Greetings! Should I back this game?

[Kayin_]

Hello,

 

I'm Kayin.   I'm a former game developer,  current AppSec pen tester,  perpetual gamer.    I have to say I'm really interested in this project. You guys have done amazing so far.  

 

My interest in this game, however, is matched by my skepticism.   I want to invest in this game, but after Star Citizen, Space Engineers, Perpetuum, Elite Dangerous, etc..  I don't just jump in anymore.    If there's one truth in gaming these days, it's that voxel crafting MMOs in Early Access are literally a dime a dozen.   They're all great concepts but so few ever enter a playable state, let alone ever get released. 

 

So I'm torn.  Do I back this or not?  This is an ambitious project.  This could take years. Many of the promises may not manifest in the way they're presented, or even manifest at all.    So, I'll just ask.  

 

Convince me that this team is different.  Why will this team finish this project?  How do I know this will become a real boy?

 

I'm not asking for timelines. I'm not asking for features or promises. I'm not really even asking to believe in whatever this game becomes. I'm asking about the team.  Convince me you'll finish what you started and not go start another game mid-project,  "Medieval Universe" or something.  

 

Maybe other potential backers who are on the fence will read this and decide to invest as well. 

 

-K

[Tnecniw]

PLEDGE YOUR ASS TO THE KICKSTARTER ! (Please :3)

[Lethys]

Well I can assure you that the devs do their best job.

 

Who knows if all what the devs say and talk about the game will make it to realease? Perhaps all? maybe 50%? This project is ambitious as hell, so why trust them?

 

When you read interviews, watch them, follow their releases/videos/twitter/posts they make, you quickly realize one thing:

 

THEY LISTEN !

 

They read the forums, get PMs and they actually hear us, the gamers. They do their best to clarify worries (see threads), let us play the game in pre-alpha (see meet-up at NQ), they answer our questions on various occasions (AMA, interviews, player run events,...).

We even had a major discussion with the devs because of some spicy topic, they actually started it to hear what WE have to say.

 

They always clarify that some aspects of the game will not make it to realease, but they will come at a later stage with an update. They are honest in terms of ideas for the game which players ask (will there be weather - no because.... read the AMA). In contrast to other games (yeah, we all know which oneI mean), NQ always honestly tells us, what to expect from the game, which ideas will be followed as stretch goals and (most importantly) what DU is definitly NOT (which ideas/mechanics are NOT in the game, what you CAN'T do).

 

So in my opinion:

When NQ is honest with us what to expect from the game, then they can pull it off. I know many devs who don't really listen and who just do their thing. NQ isn't like that.

 

It's up to you

[Hotwingz]

Greetings.

Of course you should back this project.

But this is not early acces. It is a kickstarter with a few backer perks.

There is a difference.

 

I will give you a short summary why NQ is different.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Christophe_Baillie this is the wiki for our creative director.

As you can see he is a well respected and succesful scientist.

 

In 2013 he decided to see if he could solve the tech problem behind creating a game like DU. Its only in 2014 when he was sure that his new tech solution worked that he founded NQ. Up until now the project was funded on his own private money and the money of some angel investors.

 

In his field he is a well established authority and being a scientist he does not make claims without being able to back them up. Just ask yourself is someone like him going to ruin his reputation over a 500 000 euro kickstarter? I dont think so.

 

And as JC says NQ is making a game but at the heart it is a tech company. As such the amount of KS money is reasonable. Systems and tools are cheaper to develop then standard game content. If you go on youtube you will find a video of fans playing the current build of the game.

 

NQ is a legit company with ambitious goals. But everything indicates they have the basic tech for it working.

 

Check out youtube, lots of information is available.

 

Edit: to fix a date according to a new article.

[Shynras]

-They showed us already the prealpha state, with all the tech stuff already there. Since you are a developer you should know that adding a way to trade items, to create organizations, and some new blocks isn't much of a challenge. 

-They have many features that a lot of players don't like or may not (like PVP or combat) but they're not afraid to talk about them. 

-They answered a lot of questions from people, and when they were asking for specific ones, 50% of the answers are "it's cool, but we may add that in a future expansion. No lies.

-They worked for 2 and half years already on the game, and they likely invested way more money than what they ask on KS. 

-And since the game is P2P they'll recover that investment only after release, and after the first month (that will be a trial period). Only if the game is good, and if it provides enough fun for people to play it for months. 

-The game will be way better than the ones you already mentioned. 

[Leonis]

The fact they showed us the pre-alpha, let us play the build for some of us, and answer many questions regularly proves a lot about the well they listen to us and care about what they will offer us.

[BliitzTheFox]

I've backed this thing with uncertainty; however, being what Novaquark is I have no doubt that by participating in the alpha and beta we can get this game ready for release. If this game does get to where its going, where we are going to take it, backing the game now would going to be a lot cheaper money wise, but it will also cost a little faith in Jean-Christophe Baillie and Novaquark.

 

After being on these forums for the past couple weeks I know that even if the Kickstarter were to fail it will not stop Novaquark from making this game, it is what they were founded for. It is the same reason SpaceX is going to get to Mars before everyone else, they are willing to go the extra mile, put their company and their jobs on the line just to push the boundaries of the possible.

[Hotwingz]

@BlitzTheFox exactly! NQ has but one mission and that is to create DU.

 

But as they explained to us they need the kickstarter to stay indie.

I would rather they hold true to their vision then asking for a publisher to invest. We all know what signing a deal with publishers can do to a game.

 

Even more for an untried concept like DU.

Publishers/investors usually dont like to take risks.

[wizardoftrash]

Hello,

 

I'm Kayin.   I'm a former game developer,  current AppSec pen tester,  perpetual gamer.    I have to say I'm really interested in this project. You guys have done amazing so far.

 

My interest in this game, however, is matched by my skepticism.   I want to invest in this game, but after Star Citizen, Space Engineers, Perpetuum, Elite Dangerous, etc..  I don't just jump in anymore.    If there's one truth in gaming these days, it's that voxel crafting MMOs in Early Access are literally a dime a dozen.   They're all great concepts but so few ever enter a playable state, let alone ever get released. 

 

So I'm torn.  Do I back this or not?  This is an ambitious project.  This could take years. Many of the promises may not manifest in the way they're presented, or even manifest at all.    So, I'll just ask.  

 

Convince me that this team is different.  Why will this team finish this project?  How do I know this will become a real boy?

 

I'm not asking for timelines. I'm not asking for features or promises. I'm not really even asking to believe in whatever this game becomes. I'm asking about the team.  Convince me you'll finish what you started and not go start another game mid-project,  "Medieval Universe" or something.  

 

Maybe other potential backers who are on the fence will read this and decide to invest as well. 

 

-K

 

To be honest, I have no idea if they really will finish or not. I too got on the Space Engineers train, I watched Star Citizen eagerly, and kept an eye on games like Elite Dangerous and No Man's Sky. I was also hugely into Spore.

 

One thing to keep in mind is that I don't consider any of those games to have fallen short. They all have problems, but I've REALLY gotten my money's worth out of almost every kickstarter or greenlight project I've thrown money at. The amount of time I've played Space Engineers always throws me for a loop because the multiplayer problems in that game are a huge detractor, but I keep coming back because it is still a good time.

 

I'm backing the hell out of this game not because I think it'll actually be everything we hope it is, but because if people like me don't back it, it won't have a chance. And so far, even if we pretend for a second that we ONLY get what they promise and don't get anything they have slated for the future, it'll still basically be my DREAM GAME. Elements of EVE Online, elements of Minecraft, elements of Space Engineers, and elements of an MMO and you've got me. Even if it ends up being a buggy sack of garbage, I will probably play it until my machine melts (Space Engineers actually killed my previous computer).

 

So it boils down to this. You should back it so that we all have a shot at getting this great game. Games like Space Engineers never promised to be able to handle thousands of players in one world, but it looks like these guys are making technical compromises to make this really work.

[Danger]

In short, what Lethys wrote. Now get your as.... to kickstarter and get gold pack at least:-)

 

PS: Ruby is best:-)

[Daphne Jones]

Sorry. Not my job to convince you. Back it or don't back it. Do it for your reasons.

 

If you backed NMS, I can certainly see why you'd be wary, lol. I'm backing SC... no regrets. I've gotten my money's worth there already.

[Phroshy]

What makes me, personally, hopeful for this project is that the dev team is extensively communicating with us, they have an open ear to criticism, and JC Baille, the founder and lead designer, has so far never dodged a question as far as I have seen, no matter how difficult or uncomfortable. Their promises are overall very down to earth, they don't just say whatever people want to hear but are open about the limitations of what they can do with the game and what we can realistically expect.

 

I remain ever so mildly sceptical because JC doesn't appear to have any prior experience in game development; but as others have said, his CV shows that he is very capable in coding and software development, plus he hired people which do have experience in the gaming industry and he evidently has an open ear to suggestions and criticism. 

 

Overall I've seen enough that I'm actually pondering to increase my pledge a bit further.

[Hotwingz]

Honestly if I could up my pledge I would.

But I live on a pretty tight budget.

 

Op, you are free to do as you wish but I dont think making a pledge will come back to haunt you.

 

The main stream is never going to make this type of game.

[Muttley]

We can't offer you any guarantees. But I think if you are asking here you are already more than half convinced.

 

You pays your money and you takes your choice.

[Hunter]

I don't know if this will help but I decided to back DU for several reasons.  The NQ team is extremely capable and come from advanced backgrounds in robotics, AI, business development, etc.   It's a 1World Shard. Its a SPACE game!  etc, etc.  So... getting past all the buzzwords and cool things they are proposing, at the end of the day there is absolutely no guarantee this game will fly.  So, you can read all about NQ and DU just as easily as the rest of us can.  My biggest decision was determining if I wanted to put any time into this.  That's your most valuable commodity.   You cannot purchase more of it.  I like space and building enough to make the dive.

 

 It comes down to a personal decision and how much you care to risk and how many things you have on your gaming or hobby plate.  I do think they have a long road ahead of them.  Good luck with your decision and hope to see you in Alpha.

[Leonis]

Honestly if I could up my pledge I would.

But I live on a pretty tight budget.

 

Op, you are free to do as you wish but I dont think making a pledge will come back to haunt you.

 

The main stream is never going to make this type of game.

Agreed. If I were rich I would give as much as possible. Neato.

[Hotwingz]

Agreed. If I were rich I would give as much as possible. Neato.

Man if I were rich I would fund the whole damn thing...

[Leonis]

If only everyone understood the sight of that project. It could be the very first SPACE game, literally into space, from planet to planets, from land to lands, and form little ships to great space stations and cruisers... All that created by the gamers. I mean, imagine millions playing the game at once, or even some hundred thousands, dreamy.

[Leonis]

Man if I were rich I would fund the whole damn thing...

I would double it MAN.

 

As if:

[Hotwingz]

Haha that actually made me Laugh Out Loud.

[Leonis]

Haha that actually made me Laugh Out Loud.

Thanks. When an idea comes out, I go create a meme.

[wizardoftrash]

Thanks. When an idea comes out, I go create a meme.

I like the way you operate. you get a thumbs up

[Leonis]

@wizardoftrash

 

[KingNazar]

Well...DUH! It has great potential.

[Anonymous]

Hello,

 

Convince me that this team is different.  Why will this team finish this project?  How do I know this will become a real boy?

 

-K

 

Pat answer - because you'll kick yourself if it works and you didn't get on board

 

Real answer from an "investor" perspective:

 

Essentially what you are backing is a startup PaaS company with a patented DB tech which makes problems like >C10K look trivial in terms of how it handles concurrency, ACID and other such things.

 

NQ doesn't do content, levels etc - they are building a sandbox which the players then create in - it's a PaaS model. So beyond the kickstart and the game itself, if we get NQ off the ground, the power of the NovaQuark game engine and DB tech will able to be monetized moving forwards - it really can change the entire face of the gaming industry, not to mention potentially applications in other industries requiring high performance/availability/concurrency solutions.

 

The team itself are industry veterans - not necessarily the gaming industry, as specialists in their chosen fields - they just all happen to be gamers as well. Additionally, NQ's advisers include the likes of Theo Priestly (http://www.forbes.com/sites/theopriestley/#1279282a5a4d, http://www.theinternetofthings.eu/theo-priestley et. al).

 

And that to me is the selling point of NQ over other investment opportunities (and yes, I do consider Kickstarter to be an investment model) - it is a solid PaaS businesses who have identified a niche which hasn't been filled or innovated on in years, and they are building technology and languages to meet that need, rather than being a group of simply passionate game devs with little to no business experience, especially in running a cloud based operation.

 

Key takeaway - for games like WoW or Runescape (10-12 million monthly players) - imagine that potentially on ONE instance/"server" - these guys can do it.