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DoubleFine has announced it will cease development on Spacebase DF-9 and release their Lua code for modders to carry the dream on.
The game had rather a lot of planned features listed that have been removed, but hopefully this won't be too hard on fans of the game with their plans:
It does make me wonder what happened internally for them to scrap their future roadmap. They are however putting in a tutorial and smoothing the game out to be less like an early access game, and more what you would expect from a finished game. There will also be goals to work towards to make the game feel more complete too.
No need to fret though as the game is already pretty damn fun as it is even when I played it a while ago, and these things can happen in development.
Their roadmap page has removed all previously announced possible features and replaced it with a small 1.0 release information section, but they did always state this:
There were always pretty open that nothing was "carved in stone" meaning none of their previously noted features were confirmed to be heading into the game. You can see that section using the way back machine.
They also noted on their big picture that Linux sold 2.37% for them.
See their official post on it here. You can also check it out on Steam. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
DoubleFine has announced it will cease development on Spacebase DF-9 and release their Lua code for modders to carry the dream on.
The game had rather a lot of planned features listed that have been removed, but hopefully this won't be too hard on fans of the game with their plans:
QuoteWe’re also pleased to announce we’ll be releasing the game’s full Lua source code a short time after 1.0, which will allow the community to create potentially far-ranging mods that add content, new features, and change some fundamental game behaviors. We’ll of course be sticking around a bit for bug fixing and support, but any new content for the game will now be in your hands. We’re eager to see what people do with this game!
It does make me wonder what happened internally for them to scrap their future roadmap. They are however putting in a tutorial and smoothing the game out to be less like an early access game, and more what you would expect from a finished game. There will also be goals to work towards to make the game feel more complete too.
No need to fret though as the game is already pretty damn fun as it is even when I played it a while ago, and these things can happen in development.
Their roadmap page has removed all previously announced possible features and replaced it with a small 1.0 release information section, but they did always state this:
QuoteNothing on this list is carved in stone, and we can’t promise any date for when it might go into the game. We may decide something isn’t worth it, or an idea may mutate into another thing entirely. We’re sharing this with you because we want to give an idea of where the game is headed!
There were always pretty open that nothing was "carved in stone" meaning none of their previously noted features were confirmed to be heading into the game. You can see that section using the way back machine.
They also noted on their big picture that Linux sold 2.37% for them.
See their official post on it here. You can also check it out on Steam. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Thats really not cool ! I paid for this game to have it open sourced a few months later ?
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Segata Sanshiro 18 Sep 2014
I don't know whether to be annoyed or pleased. I'm pleased that a very promising looking game wil be community-driven, but I'm very annoyed at the fact that I paid for a game which the devs have given up on and will now never finish.
Their reasoning must be that they have a lot of other projects right now (Grim Fandango, Massive Chalice, Costume Quest 2) but that's still no excuse to just abandon development mid way through a game when people paid money with certain expectations for it. But then again, maybe they should do the same with Broken Age and it may cease to be the travesty which it currently is and becme a decent adventure game rather than casual crap for infantile iPad users who don't like anything more challenging than jabbing at a bright rectangle with pretty colours on it from time to time.
Their reasoning must be that they have a lot of other projects right now (Grim Fandango, Massive Chalice, Costume Quest 2) but that's still no excuse to just abandon development mid way through a game when people paid money with certain expectations for it. But then again, maybe they should do the same with Broken Age and it may cease to be the travesty which it currently is and becme a decent adventure game rather than casual crap for infantile iPad users who don't like anything more challenging than jabbing at a bright rectangle with pretty colours on it from time to time.
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I guess this is the real problem paying for unfinished games, good thing I didn't buy the game.
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Steam should just remove Early Access from their network. it's not a good idea.
At the very least there should be an option in the client to filter out anything not properly released yet.
At the very least there should be an option in the client to filter out anything not properly released yet.
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i'm never buying early access again, way to go double fine.....u can keep your crap
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Steam should just remove Early Access from their network. it's not a good idea.
At the very least there should be an option in the client to filter out anything not properly released yet.
i totally agree with that
btw there is a real sh*tstorm on the steamforums right now about the game. i hope DF will come back on their decission
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Segata Sanshiro 18 Sep 2014
Steam should just remove Early Access from their network. it's not a good idea.
I have to completely disagree with this. While DF and others clearly abused the system, Early Access is a great initiative as a whole if you take into consideration some of the games it made possible:
Kerbal Space Program
Wasteland 2
Rust
Planitary Annihilation
Starbound
Prison Architect
etc.
In fact, if you look at the vast majority of early access games, they are brilliant and made possible thanks to the life line that is alpha funding. It's just a shame that companies like DF have to ruin it for the rest of them and cast doubt on their otherwise fantastic projects.
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Man.. great couple of weeks we have had with indie developers straight up going in no lube style on the game community. Either complaining or not doing.
I didn't like the idea of crowd funding online from day 1. Luckily the only game I have ever bought on early access was Kerbal Space Program. It IS what early access should be. Some do it right, most don't. I agree that Greenlight needs to go away. Or fork steam and create a totally separate greenlight version. Only when the game is complete can it move to steam. At the very least, like someone else said. Allow me to turn greenlight off.
I can't help but feel that the indie devs have figured out that us linux users WILL pay usually above the average of other platforms, and simply use the word "linux" to take advantage. This might not fit with this particular game.. but it sure does fit with other 2 big screw ups over the last couple of weeks.
I didn't like the idea of crowd funding online from day 1. Luckily the only game I have ever bought on early access was Kerbal Space Program. It IS what early access should be. Some do it right, most don't. I agree that Greenlight needs to go away. Or fork steam and create a totally separate greenlight version. Only when the game is complete can it move to steam. At the very least, like someone else said. Allow me to turn greenlight off.
I can't help but feel that the indie devs have figured out that us linux users WILL pay usually above the average of other platforms, and simply use the word "linux" to take advantage. This might not fit with this particular game.. but it sure does fit with other 2 big screw ups over the last couple of weeks.
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Steam should just remove Early Access from their network. it's not a good idea.I have to completely disagree with this. While DF and others clearly abused the system, Early Access is a great initiative as a whole if you take into consideration some of the games it made possible:
Kerbal Space Program
Wasteland 2
Rust
Planitary Annihilation
Starbound
Prison Architect
etc.
In fact, if you look at the vast majority of early access games, they are brilliant and made possible thanks to the life line that is alpha funding. It's just a shame that companies like DF have to ruin it for the rest of them and cast doubt on their otherwise fantastic projects.
Rust is still unplayable on linux.
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Is this World Customer Anal Treatment Week or what? Jesus Christ, this horsedung almost beats L0's. Their big picture thing makes it look like they're actually PROUD of having scammed everyone who bought the darn game.
Well played, DF.
One more line.
Well played, DF.
One more line.
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Unfortunately another proof that Tim Schafer and his company just can't stay on time and budget during development. I doubt we will be seeing Act 2 of Broken Age either this year.
3 Likes, Who?
Steam should just remove Early Access from their network. it's not a good idea.I have to completely disagree with this. While DF and others clearly abused the system, Early Access is a great initiative as a whole if you take into consideration some of the games it made possible:
Kerbal Space Program
Wasteland 2
Rust
Planitary Annihilation
Starbound
Prison Architect
etc.
starbound is thinking about opensourcing it too, and it still lacks basic features like keybindings
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Unfortunately another proof that Tim Schafer and his company just can't stay on time and budget during development. I doubt we will be seeing Act 2 of Broken Age either this year.
Unfortunately I have to agree...
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Wait, what's the problem? The LUA CODE will be open source. The GRAPHICS are not, and you still have to buy them. Of course, they'll probably make some free alternatives, but know they probably won't be the same quality, and it would be some time. But the thing is, the LUA SOURCE CODE is released. Is the whole game engine really written in Lua? Or is there some C++/C code that's not released?
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Wait, what's the problem? The LUA CODE will be open source. The GRAPHICS are not, and you still have to buy them. Of course, they'll probably make some free alternatives, but know they probably won't be the same quality, and it would be some time. But the thing is, the LUA SOURCE CODE is released. Is the whole game engine really written in Lua? Or is there some C++/C code that's not released?
The game engine is most likely the already-open-source Moai, which Double Fine has used on other projects and which uses Lua for the scripting
Speaking of which, how many other game companies of Double Fine's size are actually using an open source game engine? I still think they're pretty awesome.
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Wow. I spend days in the forums fighting off people telling me it isn't worth a purchase and they go and release it for 1.0 this early! Amazing. I don't WANT to make content for your game unless everything is open source.
That's not how it works, you don't half bake a cake and leave it.But it's worse than that analogy. They have essentially left a cupcake, and given us the ingredients for icing and then if the cake suddenly tastes like crap then we are left with nothing.
Lua scripting is restrictive by default, its there to write gameplay code within a sandbox. It's not the same as open source, it's about as open source as Garrysmod or many other games already on Steam. It means nothing to say the game is open source but you can only add new features, not reshape the game if it suddenly breaks.
EDIT: Oh wait, it's already broken for lots of Linux gamers because the game is about as fast as your average Vista machine. Let's fix that with LUA!
EDIT2: The game won't be entirely written in lua. Usually best case is when the gameplay is written in it and you get a certain amount of modding room. But more often than not it's left to things like AI and objects rather than global gameplay.
That's not how it works, you don't half bake a cake and leave it.But it's worse than that analogy. They have essentially left a cupcake, and given us the ingredients for icing and then if the cake suddenly tastes like crap then we are left with nothing.
Lua scripting is restrictive by default, its there to write gameplay code within a sandbox. It's not the same as open source, it's about as open source as Garrysmod or many other games already on Steam. It means nothing to say the game is open source but you can only add new features, not reshape the game if it suddenly breaks.
EDIT: Oh wait, it's already broken for lots of Linux gamers because the game is about as fast as your average Vista machine. Let's fix that with LUA!
EDIT2: The game won't be entirely written in lua. Usually best case is when the gameplay is written in it and you get a certain amount of modding room. But more often than not it's left to things like AI and objects rather than global gameplay.
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Segata Sanshiro 18 Sep 2014
Well, open source or not, they're still charging £18.99 and letting other people do all the work now.
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marcelomendes 18 Sep 2014
Glad I didn't bought this game. I have a few early access games right now, like Planet Explorers, Verdun and Interstelar Marines. I know the risks, but what "Double Fine" did is just ridiculous and disrespectful with their backers, sorry for you guys.
This kind of act brings a lot of damage to the company's name, lets see what they say after the users feedback. Well, Spacebase DF9, Broken Age and Hack & Slash are now definitively out of my whishlist.
This kind of act brings a lot of damage to the company's name, lets see what they say after the users feedback. Well, Spacebase DF9, Broken Age and Hack & Slash are now definitively out of my whishlist.
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Toost Inc. 18 Sep 2014
As someone who bought it in Alpha 01, I don't really see the need for a kerfuffle.
I spent hours in that first alpha, and though I haven't had much of a chance to actually play since then, I have been keeping up with SB-DF's development, and they've only added more amazing things.
Back then, I didn't only buy this game because I thought it was going to become a great game, I bought it because it already was.
And let's be honest. the only reason why this game now seems unfinished is because of the roadmap. Had they kept that internally, and publicly said "Spacebase is done", it would just have been a normal release and that would be that.
Instead, now we get the entire source code to play with as well, and although it probably won't be released under any real open-source licence, it's still a great modding opportunity, and a very nice gesture towards the community.
Again, probably not going to be truly open-sourced, but God forbid you spent money on an open-source project! You must feel like a right dupe!
I spent hours in that first alpha, and though I haven't had much of a chance to actually play since then, I have been keeping up with SB-DF's development, and they've only added more amazing things.
Back then, I didn't only buy this game because I thought it was going to become a great game, I bought it because it already was.
And let's be honest. the only reason why this game now seems unfinished is because of the roadmap. Had they kept that internally, and publicly said "Spacebase is done", it would just have been a normal release and that would be that.
Instead, now we get the entire source code to play with as well, and although it probably won't be released under any real open-source licence, it's still a great modding opportunity, and a very nice gesture towards the community.
Thats really not cool ! I paid for this game to have it open sourced a few months later ?
Again, probably not going to be truly open-sourced, but God forbid you spent money on an open-source project! You must feel like a right dupe!
1 Likes, Who?
As someone who bought it in Alpha 01, I don't really see the need for a kerfuffle.
I spent hours in that first alpha, and though I haven't had much of a chance to actually play since then, I have been keeping up with SB-DF's development, and they've only added more amazing things.
Well you just answered it there. The reason we are kicking up so much is because a hell of a lot of people didn't buy the game early but bought it on sale just a few weeks ago or even hours ago. What about our game time?
And let's be honest. the only reason why this game now seems unfinished is because of the roadmap. Had they kept that internally, and publicly said "Spacebase is done", it would just have been a normal release and that would be that.
Oh come on, it's not even close to being a full game. The bare essentials are there to keep it interesting for a few days but even EA will put more content into the base game, and they are the king of cutting content for DLC.
Instead, now we get the entire source code to play with as well, and although it probably won't be released under any real open-source licence, it's still a great modding opportunity, and a very nice gesture towards the community.
Lua can't run on its own, and so it's never going to be the full codebase. Probably little more than just a few gameplay scripts we can play with until we realise there is no real way to add content properly. It's a nice gesture from a company who is ditching their game.
Again, probably not going to be truly open-sourced, but God forbid you spent money on an open-source project! You must feel like a right dupe!
I spent money on a game, not an open source project. I would rather spend money for that on things which will go somewhere.
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