same here (not knowing jack about 3d modelling), but doesnt it sound absurd to make models just for animation testing? wouldnt you test with actual (wip) models?
POE is doing very well, lots of updates every month. WL2 is still a work in progress but the screenshots/beta is looking very promising as well. I can't compare WH 40k games to them but I am hoping EC will rock too and if I feel confident enough to put some faith into the EC team, I will splash out [again!]
As much as I share the sentiments for bE (or to be exact: the dev-team around Eternal Crusade), that's a really bad attitude you have there. One that will screw you over sooner or later.
Probably mine, I mean I like tyranids and all but I have a worry about the founders program and people's new-found attitude towards it.
I've seen that and not too sure myself. I'm a console gamer and haven't come across this before. I'm just excited about the game in general as I'm a big warhammer 40k fan and an mmorpg fits it's universe really well.
With all due respect I must disagree. While it may appear to a developer that the fanbase they have attracted is giving them helpful advice on a regular basis I would argue that with a heavily invested fanbase the majority of the feedback will likely be overwhelmingly positive, even towards flaws that are likely to cause serious problems later down the line. This largely positive slant to the feedback could well be one reason why these developers like such set-ups, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it will be best for the game. It could be argued that a lot depends upon the developers capacity to listen to accept criticism and take on hard truths, and that's certainly true where the message is clear and unambiguous, however when faced with a wall of positive feedback it can be hard to even find the hard truths, let alone to accept them as having weight when balanced against all that positive static. Doubtless all the testers will give their honest opinions, but they are largely just that - opinions. Very few of these testers will be sufficiently objective to be able to view a situation clearly, separate from their own desires. Fewer still will be armed with the depth of experience to be able to make sense of what they see and communicate that to others. Of those few that do criticise potential problems experience of other 'founders program' beta testing would suggest that they will most likely be browbeaten by the 'real fans' as they defend 'their game', labelled as overly pessimistic by people who can't see the problem, or drowned out by the background noise. Ironically this territorial defense of 'their game' by some fans (I'm sure you have all come across this before) comes as a result of them being emotionally and financially invested and being given special social status by being a member of a select group - all factors that are being cited as reasons for the testers providing clear and honest opinions. So while getting super fans to pay to review and test your work may seem like a winning idea on a bunch of levels, I strongly argue that what benefits it does provide are largely illusory.
Being emotionally and financially invested in the game will not prevent me from productive criticism, why? - because i am emotionally and financially invested and the well being of this game will be my personal interest and concern thus if I notice sth wrong with the game I will not ignore it and definitelly comment honestly upon it.
This, tons of us were on this forum criticizing the devs without respite when some bad decisions were/are made. Heck threads popped out constantly about everything till we milked every last topic we could ever discuss about this game, i dunno i feel im pretty invested into this the whole time i was here. I wont suddenly stop fighting for balance (sure as hell wont ignore bugs) after i didnt all this time and propagated it on the forums. If such a part of the community exists, whos desires have nothing of a well being for the game well..... their warped way of thinking shouldnt exclude the surely bigger group of people who are actually here to help.
