Notes on DB's Business Plan and Outlook
Stormagedon
✭✭✭
in The Bridge
A recent post from an employee of DB peaked my curiosity about a couple of things.
The employee was bemoaning the 'spaghetti code' base currently in use and implied that it was at least partially responsible for the myriad problems and mistakes plaguing the game.
My first thought was, "If I had just purchased a game company with antiquated code I would immediately begin a parallel development project to institute a completely modular code base while doing necessary maintenance on the existing code." Such a decision would pay for itself rather rapidly in reduced development costs once the new code went live.
This led me to question exactly what DB's long term plans were.
Looking at STT's page on the Google Play Store it became obvious that something's not right. DB used to at least make a token effort to respond to negative reviews, usually asking the reviewer to contact support to try to resolve their issue(s) if nothing else. That effort appears to have ended completely.
I didn't see a single such response from this year.
I also looked at the @STTimelines twitter feed and again found no recent meaningful activity attempting to solve users' issues.
When combined with the laissez-faire attitude to quality control we are all too familiar with, one conclusion becomes crystal clear.
DB has NO long-term plan for STT, or in fact any of their properties.
They've apparently been acquired by a 'Vulture Capitalist' intent on syphoning whatever profits they can from the company in the short-term while making no long-term investments in its viability.
I will not be giving another cent to DB, and I strongly encourage everyone else to think long and hard about any 'investment' you may consider making for your future enjoyment.
It's very unlikely DB or STT has much of a future.
The employee was bemoaning the 'spaghetti code' base currently in use and implied that it was at least partially responsible for the myriad problems and mistakes plaguing the game.
My first thought was, "If I had just purchased a game company with antiquated code I would immediately begin a parallel development project to institute a completely modular code base while doing necessary maintenance on the existing code." Such a decision would pay for itself rather rapidly in reduced development costs once the new code went live.
This led me to question exactly what DB's long term plans were.
Looking at STT's page on the Google Play Store it became obvious that something's not right. DB used to at least make a token effort to respond to negative reviews, usually asking the reviewer to contact support to try to resolve their issue(s) if nothing else. That effort appears to have ended completely.
I didn't see a single such response from this year.
I also looked at the @STTimelines twitter feed and again found no recent meaningful activity attempting to solve users' issues.
When combined with the laissez-faire attitude to quality control we are all too familiar with, one conclusion becomes crystal clear.
DB has NO long-term plan for STT, or in fact any of their properties.
They've apparently been acquired by a 'Vulture Capitalist' intent on syphoning whatever profits they can from the company in the short-term while making no long-term investments in its viability.
I will not be giving another cent to DB, and I strongly encourage everyone else to think long and hard about any 'investment' you may consider making for your future enjoyment.
It's very unlikely DB or STT has much of a future.
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Comments
Most complex code, such as the kind seem in games, is a delicate nest of spaghetti, is it not?
2) You’re welcome to your opinions and criticisms, but you are not welcome to spread speculation, rumors and misinformation. Specifically insinuating that A) Disruptor Beam was purchased by a VC and that B ) Said VC has nefarious intent. Neither of those are true.
EDIT: And to be clear, it’s not true because no one bought Disruptor Beam. In an unrelated note, there are VC’s with nefarious intent, but they’re staying far away in a futile effort to launch crypto currency ventures.
Civilian, Brand and Marketing
Ex-Disruptor Beam
Which is why developing a modular code base, especially for a game with as many different features as STT, is usually considered a necessity. Is there such a development project going on?
Let's be absolutely clear: By refusing to provide accurate, timely information DB has both invited and encouraged speculation.
In the face of such insistent invitations it would be positively rude not to accept.
It is very noteworthy that you haven't a actually contested ANY of my observations or statements, other than that DB was purchased. I have seen that conveyed numerous times in this forum and this is the first time I've ever seen it refuted.
You haven't, however, contested my conclusions, you've merely deflected.
Here's an error I am pointing out.
"They've apparently been acquired by a 'Vulture Capitalist' intent on syphoning whatever profits they can from the company in the short-term while making no long-term investments in its viability"
As for your other opinions, observations, accusations, you're welcome to them. But I will speak up on factual errors such as the above.
Civilian, Brand and Marketing
Ex-Disruptor Beam
You have never been obliged to give a single cent to DB. The game is FTP if you wish to do so. Many long-term players are.
You want feedback, you get it. And then you complain because it didn't say what you wanted it to. You have literally no idea what DB is getting up to, it is pure speculation.
I've no idea what your intent is, but it looks deliberately malicious and for what reason I cannot fathom. Do you want to ruin the game for people who enjoy it because you don't want to play yourself any more?
Well gee, thanks.
I’m really confused by this. @Black Pebble specifically stated that DB was not purchased by a VC with nefarious intent, and also denied the veracity of what you say is the basis for your claims.
The only thing he neglected to comment on directly was the bit about DB having no long term plans for STT, which probably falls under the bit about speculation, rumors, and misinformation.
Also, given that DB is still producing GOTA, a game that is arguably less popular, and thus probably brings less revenue, with no sign of stopping or slowing down... that would indicate, to me, at the very least, that there’s no reason for them to even think that STT has a limited shelf life...?
I'm not upset at the content of the feedback I've received. I am less than thrilled at the evasiveness and lack of meaningful response occurring.
Whether my conclusions are accurate or not I haven't ruined anything, except perhaps the apparent naivete of a few people.
If you were investing money in a game for your long-term enjoyment wouldn't you want to know if the signs pointed to no long-term future for said game?
The harsh reality is that DB could render this whole conversation moot with a simple statement demonstrating their intent. They've had more then ample opportunities.
They have refused to do so.
Product Owner is a job in a Scrum Team which is a way to manage products in Agile(which DB practices).
There is nothing to do with actual purchase/sale ownership implied by the title.
Here is a description of the Product Owner job.
DB has plenty of problems, but being sold to a corrupt VC is not one of them.
Civilian, Brand and Marketing
Ex-Disruptor Beam