have no reason to exist already as it is. There's only downsides to having more MASS in your M.A.S.S.

Honestly....MASS Builder has just kind of fallen apart for me. It's too little, too late, and the way it's looking they're focusing on making the multiplayer PVP centric..... So it's just slowly becoming a knockoff Garrison Archangel....And nobody wants to go back to that toxic heap. :ggxxacky:

These are some good criticisms, and there definitely is the possibility of PVP-centric development being a detriment to the future of the game...but it could just as well improve the systems and balancing of weapons, tonnage, and upgrades all around.

I think the game at it's current stage is a little weak...and at worst, a little boring; if this was the quality of the full complete game I'd have to say that nothing would WOW me, especially in the gameplay and story.

(When the game is running above 60fps and maxed settings, I'd say it does look and feel very nice...but when there's a lot of enemy and environment models in view, it stays below that, and while it remains playable its a little disappointing.)

It's kinda doughy, but I think it definitely has the potential to be more than mediocre as it is, if it were polished 2 or 3 times over.

I'm new to the game, watched a guy stream and thought it looked good for a couple dozen hours but once I got it I think I blew through all the story content available in like 2 days. --and I'll still play some more.

I hope this game gets an edge or two, it definitely needs a bit of a stronger soundtrack, maybe more in-depth statistics from the Armors and Tonnage to improve builds or some sort of incredible revamp of the current systems or even if the Multiplayer turns out really good...Then I would think M.A.S.S could join the leagues of "one of the better" mech(a) games, definitely one of the better mech(a) games with a building aspect...but as it is at this moment, it really is just alright--which deserves a modicum of respect for an unfinished game in the modern age.

[Ashcrawler]

Originally posted by Native:

Originally posted by Scrompfy:

Honestly....MASS Builder has just kind of fallen apart for me. It's too little, too late, and the way it's looking they're focusing on making the multiplayer PVP centric..... So it's just slowly becoming a knockoff Garrison Archangel....And nobody wants to go back to that toxic heap. :ggxxacky:

These are some good criticisms, and there definitely is the possibility of PVP-centric development being a detriment to the future of the game...but it could just as well improve the systems and balancing of weapons, tonnage, and upgrades all around.

They have literally said the opposite, pvp is a tag along feature, not even close to centric and they don't intend to make it central, their top priority is the campaign and the mech building aspect, as the name suggests. If you're going to comment on the weekly updates you should try reading the thing you're supposed to be responding to.

[Mew]

Alright so my 'quote in reply' thing is apparently busted, So Ill just give my 2 cents as a guy who owns a copy of this game. Sure its been in 3 years of EA. But don't go slandering it and saying "Developer Hell" Have you even bothered to look at the community hub? The Community Discord? Have you even watched a single Video on this game? Sounds to me like you haven't. This game has came far in those 3 years. I got a copy before the "Kaiser" part set was implemented, Sure the game is slow in development but as another person said, the team is 6-7 people, You make it sound as if that small of a team can get a working game out faster than a huge development team can. What I'm getting at is, You really should look into it more because this question you made sounds like you haven't bothered to look into this game. Do yourself a favor and do so if you have not done so, And while your at it try out the Demo. You'd be quite surprised to see how far this game has come.

[Hunter Este]

It's a little troubling how personally offended some of you are getting because I'm not willing to shell out money for a game that seems to be in perpetual Early Access. I'll check it out in a few years if it releases to full 1.0 production build.

[Doom Squid]

Originally posted by Hunter Este:

It's a little troubling how personally offended some of you are getting because I'm not willing to shell out money for a game that seems to be in perpetual Early Access. I'll check it out in a few years if it releases to full 1.0 production build.

Thats fair, but not enough to discard everything else we've said to counter your claim. But as I've said before, you can do what you want.

[Ashcrawler]

Originally posted by Hunter Este:

It's a little troubling how personally offended some of you are getting because I'm not willing to shell out money for a game that seems to be in perpetual Early Access. I'll check it out in a few years if it releases to full 1.0 production build.

Why ask questions in a discussion if you aren't going to read anything anyone says unless it's sharing your misinformed viewpoint? if you want an echo chamber, I'm sure you have a mirror in your house you could "discuss" the game with. Don't start discussions if you don't want one, and don't ask questions if you do not wish to be informed.

[Hunter Este]

Originally posted by Sincere Moth Merchant:

Originally posted by Hunter Este:

It's a little troubling how personally offended some of you are getting because I'm not willing to shell out money for a game that seems to be in perpetual Early Access. I'll check it out in a few years if it releases to full 1.0 production build.

Why ask questions in a discussion if you aren't going to read anything anyone says unless it's sharing your misinformed viewpoint? if you want an echo chamber, I'm sure you have a mirror in your house you could "discuss" the game with. Don't start discussions if you don't want one, and don't ask questions if you do not wish to be informed.

No I read everything, I just didn't really agree with the reasoning, there's no need to take personal offense. The person I did agree with made better points.