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[Avan]

I still want my fast fleets.

[hairrorist]

Why would you hotfix the preview build of an alpha?

[SgtAlex86]

Why would you hotfix the preview build of an alpha?

because most of those bugs have allready been fixed it just matter of releasing latest dev version... me thinks 

[hairrorist]

You can't just release the latest dev version to hotfix something.  That's not how software development works.

[Sgtblazing]

I would much rather have a game that breaks itself daily with updates every day and gets the major stuff fixed while the minor stuff gets polished out later.  Starfarer has a pretty nice following for a game so far from publishing (just going by what information I have gathered, game is fun.)  While I understand having pride in your work and unveiling major patches instead of minor releases, I would really LOVE to see an updated client often, no matter how unstable.  Is that not what real testing is all about? (Ok, that is what a Beta test is about... but this is in a grey area between Alpha and Beta as most users are in no way affiliated with the company but the game is still not close to being "done."  Makes you wish they redid the protocol for testing with the "Promotional Betas" etc...) Side track alert!  Anyway, I would really like to be able to test the new things out for Starfarer often and give bug reports on any issues I have come to.  If bandwidth is an issue, you could always make a torrent and post on the forums/twitter/blog when a new one is published.  It is an established medium for file transfer and the majority of computer users who are intellectual enough to do actual testing have it, for legitimate purposes or not.  I for one would have no problem seeding it.

[hairrorist]

No, thats not what beta testing is about.  It's looking for errors in a tightly controlled environment.  There's a reason that developers do not do this--the feedback it generates is the exact opposite of helpful.  This doesn't even happen in in-house corporate software development.

Also, why in the hell would someone post their own game that they are selling on a torrent tracker?  Using a portal download allows you to control who has access.  A torrent doesn't.

[Anysy]

Its really difficult to click download on the 'buy' screen of starfarer's website.

But really, Arcen games wouldnt have done daily updates like they did if it was counterproductive.

[hairrorist]

Notice I said "allows," not requires.

And arguing that one amateur game developer used that process for their first product does not mean its a sound process, or even a sane process.

[Simberto]

I would much rather have the developers spend their time on actually developing the game, instead of finishing and uploading new versions every day. I don't know anything about software development at all, but i imagine that that would take time, which can be spent much better doing other stuff.

This way, while i might have a bit longer for the smaller fixes, i will get the larger releases far earlier.

[Anysy]

First second and third, I might mention.

And are you telling me Fractal Softworks ISNT an amateur game dev making their first game?

[hairrorist]

No.  What?

[Anysy]

Im merely stating what ive seen a similar developer do in a similar instance, and defending my argument that it is a valid option, whereas you have stated my argument is wrong and insane and unsound, without any counter-argument.

[Icelom]

Its an alpha

Do i want hotfixes and constent updates? of course i do.... is it reasable to expect them no way.

Would in the end i be happier without them most likely because thigns will get done faster if alex and the team are not tinkering with old releases. Its not as simple as new featuer is in, re-release the build.. as there are tons of stuff in development that are unplayable unworkable and unbalanced that cant just be released.