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[ventuswings]

Let us not forget that this game also had showcased a 'playable demo' at one point before everything was refactored to infinity

if you believe him. more likely it was just a lie.

The video showed him iterating through turns and performing actions. If it was a scripted falsehood it was fairly convincing. It looked to me like an early prototype of the game prior to them trying to implement the stretch goals.

I really believe poor project management have been the most contributing factor leading to game's demise/hiatus.

[Innsmothe]

Let us not forget that this game also had showcased a 'playable demo' at one point before everything was refactored to infinity

if you believe him. more likely it was just a lie.

The video showed him iterating through turns and performing actions. If it was a scripted falsehood it was fairly convincing. It looked to me like an early prototype of the game prior to them trying to implement the stretch goals.

I really believe poor project management have been the most contributing factor leading to game's demise/hiatus.

I know this is really dishonest, why don't people just list features they are already going to include in the games as stretch goals and release them in a fit of 'generosity' anyway? Sounds sodding obvious.
Seriously, the 101 basics of project management are to find out what is achievable and where the limits are and stop there. If a project succeeds, you can always try and get more funding for continuations or additions.
Paradox do this extremely well and profit from it quite comfortably.
Edit:Spelling/Grammar.

[forsaken1111]

Because most people who run a kickstarter for a small company aren't project managers. I know how this stuff works because I am one, and have run many projects in the past. I know how easy it is to fuck up your scoping or milestones and how easy it is to slip right on dates due to unforeseen difficulty.

There are some examples of successful kickstarters who managed their projects well and kept the development within the scope they could handle. Not a lot, but there are some.

I still firmly believe, as Ventus says, this project spiraled out of control. I think he started off with a simple prototype that had most of the initial features working decently but the stretch goals required some major refactoring.

They started out with hand-drawn maps and predesigned levels and tried to end up with infinite procedural possibilities. That is more than a refactor, it should have been a sequel if anything, with a larger team than 'one guy' working on it. One man working in isolation is susceptible to all sorts of roadblocks that can stymie work and bring progress to a crashing halt indefinitely. He'll have no emotional support, no oversight, no help with difficulties, etc. It takes a toll on you, and you can get to a point where you are just exhausted and no longer WANT to work on your project. And once you get there, its hard to do anything productive. This is one reason people work in teams.

[Mephansteras]

Yeah. People really need to realize that programmers like Toady One and Concerned Ape are really, really rare. Very few people can a huge project on their own for any length of time and hope to actually have the focus and willpower to pull it off.

But, of course, if there is anything most programmers have it's an ego over their own abilities. (I include myself in that)

[Egan_BW]

I'm not even a programmer and I have a massive ego about it!

[Neonivek]

Ego isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Whatever gets you to program every single day... If it is from a stone belief that your the greatest programmer in the universe then good!

[Mephansteras]

Problem is, way too many people give up when reality stops agreeing with their ego.

[forsaken1111]

Has there been anything new?

[Xantalos]

Nope. Some commentary on the Kickstarter page, but nothing other than that. Shame, had a lot going for it, but stretch goals killed it, it seems.

[forsaken1111]

I was hoping there had been some backer-only communications or something. Shame.

[Zangi]

That which sleeps continues its slumber, its tireless zealots have once again failed to bring about its awakening, for now.

[Xantalos]

I was hoping there had been some backer-only communications or something. Shame.

Couldn't be sure, I didn't back it due to lack of moneys.

[Mephansteras]

Nope, no backer only communication that I've seen. Or, at least no e-mails from kickstarter on it.

[ventuswings]

It's disappointing because I really liked its premise, and its approach to AI
(I always like independent goal-oriented AI that doesn't carter to players at all, so that legitimate AI-AI interactions can develop without any player intervention; this is why Civilization and Rain World is game I have high anticipation for)

so much that I'd put it in "Games you wish existed" category.


I guess I'll put this on back of my mind and hope the game is slumbering with stealth development like Routine.

[Cthulhu]

It's not stealth development, it's not development.

And it didn't have an approach to AI, which is why it failed.  A pie in the sky idea you can't implement isn't an approach.