Anyway, here's the thing. Demo 3's v5 patch is like a bajillion years late, but it's actually got TONS of major structural changes, performance improvements, netcode optimizations, bug fixes in the code and maps (every single map has been updated), balance improvements, graphical improvements, and a whole lot of new creatures and stuff to play with. It's definitely a major improvement over Demo 3, enough that calling it a patch alone isn't really proper. Thus, Demo 4.
SIMILARLY, I have completed Maps 16 - 19 now, and Map 20 won't be too far off once some critical code gets made for it. These maps are (believe it or not) a hell of a lot crazier than the first 15, too, and a lot more fun - probably because of the Clusterfucker and the inclusion of the Flare Gun.
Now, I WAS planning to surprise everyone by acting all this time like I was only going to release a v5 patch without new maps and then suddenly throw in four more (16-19) at the last second BECAUSE I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH, but I started looking at some Top-Secret Documents(TM) and noticed that, uh, there's really probably gonna be only around 30-35 maps total. If I were to release Maps 1-19 in a single demo, that'd cover roughly 2/3 of the entire campaign, leaving not a whole lot left to explore. While the last third of the game is by far going to be the best (and probably longest), that's still a LOT to put out there before the final. I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with that.
In addition, Map 19 isn't really a very good endpoint for a demo like Map 15 was. Map 20, though, IS. However, Map 20 is a lot farther from prime-time than Map 19, so if I were to include that, it would require quite a bit more time to polish off Demo 4 and get it released. Including map 20 would also further reduce the amount of new material in the final.
Anyway, there seems to be a few good options here:
- Release Demo 4 with the first 15 maps and all the new improvements. This can be done the soonest (just trying to knock out some netcode issues with weapons and a few other misc. things), and is the most likely course of action
- Release Demo 4 with 19 maps. This is my least favorite option. And if you vote for this or the next choice, you'd better be willing to give me a lot of feedback on the new maps >:E
- Release Demo 4 with 20 maps. This would make a much more satisfying ending to the demo and all, but has the downside of releasing like 2/3 of the game before the final is out. Also would take the longest to complete
- Don't release Demo 4 or any kind of a patch. Demo 3 is fine as-is until the final (not sure if anyone thinks this or not, but I'm fine with this if everyone else is)
- Cancel the entire project, format all my hard drives, and kill myself (this would probably be the best possible option for me personally, but that's selfish)
Anyway, this is what I'm asking. I have worded the poll options according to what I estimate each choice's proponents reasoning might be like.
I will say, though, that I'm leaning pretty heavily toward Option 1 since I don't like the idea of releasing a large part of the campaign before the final, but if there's overwhelming support for another option, I'll roll with it. With that said, I now shall go cry in a corner, fearful of what dark and horrible things the future might hold. DEAR GOD PLEASE SAVE US FROM OURSELVES
[Edit] Also I voted Option 5 (like I said, selfish) so I could see the results at a glance, but don't let that stop you from choosing it!