Commentary

[Lengo67]

This has bugged me for years. Now it really bugs me!

I don't uderstand why game companies release terrible editors with no support. For some people, half of the fun is in making a map/mission. You get the most for your buck this way.

Why do game companies deliver mediocre editors? What behooves them to do this? What's wrong with going all the way?

Now it really bugs me. Finally, here is a game that can make real IF-Then mission branching. You can swap out graphics. You can customize the sounds. You can rely on built in messages and events or create your own. But.....

There is little to no official, well written, comprehensive manual describing it's use.

There are bugs in the editor. Sometimes, when editing the world map, I think that it crashes on purpose! Fortuantely I've learned to save after every successful operation. But must I live with this fear? I am dreadfully afraid my edit will be lost.

WHY IS THIS? Why don't game companies make stable, reliable, comprehensive editors and then offer a comprehensive manual to go with them? I know.... stoopid question. The answer is 'the bottom line' and time is money.

What happened to excellence? Has that gone the way of the dinosaur to make way for 'the bottom line'?

And... needless to say.... time after time, game companies release a product unfinished. A patch is needed. And sometimes, even a patch won't fix it. You gotta pay for the x-pack -- what the game shoulda been in the first place!

I'm tired of this, and so are many others. If it takes that much time to finish a program, then wait! We are not short term lenders! We want interest if we gotta wait for patches,and we want super-duper features in an X-pack! If I was a banker, my short term interest would be the same as any other banker -- EXTEMELY HIGH!

If you're gonna release an editor, well thank you! But why in the world is it left ignored, ungauranteed, full of bugs and at times a nightmare to use? Is it a freebie? A gift?

"Merry Xmas! Here's a new bicycle for you! It's broken, but you can ride it to the store without breaking your leg. However, if you break your arm....."

Thanks a lot!

Get with the progam, eh? Is this the way to do business? And PLEASE don't tell me that it's okay because ALL the game companies do it! It is NOT OKAY!


The first company that gets a clue will win a medal!

[Yahya]

That might be true, Lengo67, but I fear it will never become a reality.

The goal of a game developer is to create a game that has x hours of satisfying gameplay. In most cases with games such as these, the goal is 50 to 100 hours, I believe. CotN is probably much more than that; I've never added it up.

As a result of their goal, the developer will work to finish as many details and functions as possible by their release date, which is usually scheduled months in advance, like a movie release. The companies do everything possible to make that date, including releasing the game in a 'non-polished' state, planning to release a patch shortly thereafter. This is simple business. The publishers might let the developer slip the release date by a week or two, but they will (I'm sure) stand over the developers' shoulders during that time demanind that the game damn well be released by the new date, whether it is perfect or not.

That, by the way, is a simple rule of project management. Nothing is ever perfect. Work it as close to the goal as possible within the time constraints, and then complete the project.

The editors are a nice add-on, which enable us, with some siginificant effort and trial and error, to build maps, and even these days, campaigns, so that we can all enjoy the game for years to come. This is something which is done to satisfy us, but this is not the goal of a game developer or a publisher. They do not seek to create a game that is never-ending, or never reaches obsolesence. If that happened, we would never buy another game.

[Lengo67]

True, but with one wrong assumption. If they were perfect, we'd still buy other games. There would still be desire for new games. There is no "if that happens, we would never buy another game'.

Sadly, you have reiterated what I have already said. Game companies target the bottom line, not true excellence. Also, editors are freebies, and not the companies' goals. Or is it? It's included, so it must be part of the goal. Unfortunately, they are never supported and most always terribly documented.

Well, why? Who said 'let it be so' and has made it so ever since? The hand of God?

This is foolishness! I would hate to have on my tombstone 'he made a lot of money, but never achieved excellence'. 'He made his deadlines, but never completed any project' is utterly ridiculous!

And that's the way it is, despite what you said is 'that's the way it is'.

Why can't that change? Would there be a benefit in changing it? You bet. Everybody would win!

Like I said, the first game company that realises this is gonna win a medal!

The editor for CotN is almost there. Why in the world is it left unpatched? This makes no sense to me! None whatsoever.