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I think the “may be this game isn’t for you, and that’s OK” line should appear in bold font at the top of every thread right next to “this game is a work in progress” and “this is an alpha, not a game”.

I think they have different builds with different content and effects. Could also still be tinkering with lighting and visual effects. I expect Alpha 2 to be pretty toned down, although they did mention current efforts are on polish for Alpha 2 Phase 1.

Suseg wrote: »

Depraved wrote: »

because that's not how making a game works.

you develop systems that help you make the game/content. you don't build the content right away. you basically make a game-making factory particular to the game you are making and you don't need to add lots of content to test it, and don't even need several biomes. after the factory is completed, then you build stuff with it.

making the first biome will take long because you aren't just building a biome. you are building a biome factory and a biome. after that, the next biome will take significantly less time.

edit: same thing for quests, skills, characters, etc

Everybody and their grandma understands you need a base and then expand on that. That's okay.

The problem is it's been 3+ years and the base is: only few races, no augments, -2 classes, and again, the ONE Biome for A2... well it turns out there's only content in 1/3rd of it. And may I remind you, we were promised MANY Biomes for Alpha 2.

I understand its an open development, I understand it's going to take time, but at this rate it's going to take a decade more.

You don't think it's a problem there's just THAT after years of development? You ARE aware how many Biomes this game is attempting to have... right? You are aware we have like five half cooked working systems out of like 50? When A2 starts, they're gonna be actively fixing bugs which means unless they heavily expand they're not going to be making new content, they're just going to make sure the few implemented systems work well. That's going to slow down development even more. At this rate Alpha 2 will last how long... ?

I was full of hope but the lasts few months have shattered my faith in AoC, sadly.

everything I said went right over your head =_=

during these however many years, they were building a factory that builds biomes and content, they weren't building the biomes and content.

Suseg wrote: »

Zehlan wrote: »

Because it is for testing certain systems not about you getting to play through content.

I'm perfectly aware it's a test and not a full game. Been following the game for a long long time.

The problem is they made the switch to UE5 3+ years ago... and in that time.. we got 1/3rd of the Riverlands? This is the Biome they most worked on, and according to the map they showed us yesterday, there's no quests in 2/3rds of the map. So the only conclusion is that in 3+ years of Development (and I'm being VERY generous with the years I'm counting here) they only cooked 1/3rd of a Biome

You do know how many Biomes are planned, right? Cause at this rate saying the game will launch in 2040 isn't a meme anymore, it's a reality.

The first time they showed the desert, they claimed it's incredibly easy to build Biomes because they have their own tool. Yet, somehow in 2024 we're going to start Alpha with ONE THIRD of a Biome having content.

What else did we get in all these years? Only a few races, 1/10th of the systems, not all classes, 0 augments/2nd classes, only a few weapons have skills trees, etc. Not much.

What have they been doing all these years? There are many things that don't add up here.

They also have been stating (for years now) that they have 100k+ testers... but for some reason they started selling keys because "they need more testers"? I'm sorry what? 100k isn't enough? Huh? Anyone with 2 braincells sees a contradiction. And with the general public already being extremely skeptical, you want to REASSURE the community, not confuse us and raise 20 unanswered questions.

because that's not how making a game works.

you develop systems that help you make the game/content. you don't build the content right away. you basically make a game-making factory particular to the game you are making and you don't need to add lots of content to test it, and don't even need several biomes. after the factory is completed, then you build stuff with it.

making the first biome will take long because you aren't just building a biome. you are building a biome factory and a biome. after that, the next biome will take significantly less time.

edit: same thing for quests, skills, characters, etc

Agripinensia wrote: »

People outside of Software Development rarely understand that what actually takes massive amounts of time isn't the stuff you see - its the stuff you don't see.

The condescending tone, yikes.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand they're actively developing a lot of systems, but there's nothing they have showcased or informed the community that shows actual meaningful progress except for some parts of the combat and the seasons rotations. I don't doubt Steven and the team have a lot of passion, that's what made me start following the project years ago, but there are legit reasons to be worried.

Few months ago, we saw the netcode/servers presentation which was nice, but the problem is that we haven't seen it in action working well. Last time I checked, when they had that MINI node wars (and I saw MINI because they are supposed to be like 10x bigger than that one in terms of players) a lot of players were teleporting instead of running and there was a clear desync constantly. Even Steven talked about it. So not even the netcode part is ready. Do I have to explain to you Mr Know It All, that getting that to work is literally the most important thing in an MMO and especially one that wants to have massive battles like L2 did?

For a game that claims it'll be able to have 250 vs 250 battles, to struggle with 40 vs 40 after years IS INDEED VERY WORRYSOME. There's nothing wrong with saying it out loud.

For a game that wants to have 100 different systems, that after 3-4 years not ONE of them is fully functioning is indeed worrysome or at least a reason to be skeptical about the game's development.

You think I'm the only one who thinks like this? Read any AoC related space outside this forum.

Here's what's actually going to happen, the way I see it. This game will be in A2 for at least 6+ years at the pace they're going which is a crying shame (and that's assuming they don't have any big issues) because if a good PvP MMO comes out, this one's toast. Let's also keep in mind that half the people waiting for this MMO are boomers (cause every single L2 player is a boomer with a few exceptions), so hopefully we don't die before it's out.

We all want a good game and we knew it'd take some time but I expected to be able to play it before I grow a grey beard. It's disappointing.

Suseg wrote: »

I'm a little confused as to how there's so little content available for A2.

Because it is for testing certain systems not about you getting to play through content.