Demigod's Failed Release, will likely hurt sales.

**UPDATE, I have finally played one match, a 3v3. One player DC/ed right off bat, but other than that I can tell that this could be a fun game if FIXED!**

 

Demigod's Failed Release, will likely hurt sales.

 

You don't have to agree with me, but I would say 6/10 people (Or more) can not enjoy the online experience for Demigod, and since Demigod is primarily a multilayer game this is a failed release. I don't know who's decision it was to release this game with this many bugs and problems but they need to be let go. As the publisher Stardock should not have allowed this to be released, and as the developer GPG/Stardock should not have released such a buggy product. They should have just bit the bullet and rolled back the release date like many game companies do. Yes, people would have been upset about this but that is nothing to what is happing now. Now you have hundreds or maybe even thousands of players pissed at the game publisher and the game developer.

 

My experience so far:

 

  1. Waiting..... Waiting...... And more Waiting.......

  1. If you click any menu item it takes 30-60 seconds for the next menu to appear, if you go into a skirmish be prepared to wait 5-10 mins for a game, and if you hit cancel you will wait 30-60 seconds for the matchmaking service to cancel.

  2. Frame rate is horrible!!! If I can run WoW, Left 4 Dead, and WC3 (DOTA) at 2560x1600 with no problems, you would think I could run demigod and the lowest system settings. (FYI: all drivers up to date)

    1. NOTE: If I run gamed windowed and with sound disabled, it runs better....

  3. I can no longer log into the multilayer service, it says my password is wrong?? WTF I just was logged in....

  4. I can't log in, So I go to the demigod forums, and it takes 4 mins for the page to load. When it finally loads, there is a SQL error when logging into the forum, WTF! Even the website is buggy! (error finally fixed as now I can post this message)

 

This is why I'm frustrated at this release!

Retail games released to the general public should not require a Bachelors in Computer Science to play, or a 30 min conversation on IRC to fix your problems!! They should just work, or not be released.

 

The funny thing is the StarDock fan boys actually think that chatting on IRC for 30 mins and editing code is acceptable for a RETAIL RELEASE of the game! I can understand for beta's but this is the RETAIL RELEASE!

 

Basically the golden rule of business was not followed! “Under promise, over Deliver”

Instead they decided to go with the “Over promise, Under Deliver” strategy...

 

Still Waiting for the patch to make Demigod FUN!

 

Conclusion: FAILED REALEASE

 

7,069 views 16 replies
Reply #1 Top

Forgot how many games are released bug-free. Could you remind me?

Reply #2 Top

Quoting DalzK, reply 1
Forgot how many games are released bug-free. Could you remind me?

 

also, when forums and game down, that means server problems/reset. and its the first day chill. take this time to play an other game, check everynow and then. if you can get in mp, i suggest getting some favor points by playing dumb fast matches

Reply #3 Top

Yes, we can thank Gamestop for breaking release date and selling it 5 days early.  When you arent planning on having your servers fully operational until release and a distributer black balls you, its kinda tough to play catchup.

Further, I might remind you that it took WoW 3 months to play "catch up". I remember waiting in queues well into march.

As for graphics, I have no problem running DG on my moderate laptop at near full graphics settings. Perhaps you simply dont know how to optimize your computer for games.  Overall WoW, L4D, and WC3 are low quality graphics in comparison to the newer technologies.

But anyway, Stardock will get their servers up and running and all will be fine in a day or two.  Besides, you can always play single player. Thats not broken :)

Reply #4 Top

This was a bit of a failed release, but they'll work out the issues.

 

I've had a myriad of problems, unfortunately all of which COMPELTELY STOP me from playing a multiplayer game. (Back to DotA in the meantime!)

Reply #5 Top

While Im one that can appreciate your frustration and understand fully what your saying I do think you (and the other 30 threads) are being a bit quick on the whole slamming thing.

First of all your comments about the game not running well except on low settings or something....not sure what your issue is there. The game runs incredible for me. Im running like 1680x1050 I think....all medium settings or higher and it looks and runs great. I have a AMD Dual core 6000+ ,  ATI 4850 and 2 gigs of ram so not sure how that compares to you.

The main issue on the game right now as EVERYONE knows by now is the multiplayer is not working. Keep in mind the fact that Gamestop broke the street date which forced them to bring servers up faster then was intended. But still yes...it is frustrating ot pay for a game that is primarily multiplayer focused and you cant play multiplayer. However....its the FIRST DAY of release. Im a bit more forgiving I guess. Now if say 4-5 days from now we still cant get games going...yeah I will be more in your frame of mind. Right now Im enjoying the single player actually learning the characters adn abilities experimenting with different combos etc.

I would think with the potential of the game and the fact that the CEO posted a full update with details and offered up to talk to people you would be able to be a bit more civil and give them at least a hair bit of slack. Its not like this is MMO that if the servers are down you cant play it at all.

Again though...I understand your frustration...I would just perhaps be a bit more patient then you are I guess.

 

Reply #6 Top

Quoting Felix-, reply 4
This was a bit of a failed release, but they'll work out the issues.

 

I've had a myriad of problems, unfortunately all of which COMPELTELY STOP me from playing a multiplayer game. (Back to DotA in the meantime!)

yea, just play another game for a bit is the best option

Reply #7 Top

This game isn't even WoW.  I bought the LAST copy today "opening" day at Game Stop who biffed the opening day big time they said... So I do agree this is a NEW game with LOTS of bugs and issues.  This game isn't a quote WoW type MMO which will have bugs as long as there are new quests and sh*t.  this game is similar to WC3 runoff of DOTA WC3 game type battlenet perfected before release date. 

 

PLEASE fix the damn hang-ups at start-up which are uber annoying and when trying to go on multiplayer!!!

Reply #8 Top

At least we aren't paying $15 a month to play a f*cking game online!!!  So not too ornery about bugs!

Reply #9 Top

What's even more frustrating is seeing how good the game is when you actually get to play.

But I agree with the OP. So far my experience is 1/10, I've spent 4 hours trying to join pantheon games and 1 hour playing.

Hopefully it will not hurt early sales too bad. But there it is.

Reply #10 Top

yea, just play another game for a bit is the best option

do this, or anything, you don't have to play demigod, the game is bogged down because too many people are trying to play it. i've played 3 or 4 online matchs since late last night and this afternoon

 

the game is loads of fun if you can get into a match ^^, i can finally put wc3 to rest, as this is all the rts i need.

Reply #11 Top

Because we needed yet another one of these threads. >_>  

Reply #12 Top

Quoting Gir92, reply 11
Because we needed yet another one of these threads.  

well yea, it clearly makes gpg and stardock work harder, because, you know they aren't right now.....

 

you so silly

Reply #13 Top

There was a time long ago when games where released virtually perfect. It was a time before widespread internet use, when you had no easy method of disributing fixes. I'd like to say Developers and publishers push games out according to deadlines, knowing full well they will release a "Day-0" patch and there will be a multitude of problems just to beat the competition etc but thats not the case.

Back in the "golden age" of gaming, you have a handful of parts to try and make something work on. As times gone by, computers have become more and more individual, little bits from column A, some from Column B, others from Column C...there is simply no practical way to ensure these parts will all work together (not simply physical parts, but software aswell...like the countless hundreds of firewall programs people use). Thats the reason Beta's exist, to see what problems arise and try and fix them before release.

The fact problems still occur just goes to show how complex and problematic it is making a single product to work on a billion different configurations.

Now not -all- the problems that show up are from this variety of differences, some are just down to plain poor planning, poor design etc etc. Just try not to attribute -every- error to some lazy guys in an office.

Reply #14 Top


Frame rate is horrible!!! If I can run WoW, Left 4 Dead, and WC3 (DOTA) at 2560x1600 with no problems, you would think I could run demigod and the lowest system settings. (FYI: all drivers up to date)

I like how he threw DOTA in there like we'd all go "Oh, his cred checks out."

2 of the 3 games mentioned I could run on a toaster with no effort. L4D had a pretty crappy multiplayer launch date.

 

Reply #15 Top

I wrote some long response, but after reading tekkor's response, it has calmed me. I do have to say this:

 

I develop games and applications for the iPhone, and if I release a version with just ONE BUG (Which I did on my first game release) then everyone down rates it to 1 star and I get little sales. Because in life it's looked at as unprofessional to release Entertainment Media to the public that is unfinished.

 

Look at this analogy:

 

Would you pay 7 dollars to watch a movie at the theater without sound? But what if it was a really good movie?? Would you wait till the DVD is released for the sound to be added, or would talk to the manager of the theater and ask for it to be fixed now! And if it was not fixed should the manager refun your money?

 

Bottom line:

-They had a public Beta to prepare for this

-The game is unplayable for over 50% of people

-This game has major bugs, and it will hurt sales

-This game should have been held back one week to one month

 

Reply #16 Top

[reply]-This game should have been held back one week to one month[/quote]

That option went out the window when Gamestop released early.  I think that if it had been only people from the beta playing on the 13th then Stardock would have been able to focus on fixing problems rather than server issues.

Beta people only ->beta servers not overloaded -> more demigod played and bugs/problems found

Plus. Stardock would have been able to set up the main servers without being under pressure.

It is also worth pointing out that as Demigod uses P2P, which some ISPs try to block, so that may be a problem for some people.

As a side effect of being P2P, multiplayer in Demigod is limited to the speed of the slowest player.  So some of your performance problem may be the result of someone you are playing with.

Almost all of the problems with Demigod you mentioned can be traced back to the server problems.