WhiteRider wrote:That's a bit pessimistic - PT2 has been fully functional/stable for a few years now, so while you make a good point that it will take a while to get it fully stable, it won't take 5 years!
PT2 has been stable for a while. However the version we used 4-5 years ago and the one today are quite different. Some of the best functionality came 2-3 years after its development. So redoing all of that work is a lofty, but quite noble, goal.
Since software is becoming increasingly more complex it generally takes more resources than before to create the "same" product. (If only because standards have gone up... like when you look at the interface of a perfectly functioning program and immediate decide it is old and outdated ...)
My real point isn't about the *real* amount of time so much as the amount of *man hours*. Thus enough resources need to be allocated a reasonable amount of time to get the results the customer base expects.
Everyone is aware that the process has broken down. The commercial release was delayed and when it did come out it wasn't up to the expectations of the customer especially for the price. Even a perfect Build 3 release won't help in the long run if the process continues to be broken.
I really feel for you guys. You have a tough customer base. You aren't just selling to poker players you are selling to guys who dedicate a lot of time to figuring out how to maximize the profit they get from the money to put out. So when they pay $90 for PT3 imagine how much value they expect to get out of it! It's a much, much bigger number than $90 for sure.
Don't forget the larger picture. It's not just about the bugs themselves. I think most people here realize that the bugs will be fixed. I personally think they will be fixed in a reasonable amount of time, at least from a software/programmer perspective.
However you can't keep treating this product like it's a simple shareware application or that it doesn't matter. PT3 is much closer to financial software. It's not a simple game program that people can wait for. It's important that you guys start making
correct estimates and sharing your development game-plan with your paying customers. "When it's done" is a cute phrase for the entertainment industry, but it won't fly here.
The best programmers in the world aren't the smartest or the fastest. They are the ones who can estimate a task and get it done on time. Those that can't stick with video games.