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

[gestved]

if you aren't paying, infinite

if you are... well, the very least the creator has to give feedback on progress with some kind of roadmap for the next release

in the usual model, I'd say 4 months may be too long but it depends on how much is delivered too.

 

[syg]

I think that 3 months max between updates especially if investment behind
afterward it's always the same it depends on the number of devs as well as the quality of the updates
but I still think that more than 3 months you need a solid road map with a maximum deadline for release

 

[CharlieV]

Even up to a year is fine with regular information about development and worthwhile updates. Some of the most reliable long-term devs work this way and I think others would benefit by taking the pressure off and doing this too to avoid burnout

 

[HuiEtyud]

I think it depends on the scope of the game. The "mega harem" type games (think Ecchi Sensei before BlueCat finally gave up the ghost) have a tendency to have an entire year between updates. "Harem Hotel," even, tends to be anywhere between 6 months to a year. I think "Waifu Academy" went almost 2 years before they finally updated to the most recent release.

For more...conventional, I guess?...kind of games, I give them 3 months before I write them off and look for something else to focus on. But even in those cases, I'll wait a few updates before I go back to it because the more rapid release schedules tend to have only tens of minutes of content, and that's even assuming they don't do a code rewrite which nukes the save anyway.

Edit to add: Now, granted, my perspective is that of a passive-at-best user, so I just kind of log in, check the updates page, and move on. There's always something, somewhere, to keep you distracted.

 

[jinkaz]

It's really depends on the size of the update, I'm willing to wait a a while for a big update like how Eternum does things, but if I'm waiting for half a year or a year for a 30 minute update I can't be mad but your taking the piss

 

[Fappilla]

I don't really mind how long as I've dabbled in daz and realize the amount of time it takes to make a good avn (especially as a solo dev). It's the no communication part that annoys a lot of people. I think as long as there's an update with a couple snippets of work progress at least once a month with new content every six months minimum. Guess it could also be a smaller window for content release with quality and fanbase.

 

[badplottwist]

I think 500-1000 renders every few months seems attainable for most. It's when 4-5 months go by and the update rolls in with 300 renders where absolutely nothing happens and I go... Ok, really? Although, I have no idea how development like this works, so maybe I'm being unreasonable, but from what I've read I don't think I've missed the ball.

 

[Deleted member 121354]

When was BS Cream's last update?

 

[Vulky]

I think if I were to pay, I would expect an update every 3-4 months, no longer. I could still support after five months if the update is really big. But I really prefer to pay only for a finished product. I don't like this method of subscription, I already have problems accepting it with professional software.
As a pirate, well I cannot really complain for anything, when I get them for free. But if a developer wants to attract subscribers, he should built a solid fanbase with regular updates. Only established and old projects can afford to have many months without updates (many are real pro milkers).

 

[lewdfather]

I think if I were to pay, I would expect an update every 3-4 months, no longer. I could still support after five months if the update is really big. But I really prefer to pay only for a finished product. I don't like this method of subscription, I already have problems accepting it with professional software.
As a pirate, well I cannot really complain for anything, when I get them for free. But if a developer wants to attract subscribers, he should built a solid fanbase with regular updates. Only established and old projects can afford to have many months without updates (many are real pro milkers).

Second this, some games get really expensive if you would subscribe per month. So in that case I would say 2 to 3 months. Or if I’m not paying take as long as you need, if that makes the game better.

 

[SkyBright22]

This is entirely subjective and there are many, many reasons for a variety of answers...

But a rough rule of thumb for me is between 2-3 months before I start to divest in the game.

Some games I hold out hope longer for, others I give up on more quickly..., but roughly if there is no update in this kind of window it becomes abandoned in my mind and I stop actively waiting for updates.

This may seem a little quick regarding how much work has to go into these games, but at the same time something new is always coming out to draw my attention away...

What are other folks thoughts on this?

as everyone else said 3 months is the sweet spot. Anything more stars getting bitter pretty quick

 

[nerddawg]

If the amount of content added is justified, I don't consider the update time a problem.

 

[HandholdDegen]

I think an update at the very least every 2 months is a very fair expectation for a smaller indie project, especially with VNs. Just release smaller story increments at the time and players themselves can decide if they think there has been enough to jump back in.

For bigger games with gameplay elements I think 4-6 months is more fair since anything you change can also affect the balance of other things you've worked on previously.

 

[Hongbottlo]

More then 3 months and for most games i forgot what it was about. Probably about a hot landlord lady, that looks like your mother with a hot daughter or something...

 

[MangoSkull]

if its a game I love I'm willing to wait however long it takes if its a game that's just ok any longer then 2~3 months and I'll probably forgot about it till I randomly see it in the latest updates and check out the update

 

[Baron Mist]

It really depends on the game. If you are supporting through Patreon/Subscribstar/other, then a few months at most between updates. But if the dev is doing it for free, then that is harder to have expectations of, strictly speaking

 

[DadD]

Two months. Maybe three.

 

[Karamchad]

That is a very personal opinion, but for me half a year is about as ridiculous as it can get. Anything past that is abandoned or clear sign that the developer just want to milk patreon pigs.
The problem is not just the sleazy developers, but also the people that keep giving money for bad developers and allowing this kind of behave to proliferate.
But the world of gaming has PLENTY of suckers to give away money for mediocre content. You just have to compare those yearly games that make millions because the gaming market is plagued by a huge group of lemmings and very manipulable people that watch pure brain rot on twitch.

 

[MattShizzle]

Agree 6 months is too much. By that time you forget just about everything. It doesn't need to be like an hour worth of play every update. Weird thing is some of the STUPID games seem like they update every week or so.

 

[User_29852]

Up to 4 months is fine, beyond it's too long