Fractal Softworks Forum

Starsector => General Discussion => Topic started by: Soychi on September 12, 2018, 07:12:37 PM

Title: Release When?
Post by: Soychi on September 12, 2018, 07:12:37 PM
The autumnal equinox is Sept. 22 this year everyone. As we all know, Alex is a russian volshebnik or koldun1, and his powers derive from natural forces, growing in strength around the equinoxes and solstices.
I for one, am very excited2 for the upcoming release :D I think we can expect it anywhere from 2 days ago to 3 weeks from now.

Sources3:.52a release, 1 week after the spring equinox 2012
.53 a, released 9 days before the summer solstice, 2012
.54 a, released 8 days before the fall equinox 2012,
.54.1 a, released 6 days before the winter solstice, 2012
.6a released 1 week before the spring equinox 2013
.6.1a released 2 days before the autumnal equinox, 2013
.65.1a released 11 days after the autumnal equinox 2014


1:Google translations of wizard and sorcerer, no offence intended if there are connotations I don't know about in russian.
2: I cannot express how excited I am, I'm so excited.
3: Dates derived from initial post dates on forum releases in announcements section.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: CrashToDesktop on September 12, 2018, 08:53:25 PM
Probably not this upcoming equinox.  Could happen on the Winter solstice though. :)
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Embercloud on September 14, 2018, 03:05:36 AM
Judging from Alexs twitter it’s in the playtesting and bugsmashing phase meaning it will probably happen within a month or two, maybe sooner.

I’m super hyped, been putting off playing in order to prevent burning myself out.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Cyan Leader on September 14, 2018, 07:04:43 AM
I'd wager about a month after we've been made aware that release candidates are being made.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Megas on September 14, 2018, 07:08:18 AM
I need to see another update to 0.9a patch notes before I consider its release imminent.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: TheDTYP on September 14, 2018, 10:13:22 AM
Well didn't playtesting last like... a WHILE last time? Like several months?

God it's been so long since the last update, I think I'm going through withdrawal...
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Thaago on September 14, 2018, 10:50:11 AM
I'm guessing winter solstice, if we all manage to sacrifice a goat.

Note: please sacrifice your goats responsibly, look up the proper pronunciation of Alex's name. We wouldn't want some other project receiving mystic power.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Tartiflette on September 19, 2018, 03:44:53 AM
I had some fun logging the releases:

(https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vREtSxz4zeUT9dPskL9IeXwnQeP6KBg6J6qXPXjF4baXjN7SLbnwdi-Po339Iik1LsJc8d7tzJm_XCT/pubchart?oid=227824673&format=image)

(https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vREtSxz4zeUT9dPskL9IeXwnQeP6KBg6J6qXPXjF4baXjN7SLbnwdi-Po339Iik1LsJc8d7tzJm_XCT/pubchart?oid=1562552162&format=image)
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: TJJ on September 19, 2018, 05:44:55 AM
So you're saying....

release date = -1 / (version-1)

Uh oh  ;D
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: CrashToDesktop on September 19, 2018, 09:32:06 AM
Interesting graphs!  Statistically speaking we're hovering on the knife's edge of a new release - but considering we've only got one set of patch notes (normally there's 3 sets of patch notes, with the third coming on the day of release), we've still got to wait for more sets if standard procedure is followed.

Also something that I noticed on that graph - we didn't get an in-between version as has followed for the past 3 major releases (0.62, 0.652, and 0.72), so that's probably contributing to this excess of eagerness.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Cosmitz on September 19, 2018, 03:12:38 PM
I think that's more to do with Alex getting better at nailing down fixes post a major release to the point where only a single hotfix is needed. But 0.9 is huge. Revamped economics, intel, colony management. The bigger meat of the game which also takes a hell of a lot more finesse and game testing.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Techhead on September 20, 2018, 12:05:52 AM
I think that's more to do with Alex getting better at nailing down fixes post a major release to the point where only a single hotfix is needed.
I'd kinda disagree on this point, 0.8.1 had some major enough issues left that show that a 0.8.2 was deserved. Although part of it was the fact that the pattern of releases was different. Other major releases had a minor release 2 weeks after the major and then a moderate release three (or more) months after, while 0.8.x only had a single 6-week follow up.

If it was my personal project I'd have a dev branch and a fixes branch so I could still toss out important fixes between releases, but it's not my project and I honestly can't judge what Alex's workflow is like behind the scenes.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Tartiflette on September 20, 2018, 12:19:35 AM
The main hurdle in releasing additional releases is the cost of bandwidth usage. Given that Starsector is not profitable (yet), the release of any update that do not generates a lot of revenue like hotfixes have to be carefully weighted.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Techhead on September 20, 2018, 02:56:09 AM
Bandwidth issues with fix-releases could be lessened somewhat with a binary-only release or patch file, and I do understand that one still doesn't want to throw these out willy-nilly.

But things like the Strike Commander bug and carrier escort loops were discovered in that three month window that other major releases had and 0.8.x lacked.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Cosmitz on September 20, 2018, 06:22:38 AM
While i agree, i think they've been far from the bigger game issues of the 0.5/0.6 era where literally the entire game could be rendered unplayable.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Cyan Leader on September 24, 2018, 01:44:30 AM
Given that Starsector is not profitable (yet)

Is that really the case?
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Ranakastrasz on September 24, 2018, 05:50:15 PM
Given that Starsector is not profitable (yet)

Is that really the case?
Yea. With Tariffs upwards of 30%, its hard to find ANYTHING profitable.

Hopefully the next version will change that :p
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Bribe Guntails on September 24, 2018, 07:36:49 PM
I threw together a thing waiting for 0.9
Spoiler
(https://i.imgur.com/r3Fhytm.png)
[close]
Salsa: If the Emperor had a Text to Speech Device, Ep. 22
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Tartiflette on September 26, 2018, 12:59:14 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/Ucj922u.gif)
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Grievous69 on September 26, 2018, 01:12:39 AM
Don't want to be yet another impatient dude, but I've seriously dreamt 3 times Staresctor was released in the last 2 weeks. Man that explosion of disappointment when you wake up is even worse than dreaming you're with your crush. Should've figured out it was a dream since the update was downloading 100 mb/s lmao.

Also there was a new energy weapon which changed how most of high-tech ships play and made them super fun to pilot so great job Alex, even when I'm sleeping you never cease to amaze me.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Techhead on September 26, 2018, 01:53:21 AM
Also there was a new energy weapon which changed how most of high-tech ships play and made them super fun to pilot so great job Alex, even when I'm sleeping you never cease to amaze me.
Was it like the Thunderhead Lance? Because dang do I miss that thing. (Escape Velocity: Nova)
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Grievous69 on September 26, 2018, 02:10:30 AM
Actually I don't really remember how it looked like, except for the fact that it was an assault weapon which hits for hard flux.
Title: Can you feel it?
Post by: Embolism on October 03, 2018, 02:30:12 AM
This unnatural calm?

It's close.

I can feel it in my bones.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: TheDTYP on October 03, 2018, 08:27:49 AM
"It's been 84 years"
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Voyager I on October 03, 2018, 06:36:28 PM
To put things in perspective:  I am a few years away from having a common law marriage with my partner.  I downloaded this game before we met.

Without jest, I'd give it about 50/50 odds that we put down money for a house before 1.0
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Steven Shi on October 08, 2018, 10:01:10 PM
Tell me about it. When I got this game back in v0.4X, Totalbiscuit was still alive.

Doesn't look like we'll be getting v1.0 this year. At the current rate, maybe by mid 2019. If the trade/economy took 5 iterations...so far, then the colony and manufacturing modules should probably be given the same level of attention.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Cyan Leader on October 09, 2018, 06:52:55 AM
I expect the jump from .9 to 1.0 to be less painful but still, I think 2019 is a stretch.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: TheDTYP on October 09, 2018, 09:10:52 AM
I expect the jump from .9 to 1.0 to be less painful

Hah, good one
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Cik on October 09, 2018, 09:26:04 AM
at least we'll be able to play .9 while we wait
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Cyan Leader on October 09, 2018, 10:19:03 AM
I expect the jump from .9 to 1.0 to be less painful

Hah, good one

I really can't think of something harder to implement than industry/stations, exploration and random sectors, which will all have been done by .9
I guess diplomacy will come close but I doubt it.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Embercloud on October 09, 2018, 10:21:48 AM
I expect the jump from .9 to 1.0 to be less painful but still, I think 2019 is a stretch.

I doubt it. I’ll stay cautiously pessimistic until we get 1.0 patch notes or if alex ever feels the need to share his todo-list. In the meantime, X4 is coming out 30th november. I hope it will be good but I still have PTSD from the release of rebirth.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Cyan Leader on October 09, 2018, 11:33:54 AM
Looking forward to that myself though I hear all X games had rocky launches.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Midnight Kitsune on October 10, 2018, 05:19:51 PM
INB4 Alex releases a .10 after .9 >.>
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Piemanlives on October 10, 2018, 08:47:40 PM
INB4 Alex releases a .10 after .9 >.>
Version numbers become an indicator of how many times Alex will need to rework the economy.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Elijah on October 11, 2018, 11:14:07 AM
INB4 Alex releases a .10 after .9 >.>
Version numbers become an indicator of how many times Alex will need to rework the economy.

How do I upvote this?
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Soychi on October 11, 2018, 01:56:46 PM
INB4 Alex releases a .10 after .9 >.>
Version numbers become an indicator of how many times Alex will need to rework the economy.
Currently hasn't he done this 8 times? I remember three "extensions" and he said this to be released version went through 5 iterations? So, if we just changed right now, wouldn't we expect the next version to be .8?
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Elijah on October 27, 2018, 09:03:15 AM
I have to say, I've been waiting for the 0.9 very calmly up until now. But, from the last week, I'm checking the website almost every day! Maybe it is because I feel the release is getting closer and I may realistically refresh and see the 0.9 blog post :D :D :D
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Megas on October 27, 2018, 04:17:16 PM
Previous major releases have been about a month after the last pre-release patch notes update.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: CopperCoyote on October 27, 2018, 04:40:59 PM
Previous major releases have been about a month after the last pre-release patch notes update.

That would imply late november then. Personally i'm feeling december sometime. This is a beast of an update so bucking the trend and taking longer seems more likely. That said I'm still going to be checking the forum every day (sometimes multiple times)
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Bribe Guntails on October 29, 2018, 10:26:48 PM
Every day I'm checking Twitter, the website, and the forums. Looking for anything new. Can't help checking. Put off 0.8.1 anticipating 0.9 update.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Embercloud on October 30, 2018, 01:13:56 AM
Every day I'm checking Twitter, the website, and the forums. Looking for anything new. Can't help checking. Put off 0.8.1 anticipating 0.9 update.

Same here, but even now, there is not a shred of doubt that it won’t be worth it.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Deshara on October 30, 2018, 01:21:45 AM
if ur on twitter you could pass the time waiting by harassing alex replying to all his tweets
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Bribe Guntails on October 30, 2018, 11:02:54 AM
if ur on twitter you could pass the time waiting by harassing alex replying to all his tweets

I've considered that a few times, but that's drawing away dev time.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Cyan Leader on October 31, 2018, 12:22:04 PM
Previous major releases have been about a month after the last pre-release patch notes update.

I had the impression he still had a good chuck of tuning to do since the balance of the economy/colonies is so essential to this patch, something the other versions didn't have.

Either way, I'd say wait until RCs are confirmed being developed before hyping this up.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Megas on October 31, 2018, 12:57:58 PM
Not hyping anything, just pointing out history as a possible answer to the topic question.  I would not be surprised if Alex tries to surprise many with a sudden release without warning (or at least without more warning than blogs and patch notes).
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Grievous69 on October 31, 2018, 01:07:08 PM
I have a hunch it'll be within 10 or so days since he said he still had to do some testing and modding things, which means finishing touches. Also he said we're getting closer, he usually says Soon™, so again he wouldn't say that for no reason.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Deshara on October 31, 2018, 04:17:52 PM
tbf to potential future alex, "finishing touches" can frequently mean "realizing everything you've done doesn't work, scrapping the entire project and starting over" (that's what happened to Far Cry 2, and also a lot of other famous triple A games, and almost every early access game that never sees the light of 1.0)
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Cosmitz on November 14, 2018, 08:40:55 AM
Alex locked the indev patch notes thread, i smell release before end of year.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Tartiflette on November 14, 2018, 08:55:44 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/Ucj922u.gif)
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Cyan Leader on November 14, 2018, 09:48:28 AM
Also we have our first legit "soon" (https://twitter.com/amosolov/status/1062400886914322433).
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Thaago on November 14, 2018, 11:32:38 AM
And we have this one saying "last playtesting run":

https://twitter.com/amosolov/status/1062785265981419521 (https://twitter.com/amosolov/status/1062785265981419521)

Also the discord went absolutely crazy when this dropped.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Thaago on November 14, 2018, 11:53:39 AM
"Building release candidates"


AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Piemanlives on November 14, 2018, 01:55:44 PM
How soon is soon?
(https://i.imgur.com/TljlZRE.jpg)
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Soychi on November 14, 2018, 05:07:41 PM
I'm doing that thing, where I check every day, I've been doing it for two weeks. I've never been this excited for a release of anything ever. What do I do? Is there anything else I should be doing? I used to think the forum members who did that were crazy. Am I crazy?
P.S. Send Help. Please
P.S.S. Alex, you know how you could help /s
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: 2_Wycked on November 14, 2018, 06:14:13 PM
I haven't played in over a year, but I checked back in to see where the game was at a couple weeks ago and now find myself checking back every day to see how things are coming, lol.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Cyan Leader on November 14, 2018, 08:40:20 PM
From RC dev start, last time it took what, a day or two? It was really quick. But then I recall back a few updates when it took a couple of weeks.

So we could be playing the update this weekend or next month.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Linnis on November 14, 2018, 09:41:13 PM
I am refreshing every hour now... help...
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Ionise on November 15, 2018, 03:09:01 AM
Six years of fantastic yearning   
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Tchey on November 15, 2018, 04:13:15 AM
I can't believe this.

Quote
Inscrit le:    Juillet 09, 2011, 10:52:17

I registered on july, but year was 2011.

2011.

And since then, F5 a lot.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Cosmitz on November 15, 2018, 08:40:47 AM
Hah, apparently i called it. If it's tomorrow at any point, i gotta reschedule my weekend. :)

ALSO, decided to do a video let's play/playthrough of it. I always came with that bright ideea wayy to late in the session.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Megas on November 15, 2018, 08:56:51 AM
In my case, an imminent release means mod development or maintenance for another game or two gets delayed.

This time, I have something new to try out along with the game.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Linnis on November 15, 2018, 09:32:09 AM
ALSO, decided to do a video let's play/playthrough of it. I always came with that bright ideea wayy to late in the session.

Thats quite a nice idea, i am kinda intrested to see how everyone plays.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Tartiflette on November 15, 2018, 09:35:08 AM
https://twitter.com/amosolov/status/1063118611794092034 (https://twitter.com/amosolov/status/1063118611794092034)
Reeving up the hype engine.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Sutopia on November 15, 2018, 09:42:04 AM
https://twitter.com/amosolov/status/1063118611794092034 (https://twitter.com/amosolov/status/1063118611794092034)
Reeving up the hype engine.
#itshappening
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Gothars on November 15, 2018, 09:52:56 AM
Ok, now it's getting to me, too.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: BillyRueben on November 15, 2018, 11:04:16 AM
And now is when Alex announces that he hasn't been working on 0.9, but a new mobile game all along. What, do you guys not have phones?
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Dri on November 15, 2018, 11:31:48 AM
Do you really not help play test in-dev builds, Gothars? Alex doing ya dirty...
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Sutopia on November 15, 2018, 11:58:04 AM
And now is when Alex announces that he hasn't been working on 0.9, but a new mobile game all along. What, do you guys not have phones?
What mobile game?
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Gothars on November 15, 2018, 12:05:01 PM
Do you really not help play test in-dev builds, Gothars? Alex doing ya dirty...

I did last time, but play-testing definitely takes you out of the game experience. I'd still do it of course, I couldn't resist, but I really don't mind getting my hand on a already polished product either, and playing it without being on the constant lookout for bugs.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Dri on November 15, 2018, 12:43:47 PM
Ah, yeah, I can see how you feel. I often hear that devs don't really ever *play* their own games for fun.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Megas on November 15, 2018, 01:06:05 PM
It is fun waiting a dev plays own his game (via live stream) then either fixes or tracks issues when uncovered while playing.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: SeinTa on November 15, 2018, 02:29:56 PM
And now is when Alex announces that he hasn't been working on 0.9, but a new mobile game all along. What, do you guys not have phones?
What mobile game?

Starsector Immortal of course!
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: SCC on November 15, 2018, 02:40:09 PM
I'm not sure if Alex's got that kind of budget... I think that "Starsector Very Long Lived" might be an acceptable substitute.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: frogbones on November 15, 2018, 07:21:04 PM
I can smell it.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Midnight Kitsune on November 15, 2018, 07:37:56 PM
Up to RC 6 people!
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: CrashToDesktop on November 15, 2018, 07:40:26 PM
Just a few more hours.  Might actually break my Battlefield V addition when it comes out - nearly a week of playing nothing but that in my free time.  That'll be quite the feat. :)
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: TheDTYP on November 16, 2018, 12:32:47 AM
Christ Almighty, of course I'm going to (likely) be at work when it finally drops. It's a funny life we live. No idea how I'm going to get through my shift; it's going to be like trying to sleep on Christmas Eve as a kid.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Plushie God on November 16, 2018, 01:02:26 AM
Alex and David interacting with the community
-November 2018 (Colorised)
(https://i.imgur.com/awe7ONs.gif)
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Tchey on November 16, 2018, 02:43:42 AM
Hi,

Seriously, what is a Release Candidate for ? Why going o RC1, RC2... before going live, instead of staying in "alpha" or something ?
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Bastion.Systems on November 16, 2018, 03:18:12 AM
Release candidate means that you prepare a version with all the dev tools and IDE hooks disabled and packaged to an installer.

And so you test through the installation and start it up on several different systems to see if that causes new bugs.

If bugs are found you fix them and do it all over again until you get no more bugs.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Cosmitz on November 16, 2018, 04:59:24 AM
Think of it like 'Gold' mastering.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Tchey on November 16, 2018, 05:07:54 AM
Thanks

I think i remember at least one of the previous releases was "RC" labeled. So i guess it means it was good enough for public, but with some shadow parts to be fixed before a more stable release.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Sy on November 16, 2018, 05:11:18 AM
Seriously, what is a Release Candidate for ? Why going o RC1, RC2... before going live, instead of staying in "alpha" or something ?
because the version we'll actually get to play is an alpha version. as has every other version been up to this point. the coming patch is "alpha 0.9a". :P

but between public releases, there are of course maaany incremental changes in versions in the in-dev build, as features and content get added or changed, and problems get fixed.

a release candidate is a still-in-dev build that is potentially ready for public release. it will then get tested for a bit to find out if there are still any last-moment changes and fixes to be made before it is actually ready. the first couple release candidates are virtually guaranteed to still have some issues that should be fixed before making it public, so then another release candidate is made with those fixes in place.
that is repeated until one release candidate really is polished enough, which then gets released to us. :]

the last public release, the one we've been playing for over a year now, was "alpha 0.8.1a-RC8", for example. meaning Alex went through 7 other release candidates right before its release, before he was satisfied with it.

of course, there will still be plenty of (hopefully minor) issues in every actual public release, and a few hotfix patches shortly afterwards that fix most of these. that can't ever be entirely avoided, since having hundreds (if not thousands) of players play through the initial release version will invariably turn up bugs or other problems that weren't found during the devs' own playtesting.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Elijah on November 16, 2018, 09:10:32 AM
My body is ready
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Igncom1 on November 16, 2018, 09:16:25 AM
My fleet is ready!

Dominator's fully charged! Mora's on the flanks! Enforcers throughout!
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Goumindong on November 16, 2018, 10:29:47 AM
Release 30 minutes ago
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Gear on November 16, 2018, 10:55:03 AM
Eyy early Christmas present, time to search my email for "Starfarer" and find my product code haha.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Elijah on November 16, 2018, 11:34:12 AM
Installing...

Just communicated to my girlfriend that I will disappear tonight.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: hadesian on November 16, 2018, 03:59:50 PM
Nice.
Title: Re: Release When?
Post by: Cosmitz on November 16, 2018, 05:56:12 PM
Make sure y'all are on the most recent hotfix, which as of this writing is RC8. I have a vague feeling we'll be getting a few more of those tomorrow/day after before we hit on a proper 0.9.1 in a week or two.