Sorry, just a quick pattern of opinions from you guys. I just went through the new patch log and roadmap post. I can't remember ever reading so in-depth and transparent posts from DTG until this day. I am the only one with that impression? Did Focus, the new publisher, force the right production processes on DTG? Did they fire the right person?
As mentioned in yesterday's Livestream, focus hasn't affected anything and has had no influence on dtg's decisions. They didn't fire anyone or force dtg to do anything
OK, thanks so far for the important info! Still wondering, if they are rethinking some stuff regarding patch policy and transparency.
They kinda did with tsw3. There were releases at the beginning that had multiple patch notes right after release. Skyhook became more transparent with mml. So some changes have been made. That's also dtgs own decision, not focuses
No one, but there is a person who thinks it's a good idea to sell products (DLCs) at full price, which are obviously not on the same quality level as other DLCs with the same price tag - or even should have never been released. I still can't get my head around entering that mindset to come to the decision that this process is right. As a developer myself, don't get it. However, seeing the patch log and Roadmap detail now, it feels like something changed.
I think we would be naive to think that a new owner of a company would not have influence over production, pricing and personnel policies with its new acquisition, if not immediately, certainly in the medium and long term. Take any announcements to the contrary with a pinch of PR salt.
Maybe, Skyhook decided that instead of having pressure from the publisher to put out on a timetable and having an "It'll do, we've got a deadline" attitude they decided to take pride and put out a product that meets the demand of their users It could also be that with Jane and Adam on board they have more experience in various arenas, including customer communication, development techniques and so on that they lacked without those two people. I don't see too much of a change in DTG's approach on this, in fact if anything that there's very little new development on the roadmap, it's June and we haven't had the "big summer release" schedule laid out yet is indicative to me, as well as the distinct drop in streams and updates across all platforms that I see them pushing...
Maybe DTG are saving the “big release” until the day before it actually comes out? It’s obvious to me that can only mean one thing……………TSW4!!!!!!!! Ok, ok sorry, sorry, sorry, I just couldn’t resist the chance for another “rumour” thread. Sorry everyone
'Instead, let's put stock in a theory, formed on a forum notorious for making nonsense up, and believe that!'
Every corporate acquisition comes with statements like this. You think if DTG was going to do something Focus thought was a mistake they wouldn't say so?
You trust these forums more? I'm pretty sure Focus' only interest is to make money - and DTG's content always makes money. They don't need to change anything.
Where did I say I was trusting the forums? And I doubt that DTG is earning the maximum amount of money possible, or that they will never make a mistake in the future...
That's the alternative. They may not be making the maximum, but they make more than enough. They have made plenty of mistakes in the last few years of TSW. It has hardly dented them. I know their profits have slowed recently (probably largely down to inflation and hiring new staff) but they are still making loads of money from TSC, TSW, Fishing, Catan and - now - Publishing TramSim. Focus would have turned a total blind eye to Dovetail if they weren't a successful, "worth it", company. Simple as that. Like I said - Focus don't need to change anything. The model works. "Ain't broke? Don't fix it" comes to mind.
False dichotomy. Again, if DTG was going to do something that Focus thought would lead to them making less money, why would they not tell DTG?
You have no idea what plans DTG might have in the future. They may have some that Focus will consider serious errors.
That's not nessicarily true, they certainly plan to turn a profit off of it, but that doesn't mean DTG itself is making money. Just off the top of my head I can think of a case like Penn Central where the merger happens precisely because neither company was doing well. Focus buying DTG just means Focus see the potential for it to turn a profit from its assets at some point, it could go either way in regard to how DTG's actually doing in the here and now.
Dovetail do make loads of money though, they have done for over a decade without outside support, I'm pretty sure focus are seeing money and taking it. You said "I have no idea" as to what Focus plan - and then proceeded to act as if you had any idea.
I have no idea what broader plans they may have. But I would be very surprised if they didn't try to help their subsidaries make as much money as possible.
We're going in circles. Focus are a very hands off company, their other previous ventures show that. Dovetail make more than enough money, it's like an average person trying to get 1p more out of something - it's not worth the effort.
The UK has a wonderful thing where all companies have to post their accounts to Companies House, the UK government registry of companies. That website then publishes all accounts, records and statistics that have to be made public. No company can avoid this without breaking several laws ie if you want to see how well any company is doing you can search "companies house COMPANY NAME" and find a company's published financial records (you may need to put UK in front if you're not in the UK)
My point wasn't talking about if DTG are actually making money or not, my issue is with the idea Focus (or any company really) would only buy a company that's making money. which isn't true by any stretch of the imagination. Mind you still a neat thing to know for sure, just saying it really doesn't have any impact on my post.
The point is that we don't need to ask that question. We can simply look it up No point speculating on the whys and wherefores if the information is readily available and verifiable from a known correct source
That there is no need for focus to intervene with TSW production unless something has gone catastrophically wrong (which it hasn't), because of how much money DTG make to start with.
And as I have repeatedly said, if Focus thinks that DTG could change something to make more money they have no reason not to tell them.
Plus all the more reason to change things if you were a company looking to make up economic difficulties due to inflation.
