Is the preview copy different to the finished product ?

THE_MASK · 02-12-10, 04:51 AM

Is Neals preview copy diffrent to the finished product ?

elanaiba · 02-12-10, 04:53 AM

Yes.

THE_MASK · 02-12-10, 04:55 AM

Just thought i would clear that up .

TH0R · 02-12-10, 04:59 AM

He explained it nicely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Here's the thing about PREVIEWS and REVIEWS.

Previews are done well before the game is finished, well before it is polished, with many features missing or incomplete. Alpha copies have bugs, glitches, and lots of them, but that is to be expected, the game is not finished. It would be pretty lame to report on bugs and missing features when work is still underway--that's like tasting a dish before it is cooked. The preview's role is to report on the overall direction of the game and give people an update and a feel for the game (with the ever-present disclaimer that some features may or may not make it into the final game).

When I get an alpha or beta version of a sub game to preview, as I did with SH2, Sub Command, Dangerous Waters, Silent Hunter III, etc., I usually do provide an extensive play test report to the developer, to give them a sense of how the game plays from someone who has not been working on it 10 hours a day, for months. But I don't publish this report, that's not my job, and it would not be fair to the developer. It doesn't help the players, either. You need someone telling you the game does this and this and this wrong when it will likely be fixed in the final version? I'm not alone in handling previews this way, most professional journalists do the same thing.

Previews are very useful in shaping a game, too. When I reported on SH3 at E3, and mentioned the campaign was branching, not dynamic, the players respectfully but persistantly complained and beseeched Ubisoft to include a dynamic campaign... and the dev team sold the idea. It delayed the game 8 months or so, but the result was worth it, SH3 was the greatest subsim ever at the time and was critically acclaimed--I gave it a 100 score, and so did several other top notch reviewers (100 does not mean perfect, ok? It just means the game was damn good and maxed out the Onkel Neal-o-meter

).

Now, on the subject of reviews: Reviews are based on the gold master, the game you will get in the store. When I do a review, I will cover every aspect of the game I can. I will include bugs and glitches, and I keep them in perspective. If a bug does not affect gameplay (SH3 water spray on the UZO before the patch), I don't beat the game up over it. If the bug does affect the gameplay (SH4 torpedo speed bug), then it gets a factual mention. I try to resist the impulse to be snotty about; that's a tone too common in reviews. I can tell you a game has a lot of crappy features without acting out like a 3rd grade bully.

d@rk51d3 · 02-12-10, 05:15 AM

With only 3 weeks till release................ I'd say he has the finished product.

They won't be able to make any changes and still get the game out on time otherwise.

The only difference may be that his copy has a tag programmed inside............. just in case it makes its way to the SubSim downloads page.

EDIT

Just read elanaiba's comment.............. properly this time.

Ragtag · 02-12-10, 05:18 AM

All preview copys are mostly a beta build and very often not the complete game, with some exceptions of course.

elanaiba · 02-12-10, 05:20 AM

Versions are being done all the time. The preview versions took a long time to go through the "channels" and reach people like Neal.

He will get a review version soon I suspect though.

d@rk51d3 · 02-12-10, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elanaiba

Versions are being done all the time. The preview versions took a long time to go through the "channels" and reach people like Neal.

He will get a review version soon I suspect though.

Thanks for the "heads up".

Getting all excited now.

THE_MASK · 02-12-10, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elanaiba

Versions are being done all the time. The preview versions took a long time to go through the "channels" and reach people like Neal.

He will get a review version soon I suspect though.

Grey Wolf , is that because your hair has turned grey ?

elanaiba · 02-12-10, 05:32 AM

It might as well do that soon...

d@rk51d3 · 02-12-10, 05:53 AM

With all the whining going on about here over the last few weeks, it's a wonder you have any left.

elanaiba · 02-12-10, 06:11 AM

Haven't you seen the pics? I started with a lot

onelifecrisis · 02-12-10, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elanaiba

Versions are being done all the time. The preview versions took a long time to go through the "channels" and reach people like Neal.

He will get a review version soon I suspect though.

Adriatico · 02-12-10, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elanaiba

Versions are being done all the time. The preview versions took a long time to go through the "channels" and reach people like Neal.

He will get a review version soon I suspect though.

The main point would be... is Neal's preview copy "offline version"... or DRM is "user friendly" towards short losses of internet connection?

Or it is another military secret...

(It would be pity if Gestapo takes you from Kriegsmarine )

d@rk51d3 · 02-12-10, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elanaiba

Haven't you seen the pics? I started with a lot

I've got heaps............. Just none of it is on my head.

02-12-10, 04:51 AM	#1
THE_MASK Ace of the deep . Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9,226 Downloads: 901 Uploads: 73	Is the preview copy different to the finished product ? Is Neals preview copy diffrent to the finished product ?

02-12-10, 04:53 AM	#2
elanaiba Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bucharest, Romania Posts: 1,058 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 3	Yes. __________________ With strength I burn...

02-12-10, 05:18 AM	#6
Ragtag Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 654 Downloads: 163 Uploads: 0	All preview copys are mostly a beta build and very often not the complete game, with some exceptions of course. __________________ Intel I7-7800x CPU. 16Gb G.skill DDR4 3600MHz. Asrock Taichi X299 mb Palit RTX 2080Ti. Fortron 1000W PSU. BenQ XR3501R LCD.

02-12-10, 05:20 AM	#7
elanaiba Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bucharest, Romania Posts: 1,058 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 3	Versions are being done all the time. The preview versions took a long time to go through the "channels" and reach people like Neal. He will get a review version soon I suspect though. __________________ With strength I burn...

02-12-10, 05:32 AM	#10
elanaiba Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bucharest, Romania Posts: 1,058 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 3	It might as well do that soon... __________________ With strength I burn...

02-12-10, 04:55 AM	#3
THE_MASK Ace of the deep . Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9,226 Downloads: 901 Uploads: 73	Just thought i would clear that up .

02-12-10, 05:15 AM	#5
d@rk51d3 Sea Lord Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 1,951 Downloads: 207 Uploads: 0	With only 3 weeks till release................ I'd say he has the finished product. They won't be able to make any changes and still get the game out on time otherwise. The only difference may be that his copy has a tag programmed inside............. just in case it makes its way to the SubSim downloads page. EDIT Just read elanaiba's comment.............. properly this time.

02-12-10, 05:53 AM	#11
d@rk51d3 Sea Lord Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 1,951 Downloads: 207 Uploads: 0	With all the whining going on about here over the last few weeks, it's a wonder you have any left.

02-12-10, 06:11 AM	#12
elanaiba Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bucharest, Romania Posts: 1,058 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 3	Haven't you seen the pics? I started with a lot __________________ With strength I burn...