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[Grakelin]

Glad that Lemmy gathered himself up to make that post, but I feel bad for the IndieStone. I don't know if they will recover from this. Hopefully they will, but after all these setbacks, it wouldn't surprise me if they just called it a day and packed up.

I do think that Lemmy should have handled the internet abuse a little better. Other developers get it a fair bit as well, and they don't rant back to the fans. Although, those devs didn't have loads of their stuff stolen and their game set back months...

They probably can't call it a day and pack up because they are living off of pre-purchases of the game and can no longer refund everybody.

[Tilla]

I severely doubt they're quitting, they were just really drunk and upset - as I would be in a similar situation most likely. They have a meeting in the morning with the rest of the team and then when they get some hardware to work on they'll be back to the grindstone.

[Ehndras]

Keep going strong, guys. Fuck the assholes, none of them are real fans of the game anyway and were just talking shit to get to you in your hour of weekend.



We're Dwarf Overlords over here, and we're (sometimes) patient. Shit happens, and like that favorite fort you lost to clowns or a lavabath, we'll be there when the game is back up to where it left off.

I, for one, would like to kick some zombie ass.

[Dr. Johbson]

Yeah, as much as I was looking forward to the new version, I'll be happy to play with what we've got.

[olemars]

It's the one thing that baffles me. I KNOW lemmy, I have spoken to him in the past and I am now hard at work on my own game.

I can assure you guys that supermalparit and I make backups on a NIGHTLY basis. It's as easy as hosting it on megaupload or whatever site and just boosting it up.

It serves more than one use as well, as it can also help you track down which bugs cropped up overnight, or even prevent material theft.

It's not that I don't believe them, it's simply the fact that well, it's weird that in this day and age one would resort to local backups only. Not even an external hard drive? Nothing?

Regardless, I feel their loss, and can understand their absolute frustration, a power outage and fifteen minutes of lost work enrages me, two months of work is just a mess.

Condolences

A paid plan from one of the online source control sites like github or bitbucket is extremely cheap. I see no reason why any software project wouldn't use some sort of off-site VCS these days, I even make sure to put all my hobbyist projects on one.

[SeaBee]

Bitbucket is even free for closed-source projects needing limited (5 users) developer access. Heck, they could have used Dropbox or any of the dozens of alternatives like it out there and just backed up the entire project folder automatically.

Or hosted a number of free source control products on their existing website. Anything. Something. These things take a couple minutes to set up. A few seconds to update each time you need to commit a build. The PZ devs say it takes "too long" to back things up, and that they were under so much pressure to get an update out that they, as a service to us, didn't make backups. Really? Most IDEs make this a one-button background process.

Sure, hindsight is 20/20. But after all the bad luck these guys have already had, why would you risk NOT using source control?

But I'll be honest. The things the devs are saying is no less hostile than the things the angry mob is saying. Even today. They're multiplying the existing horror by melting down like this.

Then there is this: Binky's blog: Professionalism and Indies. Hmm.

[boatie]

I feel a little glad that I waited for further development of the game before buying it. If they keep developing it, I'll still buy it.

That said I think that people are being a little harsh: I think that their "company" is mainly 4 guys picking a name and calling that a company. Of course they are unprofessional

Edit: Actually, just thought it was a bit weird that they don't have backups even though they don't all live in the same area: Weird

[mendonca]

Edit: Actually, just thought it was a bit weird that they don't have backups even though they don't all live in the same area: Weird

The bulk (possibly 100%?) of the coding is done by two guys who co-habit.

I personally don't mind at all the unprofessional ramblings of the developers, I find the honesty refreshing and amusing. But I can also see that a casual observer could view it as offensive and a bit 'odd'.

Essentially, I think you hit the nail on the head boatie. It's just a few competent programmers and artists making a cool game.

People expect more from them, and these expectations aren't being met. On the other hand, these expectations were never promised, only implied.

Should the developers mutate to accommodate the implied expectations, or should the customer base accept the developers as they are? Personally, on an ideological stance, I almost think they should stand firm. However in a practical sense (given recent events) they should probably consider trying to improve their PR machine somewhat and start lying to the populace on occasion.

[Tilla]

Yah, the only programmers on the team live in the same household. The external team members are the artist and writer exclusively.

They've done their planned meeting now and have found that their latest backup isn't quite as far back as they thought, but they will be focusing on the NPC work for the next release to get it out sooner and move Saving/Map transitions for the  next.

http://projectzomboid.com/blog/index.php/2011/10/i-miss-the-days-when-we-didnt-take-a-hammer-to-bed/

[Fikes]

Edit: Actually, just thought it was a bit weird that they don't have backups even though they don't all live in the same area: Weird

The bulk (possibly 100%?) of the coding is done by two guys who co-habit.

I personally don't mind at all the unprofessional ramblings of the developers, I find the honesty refreshing and amusing. But I can also see that a casual observer could view it as offensive and a bit 'odd'.

Essentially, I think you hit the nail on the head boatie. It's just a few competent programmers and artists making a cool game.

People expect more from them, and these expectations aren't being met. On the other hand, these expectations were never promised, only implied.

Should the developers mutate to accommodate the implied expectations, or should the customer base accept the developers as they are? Personally, on an ideological stance, I almost think they should stand firm. However in a practical sense (given recent events) they should probably consider trying to improve their PR machine somewhat and start lying to the populace on occasion.

I am sorry, but when you go from offering a game for free to charging for it, it isn't "just a couple of guys programming together" any more. I understand that people who bought it did not buy a guarantee that the game would be released, but it is still fair for them to have expectations. The expectations of the community should be fair also, but indie developers don’t just get a free pass.

As for the melt down stuff… It just shows poor class and a lack of logical foresight which is not a good thing any way you slice it.

[mendonca]

No absolutely I agree it is fair for people to have a level of expectations.

I acknowledge as such.

I just was expressing a personal, ideological point of view.

[dennislp3]

Expectations are one thing...but the kind of rants that go on over there on the forums is just off the wall ridiculous and uncalled for...

its like a bunch of babies demanding and stamping their feet...Ive never seen such a shitty community really and I don't spend any time on those forums now cause of it.

[Leatra]

They aren't professionals. Their meltdown points it out. It's just some guys doing a game but not anymore. They shouldn't try to sell an unexisting game in the first place. They should have taken this more seriously.

[Tilla]

They aren't professionals. Their meltdown points it out. It's just some guys doing a game but not anymore. They shouldn't try to sell an unexisting game in the first place. They should have taken this more seriously.

Not anymore? They had a meeting this morning to revise their plans and are back to work as soon as they have computers up and running again.

[Leatra]

They aren't professionals. Their meltdown points it out. It's just some guys doing a game but not anymore. They shouldn't try to sell an unexisting game in the first place. They should have taken this more seriously.

Not anymore? They had a meeting this morning to revise their plans and are back to work as soon as they have computers up and running again.

Sorry, I meant they aren't just some guys doing a game anymore. It's getting serious. Now they are just some guys must do a game and calm down the angry mob while melting down.