John Nowacky
Hooded Horse, the publisher of the medieval Steam city-building game Manor Lords, has responded to criticism regarding the game’s early access launch. In a LinkedIn post, CEO Tim Bender disputed claims that Manor Lords is “a case study in the pitfalls of early access development.”
Bender argues against the notion of endless growth and high expectations within the game industry, stating, “this distorted perspective causes so much trouble.” He highlights the game’s impressive sales, reaching two million copies sold in the first three weeks, and a peak player count of 173,000. Furthermore, Manor Lords has received a positive Steam review score of 88% from over 43,000 user responses.
Bender advises the developer to focus on their core vision for the game and not allow external pressures to affect their creative process. He encourages the developer to ignore commenters’ opinions about missed opportunities and to stay committed to the Early Access roadmap, emphasizing the importance of maintaining mental and physical well-being.
Since its launch, developer Slavic Magic, led by Greg Styczeń, has been actively releasing updates and bug fixes. The team actively engages with the community, seeking their input on important decisions. This collaborative approach ensures that players’ needs and preferences are taken into account.
Bender emphasizes the need for the industry to move away from the pressure of constant growth and live-service expectations. He believes that success should not be measured solely by numbers and that developers should prioritize their well-being over the demands of the market.
Overall, Hooded Horse expresses satisfaction with the performance of Manor Lords and urges players and industry professionals alike to support a more sustainable and mindful approach to game development.
Additional facts that are relevant to the topic include:
– Manor Lords is a city-building game set in medieval times, allowing players to construct and manage their own medieval settlement.
– The game features realistic historical elements, including accurate building designs and a focus on strategic gameplay.
– Manor Lords offers a detailed economic system, military management, and the ability to engage in diplomacy with neighboring settlements.
– Developer Slavic Magic is dedicated to providing regular updates and bug fixes to enhance gameplay and address player feedback.
– The Steam review score of 88% suggests that the majority of players have had a positive experience with the game so far.
The most important questions related to the topic are:
1. What are the criticisms of Manor Lords’ early access launch?
2. How has Hooded Horse responded to these criticisms?
3. What is the current state of the game and its player base?
4. How does the developer, Slavic Magic, engage with the community and seek player input?
Key challenges or controversies associated with the topic include:
1. Balancing player expectations during the early access phase, as players may have differing opinions on what features and improvements should be prioritized.
2. Handling the pressure of constant growth and live-service expectations from the game industry.
3. Managing the mental and physical well-being of the development team while responding to feedback and working on updates.
Advantages of Hooded Horse’s approach to criticism and game development:
1. Actively engaging with the community ensures that player feedback is taken into account, leading to a more player-centric experience.
2. Focusing on the core vision of the game allows the developer to stay true to their creative vision and maintain consistency.
3. Prioritizing mental and physical well-being highlights the importance of a healthy work-life balance in the game development industry.
Disadvantages of the approach:
1. Ignoring missed opportunities or potential improvements suggested by players may result in overlooking valuable feedback.
2. Prioritizing mental and physical well-being may slow down the development process, potentially leading to delays in updates or new features.
Related links to the main domain, Hooded Horse:
– Hooded Horse Official Website
– Hooded Horse LinkedIn Page
