iiMStevo

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Posts posted by iiMStevo

  1. Posted

    On 02/07/2018 at 9:04 PM, Suspect7 said:

    I think this post is honest and constructive. I don't understand why you have to be either a die hard fan who doesn't question anything (PRESTON_BODHI_343) or think everything is a scam (Eschaton). 

    It is more than acceptable to question the development direction they have taken here, as well as their lack of community engagement, especially when they talk about community as something they value.

    Now, I have backed this project, and I am eagerly awaiting TS just like everyone else. But at the same time, I am also unhappy with the way they have handled information and communicating what is going on so that their backers, customers, and future playerbase have a somewhat better understanding. ESPECIALLY given their poor track record.

    So both sides are wrong. It is perfectly reasonable to question what the heck is going on here, but calling it a scam is irritating too. We are still seeing stuff, but honestly, not enough.

    Also FYI, you wouldn't have one of your developers write articles each week, to your point, that wouldn't make sense when there is clearly a lot of work for them to do. BUT you could very well delegate that task to someone who is not developing. Or hire someone specifically to engage your community and such. Come on, thats pretty basic.

     

    Thank you.

    You’re the only person to see this point of this post is about communication and not about crying about progress.

    Props to you, sir/miss.

     

    On 02/07/2018 at 9:31 PM, LuckyDuck said:

    The devs stream every Tuesday and Thursday. Gameplay streams not so much as you point those two out. 

    They are Monthly Dev Blogs

    What are they to announce? If you say a release date, well we have the tracker instead of one. 

    The Artist don't programme..... So how are the objects like the deck chair and lamp holding up the programmers?

    No, they said the new website will either come before or along side the TS module release. Please check the tracker for the progress on the TS module, as when that is completed the module will be submitted to steam to for verification and then it will release.

    They have a dev blog every Month not every 3 months. Also Beach_Ball the community manager does answer the communities questions. 

    Also we are customers but at the same time "Pledging/ Donating" to help fund the development on the game. We get the perks in the pledge we chose to say thank you for helping development early on.

     

    Regardless of everything you’ve just said, you don’t answer the point of this post...

    Why is communication so poor? Announcements should be made to keep people updated, so they don’t have to go looking in every corner of the internet to see if any progress hasn’t been made. I’ve been checking the process tracker and it hasn’t shifted once in six weeks. I have to trawl the forums to read hearsay posts about how someone’s friend heard the postman’s dog say it won’t be updated until the new site is up, and your cousin’s friend’s sister’s boyfriend is close mates with the developer of the new site and they’re waiting on payments so hat won’t be live until the third moon of the Chinese New Year... 

    Look at any other game developer, they put out articles for progress to keep people updated. Crowd-funded projects such as this need to have that connection amplified by ten... it isn’t happening and it makes no sense as to why it isn’t. Its literally the easiest thing to write a weekly article about how something makes progress. You cover what happened, you cover what’s going to happen, and you highlight any questions the community has... job done.

    • Like 1

  2. Posted · Edited by iiMStevo

    So... We're about two months behind the "definite" release date of Town Square now.

    I'm not one to complain at this stuff as I understand game development can take longer than expected when you really want to perfect something. However, the Town Square is essentially a beta module, so really it doesn't need to be perfect before it can be released, that said I'm really looking forward to actually getting in to see what the game looks and feels like, and how the interactions work.

     

    My biggest worry with Asylum right now, is not their failure to meet their own deadlines, but it's the complete lack of official communication. I've posted numerous times now that Asylum need to be more engaging with their community; there's nothing being released on their own official website about... well, anything.

    - The last announcement was April 20th.

    - The last dev-blog was a month ago.

    - The last stream was 3 days ago (quite recent, but before that, it was a month... and there's only 5 videos total on their YouTube channel).

    - The twitch account doesn't seem to have any real content aside from watching someone design a singular object with someone talking over it... and while it's cool to see some things being made by professionals, I really don't get why objects like this are still being made when the module is two months behind its definite release date... surely a deck-chair or lamp or whatever can wait. That's purely aesthetic extras which shouldn't be holding up development at all.

    - The last I heard was the TS module will be released when the new website goes live at the end of April / start of May, but still no website or any further update on that front.

     

    So what gives? Why is there an absolute void between Asylum and their own community? Either I'm missing critical information channels here that are filling these voids, or there's a massive void where there should be a huge flow of information two months past their own deadline.

    It really shouldn't be too difficult with a Community Manager to simply put out a quick update article every week detailing what's happening, why there are delays, what the team is working on, where the game's direction is heading etc... you know, simply engage with your community.

    I used to have a huge presence in Halo 3's Forge on a community site called Forge Hub, and we released several article pieces weekly... it isn't that difficult, and the staff members back then did it all for free.

    One article every three months is NOT keeping a community informed, and currently a lot of this community aren't just community members, they've paid in advance for this game and need to be treated like customers... and you shouldn't be misinforming and keeping your customers in the dark.

     

    EDIT:
    This isn't a topic to discuss the deadline, or why development is slow... it is to discuss the lack of communication, and why the communications put out there are all scattered across several different media outlets, as opposed to being uniform and on their own website.

    • Like 7
    • ver.1.22474487139 2

  3. Posted

    On 6/9/2018 at 3:07 AM, Flakeleey said:

    if ur PC broke... then how did you write this?

     

    Work PC!
    My old PC didn't break, I just sold it... although, due to unfortunate circumstance the guy who bought the pc actually contacted me back the other day to say it's blue-screening when GPU is under-load, so I'm prioritising fixing that for him first before buying more components for my new PC. It turns out my old motherboard has finally had enough and decided to pack in after the latest reinstall of Windows before I sent the PC off :( 

    ----------------------------------

    As for the GTX1080TI SLI discussion;
    I've ran cards in SLI before. I had two identical 980 TIs by EVGA in an old rig. The performance boost I got from that was around 30%~ extra, however, some games really do not like SLI configurations, so on a good few games I had SLI disabled, and instead the second card ran a second monitor so games and applications could run without any framerate drops in Windowed mode (allowing for faster window switching).
    In light of my new PC design, I'm trying to build a showcase-grade PC with a build video for a few friends and I to be in awe of. I'll be running two screens off the machine, and a third 5" touch screen inside the chassis, so while the additional card isn't required, it would certainly help with application run-time and memory utilization across Windows. I'll also likely have things like Twitch running while playing games too, which again can consume a lot of graphics processing when gameplay is being live-streamed as it effectively has to duplicate the information for the stream (although memory load is often significantly less). I'm still torn between running SLI, or running a single GPU in a vertical bracket. At this stage, I'd rather not rebuild the open-loop for GPU cooling again in such a short period of time, and running three monitors (essentially) off one card isn't ideal, especially with gaming and streaming, so the more likely option is to pursue the SLI configuration.

     

    On 6/6/2018 at 1:18 PM, dagtag said:

    First off, buying two 1080ti's doesn't seem like the best idea, from what I have seen it can really fuck up some games for you and it might be a problem. For the rest, 4,500 seems like a lot of money I am an enthusiast too and my rig roughly costed me around 2,500. Regarding the youtube part, I would love to see that.

     

    I'll make sure I put up a video in about two months time, for anyone in here that's interested :)
    My old PC I've just sold for £1,200 after about 12 months use originally cost £2,500, but would be £3,000 now if built from new. That was an AIO CPU cooled PC though. Open-loop cooling adds on a hefty chunk to the price tag. I'm also going from 16GB DDR4 memory to 64GB DDR4 memory, so again, that's a hefty increase!

    • Like 1

  4. Posted

    On 31/05/2018 at 12:09 PM, dagtag said:

    Building a pc isn't necessarily expensive though, what's your budget at the moment because I could help.

     

    ...£4,500 ?

    I’m an enthusiast builder, so I’m producing a fully watercooled rig that cools CPU, and *maybe* two GPUs being 1080TIs unless the 1180 gets released in which I may go for two of those. The timescale for the build is going to be around three months to cover the costs and the custom-made parts. It’s my first time doing case modding too, so there’s bound to be some mishaps! I’ll probably record the assembly etc and upload to YouTube once done if that kind of thing interests you too ??

     

  5. Posted · Edited by iiMStevo

    After all this time of waiting, Town Square is pending release and... my PC died so I have no PC to play it on D:

    I'm going to be super jealous now watching everyone else play, while I can only sit and watch through twitch while I'm at work...

    Have fun :'(

     

    Edit:

    Disclaimer: By died, I mean I sold it because I need to build a new PC and it's expensive, so it's my own fault, but please give me sympathy.

     

    Double edit:
    IT'S ALIVE
     

     

  6. Posted · Edited by iiMStevo

    6 hours ago, Theezakj said:

    recap article? they are streaming, making "highlights", why do articles about the streams? The content in the streams is in development so if u follow the streams you see the "new content" 

     

    I don't think you understand the problem...
    If everything relating to news and development is announced via the twitch streams (something that not all people use), then what's the point in having a website; dedicated to the news, development and community for the game, if everyone just says "just watch the streams"?

    Like I've already said, I don't mind getting the recap of a twitch stream now and then. The problem I have is that I can't engage in any of those twitch streams, I can't ask questions because it's no longer live in my timezone. My friends that are looking forward to this game only visit the website once every couple of weeks to check on progression and often see nothing because nothing is being put on the website.
    I can't see why there's a problem with publicising the progress on their own website, it's like Microsoft going to Google and saying "Hey, can you advertise our new browser for us?" and then telling everyone to go look at their new browser previews on Google Chrome...
    (If you don't understand the metaphor; it's a terrible business decision to headquarter your progress externally - somewhere that takes away activity and traffic from your business)

  7. Posted

    On 3/6/2018 at 3:49 PM, Beach_Ball said:

    Hey iiMStevo,

    While I do garner the Community Manager name, I also end up doing a large amount of Customer Service and other miscellaneous tasks that would otherwise occupy a developer's time. I try to get new screens and information out when I can, but such material usually needs to be cleared by either the Art Director or CEO. I'm in charge of scheduling the streams and definitely try to get any new artwork or assets out to our social media wherever possible. I know the 4 - 5 pm est timeslot doesn't work the best for streams so I make an effort to get highlights done and logged in our twitch clip directory while also saving each VOD to our YouTube as unlisted (the URLs are in the directory here http://www.identityrpg.com/community/topic/10271-twitch-clips-directory/)

    The new website should bring some welcome changes to both updated information and overall presentation. The developer tracker should be reiterating what's posted on some of our social media, but it's admittedly seen better days as behind the scene tweaks have left it partially functioning. The Web dev is working on rectifying this for the new site layout. I'll see if I can get help contribute some new media to the forums in the meantime. At the very least, I'll keep the new screenshots thread in Town Square updated. I apologize for not appearing as frequently as I should on the forums and I'll make an effort to turn this around.

     

     

    Thanks for the response.
    What about doing recap articles after a stream? Surely the content that was broadcast is already pre-approved to be showcased to the community? 

  8. Posted

    I possibly derailed the conversation a bit with my last comment about a leveling system... but I'm sure in the introductory video the dev mentions that while they don't have leveling as a feature, they do have skill progression, which is what would align with YOUKNOWBRO's suggestion.

  9. Posted · Edited by iiMStevo

    On 3/4/2018 at 11:18 PM, LuckyDuck said:

    There is not such a system for XP. The game won't really have XP levels or such with actions performed.

     

    This is still something that confuses me... why would you not have an exp level system? It shouldn't have any bearing on the game itself, but it could be good for the social aspect (bragging rights, or when talking to people you could know whether or not they're full of knowledge).

    Each level up could provide some form of bonus for the player, as in like an extra $100, or items that are typically available might be added to the players vehicle or home just to save them a few $$$.

  10. Posted

    I have absolutely no quarrels with the release date being pushed back slightly (a month is a slight delay in game development). What I do have problems with is how the Identity team release information. Unless I follow the twitch stream (which isn't streamed at ideal times for me anyway), I don't know if anything is being done at all. There's a new community manager that got appointed, but Identity's homepage, literally THE place to discuss Identity, is completely left untouched - save for one article a month.

     

    If you want your fans to keep faith in you, start showing everything on your own website, so people that don't follow your twitch can actually see you're doing something. Brandon shouldn't have any issues getting a few screenshots each day for what's been worked on for the previous day and writing up a quick article to detail what  it is that's happening... that's why you have a community manager - to connect your community to your developers.

    • Like 2

  11. Posted

    On 11/8/2017 at 11:22 PM, Luck said:

    I feel that they should make the RV have a bit more use than just meth else cops will prolly just tail an RV and see where it stops which takes away from the realism. A suggestion would be to make them liveable, not the meth one but have other RVs that ppl can use to live in temporarily

    Finally... someone that understands what I meant!

    ...and as far as the meth-lab configuration goes, surely the meth lab equipment is already in your RV? Otherwise how does you driving out into the wilderness without any meth equipment allow you to make meth when you pull over?

  12. Posted

    Is the RV used for anything else other than meth production?

    If not, what stops the police just from pulling over every single RV they see to arrest them for meth production right at the start?

    Would it be possible to produce meth anywhere if you have the right materials and processing units?

  15. Posted

    13 hours ago, acenewton1 said:

    That would actually be fun.

    I know right?

    I reckon it'd be quite cool to pretend to be some big-shot business guy in a suit, saying they'd sort out a transaction in allowing the person to buy a factory through them for a reduced price, then taking off with the money while rocking a fake identity!

  16. Posted · Edited by iiMStevo

    57 minutes ago, BrianHamilton said:

    I personally ADORE old movies. Especially black and white ones as do many of my friends.

    Don't be so quick to assume! Lots of people will be visiting the cinema! :)

    Let me just update you; 

    "no one" is an exaggeration of how minimal the population of the game's players will be watching the movies in the cinema.

  17. Posted

    6 hours ago, LuckyDuck said:

    The movies are on the public domain and that is either it has expired on copy right after so many years of the owner's death or after 70 years from being launched etc.

    ...so these are movies that no one will be watching then?

  19. Posted

    14 hours ago, PrinceChawmin said:

    Well if your thinking your gonna watch movies like captain america civil war then that won't be happening. They'll be playing old movies.

    Is there a list of what movies will be accessible to watch in the cinema?

    It does state you'll be watching real movies, in real-time.

  20. Posted

    How does the copyright work in the Cinema? I don't know much about copyright, but at least in the UK, if you're broadcasting to a wider audience, you need a special broadcast licence (that's why when you got to the pub, you'll see a little pint glass in the bottom right corner of the screen, to state it's a special broadcast suitable for public houses).

     

    • Like 1

  21. Posted

    ...you're all arguing over the need for the apartment to be a safe-space, and that the developers don't want to "risk" it.

    What are they risking? Why not just simply have it as a customisable server option where breaking and entering is permitted with a police player count requirement? If people want to go to an apartment and not have it broken into, where people can only come and look at your stuff and that's it, then play the official servers. If you want to have break-ins, home security, and the rest that goes with it, then have the option enabled on your custom server...

    I'm failing to see what the big problem is. In the end, on the official servers without B&E, players won't be interested in coming over to your house, to see what crap you've put in there. You'll get maybe one visitor a week to your house that's happy to sit there and look at what generic rubbish you've painted and hung on your wall, or what shade you decided to make your upholstery... the vast majority of players won't be interested. It's like in real-life, how many of you have gone round to your friends house just to see the new painting they decided to put up in the hallway, or where they've moved their sofa to as part of a furniture re-arrangement? Hardly any of you...

    In my opinion, B&E gives apartments an actual purpose, as well as a purpose to decorate and furnish them. If all it is is a safe place to be AFK, then what's the actual point of decorating it if you're AFK and the only one that could see it?

    • Like 1

  22. Posted

    I mean from the context of, what stops someone being a cop one minute, then being a hitman, then being a robber, then being a cop again, then being an EMS...?

    If you introduce yourself one day to a person, and they're a robber, and the next day they kill you because they're a hitman, you end up not being able to trust anyone at all because of no consistency.

  24. Posted · Edited by iiMStevo

    A server I've developed for just over two years is being re-launched tomorrow. It has a lot of unique features in an Altis Life server, and doesn't contain any client-side mods... so anyone can join.

    I haven't seen any rules stating you can't advertise Altis Life servers on here (apologies if there are, by all means delete this post if so!).

    So, for the server details;

    IP: 109.230.215.50:2302
    Name: [UK][TLG] Three Lions Gaming | 30+ Custom Features
    Player Count: 100

    You can view a list of our unique features on our website: http://three-lions-gaming.co.uk/index.php
    The video on the homepage is mostly out-dated due to an earlier version we released a while back. You can view a quick preview video of the modifications I made to "Kavala Square" in the editor mode, here: https://plays.tv/s/LRtQQ4uE6Ns-

    If you're looking for something to do in the meantime before Identity comes out, I welcome you to come check out our server tomorrow on it's launch day! :)

  25. Posted · Edited by iiMStevo

    4 hours ago, LuckyDuck said:

    Well, this won't be such a thing as it is no roaming NPC's and some servers will be empty and well just a server has to start small anyways and so all your suggestion will show that it is still empy and you can just exploit it and rob such NPC's with no consequences brought upon you.

    But that's my point... 

    The police force for example, at least in an Altis Life server, it's always hard to find someone who is willing to be a cop, and take the role of being the cop rather serious, or at least serious enough that they're not sat there randomly tasing civilians, or speeding around just because they can't be bothered to adhere to speed limits.

    To build an entire police force with those people may take literally thousands of people that join your server. Some days, you're going to log in and find absolutely no police officers online, and then as you say, players can just exploit it and rob everyone with no consequences.

    The video details that the police force has a structure to it... I presume by this, it means there are different branches where players are assigned different cases, or there are ranks that you progress through and have different roles to play as while you are that role...

    But I have to question that... what if, say the sergeant rank, has players sit behind a desk, and micro-manage other players? Sure, it's a nice role to be "the boss" for a bit, but it'd get boring. What happens when no players want to fill that role, or players only in that role are online? Does the police force collapse as a result?

    Ultimately, I think NPCs would work extremely well in this as "placeholders". It wouldn't take much away from the immersion if NPCs took part in some of the jobs to keep the system going. Sure, you can't have a friendly conversation with them, but maybe all they need to be able to do is say "Hey, how's it going?" if they pass you on the street... or even just give you a friendly nod as you walk by. The Bank would need to have some form of security in place, otherwise what stops absolutely everyone from robbing it as soon as the last police officer logs off for the day?

    If there's a fire service, and houses that can be set on fire by an arsonist (I have no idea, I haven't seen anything on this), who puts the fire out? Does the fire just spread and burn the entire city to the ground if there aren't any Fire service online?

    As cool as it may be, being a police officer and cruising around with your partner (your friend) to bust bad guys. If you're playing the game alone because they're offline or away or whatever, it may make the difference to your experience if you have a simple NPC keeping you company coming out with witty one-liners everyone once in a while as you make an arrest, or even have the NPCs mentor you as you're learning to be a police officer.

     

    In no way am I saying "Make NPCs the focal point of interaction" for this game, I'm simply suggesting to the community, it's worth considering their involvement in the finished product, and how they can greatly add to the game.