Playing the game

I always wondered how much time developers spend playing their own games. Some of you will probably spend a lot of time testing the game before it ships. When the game is finally released, do you still enjoy playing it? Does it depend on the genre? Do you take notes on balance, probable bugs, improvement ideas or can you switch the inner developer off?

From my own experience I can say that I have never read/ looked at one of the books I have worked on once they are published. My work is done, bug fixing isn't much of an option and I know the content anyway.

It's probably a little different with games development though...

IMO it largely depends on how much of a gamer the person actually is, how much of a pain in the arse the game was to make, and how fun the game actually is at release. A lot of sins of a solar empire devs still play from time to time, same with galciv. I'd say if you've ever done real internal testing (constant broken builds, stupid bugs, etc) for an extended period of time (read: throughout the game's development) then it's about the same thing as what devs experience IMO.
As for switching the balance thing off, you can't really, but you do tend to ignore a lot of the stuff after a while. You see something and say 'that could be better' but don't really think about it again. That's how it is for me anyways.

It also depends on the type of game. I've been playing Monday Night Combat everyday for the last year and a half and I still look forward to playing it. Multiplayer and Co-op nature of the game makes it fun to keep playing. Playtesting daily with everyone at the studio is how we develop, find bugs, adjust balancing. It also helps that the game is fun We will definitely keep playing when the game comes to see how the world reacts to it, play with the community, adjust balance issues, and for possible DLC updates. All my persistent stats and ProTags will be reset when the game comes out so I'll have to start over with everyone else to unlock those again. Can't wait!

I'm glad to hear you still enjoy your games after release Eka! Can't wait either!

I plan on being on top of the Xboxlive leaderboards from the second it launches. Always time to sleep when you die - :twisted:

As long as you stay away fro the PC leaderbords that's fine with me...

Good luck!

Well, you can always be on my team and conquer the gamers across the world

Thx but I don't own an Xbox. Besides, the last shooter I played was UT 2004. You probably don't want me on your team if you plan to rise to the top of the leaderboards...

Buy an XBox.... true gamers now play consoles.

Good sir, you appear to be losing your sanity.

if it's a shooter, i'm PC all the way. sorry. don't even own a console other than PS2 and N64 >.>

I do agree playing a shooter on PC is a better experience, the controller just doesn't hold up to a mouse and keyboard.

However, the multiplayer experience of getting in a game, finding a game, playing with friends is far superior on a 360. XBox Live Rocks.

Well, I mostly play RTS and RPGs, RPGs with hero groups preferably. That's just so much more comfy with m/kb. Gamepads feel to me like the touchpads on notebooks: Yes, it kinda works but it feels like a crutch.

I think mainstream gamers are playing more of the broadly appealing games.



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The best RPG experience I've ever had is still Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance... which was an XBox game.

Col. Jessep summones the 'There is no modding on consoles' argument
Col. Jessep scores a critical hit: 2,000,000 DP *2
Xbox dies in a Red Circle of Death

PC's definitely win the modding war.

I'm going to be very interested to see how sales of SupCom2 are on the PC vs console.

Me too. SupCom2 will probably be the best classic RTS ever made for consoles. If I had to bet I'd say SupCom2 will still sell way better on the PC. According to GPG PC is the primary platform.

i'm going to call BS on that.

Yeah, certainly doesn't feel that way...