Hi everyone,
well, I guess this was to be expected. This update, which we know to be the least appealing but probably the hardest to implement, has seen the light of day. It had to be done in order to get to the next step - a truly major update that will feature things that actually directly affect the game. Yes, we are aware this is just eye-candy and yes, we are aware that things could have been done like other games did it (have fixed infrastructure buildings and arena surroundings - no customization options, basically the same graphics for everyone). But, I wanted us to do something original, be different, bold... Was I wrong?
Reading the replies, in most people's eyes this was unnecessary. Maybe so, time will tell. Once we fix all the bugs, maybe some of you will grow to like it? I see jokeru played with it even after he bashed it initially, so there's hope. And yeah, I won't apologize even if it turns out not to be popular or add real value. When you work, make decisions, sometimes you make the wrong ones. I am not perfect, I do make mistakes but I refuse to give up my vision. Truly, I believe this was not for naught, maybe just as a team exercise, even though most of you guys seem so very eager to bash it. Even though it is just a middle step in something bigger and was announced as just that.
Now, for the bugs - yeah, I'm aware this one was full of them. Still has some too. But, we'll keep working on it, improving it. It will give us more experience going forward. And this is just it - if nothing else - experience. We have new team members in our dev team, they need to learn by working on something so they can get to know the ropes. They can't code a full mobile app right away, steps need to be made to get there. We're a small company and can't just buy ourselves a mobile app like it's nothing. We need time and experience so look at it this way - this is just a part of that process.
So, to summarize, I am sad to see such responses here. Not only are they not constructive, as ned pointed out, they might even be counterproductive. We're human too, behind these creations stand people that created them and they don't like when their work is treated in such a manner. It's easy to criticize and hard to contribute, but hey, that's just how internet works.
Long story short, you don't need to worry about us spending more dev time on features like these after the 3rd segment of the Arena Designer. We're going to be switching our focus on some long time needed back-end development and the team can learn by doing that too. The dev calendar will have to be put on hold for a bit, but it will be back eventually. When it is, I'm pretty sure we'll be better equipped to implement tougher, more complex ideas. For now, this is what a small dev team can provide (a team still in training, too).
I do really hope you'll like the next update anyway. A true optimist never gives up hope and I've already seen some pretty funny creations with the designer - so why don't you take it just as it is - some light-hearted fun you can ignore if you don't like, that's easy. Or it should be, at least. If it gives you sensible chuckle here and there - even better.