News

FlatOut 3 dev calls Modern Warfare 3 a "beta"
Posted: 02.01.2012 17:00 by JonahFalcon Comments: 5
Ronnie Nelis, the CEO of FlatOut 3 developer Team 6, has defended the fact that the game has had three updates since its release two weeks ago by stating his game was not a beta like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

The previous three updates, which collectively fixed and rebalanced such things as the AI difficulty, car physics, car deformation, multiplayer fixes and additions (such as joinable active lobbies), led some to believe if the game was ready, especially after a fourth update was revealed by the developer to be in the works.

Nelis responded to criticism, stating that the game "is not a beta (try MW3..), not a full priced game, and many people enjoy and really appreciate it,“ which itself has led to a backlash.

Analysis: Major games like Call of Duty have their release date almost carved in stone, and in the case of Modern Warfare 3, had several development studios working on it, with reportedly 200-300 staff employees working on it. It's sort of expected that there will be miscommunication, as well as pressure to meet a strict release date.

On the other hand, Team 6 is an indie studio. Should there be a slavish commitment to a release date, so that a game might be released both imbalanced and glitched? At the very least, should the CEO be poking at a tiger with a stick by comparing his racing title with a megalithic first person shooter?

Let us know what you think.
Source: DSO Gaming

Comments

By Chosen_One (SI Elite) on Jan 02, 2012
Chosen_One
David and Goliath ))
By Xyfer117 (SI Core) on Jan 02, 2012
Xyfer117
"megalithic" - I like it!
Who is this guy? What is this racing game? (Nver heard of either, yet he's insulting COD's development?)
I read this at work earlier and actually lolled.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Jan 02, 2012
herodotus
I wouldn't call "MW3" a beta - that's a pretty flippant and uninformed comment. Bet he regrets that one....pretty foolish as it was.
"MW3" is more a "tweakage" of the previous two games; inclusive of many elements, while ditching the less popular. Throw in a few new features and stick in the same graphics engine, without so much as a fresh coat of paint and Bob's your mother's brother.

Indie Devs should never have to defend the number of updates/patches they release as their games (hopefully) are growing (as "Space Pirates and Zombies" is at present). Some of course that are simply Apps, or are ported over from Apps/LIVE don't get updates or new content ("Anomaly: Warzone Earth" for one) no matter how much the gamer wants it.

"Flatout 3" is such a popular and well known title now that many gamers forget that it is still Indie. Doesn't make up for the ignorance of Nelis's comment though.
By JonahFalcon (SI Elite) on Jan 02, 2012
JonahFalcon
The FlatOut series was an awesome grunge take on Burnout.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Jan 03, 2012
herodotus
Seconded. Much preferred FlatOut.
You know if they HAD changed the "MW" formula, I'll bet there would have been a huge outcry from the community. Critics would have welcomed it, as would longtime FPS gamers but let's face it....they aren't the target audience.