spwolf said:
well we know what happens when it doesnt, dont we? Besides, Forza adds to the previous entries, so it is not like they build whole thing in one year, and thats why that "leak" refers to some cut features as "cut again" because they apparently didnt make it into F2 either.
While features get cut all the time, and DLC plans also get changed, they really did cut a lot of planned features. It is not like they planned them in 2001 either, i mean when you plan for 12-18 months ahead, how can you miss so many things? That and post DLC change of plans show that something bad happened there.
There was a lot happening during the development of both games it seems. Tofu R said they were late with FM2 and MS didn't like that and that heads would roll if the same thing happened in FM3.
There were features not listed there that were out of the hands of MS. T10 pushed for USB key support for exporting pictures and videos and MS would not give it to them likely because it would break their closed system. They pushed manufacturers for more damage and it looks like they had a lot of factors that they couldn't control meaning planned features could be outside their control.
Have to be grateful for Sony for being the publisher they are because no other publisher would have that sort of patience. Yes GT sells millions but I'm sure Sony was chomping at the bit to have this game out asap to boost console sales.
There is a reason I tell all of my customers to buy our product for features it has now, because if you over promise and people purchase based on that promise, you are going to have major backlash next time around.
PD has been taking this approach...maybe to an extreme. Recently Kaz didn't even outright confirm LAN support for GT5 though we all expect it. GT3 supported LAN over Firewire so it seems odd that GT5 wouldn't have it.
PD seems like they will only confirm stuff when it is in there working 100%. It's a good policy and they can get away with it because they are guaranteed a good amount of sales regardless.
And T10 didn't promise weather and day/night either. They probably knew by E3 what big features would have to stay and go. The game was released 5 months after E3 so they had to be realistic in saying what the finished game would do.
I think F3 would have sold much better without all the marketing bullshit they did. It is obviously an good game and it does not need such tactics.
The community management is not really a part of marketing but the stuff Dan Greenawalt said is.
Claiming your product to be "definitive" is a marketing move and you have to be able to back it up. Stuff they say on a stage or when demoing the game to media can be called marketing...and I think Dan did go off a deep end when talking his own game and talking about other games in his interviews.
But I don't think that affected sales. Most enthusiasts probably never heard what Dan had to say anyways...probably more noticed that a decent 900 degree wheel was hard to come by and didn't want to play a sim without a decent wheel.
Speaking of "outside of T10's control" the wheel was another aspect. They couldn't force MS to make a good wheel. At the same time T10 decided not to fully support a 900 degree wheel by removing the permanent steering assist so I can't say all aspects of the wheel support were outside their control.
amar212 said:
Do you think that's air you're breathing now?
Don't mean to pick on you amar but you should do yourself a favor and reread our entire conversation. I'm being a nice guy and just leaving it at that.