Chapter 10 weekly status report (10)

Story and quality overall is amazing!

Funny to read your comments. On the one hand, I do not understand your concerns, on the other I think "I am far worse than they are!" :D . I don't see how releasing the chapter in two parts could hurt anybody, because it simply means that this part is released some weeks or months earlier, but the second part will still be on time. And because she does not always implement multiple POV-switches, it will not be that bad. On the other hand, I fully understand that this will hinder your memory of previous decisions. Also, playing part one will feel like a cliff-hanger and playing part two will make you feel that you already forgot a lot of the former part. BUT that is why I don't like to play before the WHOLE game it is released completely. In a perfect world, I would forget about the game until it is finalized or Eva would release a chapter every two days. But since the world is not perfect and I am not patient enough, I still play each chapter - even if I try not to play all of the paths, but only one or two of them. I reserve the rest of the possible paths for when ORS is done so that I still save the possibilitiy to discover some of it in one piece. In my opinion, the only downside of releasing the chapter splitted up is that Eva will lack the possibility to fine-tune the first part when working on the second part. But that is all, I think. She even could implement several POV-switches in a splitted release schema: She could simply make the brake after the second switch and release the third and fourth POV-part as the second part. So why the uprising here ;) ?

I was skeptical at first, but after thinking about it I think it's a good idea. From the earlier status reports I gather that the plan always was to just have one POV switch in this chapter (just like the previous one), so it doesn't sound like it will affect the structure of the chapter in any way. Or your work on it for that matter, except having to do some of the polishing a bit earlier. It's been a long time since the last new chapter, so personally I'm looking a lot forward to getting to play it, even though it involves a compromise for all parts.

I don't think it's bad to release one half -- it could be interesting. See one character's life and then the next month or whenever see the other character's life. And, it can make for more timely releases.

A release of Ian's patch asap is the best news on this project for quite some time, been a rough year thus far. All who's willing to wait for the "complete" patch can do so at their leisure, no problem. No one would consider forcing you to play it before you want to. No need for the rest of us to suffer because you feel the need to wait.

Also, who suggested this? I don't see their opinion being represented in the responses here.

I'd rather wait for the completed update. You're a bit too much of a perfectionist Eva which has been a blessing and a curse. I think we're all aware it'll take a week or more just to get Lena's part. I rather have the whole update ready to go that way no one is missing out on anything.

Can't wait for the new update! Thank you for doing this.

I would rather wait for both

I would prefer to wait and have both, switching between characters during an episode is a nice way to split the story, and you get to see things from the other persons point of view

The game, its characters, and story are all of such high quality that I really don't mind waiting for the completed chapter. Ian and Lena's stories compliment each other so well that to have one without the other would feel.......off. Plus there was a great deal of interesting turns in the previous chapter with Lena: Seymore's true nature and intentions revealed, Lena's choice whether go along with it or not, her finally being official with Ian (at least in my playthrough), the on-going issue with Axel, that I would want to see fully fleshed out and combined with Ian's story as usual. All that to say, take your time. Quality shouldn't be rushed.

I don't know, there was a poll or not, but I really don't find a problem in waiting and everything is published according to how Eva planned it, so if my vote is of any use, there it is

It's a tough problem. I agree with the consensus here being to hold off and combine the two. But on the other hand, the last full release was on April 13th, and (if i'm not mistaken) alphas and betas for it before that. That's 3 months+ passed by now. And part 1 is still not quite done yet. Assume that Lena's part will require roughly the same amount of dev time, and even working with little or no significant breaks, that's another 3+ months. Would everyone be OK with that? And as Eva said in the post, she's also concerned with the business aspects of this decision as well. What effect would this release schedule have on that? Like i said, a tough spot.

I think its worth trying for this chapter.

I agree with what everyone else has already said: Wait and release the full chapter once both halves are finished.

I think its worth trying for at least one chapter, to see if it works.

I will say with all humility that you (Eva), really do, and create what will really make you happy or at least what you will most be satisfied with. I fear that if you do not, you will come to resent what you created and that will in turn result in you not doing this for long. Once you stop enjoying creating your art and game, that will be the beginning of the end. I for one will just wait for both parts if you release the two storylines separately. I beg you to please first always make sure you are relatively okay and happy. Then balance your satisfaction with your game with the expectations of your fans. Not to rant on, but I believe this is why RR Martins GOT was so good. He wrote what he liked not what he thought people will like. Sorry again if this is preachy lol. Please take care of yourself and your work.

I did fear this is how it would go when it was announced this would be a two protagonist game. Things would grow too complex and compromises would have to be made. Whether it be release type and schedule changes like this or general scaling back of content. Or both. And the ultimate result being neither protagonist's story feeling as complete and developed as it might have. A bummer for someone like me who has zero interest in Ian's story. (though if it had to be one, i guess Lena's story might've been the more likely to be cut? so maybe i've been lucky) ah well. Hopefully development continues to go well. But i'm not sure it's something i'll personally continue supporting.

I'm with everyone else. I'd rather blend the two sequences (Lena and Ian) together and switch between the two like all the other chapters... it would feel really weird to have it play out differently in the last chapter... I think if you put up a vote you'd find most people think it is worth waiting a bit longer for the additional content

Don't split the chapter. Just release it when it's ready.

I would prefer if you released the complete chapter as well. I don‘t mind waiting a couple more weeks.

Wait, wait a minute, how about a vote? 30% of the time it works every time.

Not a fan of the idea. Only having one side of the story creates unnecessary suspense. I vote no on unnecessary suspense.

I dont think that splinting the chapter into 2 release is a good idea. IMO, Ian and Lena pov are complementary and should be played in one sitting. I'd rather wait a few months and have a full release, than have a half one in the next weeks.

I agree with Brother Bethor about dividing up the chapters, I think it's a mistake. I really, really, hope you will change your mind.

To be completely honest I disagree with dividing the chapter in half but it is your decision to make.