SE5 bad reviews and problems.

Sabrax · #1 October 31st, 2006, 10:33 PM

Ok, first off I'm not trying to start a flame war or upset anyone. With that said I'm kinda tired of hearing about all the problems and what's wrong with the game. I can't recall any games recently that have been "totally" bug free. Here's the way I see it. Malfador has honestly given me something that I think is absolutely wonderful... a basic game engine that people can make into virtually anything they want. The strength in this game is that it IS so easily moddable. I can understand why some people are upset but I think that probably about 80% of the people on these forums feel the same way I do. Yes there are problems but given some time people like Kwok, Devnullicus and Atrocities will make some of the most awesome mods that will make this game great. I know I left alot of names off that list but those 3 made the mods and shipsets that made me keep se4 on my hard drive for about 4 years now. Just my two cents.

Kana · #2 October 31st, 2006, 10:37 PM

Agreed...and add SJ, Fryon and TG to the list.

Artaud · #3 October 31st, 2006, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Sabrax said:
Ok, first off I'm not trying to start a flame war or upset anyone. With that said I'm kinda tired of hearing about all the problems and what's wrong with the game.

I hear you, but I think the game DOES have problems, and those of us who bring them up are doing so because we care and want things to be better.

I sense a growing hostility here toward those of us who are not happy with the way SEV turned out. Some here are sick and tired of listening to us, and the clear message is to sing praise or keep quiet.

Quote:

Sabrax said:
...Malfador has honestly given me something that I think is absolutely wonderful... a basic game engine that people can make into virtually anything they want...

That, my friend, is part of the problem. I personally don't want to pay for a game engine that can be fixed by modders.

I want to pay for a complete game.

Captain Kwok · #4 November 1st, 2006, 12:02 AM

I find there's a split. Some players are happy because they get to mess around with SE:V now despite the bugs and those that think the game was release too early and are dissappointed. There's nothing wrong with either position, it's just a matter of preference.

I think the game was released too early considering the fact there are a lot of new players discovering the series and the current bugginess makes a very bad impression. Of course us long-time SE players have some comfort in knowing that the issues will be resolved - but new players don't have that comfort and that's bad for the series.

Atrocities · #5 November 1st, 2006, 12:07 AM

I agree that this is indeed a wonderful game and I know that with the on going support that Aaron has always demonstrated in regard to his games, this game will only continue to get better. Despite the bugs, this is indeed one *****'n game to say the least.

The neat thing about having the game out is that the people who play it are now reporting the bugs as they discover them. This can only help make the game better.

Was the game released to early, YES, yes it was. I say at least 8 to 12 more weeks were needed. However by releasing the game early, a ton of new bug reports have been generated by players. So in the end, releasing the game in the state that it was in was a good move for improving the game, but a bad move for those explecting a 100% bug free game on version 1.0. (Unrealistic in my opinion but hey they are out there, and they ***** like mad when things aren't bug free.)

Atrocities · #6 November 1st, 2006, 12:12 AM

Quote:

I sense a growing hostility here toward those of us who are not happy with the way SEV turned out. Some here are sick and tired of listening to us, and the clear message is to sing praise or keep quiet.

If any one is making any one else uncomfortable because they are not happy with the way SE V turned out, then they need to step back a bit and recall how SE IV was when it was released back in 2000. I for one VALUE any post that is constructive in its feed back and points out lagitimate problems with the game. I mean how else are these problems going to be addressed if no one is willing to point them out?

Combat Wombat · #7 November 1st, 2006, 12:16 AM

lol look at a game like Battlefield 2142, they have a massive dev team and charge the full $50 for the game, had a massive public beta where they got tons of free testing, reusing the same engine that has powered their last 3 games, and they still have a massive ammount of bugs. Now there is a game no one should be buying.

Kana · #8 November 1st, 2006, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Atrocities said:
Was the game released to early, YES, yes it was. I say at least 8 to 12 more weeks were needed. However by releasing the game early, a ton of new bug reports have been generated by players. So in the end, releasing the game in the state that it was in was a good move for improving the game, but a bad move for those explecting a 100% bug free game on version 1.0. (Unrealistic in my opinion but hey they are out there, and they ***** like mad when things aren't bug free.)

I agree as well...yet I heard of the 50 or so beta testers...about half or more flaked out, which left the rest with a large workload. Plus it seems that most companies now are pre-releasing most game, in some form of public beta test, months before release, to squash bugs, balance game play, and test game engine, and any MP infrastrucure if need for said game. In many instances, Company of Heroes for instance, made the end release a much better game, not mention helped the hype of the game.

SEV could have used a bit more beta testing in my opinon, maybe a slightly large pool of testers other than the initial 50...Yet with MM track record of patching, and listening, and now that this is his so called full time job, he will be able to do it in a more timely fashion than SEIV. So I say play the game to death, find out whats wrong, and report it. The game will become better, and the mods will make it playable for many years to come. Much longer than some other games I've played in the past 6 years.

Santiago · #9 November 1st, 2006, 10:32 AM

I think there is also a split along the modders/non-modders line. SEV was made for its modding abilty first and it's playability 2nd. At least it seems that way to me. I do mod some small items to suit for taste, but a whole mod takes hard work, time and dedication. If Kwok's Balance Mod wasn't ready to go, I think there would have been even more complaints.

The release imo should have waited a little longer, but its a trade-off. More bugs are getting squashed sooner.

But that doesn't solve the problems with a questionably designed UI. Hopefully this will be looked at when most of the game bugs are fixed and not forgotten about.

Someone in another post here or one of the other sites made a comment about (paraphrasing) in 5 or 6 years SEV will be at the point SEIV is. Problem is that's fine for the faithful not necessarily new customers.

Tim_Ward · #10 November 1st, 2006, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Was the game released to early, YES, yes it was. I say at least 8 to 12 more weeks were needed. However by releasing the game early, a ton of new bug reports have been generated by players. So in the end, releasing the game in the state that it was in was a good move for improving the game, but a bad move for those explecting a 100% bug free game on version 1.0. (Unrealistic in my opinion but hey they are out there, and they ***** like mad when things aren't bug free.)

A false dichotamy. No game will ever be bug free, but that's no excuse for releasing games that are near unplayable.

As it happens, Aaron does have excuses and mitigating factors. Like being one man trying to single handedly produce a highly detailed turn based stratagy game. Balance, design, coding, it's all him. Other developers have departments for those things and they still aren't making games half has complex as SEV. The other mitigating factors are his manic patching, and the work that eventually gets produced by the modders.

You do have to question the wisdom of this approach, from a commerical point of view. The first few weeks after a game is released are the most critical. People aren't going to buy a game they hear is unplayable now, but don't worry after a few months or years there'll be all these patches and mods and then it'll be awesome! It's a shame, SEV deserves to do well and the TBS genre as a whole needs it to do well.