Burn Witches! Burn!

captainprid · 04-24-10, 02:59 AM

Just out of interest, I would love to know the following, obviously I never will but it would be nice to know:

How many developers worked on the game
What was the production budget
What time restraints were put on the developers
What was the development budget compared to the marketing budget
What is the budget for further game development
and
How many devs are still working on the game post release

I think if you answer these questions, you will know who is to blame for the condition of SHV

kylania · 04-24-10, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captainprid

What was the production budget
What was the development budget compared to the marketing budget
What is the budget for further game development

You missed "What was the beer budget?", perhaps the most important budget when designing games.

captainprid · 04-24-10, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylania

You missed "What was the beer budget?", perhaps the most important budget when designing games.

Zedi · 04-24-10, 05:13 AM

I only blame Ubi. And not only the game, but everything in this company. The support, the PR.. everything in this company is just bad. Their logo from now one means "stay away, amateurs inside".

Jimbuna · 04-24-10, 05:30 AM

Having also met Dan personally I can add my support to what privateer has posted 'regarding Dan and the dev team'.

I've only one criticism of Dan.........after we parted at Houston airport check-in we never met up again in the flight departure area as agreed.

It must have been Dans turn at the bar

IanC · 04-25-10, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Having also met Dan personally I can add my support to what privateer has posted 'regarding Dan and the dev team'.

I've only one criticism of Dan.........after we parted at Houston airport check-in we never met up again in the flight departure area as agreed.

It must have been Dans turn at the bar

Ok I've seen a few of these "I've met Dan in person..." comments from different members. I'm assuming you guys talked in depth about game development. You're not saying the devs can do no wrong just because you've had a beer with the guy, right?

Jimbuna · 04-25-10, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanC

Ok I've seen a few of these "I've met Dan in person..." comments from different members. I'm assuming you guys talked in depth about game development. You're not saying the devs can do no wrong just because you've had a beer with the guy, right?

That is correct

Onkel Neal · 04-27-10, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanC

Ok I've seen a few of these "I've met Dan in person..." comments from different members. I'm assuming you guys talked in depth about game development. You're not saying the devs can do no wrong just because you've had a beer with the guy, right?

No, no one is suggesting the devs can do no wrong, even Dan would be the first to admit when they fall short. Game development is not easy. Nit picking and ill-informed rants are easy. That's why they're so common.

JScones · 04-26-10, 04:18 AM

IMHO people here need to stop singling out one man and equating the success of SH5 to his personality. I mean, Dan might be the greatest guy in the world, but he is part of a team...and not a small team by the looks of things.

I think Alexandru Gris, the SH5 Project Manager/Producer (Ubisoft Romania), provides great insight into the workings of the Romanian dev team on his blog.

To put his comments into perspective, here's the SH4 dev team bios.

Read into all this what you like. But certainly, it makes a mockery of comments like "I've met Dan and he's a great guy so don't blame the devs" or "Dan will fix it for us!". Such comments might be true if Dan was the team, Project Manager, or even Lead Programmer, but erm...

I'd actually argue that if anything put pressure on him it's comments like "I've met Dan, and I trust him" or "Dan's a great guy, he'll fix it for us". That's a LOT of weight for someone who is a member of a team and is much harder to dismiss as the ramblings of a mad man than the usual "it's all the devs fault".

Anyway, I think Alex's blog entry paints a clear picture that might just challenge the beliefs of some people here...

McBeck · 04-24-10, 05:34 AM

I have worked with IT projects for more than 5 years. Both as Project Manager and lately as a Program Manager.

Its a fact that the project can scream "The project is not yet done" / "Quality is not good enough" and management can say "We dont care - get it done now, no matter what"

I will bet you that this discussion have happened between the devs and the management...and management didn't listen.

Most likely because they didn't get measured on quality, but on deadlines and budget. Ubisoft management is probably right now doing the blamegame for the poor reviews and sales....wonder who becomes the fallguy

Zedi · 04-24-10, 07:00 AM

As a customer, should I care if is the developers or suits fault? Do I really need to care who is what in this fail company?

Also I wonder how come this game is always bugged at release, how come they always fail in test and finish this game? Is just beyond my understanding...

SilentOtto · 04-24-10, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnum

As a customer, should I care if is the developers or suits fault? Do I really need to care who is what in this fail company?

Also I wonder how come this game is always bugged at release, how come they always fail in test and finish this game? Is just beyond my understanding...

Oh sure... We all know knowledge is of no use! geesh...

McBeck · 04-24-10, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnum

As a customer, should I care if is the developers or suits fault? Do I really need to care who is what in this fail company?

Also I wonder how come this game is always bugged at release, how come they always fail in test and finish this game? Is just beyond my understanding...

As a customer you should get what you pay for. If you start pointing fingers - better do it right.

Faamecanic · 04-26-10, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McBeck

I have worked with IT projects for more than 5 years. Both as Project Manager and lately as a Program Manager.

Its a fact that the project can scream "The project is not yet done" / "Quality is not good enough" and management can say "We dont care - get it done now, no matter what"

I will bet you that this discussion have happened between the devs and the management...and management didn't listen.

Most likely because they didn't get measured on quality, but on deadlines and budget. Ubisoft management is probably right now doing the blamegame for the poor reviews and sales....wonder who becomes the fallguy

Agree with this.... but still think the Dev Project managment takes some of the blame. Had this been the first time they worked for Ubi on SH...then I wouldnt blame them at all.

But we have had three releases now... all of which crammed as much new stuff in as possible, and most of it half done and need 3 + patches to get it working enough to barely call it a final release (one patch being a PAID patch...which was baloney).

So you would think the Dev team would have released this and adjusted accordingly.

What Im trying to say is the blame goes both ways. The devs blame is overpromising/commiting and UBI by not giving enough time or budget. I mean cripes had UBI allowed a few months for beta test....that would have found/fixed most of the major bugs at least.

tonschk · 04-24-10, 09:32 AM

.

........ I LOVE the DRM , and I am very Very HAPPY with the DRM , and I hope UBISOFT will NEVER ... NEVER turn off the DRM

.... What I really REALLY HATE are the pirates

.

04-24-10, 02:59 AM	#1
captainprid Watch Officer Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Blackpool, England Posts: 347 Downloads: 23 Uploads: 0	Just out of interest, I would love to know the following, obviously I never will but it would be nice to know: How many developers worked on the game What was the production budget What time restraints were put on the developers What was the development budget compared to the marketing budget What is the budget for further game development and How many devs are still working on the game post release I think if you answer these questions, you will know who is to blame for the condition of SHV __________________ Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;

04-24-10, 05:30 AM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,755 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Having also met Dan personally I can add my support to what privateer has posted 'regarding Dan and the dev team'. I've only one criticism of Dan.........after we parted at Houston airport check-in we never met up again in the flight departure area as agreed. It must have been Dans turn at the bar __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

04-24-10, 05:34 AM	#10
McBeck Admiral Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,027 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	I have worked with IT projects for more than 5 years. Both as Project Manager and lately as a Program Manager. Its a fact that the project can scream "The project is not yet done" / "Quality is not good enough" and management can say "We dont care - get it done now, no matter what" I will bet you that this discussion have happened between the devs and the management...and management didn't listen. Most likely because they didn't get measured on quality, but on deadlines and budget. Ubisoft management is probably right now doing the blamegame for the poor reviews and sales....wonder who becomes the fallguy __________________ "I like subcommanders...they dont have time for bull**!" Proud member of the Subsim army of zombies Becks website

04-24-10, 09:32 AM	#15
tonschk Admiral Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,200 Downloads: 172 Uploads: 0	. ........ I LOVE the DRM , and I am very Very HAPPY with the DRM , and I hope UBISOFT will NEVER ... NEVER turn off the DRM .... What I really REALLY HATE are the pirates . __________________ What we do in life echoes in Eternity

04-24-10, 05:13 AM	#4
Zedi Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,845 Downloads: 184 Uploads: 2	I only blame Ubi. And not only the game, but everything in this company. The support, the PR.. everything in this company is just bad. Their logo from now one means "stay away, amateurs inside".

04-26-10, 04:18 AM	#9
JScones Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 5,501 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	IMHO people here need to stop singling out one man and equating the success of SH5 to his personality. I mean, Dan might be the greatest guy in the world, but he is part of a team...and not a small team by the looks of things. I think Alexandru Gris, the SH5 Project Manager/Producer (Ubisoft Romania), provides great insight into the workings of the Romanian dev team on his blog. To put his comments into perspective, here's the SH4 dev team bios. Read into all this what you like. But certainly, it makes a mockery of comments like "I've met Dan and he's a great guy so don't blame the devs" or "Dan will fix it for us!". Such comments might be true if Dan was the team, Project Manager, or even Lead Programmer, but erm... I'd actually argue that if anything put pressure on him it's comments like "I've met Dan, and I trust him" or "Dan's a great guy, he'll fix it for us". That's a LOT of weight for someone who is a member of a team and is much harder to dismiss as the ramblings of a mad man than the usual "it's all the devs fault". Anyway, I think Alex's blog entry paints a clear picture that might just challenge the beliefs of some people here...

04-24-10, 07:00 AM	#11
Zedi Sea Lord Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,845 Downloads: 184 Uploads: 2	As a customer, should I care if is the developers or suits fault? Do I really need to care who is what in this fail company? Also I wonder how come this game is always bugged at release, how come they always fail in test and finish this game? Is just beyond my understanding...