Ok... I've received a couple of sniping remarks in some blog comments regarding the originally estimated December release of Exmortis 3. So I feel that I must address these remarks...
As user "Jim" mentioned in his most recent comment, December was the "estimated" release date that I posted on the teaser trailer I put up on Newgrounds Alphas back in June... At the time I felt that it was a fairly accurate target for this game as my professional and personal life had cleared up to a point where I felt I could spend a copious amount of time on creating a game that was worthy of the Exmortis series.
However shortly after that target date was set and publicized, I was caught in an overwhelming avalanche of web design work - of which I can only do after I get home from my day job at 8pm on a nightly basis... so let me make things a little clearer to those of you pissed at me for not meeting the December date...
- My web design work makes me money and provides a secondary income that I require to keep me paying rent, electricity and water bills as well as covering cost of living for my girlfriend, my cat and my dog... it is a neccessity that I make money to continue living...
- The Exmortis series is a labour of love for me. The only money I make off of it is from what ever adertising, sponsorship and subsequent awards I can scrape together for the game. That money - if any at all - is only paid to me well after I have released the game, and is anything but substantial in comparison to what I make from being a contracted web designer.
- Only 1 person (ie. me) works on putting together any releases in this series of games (apart from this recent voice over competition - see last post) I have no one else to pick up any slack on my behalf if I am in a position to have no time to spend on it.
- All work I do on this game is within my spare time - of which I have had very little of late. I have explained this over and over and over again within the pages of this development blog - that is this blogs purpose... to give the fans of this series updates as to how the game is coming along...
- I will not - repeat: WILL NOT - rush the creative process of this game. I am most definitely my harshest critic and I will not release a half baked game that I am not 110% percent happy with. That is not fair to me, to the standard the previous 2 games have set, nor to those of you in casual gaming land who expect nothing but a high standard conclusion to this series.
- The flash game design and creation process can sometimes be a very monotonous and mentally draining process. I put every single ounce of my creativity in to these titles, but sometimes I hit a road block and things don't translate to Flash as they do in my mind. Times like these require me to step back and take a break for a week or two to get my mind away from the game - it's the only way I can top up my creativity bar for when I return to the console to continue the process... probably only those of you who have put time in to a flash game would understand this plight, but it is a necessary evil in this labour of love...
- December was only ever the "estimated" release date for the game. It was a date I had to provide to Newgrounds Alphas in order for me to submit the trailer. December was merely a target that I set myself when I thought I would have enough time to labour over this project. Estimates can wrong... that's why they are called estimates...
Ok, I do realise why some people are becoming critical as a result of me missing the December date. I understand that those of you are only disappointed because you are fans of the series and that you are keen on getting stuck in to the 3rd and final game. I understand the frustrations, and I don't hold it against you at all - if anything, it is heartening that know that you guys care enough that I would miss a date only ever mentioned on a single page somewhere in internetland... Honestly though, I'd be more dejected if nothing was mentioned at all...
That said, I hope I have explained the process a little bit better and that you have a better understanding about what I have to go through to get this game done. I know I am asking a lot from some of you in requesting that you have patience in the process... but as stated before, I will most definitely not rush the process for fear of releasing a sub-standard and inadequate product that is not fit to be labelled with the Exmortis name.
Cheers,
Ben.
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15 comments:
In the time it took you to write the above rebuttal, you could have finished the game already.
I have just recently finished Exmortis and Exmortis2. I love your work, Ben.
The quality is great and I would like it to stay that way. Don't pay attention to the idiots that tell you to rush your work and lower the quality, they have NO IDEA how hard and time consuming it is to create a game.
I was impressed with Exmortis and after I finished it I immediately played Exmortis 2. As a flash horror/adventure game it is well done and you get drawn into the world and feel like you are there.
Kudos,
Shuda
Anon - in the time it took for you to read the rebuttal, you could have been formulating a comment worth more than the 10 seconds of my time it took to write this response :)
Take your time man. The end result will just be that much better.
Ya, great games, I just wish I discovered them earlier! I cant wait for you to release 3, but if its half-baked I'll be upset. High standards on this one :P
Hey, these games are great. My twin showed it to me and while he managed to beat the first one before me, I beat the second long before him. Great games and I was just wondering if you could give another estimation now that you've worked on it some and hopefully have a better idea of when it will be released if things keep going at the pase that they are now.
Thanks for the break from a boring titration lab,
Mike
Well, speak of the devil, and there he is. Thomas my twin, guess great minds think alike.
Is it going to be like purgatorium?
In my opinion that one had even more atmoshpere and spookyness.
Ben my comment wasn't a negative one. I was just addressing the fact it was overdue. I understand the creative process and respect that. If you had interpreted my comment badly, i'm sorry for the misunderstanding. I hope to play the game soon =)
...I saw it was going to be released in early December and I was like "Yes!" But when I found the blog site and saw the game was still being created, I was a bit flustered at the time. I never implied rushing the game for an earlier release. I do freelance visual effects and compositing work for people around the world and understand meeting dead lines and having patience so that the end product doesn't suffer. Once again, sorry for the misunderstanding.
Take some time making the game, so it can be done well…
Is this Exmortis story line original? (looks like it to me) If so I think you should rite it as a book or some thing or a movie script… People love the Exmortis story line!! (All of my friends) A new look how the End of the world would be like… Goes more or less like the Bible’s apocalypse. How theirs seems little hope, and the world is like one big no man's land…
I know it's really difficult to make the game. Do not care about other. Take your time to finish it. There are people who will wait, do not listen to a guy who says:"Finish the game already !" No. Take your time.
You know what,I agree with what you said in this matter,Ben, I personally have not worked with making a flash,yet I hope to be able to this year,but one thing holds true. The mere fact that there are so many waiting for this game is heartening,but in the same note,it is wrong to accuse or blame you for misleading them as to the release and such,they need to remember one thing, You have a life you must tend to above all else,especially before a game,I mean,come on ppl, think about it,any of you who are gamers like me know that life and love come before games,if you let games rule your life,you'll just be a hollow empty shell for which nothing in the semblance of life flows through. So give this guy a break,let him do his job and take care of his personal things first,then let him work on the game,trust me,the best game designers and such in the world exist today by doing the same thing Ben here has been doing,so just give em a break and allow him that time,no one will be dissapointed, I promise. -Jr
Ben,
I just want to tell you that the Exmortis series is by far two of the most professionally done games in the entire Newgrounds portal. Thank you for standing your ground and taking time on the third installment, rather than rushing it. As someone who was extremely involved while playing the games, I am really looking forward to a killer conclusion that meets and hopefully exceeds the standards set by the first two. I don't say that to put any pressure on you, but rather to confirm that I would much rather have quality than quickness.
Keep on trucking, and I'm really sorry to hear about the computer problems. I hope they get sorted out without much ado. Take care and best of luck!
P.S. Anon 1, if you really think writing a blog post, no matter how long, in any way compares to how long it takes to make a game in flash, you need to have your head examined.
Honestly, i don't think anyone means for you to rush your work. On NG alone i have seen so many games shoot to the top, creating massive hype for the sequel/follow up game. Then, under the massive pressure of however many thousands of people who are awaiting the game so eagerly, they start to rush it. I think we all know what happens next.
Why the hell am i even bothering to say this?! (Sorry, type this) I mean, by the time i finish writing, there will be a million people who have already written before me.
Anyway, good luck, it might not mean much, but i'd patiently await the next Exmortis for many ayear to come if it took that that long, and anyone who wouldn't be willing to do that, wouldn't be half as much a fan as they say they are.
Your no. 11,023 fan (Okay, so THATS an estimate as well, don't have to castrate me for it),
S.R.
P.S. I'll just go play the first two while i'm waiting many ayear to come...
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