I have posted elsewhere, but thought I'd rant here too, in the unlikely hopes that my frustration is noted by the developers and has some kind of effect. Yeah Mod, go ahead, gimme heck. I haven't posted in a while, so I guess I'm due.
Are there any plans to introduce real, working, multi-player to 3DGS? Yes, I know, for $800 US, I can have a version that "supports unlimited users". That is not really providing multi-player. I would expect to have some sort of working MP framework, but I'm hearing that I would have to build my own client server foundation. It seems that in the past few years I have asked for the same features, and have been told that they are in development, check the "Future" section, everything you are asking for is planned. What exactly does that mean? I know that when I worked at Symantec "in development" meant that they were actually being actively worked on by a programmer with deadlines, beta builds and QA windows. These were all plotted using project management software, and the time scale was quarterly, NOT 2-3 years. You seem to have some excessively long build cycles.
Where is the addition of basic, working AI? I've been seeing it advertised as "coming soon". When is that? Yeah, there are add-ons that I can buy that were developed in C-spript by your user community. Seems that most of them have given up, moved on, and switched to some other engine. I'll bet that they would be open to building their code into your engine! Even if it costs, think about the marketing advantage!
It is true that no other engine has the capabilities of 3DGS when it comes to putting together a very quick prototype, but I don't want to prototype on the weekends with friends. I want to _play_ my game, and share the experience, the challenge, and all my pretty artwork. I am impressed with the work that was done getting bones into A6, and that is a nice feature, but it was a nice to have. Why ignore the NEED to haves?
Suggestions (NEEDS) listed in order of priority as I see it:
1) Multi-player (this should be click together by now! server=on) Priority 1.
2) Modules, not templates. (Add "AI.wdl" here. Select options for AI in player's graphical settings box with checkboxes or dropdown lists.)
3) Basic AI. C'mon, let's see what you guys can do. You must be able to code some basic >USEFUL< AI. (Not just follow, panic, shoot, run to wall, hit wall, hit wall...)
4) Improve WED. Make levels run faster. If it has a limit with maximum number of objects, by all means, display an error message, but give me the options for removing, hiding or changing the object load order or something. Help me optimize.
5) Make WED a GUI editor. Edit the world the way uou view it, in game.
I finally have money (and the wife's permission) to buy a game engine. Development of this engine seems very much flat. I just installed A6 Demo on my new PC and don't see any difference from the A6 Demo that I installed and deleted over 8 months ago. There are games waiting to be made. Gimme the tools to express them, as promised so very long ago.
And come on, tell us what the intentions and directions are.
Cheers!
Mark
