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Zitofan75 · 09-30-2006, 11:36 AM

Interesting read.

I suppose the overall polarized reaction to the game was predictable. It's a new version. New versions tend to have a cloud over them because A) fans of the game are used to the old version and some of them will resist the change and B) a new version hasn't had the time to become as refined as the old version. I know Markus had two years to work on this but how many years did he spend making 6.51? Remember that evolved from 6.12, which evolved from 6, which evolved from 5, which evolved from 4 ... you get the idea. 6.51 was so great becuase it evolved, it wasn't thought out from scratch. If it had been then people wouldn't have been so happy with it.

Still, Markus was ready to move on. It was risky but he said he needed to and he did it. It's clear a decent percentage were ready to go with him. It's also clear a decent percentage weren't prepared to make the journey. I don't think those polarized results are indicative as to whether Markus made the correct decision or the incorrect decision. The idea that we were all going to joyfully embrace the new version was naive. Even if the initial release was the equivalent of the last patched game there would have been opposition.

Well, I think OOTPBB2006 is going to evolve. It's going to grow through future versions and likely get as tight and refined as 6.51. When will that be? Beats me. Maybe not 6 versions since presumably Markus has learned more programming skills than he knew before. We'll see. I'm willing to stick around and watch. We all liked what early OOTP evolved into right? I have faith Markus can pull the same thing off again.

That hope will likely satisfy people in "B" above. It may not satisfy people in "A" but then to a degree that's inevitable. Going to a new version is always going to be too big of a jolt for some. Markus, like any designer, has to gauge whether serious changes are worth losing some customers. What do the changes bring? Better code, better flexibility, better access to the market (and therefore more customers than ever before)? I'm sure he doesn't want to lose any old time customers mind you but a realist will see that he will. Maybe a version or two from now we can reflect and decide if, in the balance, he made the right decision. But I think it's too early to do that now.

09-30-2006, 11:36 AM	#126
Zitofan75 All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: California Posts: 1,413	Interesting read. I suppose the overall polarized reaction to the game was predictable. It's a new version. New versions tend to have a cloud over them because A) fans of the game are used to the old version and some of them will resist the change and B) a new version hasn't had the time to become as refined as the old version. I know Markus had two years to work on this but how many years did he spend making 6.51? Remember that evolved from 6.12, which evolved from 6, which evolved from 5, which evolved from 4 ... you get the idea. 6.51 was so great becuase it evolved, it wasn't thought out from scratch. If it had been then people wouldn't have been so happy with it. Still, Markus was ready to move on. It was risky but he said he needed to and he did it. It's clear a decent percentage were ready to go with him. It's also clear a decent percentage weren't prepared to make the journey. I don't think those polarized results are indicative as to whether Markus made the correct decision or the incorrect decision. The idea that we were all going to joyfully embrace the new version was naive. Even if the initial release was the equivalent of the last patched game there would have been opposition. Well, I think OOTPBB2006 is going to evolve. It's going to grow through future versions and likely get as tight and refined as 6.51. When will that be? Beats me. Maybe not 6 versions since presumably Markus has learned more programming skills than he knew before. We'll see. I'm willing to stick around and watch. We all liked what early OOTP evolved into right? I have faith Markus can pull the same thing off again. That hope will likely satisfy people in "B" above. It may not satisfy people in "A" but then to a degree that's inevitable. Going to a new version is always going to be too big of a jolt for some. Markus, like any designer, has to gauge whether serious changes are worth losing some customers. What do the changes bring? Better code, better flexibility, better access to the market (and therefore more customers than ever before)? I'm sure he doesn't want to lose any old time customers mind you but a realist will see that he will. Maybe a version or two from now we can reflect and decide if, in the balance, he made the right decision. But I think it's too early to do that now.