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NEW POLL: December or January release?

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NEW POLL: December or January release?

Tell us what you'd prefer!

from GalCiv2 Forums

We are on track for a December release of the second expansion pack, Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor.

However, as we work on it, we realize that we have a historic opportunity to do the beta releases in such a way that we can reintroduce each major civilization with its new unique technology tree.

But as some have observed, the compressed beta schedule doesn't allow for us to really give each civilization that kind of reintroduction that they (and we) think they deserve.  That each civilization now has unique ship parts, planetary improvements, and technologies which can significantly alter the game play means that having time to really enjoy the civilizations as they are released seems important.

On the other hand, many will want to have this expansion pack finished in time for Christmas.

So we put the question to you guys: Which would you prefer? An early December release date for Twilight of the Arnor or an early January release?

Advantages of coming out in December:

  • You get it sooner
  • It can be purchased as a Christmas gift for other people
  • Stardock gets prestige for releasing two good expansion packs in a single year

Advantages of coming out in January:

  • More time for the public beta of the expansion pack.
  • Brad (me) can spend more time enhancing the computer AI before release.
  • More time to get preview coverage.

So you tell us. We can go either way. There is a web poll on the left side of the main page of GalCiv2.com. Vote there and post here and we'll go with the majority.

 

105,505 views 166 replies
Reply #151 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
My girlfriend was counting on this for a Christmas gift so on behalf of her, ship it early and patch it up (the AI already hands me my behind anyway)
Reply #152 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO NoooooooooooooNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sorry i just like nice things for christmas. Cats drool dogs rulez >
Siege of Centauri
Reply #153 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I agree with most (if not all) of the other posters: it's better to release it "when it's done", and if it's done in January or whenever that is fine for me aswell.

Last year, Star Trek Legacy was released just around Christmas time, and one could see that the game was buggy, not well thought out, and all in all a mess. Too often possibly good games have been spoiled by "trying to finish it before a deadline", and the gameplay had to suffer greatly: Gothic 3, Medieval 2, Star Trek Legacy and so on.

So take your time, as I would like to see A LOT of new ship parts, different technology trees and so on.

As one of the previous posters has said, we won't go anywhere anyhow, as there will be no MoO 4.

Good luck
JTS
Reply #154 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Its a one sided poll because most of the people visiting this board are regulars that also pre-ordered TA. If you are already playing the game then as a gamer you will of course prefer a later date because, well lets be honest, you already are playing the game so what does it matter.

The truth of the matter is Christmas release for products, any products, are a VERY big deal. Missing a Christmas release can cost a company a HUGE amount of money. Many people do not even make purchases in January because the cost associated with Christmas the month before.

I just think its a huge error to miss a Christmas release from a business model perspective.
Reply #155 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Luckily Stardock is a rare company which puts its fans before money, I vote for a later release date. Besides, I am enjoying DA so much, waiting another month or so would seem like waiting for a week.
Reply #156 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

The truth of the matter is Christmas release for products, any products, are a VERY big deal.
End of quote

I wonder if it is a such big deal for TA that won't be available at retail store.

Reply #157 from GalCiv2 Forums Top


The truth of the matter is Christmas release for products, any products, are a VERY big deal.


I wonder if it is a such big deal for TA that won't be available at retail store.

End of quote


Look I'm sorry but if they judge thier beta length on what a few dozen people post on a message board, there is something wrong with thier business model.

I'm all for a company appreciating thier customer base, its awesome. Don't get me wrong. I very much enjoy this game and this company but they know if its ready for release or not, they shouldn't need any opinions to make that determination.
Reply #159 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I see the reason for a December release, with Christmas and all, but I think another month would give Stardock well-deserved time to fix bugs, make tweaks, etc. so as to make the game even better than normal, which is already very good.
Reply #160 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
January release - I'd rather have it more complete a month later. Christmas is not a factor. ..bruce..

Reply #161 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Last year, Star Trek Legacy was released just around Christmas time, and one could see that the game was buggy, not well thought out, and all in all a mess.
End of quote


This is also exactly the mistake that 2K Games made two years ago with the original release of Civ4 -- and the result was a slew of scathing reviews (including mine, on Amazon.com; note my original 2-star rating, which I couldn't edit as 2K Games finally released patches to fix the various problems) and a tremendous loss of goodwill among Civ fans and fanatics. I suspect it also depressed their Civ4 sales for several months. So trying to make a December date at the cost of thorough quality assurance is counterproductive, IMHO. ..bruce..
Reply #162 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
January is fine... I ordered the game in the summer so why not wait a few months longer?

But if you release in December, you'll be upgrading the game as you go right? So wouldn't you still have the same feature set as if you were to release in Jan?
Reply #163 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Definitely later is better than sooner in this case
Reply #164 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Wait until January. Quality wins out over speed in my opinion.

Hell, postpone it until a mid-February release and it will be out in time for my birthday!

Oh, and for the record, I'm saying this as someone who is NOT in the Beta.
Reply #165 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The recent preview at gamespy lists a December 12th release date...
Reply #166 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Of cause SD should look for their own interests (including financial) and decide when to release, but for me personally as a gamer I would vote for not even January but February. The reason is that even now (beta 3)the game is very interesting, so I am already happy what I have, and what I will have to play during Christmas holidays.
But releasing it later, means more cool things will be added into this version of the game and more polish. And I can not see how anyone be against this if you can play all those betas now!

I just have one request, make it possible for us to buy some kind of "elite" version which cost more and has something more in it (anything, does not matter what) or upgrade non-elite version into elite. It is strange, but the game is so good, that many of us would like to buy this symbolic elite version just to give you more thanks with our money for the game.

Good games should be rewarded!