Demo Delayed... Shame On Us

[Zink]

I know that many of you have been waiting a long time for the Prequel demo (maybe too long), and we greatly appreciate all the support and encouragement around the forums and via email over these past few weeks. Two months ago, I had given an estimation on a release date for the demo (November 1st). Someone asked for a date, and even if the date would have to be rescheduled later, I hoped that we would make it before that date. I’m not really sure why that date has been taken and announced as a deadline. To be clear, I am not trying to excuse myself, because I am also responsible for that delay. I just wanted you to know how came to that the date had been set and not kept.

It has not been kept because of one important reason: it was not possible to make the demo on time; we just overestimated our abilities, and underestimated the amount of work to do. Though there were several tasks at (or near) completion, there is still too much testing and other unanticipated issues that have come up over the past two weeks that have slowed us down considerably.

Because of the above reasons, we will not set the demo release date, simply because we are not able to estimate it at current point. We have discussed this, and have set a release date for our information only, but it serves as a guideline and schedule for the team itself. It will help us make the demo as fast as it is possible, but does not guarantee that we will manage to make everything on time. That’s why we will not say it publicly (and please, don’t ask for it). We will probably announce a date, but only when we are absolutely sure that we can make it and have completed all the necessary testing and packaging for release. I think the best answer we could give you at this point is that it is coming soon. Please understand that we are more disappointed than the community is that we have not been able to get this demo completed.

Also, please don’t think that we have given up on this project. On the contrary, we have been working harder than ever for the last couple of weeks, to be sure that we could meet the release date and put out a quality product. But that hard work was not enough, and we now see that it is not possible, and would not be possible, even if we worked harder. On the plus side, we managed to make really great progress during that time, so the demo will be made for sure. The progress is constant, but just a bit slow, especially given that many of us are at Uni and working full time . We are committed to getting this demo out to the public. One benefit of this delay is the inclusion of several things we would not have been able to add with the November 1st deadline - including more character animations, more space to explore on the islands (which may now be fully functional and open, rather than closed off as in a traditional demo), more character models and layouts, and in general, a more full and robust demo, which is what this community really deserves. With the previous date, many of these ideas were simply pipe dreams that would have to be left on the cutting room floor.

We are very sorry to disappoint you at this time, and we hope that you won’t lose hope because of this slip-up. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience, and hope that you will continue to support us as we continue work on this game.

The LBA Prequel Team

[Rocky]

Shame on you!!

Im sure this is worth waiting for.
So keep up the "unknown" but surley good work

[Zerath^]

well....just get it done

[Quetch]

I hate to say this but in a past thread, I TOLD YOU you wouldn't be able to keep it up ... sorry

[ChaosFish]

Oh you love to say this.

[Double-J]

Originally Posted by Quetch

I hate to say this but in a past thread, I TOLD YOU you wouldn't be able to keep it up ... sorry

I guess we can count you off the list of beta testers then...

[Neko]

Originally Posted by Quetch

I hate to say this but in a past thread, I TOLD YOU you wouldn't be able to keep it up ... sorry

you do not need to say what you don't want to say.

[Quetch]

what I wanted to say was that you shouldn't make promises you can't keep ... not cause it's not 'respectful' but cause u disappoint the public it's not me cause I know when to get my hopes up and when not to, but the younger members surely will be anyway, cutting me off the beta tester list will be sad both for me and you ... cause as a beta tester, not everyone can do what they are supposed to ... to test a game implies more than just playing the game, hoping to find a bug ... you have to know HOW to find bugs ... anyway, hope you'll change your mind

[Neko]

first of all it is not a promise!
we plan to release something on a certain time. plans can however fail. we try our best...

the reason to publish a release date is to motivate us harder to make it, because fans love it. even if we do not deliver on time, we still have worked about 3 times as hard.

we can ofcouse, not say a word at all, but would you prefer that?

a promise is: someone with nekoneko points, WILL win my lba cd.....it can only fail if mice eat up my cd.

[Kitarii]

What if it melts in the sun? Or the microwave?
Anyway Quetch, you seem to have taken JJ's light hearted comment a bit too seriously.
It's pretty obvious he was joking, I doubt you're off any teams for being slightly pessimistic.

[Double-J]

Originally Posted by Quetch

what I wanted to say was that you shouldn't make promises you can't keep ... not cause it's not 'respectful' but cause u disappoint the public it's not me cause I know when to get my hopes up and when not to, but the younger members surely will be anyway, cutting me off the beta tester list will be sad both for me and you ... cause as a beta tester, not everyone can do what they are supposed to ... to test a game implies more than just playing the game, hoping to find a bug ... you have to know HOW to find bugs ... anyway, hope you'll change your mind

First, as Kit has pointed out, I was joking about beta testing.

With respect to the public, don't believe for a second that we're not more angry than anyone about this date not being met. We have goals set for ourselves, and our standards are quite high. When we say we're going to do something, we're going to try our damnedest to do it.

I understand frustration, hell, I'm frustrated myself. But much like Ocarina of Time - one of the most delayed games in history - good things come to those who wait.

One major plus of this delay is that we'll be giving you a fully playable island and a longer quest, which would have been impossible with the Nov 1st deadline.

[Quetch]

Ocarina ??? how much was that delayed ??

[Double-J]

Years.

[Quetch]

wow ... anyways, I didn't want to point at u, I guess I was a little disappointed myself hope you guys will put that demo up soon enough though ( before Christmas, what do u say ? )

[Double-J]

Originally Posted by Quetch

wow ... anyways, I didn't want to point at u, I guess I was a little disappointed myself hope you guys will put that demo up soon enough though ( before Christmas, what do u say ? )

Maybe yes...maybe no...maybe both.

Trust me, this community will be the first to know when the demo is ready for release.

[Neko]

expect a nekonekobonus first policy tho

[AE_Zeitreise]

At least in my Timeline has the Prequel been in 2009 released, around the same time that has Frédérick Raynal the first two LBA Games freeware declared. The first Prequel Demo has for Christmas 2007 been released as a Christmas Gift for then MBN.

[RGaspar]

You forgot the Frédérick Raynal's annoucement about LBA3, that will be on production for 2009