New Screenshots!

[Erpy]

If anyone's interesting in pondering something...it's interesting that people consider screenshots as proof that a game is still going and as an accurate indication of progress, yet don't take a statement "we're still working on it" seriously. (while it may give more clues on progress than something graphic) It's something we bumped into at AGDI while working on QFG2VGA. That game's backgrounds have been completed for a long time, what was left was a massive amount of programming and tweaking work. Even though all backgrounds had been completed a long time, people still wanted screenshots as a "sign of progress".

This basically means that the following situation could take place (works for both active and dead projects):

Fan: The project is dead. Admit it. There haven't been status updates in a long time.   


Developer: It's not. We're still working on it daily. It's a slow process, but we're still working. 


Fan: Words, words. Don't you have proof? Like a screenshot? 


Developer: (whips out a screenshot of a background that was made 2.5 years ago, but was never made public before) Well, this screenshot was made like.... 


Fan: Yay, yay, a screenshot. Now I have faith again. The game is still alive. Now I believe the game is still progressing! 


I'll let people figure out the moral themselves. 

[koko_99_2001]

lol, how very true Erpy Thanks

[dew7]

Still I give AGDI more credit since they have already released 2 games.  They have released a revamped King's Quest 1 and a King's Quest 2 that seems so different that I consider it a new game in many ways.  Congratulations to them and hopefully TSL will be able to have a game to their credit soon.  Sure, TSL did release a demo but it would be nice to be able to see an updated demo even if it is from material a year old.

[kq fan007]

I understand that the development team needs time to make a game and I fully agree that we should give them the time to do it, but the fans haven't heard anything for 4 months. And I'm sure that everyone can agree that thats a pretty long time to go without information.

I agree with what erpy said about taking the developers for their word, but to the waiting fans defense I can't help but ask a couple of questions. 1. to erpy: you say that we should be content with "were working on it" but for 4 months all the fans have been hearing is that same phrase over and over,(except for about 2 weeks ago when mfortunato's post  actually did tell the fans some of what's going on in development) And without hearing anymore than that same repetitive phrase every blue moon you would start thinking that maybe they really aren't working on it.

2. to the developers: you tell the fans over and over your working on it day and night(God bless you for that) now I'm not trying to question whether you are actually doing that nor am I undervaluing all the work you put into it even when your not paid nor asking you to sell your soul to this game, but I can't help but think that over the course of the past 4 months that you would be able, at the very least, to go on the forums and talk about development and what you are currently working on, but so far all we have gotten is "We're working on it." And then to top it all of the forumer who expresses his/her concerns about development is suddenly berated by die-hard forumers calling him/her impatient,troller,not true fan,negative,pessimistic, ect....


Again I'm fine with waiting another 2 years for the game as long as we have updates and know that it's still in production.

well that was probably more than most of you would like to read, but thats my opinion of it.

[TribeHasSpoken]

Good point, Stijn, and great to see you here.

I'd really love to show the fans everything I've seen of the game to prove that it's moving ahead, I really would. But then it wouldn't be the same when you actually played it.

[Cez]

We are working on it.

Cez

[awesomeasapossum]

Hoorah! Cesar said something! And it's almost a spoiler!

[Storm]

Erpy -
Ah, if I had a screenshot for every time a fan said "the project is dead"... No seriously, that would be cool

...at the very least, to go on the forums and talk about development and what you are currently working on, but so far all we have gotten is "We're working on it."

I don't see what else they can say besides "we're working on it", unless there's something new the fans should know about.

And then to top it all of the forumer who expresses his/her concerns about development is suddenly berated by die-hard forumers calling him/her impatient,troller,not true fan,negative,pessimistic, ect....

That's not entirely true. Most die-hard forumers can tell the difference between someone who expresses concern for the project and someone who just drops by to say "you're all liars, the project is dead"

[TheGreatGraham]

   I totally understand you don't want to release everything, and don't want to give much up, and I respect it.  In this case, I think the reason fans get tired and disappear is because the idea of this particular project (not that its been worked on the whole time or didn't have its setbacks) started what? Six years ago?  The graphics would have been out of date in 2000, and people could have gone from junior high to highschool!  Its just too long, what can you really do to stop people from getting bored without releasing the game?  I'm sure releasing news other than 'working on it' every five months would help, but even that wouldn't solve the problem.  People placed a tremendous amount of faith in the game, and they having nothing really to show for it.
   I'm not saying you don't have good excuses for the countless delays, I'm just saying this is what happens.  I got sick of it after two weeks of posting on the boards (this happened about six months ago), and I just came back to see if there was ANY progress.  From an outside view, however, the same sort of talk has been going on for a LONG time.
   I won't post here anymore, but I will download the game if it gets made.  On the bright side, after the game is made, fans will spring up to complement it.  Good luck with the game.
  Oh, and I'm not a troll, and I'm not being overly pessimistic.  I'll under stand if the development team wants to start cussing me out too, but I feel I'm just stating a fact.

                                                                     Ta-ta + Cheers

[Rosella]

The project has been going on for a long time, though I'd say it wasn't really organized until 2002. Still, 4 years is a long time to be in production for a game. The statement "Don't worry, we're still working on it," is tantalizing, and the die-hard fans aren't exactly immune to it. We know that nothing has been really released for a while, but the team can't release too much more without starting to reveal bits about the plot. Screenshots are pretty safe, but they don't keep people happy for long, as you can see by this thread. The media section is FULL of things to look at. Sure, they aren't new, but they're just as amazing. The music is just as beautiful as the day it was released. The concept art still leaves us wondering at what exactly the concept is for. I've never seen a game with this many promotional media goodies, actually. I could be totally wrong and games release things all the time, but I don't follow them, so I don't really care. They're not giving us much to work with, but I have a feeling like that means they can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I don't know how close they are to being done. I especially don't know how long it will take Vivendi to approve. The lack of having time to make journal entries (maybe I'm just bad at it, but it was hard for me to make journal entries on the TSL Deviant Art account ) says to me that they're busy working with the game. It's not much consolation, but I don't want screenshots; I want the game, so it works for me. I believe in these guys. I believe in the entire team. I haven't met most of them, but I do nonetheless. Most games don't give much info on a game until they want to create hype before the release. TSL has been upfront with us since the beginning. Now you don't see them much around the community anymore. I really feel like that means they're getting more work done, not less.

And of course, there's one thing that's always being updated: the forum. Maybe some of you guys aren't really into it, but it keeps the wait fun for me. The team is working; we know they are. Maybe POS created too much hype for the game before they were even close to releasing it. Maybe they messed up by giving a tentative release date in the last official birthday chat (you know, before the shutdown) making us sure it wouldn't be long until they were done. My opinion is that they're just making the game way better than it would've been then. I believe lip syncing was mentioned in a journal entry. Maybe they messed up by talking about starting this game before they really had much to work on. Some people might think they did, or at least act like they think it would be better if they hadn't, but I like it. It gives less of a corporate feel. The team members are human, not super-machines that aren't working fast enough, which is what it's so easy to think of a development team as when you don't know them. I'm rambling, I know, but I'm still pretty sure there's a point buried somewhere. The team is doing their best to get this game out, and everything they have shown us has been amazing. Here comes the blind faith bit that's probably annoying some of you by now. I think the team has earned our trust and I believe there's a reason they aren't giving us screenshots and updating the journals. I believe in them, and I think that's all we can really do.

[Kaze]

Hello,
My name is Kaze and I have been following this website ever since it first came up. Ive always wanted to post but was kinda of a chicken. And after reading some of this topic i was like i want to write something LOL.

I was so happy when this game was announced. I loved KQs i didnt grow up with it but i certainlky plaed them all numerous times and the two new ones made by that other fan site.

Ok i have been to this website since it first stared and i believe i was in the 8th grade now im a 2nd year college student. I know for people who dont ask for any money (think your crazy) would take some time in developing this game. My concern is that it has been a long time since this game was announced and it is a Trilogy. If it takes this long to do part 1 what about the other two parts?  

If it takes 3-4 years to finish part 1 it will take another 6-9 years to finish the game...

Thats the one thing i have always wanted to say...

[Yonkey]

Welcome Kaze!

If it takes 3-4 years to finish part 1 it will take another 6-9 years to finish the game...

It shouldn't because once Part 1 has been completed, the majority of the framework will be in place.  For example, we had to design our own inventory & dialogue system (because the engine didn't come with one appropriate for adventure games).  However, now that they exist, they do not need to be re-created for Parts 2 and 3, they just get re-used.

Similarly, we will be fully aware of what techniques, organizational strategies and work processes work best at particular stages of development.  During Design, the focus was more on 2D sketches, concept art, backgrounds, and static 3D models.  Now it's more on 3D animations, lipsync, cameras, dynamic lighting, etc. 

Even though we've been developing this game for years, there have been many obstacles we've had to overcome.  The entire process has been a great learning experience for us all.  The problems/mistakes made in the past will not re-appear in future games.

[dew7]

Rosella if you say the project really started in 2002 and it is now 2007 then we are on 5 years and not 4 --- just being a critic

[Rosella]

I just added 2 to 2000 so subtracted 2 from TheGreatGraham's claim of 6.

Regardless, I should have caught it. Now I'm ashamed.

[kq fan007]

It shouldn't because once Part 1 has been completed,

Does that mean that Shadows will come out relatively soon now?

Also another question, will the game still be released in a trilogy?

[koko_99_2001]

It shouldn't because once Part 1 has been completed,

Does that mean that Shadows will come out relatively soon now?

Also another question, will the game still be released in a trilogy?

I had to reread what Neil said after you quoted him. But if you notice, he said "ONCE Part 1 is completed."

[dew7]

* Meaning that we may all be old and gray when Shadows is released.

   

[icarus]

* Meaning that we may all be old and gray when Shadows is released.

   

For me that isn't a trouble since I'm old already *shows his beard*.
That could mean that it will be released soon 

[awesomeasapossum]

Rosella your post has 10 's....

[koko_99_2001]

Back on topic, please