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Some additional tidbits from the lead dev:
I've adjusted the launch date to March 1st. I can't push it any farther than that.The launch of Earthrise or other games have nothing to do with our push to launch (I wasn't even aware of Earthrise's launch date).
There are too many players waiting for the final wipe and we can't continue endlessly at our current pace. One of the primary honest reasons is my health. I can't continue working 20 hour days seven days a week. We need to wrap up the current features, get players active and expand the team to make Xsyon the game that we all want it to be.
This gives us 2 solid months to focus on features. This may not seem like much given the delays over this past year, but to put things in context, since last March we've spent less than 2 months on feature work. The bulk of our work this year has been major revisions to the server and launcher, optimization of the client and fixing many problems that were left behind by our original programmers that are no longer with the team.
So, this will be the final push and I appreciate all of your support!
Part of our push from now until launch will be to get Xsyon populated, of course!The Quest system and allowing solo tribes (which is already possible) should help starting players a lot, as well as tribal starting locations.
We will create a starting island zone as well that will be in before the end of the month.I understand the concerns with combat and I will personally look into the values. The main problem is something is wrong with the computations or targetting making all hits appear to do the same damage and making dodging, parrying, armor types, weapon values and many other factors that are actually in the code and database not function right. When this is fixed, combat won't be perfect, but will be more than who can click the fastest.
Open world PVP, Good / Evil system, Combat FPS style, and crafting system with varied things. All these are lacking in the game and looks like they wont be put in for who knows how long.
On the contrary, these are exactly what we are currently focusing on from now until launch and through the early Prelude. As stated in the announcements we will be focused on crafting, combat, construction and tribe mechanics rather than implementing additional minor features.
The combat system is not shelved and is part of what we'll be revising before launch. The current system was designed entirely based on player feedback. I understand the frustration with it because something in the targetting or calculations is not working right. We will fix this before launch.
Implementing a Mount and Blade type of system is something we'll look into after launch. It's something that players have asked for so it's planned as evolution when we can expand the team in order to do so, but it was not something I originally planned for.I will add the other questions to our FAQ section and answer them as soon as I can take a small break.
So, the game is set to launch, can't be delayed further and there's a push to both populate the world (pre-orders) and complete a basic feature list in time for launch. The lead dev is bustin' his hump, as I'm sure the rest of the team is, trying to get the game ready for launch. Also, his initial announcement indicates there was a major programming staff change at some point.
I'm definitely interested in Xsyon, am curious to see how much of what was supposed to be in last year's launch makes it to this year's launch and if the game will even launch successfully or end up being another Dark and Light. I definitely wish Notorious Games success and hope they can pull it off. It would be fantastic if they did! In the meantime, I'm in "wait-and-see" mode.
~Ripper
Comments
There have been a number of concerns regarding the announced release from some of the current testers:
http://www.xsyon.com/forum/showthread.php/2737-Not-happy-but-happy-with-release?p=36555&viewfull=1#post36555 (you won't be able to see the linked material unless you've preordered)
I share most of the concerns that people have at this moment. There game still feels very incomplete, and they don't have much time to add or fix many of the things that were supposed to be in at launch.
I'm still hoping that Notorious can get this game completed and working well. We need more titles of this type.
Hell hath no fury like an MMORPG player scorned.
Notorious has a lot to prove with Xsyon and a lot to lose, accordingly. Hopefully they can deliver.
~Ripper
After checking the feature list on Xsyon page I can say that about 70-80% of the promised features are currently in game and working. The main problem is polish IMO, not the lack of features, let's hope they can add more polish during the next 2 months. The base of the game is solid, not buggy, if it can get enough players to maintain a healthy playerbase it will be a unique true sandbox game.
That would be great. Has the features page changed substantially since it was originally put up when pre-orders launched last year, though? If so, that's a problem. Also, last year it was stated that the features were 80% complete. A year has gone by and you're saying only 70 - 80% of the features currently listed are in game and working? That's a problem. There's a lot to complete, apparently, for the game to be launch ready by March 1st. Two months (1.5 months, since the final char wipe is mid-Feb) is a very short amount of time to shoehorn up to 30% of the listed features, much less do adequate testing, debugging, etc..
~Ripper
There wasn't any significant change in the feature list. So the 80% of the features are in, they plan to add like 10% more till launch. Its not so bad to launch with the 90% of the promised features....and none of the missing ones is gamebreaking. Its like that tribes can't set up taxes, or the comfort doesn't affect the player yet. Really, the game isn't lacking features, its lacking polish IMO.
Having not played the game for an intimate amount of time I would have to say if the game only needs more polish then it should be a great game for a "re-release" post the actual release. 90% of features working and included is a big leap. Wish this game the best honestly.
The features list has never changed as that is a list of features that he wants at or shortly after release.