Kenshi and its development time

[Botcher]

So, I've been lurking around the Steam community forums and there's a slowly developing controversy over Kenshi's development time. Some are claiming it's been in constant development for 8 years, others are saying 5 - 7. I've just assumed it had been in a long idea phase and only within the past four years has actually started being coded and created as a game and not an engine.

I've searched the main site and the forums, and I haven't found a response from Chris that confirms the actual development time. The reason this is relevant and matters, is that people are using the apparent "long 8 year development time" as a reason to not support the game out of fear of abandon-ware and that it shows its "lack of progress".

Anyway, can anyone, or even Chris himself confirm the actual time Kenshi's been in full-swing development?

[Captain Deathbeard]

I don't really remember the date or year I started. Its around 6 or 7 years I think. It took a long time to build up the fundamental systems.

It's hardly gonna be abandonware, I'm fulfilling my dream of making my ultimate game, and now I'm making a full-time living from it too. It would be silly to give up my dream and financial future for no reason. Any doubters can just ask the old players about it, they will tell you the game has had regular updates the whole time.

I don't make any claims to speed of completion. But I guarantee that the game will be finished, and I won't stop until it's done right. Unless I die. But its not gonna be finished in 6 months, there's a lot to do.

[Sydious]

Its good to know this wont be completed in 6 month's. Personally, I don't care if it takes another 6-7 yrs of work and updates before its even close to finished. I'll be playing, replaying, modding and re modding the entire time. Really looking forward to the construction aspect being opened up more.

[Blxz]

Any doubters can just ask the old players about it, they will tell you the game has had regular updates the whole time.

This is pretty true. Although 'regular' doesn't mean weekly or often. They have been coming out every 2 months or so. Having said that, updates tend to be huge steps forward. The most recent jump up went from some dudes running around with swords to base construction and item refining chains.

Basically, if you have no problem waiting some time between updates then you will see them in the end. Also, since word of kenshi has been spreading updates have been arriving much more often lately; most likely since he has been able to ditch the day job that was taking his time.

[kouga]

You'll get alot of attention now that it's purchable through steam . The community there got flodded, like 72 threads in just one day...

EDIT: Perhaps a campaign or indie bundle would make a great advertisement to boost the community?

[Cat_Fuzz]

I'm happy that you're taking this approach too. Although now with Steam, it's only a matter of time before more aggressive versions of these threads start to become a regular feature on these forums... look at any current alpha/beta indie in dev at the moment and see the flak they get for not being finished in a similar timeframe to minecraft.

[Captain Deathbeard]

I don't really care about those types, it's done when it's done. Quality and completeness is what matters to me, not deadlines.

[Cat_Fuzz]

I don't really care about those types, it's done when it's done. Quality and completeness is what matters to me, not deadlines.

This is what I wanted to hear.

[nilloc93]

anyone who compares this games dev time to minecraft needs to fix the hole in their head. a company with several people working full time on a far simpler game method would of course be done long before an enormously complex game like Kenshi

[hypekillah]

Maby he will be able to hire some workforce now that more peple have pre bought the game. I really admire his commitment. but i hope for his own and the games sake that he will be able to hire a small team to help him with the development.

[Mattk50]

He's been using extra money from sales and the indiegogo campaign etc to hire artists, and i believe he has a sound engine and sound designer planned. More funds should speed these things up.

im glad to see the massive influx in sales from steam, it really is great advertising when you have a good game.

[JoeNapalm]

anyone who compares this games dev time to minecraft needs to fix the hole in their head. a company with several people working full time on a far simpler game method would of course be done long before an enormously complex game like Kenshi

Not to take away from what Chris_the_Great has accomplished (love the game, so far, man!), but Minecraft and Mount & Blade were both single-man dev shops until they got more funding through alpha sales/Steam.

Chris, take your time and do it right. That's why we paid for an Alpha.

(Next week would be fine! )

-Jn-
Ifriti Sophist

[Nuclear]

I don't make any claims to speed of completion. But I guarantee that the game will be finished, and I won't stop until it's done right. Unless I die. But its not gonna be finished in 6 months, there's a lot to do.

Daikatana could've used a man like you.

[BaldurThor]

I don't really care about those types, it's done when it's done. Quality and completeness is what matters to me, not deadlines.

I seriously wish every Development company out there had this opinion.

Kudos to you, good sir.

[Radtke]

I don't really care about those types, it's done when it's done. Quality and completeness is what matters to me, not deadlines.

Right, I bet it gets annoying when people try to pressure you to release something that isn't completely finished doesn't it.