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Jumpgate Evolution Delayed
Perhaps emboldened by the similar setback to Champions Online, Jumpgate Evolution developer NetDevil has announced that the space MMO will not be released in June, as was originally planned. NetDevil's president, Scott Brown, said, "One of the things we've always promised is that we would not release an unfinished product, nor would we subject players to a sub-par experience. ... Jumpgate Evolution is nearly feature complete, but since entering the Friends & Family phase of testing we've been able to bring new eyes onto the game and get solid, crucial feedback from actual players and fans. Based on these results, it is clear that the product needs more time to meet its objectives. As an example, we have received and read lots of feedback regarding the instanced and public PvP systems. The feedback has been vital in helping us polish and improve this core feature of the game." A new release date has not yet been selected.
Consider that everything about Gazillion Entertainment is geared towards making the most of the newly signed deal with Marvel, a delay in the schedule for Netdevil's latest project sounds more like a chance for employees to get their resumes in order than some commitment to quality. The longer the game development can be dragged along, the longer the engineers have to find new jobs. The manager is a good man, but may be sabotaging Gazillion's bottomline in the process.
Not that there is anything wrong with that. Treating employees like people is a much better strategy than treating them like expendable resources.
Provided this isn't just spin, and "it is clear that the product needs more time to meet its objectives" doesn't mean We Just Realised That This Game Really Sucks.... fine.
Better to get it right before it's released, there's enough shoddy games out there already.
Article says they are in their friends and family stage, which is essentially just end of alpha, pre beta stage. And they were going to release in June? I'm not sure who laid out milestones and delivery dates, but they seriously miscalculated the ammount of time necessary to bring a game from beta to polish. Good MMOs have taken at least 6 months to a year from a close beta to a successful launch. What the hell were they going to change in 2 months? What if one, or maybe two features needed redesigning? It's a good thing they are delaying it then.
From everything that I had seen on this game, it seemed like the developers were trying to change the formula of the original Jumpgate to something that more closely resembled some of the more successful MMO's on the market, like WoW, and Warhammer. They really lost sight of the fact that the people who played Jumpgate when it was first released in 01, are the same people who were not satisfied with those other styles of games then, and aren't now. Maybe the shock of having friends and family say 'Hey... this isn't jumpgate', will let them take another look at the game they are making a sequel to, and just keep what works, without trying to merge in what works in games made for a completely different audience. In other news - you can still play the original jumpgate free for two weeks. Graphics are dated, space is a little empty on the off hours, but the core of the game is still fun... if you like skill based games that encourage planning.