MID Discussion, Release Date, Unity Etc Part 2

[DPL_93]

Same Discussion as before try to keep things on Topic,

Previous Thread if anyone wants to read.

http://community.herinteractive.com/showthread.php?1317144-MID-Discussion-Release-Date-Unity-Etc

[actress19]

Now it seems we can't discuss a vast majority of topics related to the company. Disappointing. I'm guessing HeR got tired of us venting our frustrations?

As far as MID goes, I remain doubtful that we will get an update before 2017. HeR said on their Facebook page that MID updates were forthcoming, but they've been saying "stay tuned" for months now and all we've gotten is concept art after over a year since the August letter. I'm also fully expecting this "update" to just tell us that MID has been further delayed in favor of another project, probably C&C related.

This will probably be my last post in a while. Since much of our discussion has been squelched, I don't have much else to add. I've said my piece about MID. Maybe I'll care enough to check back in a few months, maybe not. It's been a great run you guys.

[iLoVeNaNcYDrEw]

Now it seems we can't discuss a vast majority of topics related to the company. Disappointing. I'm guessing HeR got tired of us venting our frustrations?

As far as MID goes, I remain doubtful that we will get an update before 2017. HeR said on their Facebook page that MID updates were forthcoming, but they've been saying "stay tuned" for months now and all we've gotten is concept art after over a year since the August letter. I'm also fully expecting this "update" to just tell us that MID has been further delayed in favor of another project, probably C&C related.

This will probably be my last post in a while. Since much of our discussion has been squelched, I don't have much else to add. I've said my piece about MID. Maybe I'll care enough to check back in a few months, maybe not. It's been a great run you guys.

I'm with you. I am starting to lose interest in all of this, and remembered why I only barely perused the boards before. I doubt MID will be out this year at all. I'm outta here for now. Hope I'm wrong, but doubt that I am.

[paperstreet]

Now it seems we can't discuss a vast majority of topics related to the company. Disappointing. I'm guessing HeR got tired of us venting our frustrations?

As far as MID goes, I remain doubtful that we will get an update before 2017. HeR said on their Facebook page that MID updates were forthcoming, but they've been saying "stay tuned" for months now and all we've gotten is concept art after over a year since the August letter. I'm also fully expecting this "update" to just tell us that MID has been further delayed in favor of another project, probably C&C related.

This will probably be my last post in a while. Since much of our discussion has been squelched, I don't have much else to add. I've said my piece about MID. Maybe I'll care enough to check back in a few months, maybe not. It's been a great run you guys.

Feel exactly the same. Will unsub from FB too. I hope things turn around, and may check back when the game comes out, but in the meantime there are so many real things in the world to be interested in, that spending this much time on a hypothetical game that may not even come out is just silly on my part.

I also don't like how they have changed ND into Barbie, and am afraid they will do that for the adventure games as well. I prefer to have Nancy from the books, 70s TV show and early games preserved in my mind untainted.

Someone mentioned Harry Potter, how after the series ended, people found other things to do, and even when they came out with other Harry Potter stuff later, it wasn't really a big deal anymore and most people had moved on.

Thanks to everyone for the great discussions!

[october]

I have bought and played every HeR Nancy Drew game in the main series. I loved the games and really appreciate the community that the company has supported with this website. And I do feel like they have been taking-it-on-the-chin on the board here. Yes, I was disappointed that MID has been delayed, but I understand that things happen and everything cannot always proceed exactly has planned. But I really feel rather betrayed by the MID character art release over the past month or so building up to what? : "Oh here's our Codes and Clues TV show!" ?! I have the feeling that I have been strung along. And it is not a very good feeling.

[Beccadrew]

I was going to respond to getaclue912's post #1319 on the old thread, but it was shut down. Hopefully this is an appropriate enough way to reference it because it's far too long for me to copy and paste into this. I was just going to tell them "Thank you, and I agree."

I'm really optimistic for MID and the future games in the adventure series. I know that a lot of posters have mentioned that we, themselves included, are over speculating, trying to draw conclusions from nothing, over analyzing, and even the term "angry mob" was used. It really reminded me of the Salem trials, and got me so excited for when MID does come out. It's sometimes difficult to imagine how the witch trials could have happened, but it's actually really easy for a group to take on a mob mentality when paired with hysteria. Most speculate Mei is Deidre's friend that is being accused of witchcraft, and I know a lot of people have a hard time believing that in this day and age, someone could actually be accused of witchcraft or scare someone just because they have albanism. Not that it is nearly on the same level, but I think this help shows how easy it is for one person to draw a conclusion, and then everyone else starts theorizing around the first theory, treating it as fact. I can see Nancy confronting someone in MID about halfway through the game with making the first witch accusation because of jealousy. Like it was just a comment they through out while angry, and then others ran with it and even blamed things on the whole "witch" thing, like a kitchen fire the competitive girl accidently started. I'm probably way off, and I hope so, because I want to be surprised lol.

[Polar50011]

I have bought and played every HeR Nancy Drew game in the main series. I loved the games and really appreciate the community that the company has supported with this website. And I do feel like they have been taking-it-on-the-chin on the board here. Yes, I was disappointed that MID has been delayed, but I understand that things happen and everything cannot always proceed exactly has planned. But I really feel rather betrayed by the MID character art release over the past month or so building up to what? : "Oh here's our Codes and Clues TV show!" ?! I have the feeling that I have been strung along. And it is not a very good feeling.

I honestly think October that they needed to fill time with something. Her interactive is aware that everyone is waiting for this game and they are at a delay (when the usual rate is 2 games per year) at this point so they were at a time crunch to maybe put something out. I am 100 percent with you when you said that you are happy that there are message boards like this because i feel that it gives the people the opportunity to vent. I myself check the website once a month just for hopes that maybe just maybe the game has mysteriously came out. All i have to say is that it better be worth it.

[secretsleuth89]

I watched the interview that LJ had with a fan, and there was some discussion about MID.

She said the design team were working hard on getting used to using Unity and figuring about the best ways to put the different elements we love about the Nancy Drew games into it. They want to make it as streamlined as possible, instead of putting something that 'looks cool' just for the sake of it.

I'm sure MID will be awesome on Unity when it comes out, so let's keep supporting Her Interactive!

[nancyfan321]

I kinda think that HER simply bit off more than it could chew by switching game engines. I mean, switching game engines is no small task and I'm sure the transition from point-and-click to 360 degree free movement is a very difficult one. Especially since they're a fairly small company who has historically only released point-and-click games, or variations of point-and-click. So I guess hats off to HER for stepping out of their comfort zone.

So I do understand why it's taking so long to make the game. And I feel like the longer it takes, the higher the expectations for the game are, and the more pressure fans put on HER. I mean, many fans were already up in arms over the announcement of the switch to Unity, so now HER has to deliver a perfect game that will win those fans over, as well as appease those of us who have been waiting 2 years for a new game. Those are some pretty high stakes!

That being said, it would obviously be nice if we were kept in the loop. If they are struggling to make things work with the new game engine, they should just come out and say it; I know that our loyal fan base would be more than understanding. Communication is key to gaining and keeping loyal fans! Instead, we're seeing a growing rift between the company and the fans, which is never a good sign.

I just hope that HER didn't get overwhelmed with this new game and throw in the towel. And the longer we wait, the less they communicate with us, the more things are starting to look that way.

[tsukiakari]

I'm sorry, I'm still kinda confused. They already fired people like Tim Burke, who lists Unity as a skill on his resume...unless they hired a bunch of new people who didn't know how to use Unity, why would it be difficult to get used to it? From all that I've read about it, it's one of the easier to use game engines, one that's even available for amateur designers.

Plus, I totally understand the struggle of moving the old-fashioned gameplay over to something with 360-degree movement, but jeez. Didn't they plan it at all before actually trying to implement it? Like I mean, I wouldn't expect them to be done with it by now, but it sounds like they don't even have a plan on how to implement it yet. Maybe I'm just expecting things to go too quickly, but this is what happens when there are zero updates - I'm coming up with my own theories on how fast or slow things should be happening because I've got no info to go on

My confusion aside, it's nice to hear that they're trying to incorporate the original game elements fluidly. Hopefully, however long it takes, it works out well.

[LuvHeart]

I think I'm speaking for a lot of people when I say that the lack of communication is the biggest issue with this switchover to the Unity platform. I think if they could update us every so often about the progress, a lot of the backlash would go away. I feel like we're a very understanding community, but it's hard to understand when none of us know what's truly going on, which is leading to all of these rumors and theories that nobody can confirm or deny. And the longer they take to release the game, the higher the expectations will be for most people. This game is important for HeR as it could possibly make or break the company!

I guess I'm just here hoping that we can get some kind of update relatively soon, whether it is good or bad. I think many of us loyal fans would love any kind of update and would be understanding. The lack of communication is really the worst part of this whole ordeal. I am still just as excited about this game as I always have been, and I fully intend on buying it when it comes out. I'm just really hoping HeR will become better about communicating how well they are doing, as they have always been so clear with us.

[nancycluedrew]

I'm sorry, I'm still kinda confused. They already fired people like Tim Burke, who lists Unity as a skill on his resume...unless they hired a bunch of new people who didn't know how to use Unity, why would it be difficult to get used to it? From all that I've read about it, it's one of the easier to use game engines, one that's even available for amateur designers.

This is what I'm struggling with. If HER laid off everyone, which they did, and the hired new people who knew how to use unity, then where's the struggle? Wouldn't the new people know how to create a game in unity, and be able to get a game out fairly quickly? I made the assumption that HER hired or has outsourced to people who know how to unity, and that is one of my sticking points: If that is the case (and frankly, it should be. I would hope HER hired people who know how to create a game in unity), why is it taking so long? Why are they unable to share information with us?

At this point, it's just... I don't even know. But I'm out. HER has not been forthcoming at all, and at this point, why should I, a long-time fan, hang out, hoping for breadcrumbs for details?

[secretsleuth89]

This is what I'm struggling with. If HER laid off everyone, which they did, and the hired new people who knew how to use unity, then where's the struggle? Wouldn't the new people know how to create a game in unity, and be able to get a game out fairly quickly? I made the assumption that HER hired or has outsourced to people who know how to unity, and that is one of my sticking points: If that is the case (and frankly, it should be. I would hope HER hired people who know how to create a game in unity), why is it taking so long? Why are they unable to share information with us?

At this point, it's just... I don't even know. But I'm out. HER has not been forthcoming at all, and at this point, why should I, a long-time fan, hang out, hoping for breadcrumbs for details?

From what LJ said, they have 25 staff working at Her Interactive. I'm not sure if that's the standard number, as they are a small company. They're getting something non-MID related out in early October, and then hopefully they'll turn their attention back to MID.

[tsukiakari]

From what LJ said, they have 25 staff working at Her Interactive. I'm not sure if that's the standard number, as they are a small company.

Ah, this is interesting! Maybe it means things aren't totally outsourced as people have been saying I think 25 is about the normal number of staff for the company, judging by past photos and credits and such.

They're getting something non-MID related out in early October, and then hopefully they'll turn their attention back to MID.

Thanks for this update too, by the way. I had decided to skip the interview since it was so long, so I appreciate hearing about any info from it! I'm sure whatever this is, it's probably related to C&C, but I'm interested in finding out the details anyway.

[phoenix star]

lol watch them release another Codes and Clues