A Debate : Release an' patch or wait ?

[ASnogarD]

What do think ?

Is it better to release HL 2 as soon as possible, with the assurances that fans will be happy to patch it to full functionality ?

Or

Go the long route, beta test it and remove as many bugs as possible before releasing HL 2 to the fans ?

There are pros and cons to both sides of the argument and may make an intresting debate.

For instance a Release an' Patch supporter could argue that with Steam around patching should be easier, so it makes sense to allow gamers to play and report the bugs.

Of course the wait for it supporters could argue that the Steam system is full of bugs itself, and its taking a while to squash those bugs... would players be willing to wait for patches if a fatal bug cause sections of the game to be unplayable ?


Disclaimer : This is not a "hurry up and release the game, Valve" thread nor a "Quit whining about the delay, let Valve do its job properly" thread, its a "debate on the Pros and Cons of Release an' Patch vs Wait for it " Thread

 

[poseyjmac]

i vote for the middle option. release a MP test to sort out bugs related to physics, weapon balancing, and graphics issues. no plot giveaway to fans + valuable input for valve. but this probably wont happen. doh

 

[burnzie]

small bugs are ok

big ones can kiss my ass.

i dont want to buy an unplayable game, small glitches are to be expected though.

make sure its ironed out to a satasfactory level , then release.

 

[darkmistx]

I'd rather they make sure it's bug free. I don't want the game to crash every 5 minutes while I'm playing.

 

[Menelaos]

The game is not done yet, so I doubt they could ship it even if they wanted to. but assuming they did, it could ruin their reputation, HL1 was a solid build at it's release, and a lot of bugs could ruin an otherwise excellent game.

 

[burnzie]

Originally posted by darkmistx
I'd rather they make sure it's bug free. I don't want the game to crash every 5 minutes while I'm playing.

Originally posted by Menelaos
The game is not done yet, so I doubt they could ship it even if they wanted to. but assuming they did, it could ruin their reputation, HL1 was a solid build at it's release, and a lot of bugs could ruin an otherwise excellent game.

exactly my point

:cheers:

 

[king John I]

Valve want HL2 to be better than HL1 right? its going to be pretty hard with all the competion to do this, they want hl2 to be the best game EVER! it has to be better and get more awards than hl1.

After completeing the game the only thing they can do is polish it, so they are polishing it till its see though, get the point?

 

[Mountain Man]

I say Valve needs to work until they feel the game is as finished as possible. It is absolutely critical they eliminate every show stopping bug they can find, but I'm cool if they fix inconsequential bugs post release.

 

[Someone]

I think most people are frustrated more by constant patching than by a delayed game....so I say wait an release it when it's as done as it can be.

I don't think anything is so annoying when you buy a game you've waiting a considerable time for, only to install it and have it crash constantly and consistantly. It takes a good portion of the "oompf" out of the excitment of the game.

 

[-JeZ-]

...did you ever consider people who want HL2 but dont have the internet, or dont play online ever? They would never use Steam and therefore would be left with a buggy game that they shelled out hard earned money for. [/B]

What kind of serious gamer doesn't have an internet connection? You can go online with your smegging XBOX and PS2's these days FFS!

I think VALVe shoudl release the game when it's done BUT let the public know what's going on as they finish/polish the game prior to release. All the silence is IMO unprofessional.

 

[iamironsam]

Tribes 2's initial release is a perfect example of an incredible and deep game that was plagued by bugs. Many people couldn't run the game stably, or were so annoyed by the bugs that they quit playing before Dynamix got a chance to patch the game up.

I'd stick it out if it ment HL2's initial release was going to be at least 95% bug free. I'd also wait it out till full functionality of both of SP and MP is implemented. Incomplete/buggy games just leave a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[iamironsam]

Originally posted by SlipperyNipple
And did you ever consider people who want HL2 but dont have the internet, or dont play online ever? They would never use Steam and therefore would be left with a buggy game that they shelled out hard earned money for.

I seriously doubt anyone out there that owns a computer expects that everry piece of software that they buy will work flawlessly straight out of the box. That's like "Computers for Dummies 101". If there is ever a patch that is that important, Valve would have to offer alternative methods of aquiring it.

 

[Ahnteis]

Release and patch really screws people who just want to play single player and don't have fast connections.

(I'm not one of those people, but they are a significant portion of gamers.)

 

[BoA_Wrath]

I'm cool with them releasing it as long as it is ready. All games get patched on the PC its as if games are always released incomplete. As HL2 will use Steam then patches will automatically be downloaded so there is no problem there with staying upto date.

 

[marksmanHL2 :)]

Patches are often out in magazines as well. That helps. I know I often just wait for my subscription of PC Gamer UK to come instead of wasteing my bandwidth on downloading them. I am on 512 broadband btw.

Still yeah, anything critical should definatly be delt with before the game ships. But not things like the lip synching is off my 0.0001 microseconds. If you get my thinking.

 

[RandomPING]

Sometimes the patches are just balance issues or optimising the code so it'll run better. I'm sure that some console developers would love to fix some smaller bugs, or scripts that ended up simply not running in the final game. Or even simply to make the game faster, or the AI better.

A patch doesn't only come out to fix problems, sometimes developers just want to give the gamer a better gaming experience.

 

[poseyjmac]

aol is pretty much free, and all it takes is a phone line, so if ur friends can't afford a phoneline than i understand. but otherwise a normal patch wouldn't take too long even at a 28.8 connection in the boondocks.

 

[GorgeousOrifice]

Two words: Ultima Ascension.

NEVER release a known-buggy or known-incomplete game.

No, I'm not still bitter. :/

 

[Plague]

I remember a time when games would come out and it would be months on end before a patch came out. Now though a patch is out the day the game comes out. I think the makers of the game are rushed to put it out and they just over look the small bugs and work on a patch for that. All they need is time and then they could put out a nearly flawless game

 

[poseyjmac]

Originally posted by SlipperyNipple
Not everyone lives in america dumbass.

well maybe people should move out of their communist countries so they can get internet. you've been reported for flaming. your time here is limited, guy.

 

[GhostValkyrie]

Originally posted by Plague
a nearly flawless game

What the hell have you been drinking?

 

[poseyjmac]

Originally posted by SlipperyNipple
omg ur a dumbass.

I live in a republic not a communist country. The world doesnt evolve around your over-agreesive, over populated, poluted shit hole america so fuck you.

And we do have internet, but unlike you fufu americans we dont see it as a necessity for life, so not everyone subscribes to an ISP for the daily hit.

quality of life here is 10 times better than you'll ever experience...and unlike america 1 in 3 of us (or whatever your ungodly figure is) are not obese.

mods: i rest my case

 

[GhostValkyrie]

Originally posted by SlipperyNipple
omg ur a dumbass.

I live in a republic not a communist country. The world doesnt evolve around your over-agreesive, over populated, poluted shit hole america so fuck you.

And we do have internet, but unlike you fufu americans we dont see it as a necessity for life, so not everyone subscribes to an ISP for the daily hit.

You didn't have to insult my homeland, because someone made a statement. And if you don't see it as a necessity, then why are you always here?

BTW:You've been reported.

 

[poseyjmac]

do you really think you have a chance of not being banned now? the nail is in the coffin my communist friend.

 

[poseyjmac]

i dont know what your country is but im sure its nice as you've said. but but know that life is great for me in california.

 

[poseyjmac]

no thats further south. northern california has many trees, very clean and peaceful up here. while still good cable/DSL providers exist which allow me to get 30 pings to good servers on the west coast. im sorry but it is great here.

 

[GhostValkyrie]

Life is great, here in Texas, too. but I guess I only feel that way because I'm an over-aggressive, obese, internet-bound American.

 

[GhostValkyrie]

To Poseyjmac; Sorry about the fires, you guys are having.

 

[poseyjmac]

also slipperynipple, im not a typical american in terms of obesity. i have a book by bruce lee called expressing the human body which i take training routines from, and exercise every day. this has helped me achieve a figure similar to bruce's, of course not quite AS defined , but im working on that

anyway thats the last off-topic reply out of me

 

[Spiffae]

I'm from america, but i feel like a westerner and a southerner are a poor representation of the country...

sorry, the states that provided Arnold and George W are both at the very bottom of my list of states.

 

[poseyjmac]

hey at least gary coleman isnt the governor

 

[GhostValkyrie]

Don't insult me, please. Texas is a very, techonologically advanced state. And as far as games go; We've we've provided of the games you've enjoyed...and games you will enjoy, in the future. Our range of softare companies cover id, 3D Realms, and Gearbox...and quite possibly some one else, who I cannot remember. Think, before you open your mouth...or in this case, type. We're not a bunch of idiotic s**t-kickers, like everyone seems to think.

 

[alco]

Originally posted by poseyjmac
of course not quite AS defined , but im working on that

 

[Dr-X]

LMAO!

 

[poseyjmac]

lol. bruce was natural. so im gonna be natural!

 

[alco]

I think he actually used steroids. Lots of people claim so, even ones who've worked with him.

 

[poseyjmac]

proof plz?

 

[ASnogarD]

So much for a debate.

Not meaning to be offensive poseyjmac and GhostValkyrie but it has been my experience that a few americans seem to have an attitude regarding availability of internet connectivity, some were so extreme as to imply that if you live in a lame country with bad internet options you don't deserve to play games.

So it is possible some non US players get agrieved when large patches are suggested as answers to problems, and that there is no problem downloading them as every serious gamer has a viable connection.

My personal connection is broadband local and < 56k internationally (<-- simplified description) so I can play online with the local online community but suffer when large patches are released. Steam gives me nightmares

 

[phantomdesign]

Make it free of all large bugs, and only small number of small bugs (which don't cause the computer to crash). Then keep it consantly updated....

 

[alco]

Originally posted by poseyjmac
proof plz?

LOL, there's no proof. Lots of people simply claim so. I'm not taking any sides.

Myself, I've been lucky to have been born with a well-defined body. Not enough muscle mass, but still pretty good. I train to keep it that way.