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DoubleFine Ceasing Spacebase DF-9 Development, Releasing Code For Modders

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkYSir6LWa4&list=UUQMxCuhm25CUS9MZKjZ2ihQ
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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Cheeseness Sep 19, 2014
Quoting: HyeronAre you actually saying I - and others - ought to believe that a game can and will automagically jump from ALPHA 6 to 1.0? Like, in fact, Alpha 7 is beta and the beta is so good it's a full-fledged release?
It sounds like you don't recognise that terms like "alpha" and "beta" are arbitrary.

I do believe that it's possible that a release ready game could come out of what's there right now. I don't know if it will happen, but it's definitely possible.

Quoting: HyeronThey're removing further alphas, skipping beta, and calling it a day.
This is silly "beta" doesn't actually mean anything. I've worked on projects which have gone from "alpha" to release. I've also had projects which have needed more than two distinct pre-release phases and have gotten to gobble up many more letters of the greek alphabet.

Don't get me wrong, I would absolutely love to see the game get another 3 - 6 months' development, and I honestly believe that it has enough potential in it to warrant more than that.

I put money into this project to see a game made. Since that's what's coming out the other end, it seems silly to feel cheated regardless of how disappointing it may be that development won't be stretching out longer (it's also worth noting that this sort of stuff happens often in the industry - we just don't get to hear about it).
Hyeron Sep 19, 2014
Quoting: CheesenessIt sounds like you don't recognise that terms like "alpha" and "beta" are arbitrary.
Indeed. Call me old-school, but I still think alpha is for games that aren't feature-complete, beta is for feature-complete-but-not-there-yet-there-might-be-bugs, and release is for did-our-best-fingers-crossed.

One month isn't nearly enough to go from alpha to release and...
Oh wait. Spacebase is NOT feature-complete. It IS an alpha.

QuoteI do believe that it's possible that a release ready game could come out of what's there right now. I don't know if it will happen, but it's definitely possible.
A release-ready HALF-game.
I bought the game based on a feature list which they o so conveniently flung under the rug as fast as possible, knowing FULL well that this dung wouldn't go unnoticed.


QuoteThis is silly "beta" doesn't actually mean anything. I've worked on projects which have gone from "alpha" to release. I've also had projects which have needed more than two distinct pre-release phases and have gotten to gobble up many more letters of the greek alphabet.
I know, one look at Minecraft is enough. But seeing how the game was still in development, and how suddenly almost 50% of the features are scrapped and 1 month is enough for RELEASE-WORTHY QA? Nope. Nope. Nope. Not stupid enough to gobble THAT.

QuoteDon't get me wrong, I would absolutely love to see the game get another 3 - 6 months' development, and I honestly believe that it has enough potential in it to warrant more than that.
And I'm a huge "when it's ready"-lover, as long as you don't keep people in the dark. Spacebase is NOWHERE near ready.

QuoteI put money into this project to see a game made. Since that's what's coming out the other end, it seems silly to feel cheated regardless of how disappointing it may be that development won't be stretching out longer (it's also worth noting that this sort of stuff happens often in the industry - we just don't get to hear about it).
So do I. I put money to see the ADVERTISED game made. I back a plane simulator, I don't want an Air Control on release. I can understand one or two things being scrapped, major or otherwise. HALF the feature list is another matter entirely.

And indeed, we don't hear about it. We don't put money in it either. I'm not sure the shareholders are too pleased when you try to shaft them, either. :)
Cheeseness Sep 19, 2014
I'd love to get into a detailed discussion of it, but sadly I don't have time. I will recommend that you avoid comparing it to Air Control and that you try to accept that whilst things aren't ideal, it doesn't mean that the game is necessarily going to be abysmal.

Good luck!
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