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[lordcooper]

or push out whatever is done up to the point of release and keep going from there.

If this is an option now, why wasn't it before? Isn't that what a beta is supposed to be?

Indeed. Which contributes to the impression that there never was a game to begin with; just lots of fancy images.

If that was the case it would still be up for sale.

[ThtblovesDF]

Crossposting from the dev forum without context is a bit of a dick move, ZeroGravitas.

[ChairmanPoo]

Considering how little info they provide outside the dev forum, it's entirely the dev's fault.

[Sergarr]

I think the end is nigh. One of the two members of the company wrote:

No real updates - spoke briefly with the man and he alluded to the fact that he is pretty much at his breaking point as far as financials go - so options are beg for friends and family money, or push out whatever is done up to the point of release and keep going from there.

Kind of a nebulous update - no real date given - just note that the pressure is building there too.

When I tried to run the game (this is a while ago and like a whole previous iteration) - it couldn't read or access certain data files - I assumed it was error on my part as I am not exactly clever or bright when it comes to such matters.

("the man" is the other member of the company, and the only programmer)

It seems now that it was always a lie that "all the major game systems and are in place and successfully implemented" (from the Kickstarter page). Maybe they can explain more fully, but I don't think a lawsuit is out of the question now. Depends on what they do going forward, and if anyone is annoyed enough to bother over the $25/$50/whatever.

Well, that's sure a shitty situation they're ended up in. It seems that in the strive for ideal perfection he has not properly accounted for a realistic analysis of costs incurred by it. Maybe he will thus realize that sometimes you have to cut some corners and use old, tried and working solutions instead of fancy, shiny and untested ones (I think it was especially so with AI; while making every bot predict actions of all other bots sure is fancy, it's very much outside of the "reliably working solutions" set, and it showed), if you want to get anything actually done in a timely and orderly manner.

Also, stretch goals are evil, especially if they can't be worked into the game without massive overhauls.

[Xgamer4]

I don't really think context was missing from the quote, but just to try to nip any panic in the bud, here's Fenick's followup post:

There's no way I'd ever suggest or support another Kickstarter. I didn't mean to cause a ruckus with the last statement, just really saying that it's probably not -where Josh wanted it to be- at release doesn't mean it's not somewhere. As far as finances and money - we've been running negative for a long time so it's not like its destroying our lives. Josh made a huge sacrifice to quit working at an extremely hi level / lucrative position to develop this game full time - so it's really just a choice he made. He had a certain vision for where the game needs to be for release and we're getting to the point compromises will be made.

We aren't asking people for more money - we took down preorders.

[ZeroGravitas]

Crossposting from the dev forum without context is a bit of a dick move, ZeroGravitas.

The context is that everyone was asking for another update. The last substantial update on the developer forums was seven days prior on April 10. In the meantime there were a couple posts saying there was no update. In other words, no context was missing.

I see someone already posted the new "update" from today that clarifies the update I cross-posted, which is actually what I came here to do.

In any case, assuming that I was posting "without context" is itself "a dick move." The context is that over the past couple years we have seen a remarkable improvement in screenshot quality, a few animations, and that's it. Nothing approaching a "game."

[Majestic7]

I think this is a great lesson that indy devs should take into account - project management really matters. I've seen the same with other kickstarts. Basically they lose focus on the project at some point and then run out of money, because they get too ambitious. They should keep the vision on the core things and build the house first, before starting the yardwork. The yardwork can be done with DLCs if the house is good enough.

Someone should write a sort of indy game bible to hammer in these things, including graphic and horrible examples of past failures regarding feature creep and losing project focus. It is not tied to indy development though, I've seen the same happen in huge projects in the business world.

(Not really saying TWS is a failure before it is officially so, just musing on a general level.)

[Serenseven]

More eye candy, still no word on release:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kingdinosaurgames/that-which-sleeps/posts/1570609

[birdy51]

The no word on release is decidedly a good thing.

I do not know if they're going to make it, but I'm still going to hope for the best.

[Cthulhu]

How's it a good thing?  Because they've been wrong 100% of the time?

That's more like, decidedly a not terrible thing.

[birdy51]

By not holding yourself to release dates, you avoid inciting further anger and annoyance by missing said dates. Transparency is a named a virtue in our society, and for good reason. But, I believe that in this case it is better that KDG remain silent in order to put less stress on themselves. They've got enough to worry about without people breathing down their neck.

It is frustrating that they haven't been able to deliver, but that is a risk assumed by both backers and the KDG themselves. But that does not mean that it is productive to dog them about it, especially after they've already failed.

Which, they have. The developers have failed to deliver the project in a timely manner. That said, they should continue to try to develop the game on a deficit is a credit to their perseverance. They're making the best of what is decidedly a real shitty situation and that takes guts. That takes a helluva of a lotta guts. They screwed up, and they are doing whatever it takes to fix it.

So, basically yes. Because they haven't been able to match the release schedule, them throwing it out is a good thing. It removes one artificial standard that builds up peoples hopes only to bash it down again.

That said, I'm not going to advocate them not having a schedule. I just hope they keep it to themselves, so as to not subject both themselves and the backers to more agitation if things don't work out.

[ZeroGravitas]

The no word on release is decidedly a good thing.

The good news continues; still no word on release!

Even better news: they shut down the public forums!

[forsaken1111]

Oh dear... deliberately shut them down? Any word as to why?

[Xantalos]

Probably people were getting pissed about the 'more than a month since the last Kickstarter update' thing.
Or perhaps they've just given up, who knows. It'd be a shame to see it fail, but it happens.

[nenjin]

I don't think it's the end of the world. Keeping the public forums open is just going to be grief for them right now, as people read old material and then come in to the forums going "where is this game?", and a horde of disgruntled fans just dish on how the Dinos have missed all their deadlines forever and always.