Don Bradman Cricket 14 General Discussion

[sami ullah khan]

The game is finished. Whatever will be added will be via a day one patch.

 

[dadarocks]

Rockstar are active on their forums, discussing gameplay. Treyarch and Infinity Ward are *very* active on Twitter keeping their userbase aware of changes being made to the game and to receive feedback.

With all due respect bro (don't take this as shouting), may I ask you how you're comparing those blah blah *HUGE* companies which've released series-es of games (of the same genre) with a company like BigAnt? This is their first cricket game. As far as I know, no other cricket game making company interacted with us, and took our suggestions seriously.

This is something everyone does in the marketing field, but I've felt that Ross's something more than a public relations officer who came to the site for marketing (even though promoting the game's the ultimate thing, and we're ready to support that.).

And I doubt the Rockstars or others were active in forums for their first game in the genre. So see this as a cricket game which's taking it's own time to unfold...

 

[Dutch]

Is it time for a seperate thread for this stuff?

 

[dvst8]

snip

And that's the point. Neither of us know if it is finished or not. We're at an advanced stage where some imagery and video was released a while ago, but that's it. I agree that this isn't necessarily Trickstar territory in that they're sitting on a broken game and not bothering to update anyone on it, but they were still able to give us a ballpark estimate with a massively inferior game. That estimate turned out to be totally wrong, but the important thing to remember is that nobody would have yelled at them for that if they came out and admitted they were wrong. Instead, they let the deadline lapse to silence on their official site/Twitter/Facebook, and eventually someone high up the ladder made an emotional apology video.

If we were given a ballpark that was wrong, then that's a shame but that's sometimes how life works. Trains are late, buses are late, paycheques are late. But at least we know where we stand when we look up at the timetable and see an actual time to look forward to instead of "eh, one could be here anytime between now and tomorrow. Who knows?"

I don't like not knowing where I stand on something, that's just a need for control that is built in to certain types of people. Where being a consumer is related though, that's one of the very least things I should by default expect. Call me an entitled consumer if you want, but all of us live in an economic climate that is more austere than it used to be. We need to be more careful with our money, and I don't see a great deal of sense in investing in a product that I have no guarantee of seeing before I lose interest in wanting it. On top of that, I've been handed failure after failure of games in the cricket genre - the Ashes 2010/11 series were terrible, the old EA games are dated and horrible now, and Ashes 2013 is the worst gaming debacle I've seen since The WarZ. I have limited trust in cricket games right now, and not knowing whether I'll get to play this one tomorrow or September 2014 is unsettling.

With all due respect bro (don't take this as shouting), may I ask you how you're comparing those blah blah *HUGE* companies which've released series-es of games (of the same genre) with a company like BigAnt? This is their first cricket game. As far as I know, no other cricket game making company interacted with us, and took our suggestions seriously.

This is something everyone does in the marketing field, but I've felt that Ross's something more than a public relations officer who came to the site for marketing (even though promoting the game's the ultimate thing, and we're ready to support that.).

And I doubt the Rockstars or others were active in forums for their first game in the genre. So see this as a cricket game which's taking it's own time to unfold...

I'm not putting myself in this list (because I don't use forums and I admittedly didn't contribute to this game either) but the point you made about feedback and sharing of information has been huge where this forum has been concerned. I've read archived threads on this and seen feedback from various members go all the way up to making its way in to the game. Case in point: career mode. It's now a 'Be a Pro'-style format, and it wasn't before. I've seen handfuls of suggestions like this turn in to actual game features. Ross is as much here for his benefit as he is for ours, because the important base-level point of all of this is that he needs to earn money as we do. I've seen figures of how much some titles cost to send to market - Ross understands very well that he needs to make a very good game as his 'introduction' to this genre or Big Ant will stay at the bottom instead of climbing up.

Indeed, the difference between EA and Big Ant is night and day. How can BA become an AAA company? Brand loyalty, great content, and transparency with their customers.

 

[whiteninness]

And that's the point. Neither of us know if it is finished or not. We're at an advanced stage where some imagery and video was released a while ago, but that's it. I agree that this isn't necessarily Trickstar territory in that they're sitting on a broken game and not bothering to update anyone on it, but they were still able to give us a ballpark estimate with a massively inferior game. That estimate turned out to be totally wrong, but the important thing to remember is that nobody would have yelled at them for that if they came out and admitted they were wrong. Instead, they let the deadline lapse to silence on their official site/Twitter/Facebook, and eventually someone high up the ladder made an emotional apology video.

If we were given a ballpark that was wrong, then that's a shame but that's sometimes how life works. Trains are late, buses are late, paycheques are late. But at least we know where we stand when we look up at the timetable and see an actual time to look forward to instead of "eh, one could be here anytime between now and tomorrow. Who knows?"

I don't like not knowing where I stand on something, that's just a need for control that is built in to certain types of people. Where being a consumer is related though, that's one of the very least things I should by default expect.

We were given a ball park though, that being before November. It has been said many times that the game will release before Ashes 2013, which will release in November at the earliest.

That brings me to another factor that I haven't previously mentioned, being the false advertising coming out of the Ashes camp. Everyone here knows which game will likely end up better but the general public may not and the Ashes brand is still alluring when it sits on a game stand. Also when the head of that company is saying "we aren't telling you the features but we have everything Bradman has and more" that affects how BA release the game, unfortunately.

I want the game as much as anyone but I also want it to be a success so there can be future Bradman games, and if that means waiting a bit longer and being kept in the dark about the release a bit, then I'll cop it.

----------

The game is finished. Whatever will be added will be via a day one patch.

Are we certain of this? Sure, it has all of the features locked in, but is everything in the game 100% finished?

 

[mirajp1]

It's so much of surprise when people become marketing specialists and even better than those experienced ones sitting in companies like Big Ant's.

 

[cricket_online]

What's the release date for DBC14?

----------

It's so much of surprise when people become marketing specialists and even better than those experienced ones sitting in companies like Big Ant's.

TBF some of the folks in here may very well be marketing professionals themselves. Secondly, they are talking from their experience about purchasing and playing video games.

 

[dvst8]

We were given a ball park though, that being before November. It has been said many times that the game will release before Ashes 2013, which will release in November at the earliest.

That brings me to another factor that I haven't previously mentioned, being the false advertising coming out of the Ashes camp. Everyone here knows which game will likely end up better but the general public may not and the Ashes brand is still alluring when it sits on a game stand. Also when the head of that company is saying "we aren't telling you the features but we have everything Bradman has and more" that affects how BA release the game, unfortunately.

I want the game as much as anyone but I also want it to be a success so there can be future Bradman games, and if that means waiting a bit longer and being kept in the dark about the release a bit, then I'll cop it.

I have to be honest, I can't trust that timeframe because I'm not convinced we're ever going to see Ashes 2013. I'm not calling Ross or Big Ant liars, I'm saying that there is a strange dependence that Trickstar and BA have on each other in that neither one seems to be too willing to make the first move. What if Trickstar are bluffing about the ongoing failures of their game to ship, thereby lulling BA in to considering them to not be a threat in the market anymore? Wait for the game to release, gain a full knowledge of it (and all its features) and then clean up with all of those features PLUS the Ashes licence before Christmas? Perhaps that sort of thing is why BA are keeping us in the dark as to a release date, but either way it's not what I want to see (nor am used to really) as a sporadic but loyal game consumer.

TL;DR - I can't trust that ballpark, because I don't really have a reason to given the unique circumstances sorrounding this game and its main competitor.

TBF some of the folks in here may very well be marketing professionals themselves. Secondly, they are talking from their experience about purchasing and playing video games.

Ding ding! Two for two, well played friend.

 

[cricket_online]

Let me contribute my $.02 to the discussion as well...

DBC14 will need to be first to market for the following reasons :-

1. It's been 4 years since we had a cricket game and plenty of people will lap up the first cricket game they get their hands on. And unlike the hardcore cricket gaming fans like PCers, most people will only buy one cricket game not both.

2. If AC13 releases in Nov to coincide with Ashes, DBC14 will not be able to compete with the game unless it comes out first and establishes itself in the market. Majority of folks will go with a game with "Ashes" in the title than DBC14 when Ashes are on.

3. If DBC14 waits for Ashes to get over before being released, it will be next year and frankly lot of people will not go for a PS3/Xbox360 game when next gen consoles and games are already on the market. Plus most casual fans won't shop for new games post Christmas/holiday season.

I am not na?ve enough to think Big Ant and True Blue aren't aware of these factors. They are the ones who have the most to gain or lose financially with the decision and would leave no stone unturned to ensure they time the release perfectly.

P.S. - For folks who are slating Ross for not disclosing the release date, may be he already has a release window targeted but is not disclosing the same publicly so that AC13 team (505 Games & Trickstar) are in the dark and don't get an opportunity to plan a strategy around the same. After all knowing Ross, he would love to muddy the water as much as he can for the AC13 team

 

[dvst8]

Let me contribute my $.02 to the discussion as well...

DBC14 will need to be first to market for the following reasons :-

1. It's been 4 years since we had a cricket game and plenty of people will lap up the first cricket game they get their hands on. And unlike the hardcore cricket gaming fans like PCers, most people will only buy one cricket game not both.

2. If AC13 releases in Nov to coincide with Ashes, DBC14 will not be able to compete with the game unless it comes out first and establishes itself in the market. Majority of folks will go with a game with "Ashes" in the title than DBC14 when Ashes are on.

3. If DBC14 waits for Ashes to get over before being released, it will be next year and frankly lot of people will not go for a PS3/Xbox360 game when next gen consoles and games are already on the market. Plus most casual fans won't shop for new games post Christmas/holiday season.

I am not na?ve enough to think Big Ant and True Blue aren't aware of these factors. They are the ones who have the most to gain or lose financially with the decision and would leave no stone unturned to ensure they time the release perfectly.

P.S. - For folks who are slating Ross for not disclosing the release date, may be he already has a release window targeted but is not disclosing the same publicly so that AC13 team (505 Games & Trickstar) are in the dark and don't get an opportunity to plan a strategy around the same. After all knowing Ross, he would love to muddy the water as much as he can for the AC13 team

I agree wholly with everything you said, and accept (regrettably) that it probably sounds as if I'm 'slating' him. I knew that when I started, and wouldn't go back and change it because this is what I believe.

I also accept that perhaps Ross hasn't made that decision by choice, and is playing a game of poker with Trickstar so keeping his cards close to spite his own intentions. If that's actually the case, then here's an open letter to Ross:

Make your own game, don't worry about what they're doing. When you do that, you lose the single-minded self-belief that adds the 'spark' to a great game. People will be able to make their own decision on which game to go for eventually (if/when both games are out) and if yours is better, then you'll have won. I can't help but feel that if you are looking over your shoulder every couple of steps, then you'll trip over something you haven't even seen yet in front of you because you were too busy worrying about the guy wheezing behind you, shuffling desperately to catch up.

And if they are waiting for you to release so that they can pillage your game and stick the Ashes licence on it? Make your intellectual property watertight and absolutely batter them in a court of law.

 

[cricket_online]

If that's actually the case, then here's an open letter to Ross:

Make your own game, don't worry about what they're doing. When you do that, you lose the single-minded self-belief that adds the 'spark' to a great game. People will be able to make their own decision on which game to go for eventually (if/when both games are out) and if yours is better, then you'll have won. I can't help but feel that if you are looking over your shoulder every couple of steps, then you'll trip over something you haven't even seen yet in front of you because you were too busy worrying about the guy wheezing behind you, shuffling desperately to catch up.

And if they are waiting for you to release so that they can pillage your game and stick the Ashes licence on it? Make your intellectual property watertight and absolutely batter them in a court of law.

If I may, in cricketing parlance you are asking Ross to "stick to the basics" and "focus on his strengths than the opponent's weakness"

Can't disagree with that at all and I'm sure the great man on the cover of DBC14 would agree as well

 

[Lionden]

Release date is going to be announced on 27th of August




Warning: don't take my word for it cuz I am just saying
All kidding aside though, isn't there a possibility as it's Sir Don Bradman's birthday?

 

[blockerdave]

I am a little uneasy in all fairness.

yes ross has been very active here, and reasonably transparent within the various limitations he has either corporately or as part of a general marketing strategy. BUT he has said a while back the game is finished, and the console versions are locked down, and if that is true I fail to see what withholding a release date gains.

and frankly, I get concerned when Ross keeps sniping at AC or saying how their release date affects DBC because it suggests his confidence in DBC is not maybe as high as some of his other posts imply. Otherwise, the AC delay would have been the best thing to have happened apart from getting the Bradman license. once the dust had settled on the AC delay, DBC should have given a clear release date, even if they didn't want to give away too many features at that point. just a message saying "hey, we have a great cricket game, it has the Bradman license and it will be out on 27 August, Bradman's birthday" and then actually making that date, would have blown AC right out the water. It's too late for them to meaningfully copy anything (if Ross's timeframes for submissions etc. are correct), and gives gamers 2.5 months to have DBC established as THE cricketing game. it also ensures any reviews of AC when that is eventually release will be compared to DBC. That they didn't do that genuinely concerns me a little, and I mean that as no disrespect to or slight on Ross.

I've been reading this forum for a couple of months as a guest, though only signed up and started posting in the last couple of weeks. how some of you have been so patient since OCTOBER 2012 genuinely astounds me. you're better men than me !

 

[sahilnatu]

Make your own game, don't worry about what they're doing. When you do that, you lose the single-minded self-belief that adds the 'spark' to a great game. People will be able to make their own decision on which game to go for eventually (if/when both games are out) and if yours is better, then you'll have won. I can't help but feel that if you are looking over your shoulder every couple of steps, then you'll trip over something you haven't even seen yet in front of you because you were too busy worrying about the guy wheezing behind you, shuffling desperately to catch up.

That bit reminded me of the Moral Education periods we had when I was a 4th grader.

Ross means business, mate. He needs to rope in every possible potential customer he possibly can, and he'll leave no stone unturned in doing that, even if that means not giving AC13 any chance to capitalize on the market. Low sales have probably doomed the past cricket franchises, you don't want history to repeat itself, do you?

And yeah, you talk of transparency? Seriously? When the release date hasn't been declared at all officially, how could you ask for one? Okay, now what if I asked EA to give me a release date for say FIFA 18? That's plain stupidity. Lack of transparency is when you are given a release date and then it is postponed at the last minute without much clarification.

For a change, you, in spite of whining about no release date and blah blah blah, sounded like a genuine person to me (there are too many attention seekers out there who love getting a 2-minute fame), but the points you made (the ones I talked about above) seemed pretty flawed.

Edit: PS: Spare me Dutch, let this post stand at least till dvst8 reads it, no matter how out of context (of this thread) it is!

 

[las_faiz]

To cope it all up, Trickster's haven't been the most honest or transparent company from their track record. They know that BAC14 offer's a lot more then what they have offered. Their feature list has already been out when they were taking pre-order's. As indicated by MF's scrambled posts, they are still working to get the core game working and most they can do in that time frame is get the DLC they had announced to be included within the game itself

What MF is doing is pretty basic marketing tactic "Our product is better then the competitor's". In fact when pressed he had kinda vaguely in his own way back tracked from his full of BAC features post

Also, having a release day still means waiting patiently and those dates cannot be set in stones and can be missed. What BAC is doing different is waiting for a firm date which can be announced and wont be missed

Personally I am a hardcore fan for cricket and have bought most cricket games (some that should never be paid for by anyone). But that doesn't mean I won't play other games as well. There is GTAV and other's coming next month which should keep anyone busy for months. Other thing I have learned is to not keep hopes too high for a cricket game. Ross has been incredible here but cricket games in general have not been great for more then a decade.