Multiplat AFL 23: Launch Thread (Xbox release date TBC)

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

STATE OF PLAY:

• The game is out for Steam and PlayStation. There have been issues with Xbox release and it is unclear when the game will be available.
• Big Ant are aware that there are playability issues & bugs at present.
• Content has been temporarily removed from the game to identify where the issues lie.
• This content will be re-introduced via patches in the coming days.
• Big Ant have released a summary of what is to be reintroduced, which can be seen below.

Spoiler: Features to be added

Spoiler: MOST RECENT PATCH NOTES

Issues & constructive criticism are best communicated to: support.bigant.com

Michaels Twitch video with QA from Ross(BigAntStudios) from 31:40

 

[UAWM]

Just got a coast to coast achievement for winning a center clearance and torping it lol

 

[DasItMayne]

Will be stoked if that awkward pause on handball receives is fixed. Oh and actual marking contests would be nice.

 

[Quivorir]

By what, deleting the grandstand

Why not just phase it out if its in view of the camera? Like the goal posts? We can't see the grandstand from that camera angle so just **** it off whilst its not being looked at.

 

[ice444]

In this case you have three choices;

1. Let the camera clip through a grandstand (obscuring the field).
2. Change the camera in and out/up down (disorienting).
3. Move the camera to the other wing.

I'm happy to take on board alternatives.

When changing the camera does the game offer a preview or do you have to select it and then save?

 

[brendiss]

I wonder how high the sign off process goes? Does Ross himself have to sign off on release?

Well if you know anything about software development, there is a lot of sign-offs. The one that little care is put in is code sign-offs, but that is why a lot of effort is put into sign-offs in user testing.

I think it's definitely that someone incorrectly sent through the wrong version control branch for the patch, this is something that doesn't go through a sign-off from Big Ant maybe through Microsoft/Sony/Steam.

I think the way game development works these days is when a game gets closer to release it must be at a release state in the main version control branch - this is the branch that Big Ant would have been testing on and signed off the gameplay on, it is then sent and published. During this time the developers can work on the game and put it's updates onto the main branch. A day or so before the official release, the main branch (now updated - post published version) is then pushed for the patches. But if the person uploading the patches mistakingly selects another version control branch and pushes that for the patch, the patch isn't more of a patch but a single persons or a small teams development work. It's quite easy to make this mistake, it helps to be aware of the situation - e.g. checking which version control branch you are on when you start your development work in the morning.

 

[OhDustinMartin]

Yeah do not change the camera.
Happy to suspend my disbelief so I can get a nice view of a grandstand.
Punt Road Oval for instance - would rather have the Jack Dyer Stand in the background than the actual Punt Road.

 

[jdoggdrool]

So rather than fix that you just chuck the camera on the wrong side?

I reckon you'd look for just about anything to be negative about at this point.

 

[Pickitt]

When changing the camera does the game offer a preview or do you have to select it and then save?

No

 

[RayceHawk53]

ATM we're pulling content from the original zero day patch and putting it into today's patch for all platforms, with Steam getting it first. We will determine what gets in for today by around 2pm and I'll let you know what's coming, along with the full road map.

We get crash reports here and are fixing them as they are found/replicated on our dev kits.

Thank you for the update, it’s hugely appreciated by all of us. It would be great to just get the gameplay sorted and to the best possible standard going into the weekend, and getting the crashes before/in/after the match sorted, incredibly frustrating to not be able to start a match, and upon being able to do so, having it crash mid game. Handballs, tackles, set shots, interchange are vitally important, would be nice to see either season or manager mode playable for something that people can get their teeth sunk into over the weekend. Also having issues signing a second controller in for multiplayer, had to open ‘Select Sides’ in game to get it working. Keep working guys, it’s on the right track.

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Why not just phase it out if its in view of the camera? Like the goal posts? We can't see the grandstand from that camera angle so just * it off whilst its not being looked at.

They should only deal with cameras on a different side, after they fix all the broken gameplay mechanics.

 

[palmomagpie]

In this case you have three choices;

1. Let the camera clip through a grandstand (obscuring the field).
2. Change the camera in and out/up down (disorienting).
3. Move the camera to the other wing.

I'm happy to take on board alternatives.

Is there a reason it works for some and not the others? Eg. TIO Stadium is the right way, with the camera in the stands and the scoreboard in the background - but TIO Traeger Park is opposite side with a similar grandstand layout. Norwood Oval is also opposite side but has a tree blocking some of the camera. It's not the end of the world as the stadiums look beautiful and LOW on the list of priorities right now

 

[Quivorir]

I reckon you'd look for just about anything to be negative about at this point.

There is a lot of negative mate. It's hard not to see it. I've commented on what is good too.

 

[OhDustinMartin]

FWIW I think this game will eventually be good.

My worry is that the reputational damage and group shitting-on has already left it and the developer dead in the water.

 

[GoldbergsGold]

FWIW I think this game will eventually be good.

My worry is that the reputational damage and group shitting-on has already left it and the developer dead in the water.

I wonder how long it'd take. I'm hoping things like the tank control like movements are not by design but an error.

 

[cheesepizza69]

Hey Big Ant it would be nice if opening team walkout anthems and winning team anthems are a little longer please? It'll just bring more hype and excitment

 

[RayceHawk53]

Good to know we have a roadmap coming later, will at least stop the screaming asking when things are coming into the game

The screaming is warranted when the communication was constant and fluent from the devs right up until release. I understand they’re working hard but keep people informed and the constant moaning will begin to slow

 

[YahBoyJones]

ATM we're pulling content from the original zero day patch and putting it into today's patch for all platforms, with Steam getting it first. We will determine what gets in for today by around 2pm and I'll let you know what's coming, along with the full road map.

We get crash reports here and are fixing them as they are found/replicated on our dev kits.

Thankyou for the transparency and communication, looking forward to playing (havent played since inital launch without any patches)

 

[brendiss]

If this is what happened then it's likely a process issue not a person issue. When a mistake is that high risk then people shouldn't be able to make it. There should be safeguards in place to limit the ability to make the mistake or the blast radius when you make it.

That's the thing about software development. A lot of documentation and rules are available to be seen and followed. Very rarely is it actually followed, developers just work and hardly care much about documentation. Ask any developer to write documentation or tests, about 65-85% of them will roll their eyes, sigh and say "Fine!"

 

[droninglocust]

You don’t need to be a w***er over it, it’s a game mate calm down.

I know, I'm just joking. Sorry just being troll. I actually like the game and have been playing it heaps flaws and all. Actually had a nicely competitive game this morning.

 

[DenieD]

Is the game fixed yet?

 

[JyeDye]

Haters absolutely feasting in here

You love to see it

 

[Pickitt]

Is the game fixed yet?

relatively

 

[DTLSchulzy16]

In this case you have three choices;

1. Let the camera clip through a grandstand (obscuring the field).
2. Change the camera in and out/up down (disorienting).
3. Move the camera to the other wing.

I'm happy to take on board alternatives.

Find me any other game with option 3 being the result and I’ll agree. Yeah let’s kick to the Hill end at Adelaide oval.. oh that’s right of screen

 

[Pickitt]

Haters absolutely feasting in here

You love to see it

sign them all to the furies

 

[stkilda7894]

In this case you have three choices;

1. Let the camera clip through a grandstand (obscuring the field).
2. Change the camera in and out/up down (disorienting).
3. Move the camera to the other wing.

I'm happy to take on board alternatives.

so you could make it work for live 1, WW made it work for 3 games, but it can't work in 2023?