Big Ant have the poker face on waiting to see if 505/Trickstar meet their deadlines for a November release. If not they sneak in and hoover up the Ashes slot and considerably higher profits. If it looks like AC13 is on course for November, Big Ant/Tru Blu have a track record of being able to market and release in 3 weeks and should then be able to release before AC13 beating them to market
This is my assessment as well. And, IMHO, it makes complete sense. Long post warning.
For those suggesting that AC13's release date shouldn't impact DBC14's, or that they don't understand why, that seems naive. If the changed/changing circumstances around AC13's release date offer Big Ant a challenge, or what I think Ross has hinted at - an opportunity, it makes sense to react accordingly.
To those suggesting game completeness related issues, please keep in mind the Bradman Trust's endorsement, Tru Blu signing on as Publisher (both of which happened after the Ashes 13 fiasco, so bet your ass the due diligence would have been elevated a notch), evidence of QA resources joining the team recently, an "official" the-game-is-coming announcement, a relatively steady stream of content updates via Cricket Academy and a fairly community oriented sharing of in-game content (members in screenies, videos; a release later this week in response to another request). Where's the evidence of a lack of information and/or a possible "delay" being caused due to the game not being ready.
Finally, points related to diffidence or a desire to not go up against AC13 also I do not get. In fact, I have the exact opposite take. The strategy that works best for DBC14 is, simply put, be on the shelves with AC13. And we've all come to know Ross as confident, certainly, perhaps even a bit cocky at times.
Ross can't control if or when AC13 releases. He can, and should, fine tune his plans to maximize the game's sales. If AC13 releases per schedule, just by timing DBC14's release right, he gets to augment his/TruBlu's marketing efforts with 505's (at least in the Australian market); and on their dime, offer customers in-store a choice between a much delayed game that licenses a series now associated with one of their worst defeats in history, versus a game with the greatest Australian ambassador on the front and a solid set of features at the back. You choose.
In the other scenario, Ashes delays or cancels, and that provides Big Ant a tremendous PR opportunity and the ability to convert negative press for Trickstar/505 into meaningful eyeballs, exposure and (potentially) sales for DBC14. Not wishing this upon anyone, just pointing out the realities of business. If this happens, it is an opportunity Big Ant would be remiss to let go.
I am as eager as everyone on here to get the game in my hands; as eager to know when it is releasing. I can't tell you what to do, but I for one am trying not to be unreasonable, as a few things are worth keeping in mind. A) A release date has not been given, so there is no delay. B) A release timeframe has only been hinted at and any adjustments therein said to amount to a matter of weeks. C) For an indie developer where the sales of a few hundred thousand units here and there is not pocket change, releasing a game that doesn't exactly have the world's greatest consumer base, the impact of competitive positioning and release timing perhaps has more weight than some of you are willing to grant.
[/end longest post in a while]
On a complete tangent, Ross - does your game feature team celebrations after winning an important series, including the ability to piss on the pitch?
Oh wait, wrong game, sorry.
!
se date.
