[Blog] Why don't we know when we'll release it? (by eAi)

[Blokker_1999]

One of the things we get asked over and over again is when we'll be releasing. I'm sure many people understand why we can't say when, but for those that don't, read on.

Developing a piece of software goes through 2 main stages before the release - feature implementation and bug fixing/tweaking. Our development process, like many other development teams, call these stages alpha and beta respectively. The alpha stage is the most predictable stage - its all about adding new features. In most cases we can estimate how long a feature will take to implement to within a day or two, although there are some exceptions of course. Now, say our road map for deathmatch feature-wise has around 20-30 features on it of varying degrees of complexity, you can see that if we estimated just when we would reach the beta stage, we could be around a month out with this estimate. You can see already this makes it hard for us to tell when the final product will be done. Beta stages can be even more unpredictable. You have to remember with MTA that we do not have the source code for GTA. If we cause a crash, or an unwanted result in GTA we have to work out how to fix it in the assembly (low level, not easy to understand) language for GTA. Almost every other software product, mod and game does not have to deal with this issue. As anyone who has done development will know, fixing bugs can be very time consuming, so again this can easily throw off any estimates we make for a release date.

We know from past experience that the community is not forgiving for broken promises. As such we have tried to avoid making promises as much as possible. We know people want MTA: DM in their hands as soon as possible and we want to get it out ourselves. We could promise a release date far into the future, like many game publishers (for example Rockstar sat on GTA:SA for PC for several months before they released it although it was complete), but we do not think that having a firm release date is better than giving you MTA sooner.

Of course, we welcome your opinion on this matter, just please don't ask us for release dates - we do our best to get you the best game possible as soon as possible, there's nothing you can do to help us (unless you're a developer, in which case speak to us on IRC or the forums).

[driver2]

Although I already knew why you don't say a release date, I read you post and can only agree. It's hard to estimate and it won't be finished faster with a published release date. People always have to wait. And as we don't want a bugged MTA we're all happy to wait.. ;p

[zerb]

People always have to wait. And as we don't want a bugged MTA we're all happy to wait.. ;p

I wouldnt say everyone is happy to wait, most of us would like to see the deathmatch finally released and put into the communities hands, aswell as mine and yours. Its just these certain people who demand a quicker prospect whenever they wish, most of them i wouldnt think have any respect for the developers and the amount of time they take away from their usual lifes to help this modification.

[Blokker_1999]

One of the major things to think about is the fact that many people that are first in line to ask for a release date or are pressing us to release even when it is bugged are also amongst the first to complain when things do go wrong.

[Kamazy]

The way i see it:

MTA is free,Fun,Great..... It's worth the wait.

I mean you guys are making it for free and that's VERY nice of you.

[Ransom]

You know its bad when the beta team badgers you about just releasing new betas

[paul527]

Quit asking for release dates and demanding for the MTA team to release it. Bitching at them sovles nothing and wont make them work on the game faster

Just thank them that they're not charging for it

I've been saying this alot, its about time someone else did.

This topic is covering the issue more specifically, but people will still complain

[Lággy]

Well put Blokker.

[orappa]

Well put Blokker.

Actually it was eAi. Blokker just quoted it.