discussion How long is too long for a game to have an update...?

[thropper]

I think it really depends on the game itself. There are some games that go above and beyond the normal expectations for graphics/animations and with those I expect a longer delay of maybe 2 to 3 updates a year. Then you have the normal games which I think it is safe to say 1-3 months an update is good.

I typically pump out updates around 600-700 renders with a few animations and it takes me about 2 months for an update, but I am a solo project with a full-time job so my time to work on the game is limited. I know there are others that have a team working on games and they can get things out faster. I am pretty sure there are others that drag their feet for more cash too.

Thank you for your insightful response! I love to hear a Game Developers side on this! it adds so much more perspective!

 

[jhassan]

For me it's more about regular updates than time between updates. I don't mind games that only update 2-3 times a year - I play so many games that I've always got something to play, as long as they stick to their schedule.
With that being said below twice a year is rather slow...

 

[Forrest]

depends 8 to 12 if its good
3 to 4 if its okay

 

[leproso04]

3 months onwards, it is a time band.

 

[User_80256]

Depends on the project. For some (most of them) - 4 months. But for some, 6 - 8 months is quite acceptable.
Question for the especially impatient - how long are you waiting for Summertime Saga update? Three years already?

 

[User_101237]

3 months, can be 4 months for some quality games though

 

[User_104811]

If you are exited for somting its hard to wait, but the important thing is that an update is coming. Unless it takes like 10 years. THen again it culd be a plesant suprise.

 

[arka]

more than 4 months..!

 

[_Frt2_]

It depends. Some games have 10min long updates once a month which is pretty pointless tbh. Then there is games with high quality updates with couple hours of content ones or twice a year, which I say is better option.

Of course faster the better, but need to be realistic.

 

[Robertsm1982]

The developer for Jessica O'Neil's hard news only updates every now and then, like once a year if you're lucky, and if he's feeling particularly cheery, maybe twice.

 

[User_105637]

If is good then patience is good. Otherwise 3+ is long.

 

[kenny86]

2-3 months per update. Considering the majority of makers use HS or KK, taking longer seems like a commitment issue. Doesn't mean that it's okay for hand-drawn stuff to stretch though, see what a legend and summertime saga for what a scam looks like.

 

[Dererr]

4 months is fine, 5 months is pushing it, anything more than 6 is too much

 

[FoamBottle25]

It's all tradeoffs between quantity, quality and time. Generally more willing to wait if there's a lot of good content.

 

[UnusualUsername]

at some point i just forget about the game.. i mostly try to ignore that certain game until i play sth similar and then i hope that there has been an update...

 

[FoamBottle25]

at some point i just forget about the game.. i mostly try to ignore that certain game until i play sth similar and then i hope that there has been an update...

ya we have several games so it's more like a rotation tbh. Unless the game is super good.

 

[nothankyou]

I've been trained to wait as long as it takes because of manga translations in the whole a new group picks up the scans. So for me, I can wait forever, and the good thing is that when you know you have to wait, it's fun to replay the game to refresh yourself, or find something new to play.

 

[Tosser]

Depends on a couple of things: how much content is provided with each new update, and what do I know about the Dev coming in.

If I know a Dev has a real job and a real life and is doing this on the side, getting updates at a longer interval doesn't bother me - I'm just glad he's continuing on with a story I like, especially since I'm a pirate. I would expect the Dev to communicate this fact, but, again - I'm not paying anything so I'm not the one to hold him accountable.

For Dev's that do this for a living - or at least as a significant element of their lives - I hope for about a half hour of play time for each month of development. The complexity and quality of the VN is also part of that equation: while a six month wait for Eternum is painful, it pays off when it comes out; however, as much as I enjoy it, six months between releases for a VN like "Tune In To The Show" would be way too long given the brevity of each episode and the lack of heavy sound or animation in the production of the VN.

It's a scale: one measuring stick does not apply to all Devs or all VNs. And because we're talking about humans with lives that can get fucked up, a little bit of grace and a bit of understanding have to come into play if something does cause a delay to a normally reliable schedule.

However, a good example of too long for too little: FreshWomen. What started out as a promising VN has kept stepping on its own dick since going the Steam route.

 

[Skarin070]

3 to 6 months

 

[Blazinghedge]

definitely depends on the game and dev, but if they consistently miss deadlines then that's a red flag