Where is PB3? It's been almost 7 years of development.

[curiosity]

I understand this question is being asked many times, but I don't see any accurate information from the owner of PB series about the state (in %) of PB3 development aside from his short tweets about random game features and just chatting about life in his Twitter. It feels like game development is not moving forward and takes year after year to make little to no progress. I understand that he has a job, and he is not a robot, and he has life, and there are problems in his country, and everything else I understand, seriously, but it's been so many years and I'm losing all hope. No offend, but where is the game? Plazma Burst 2 feels so deserted right now - no new good maps (majority of best map developers left), 25 players online (most of which are random nonames and like 1-3 known people), forum is dead 99% of time (don't know about discord though). Can I have an answer to a very simple question: are we ever getting to play PB3 or am I just wasting the time waiting for a game that will never appear on market? Again - no offend and sorry for my cliche question. Moderators, please don't delete this question. I believe everyone wants an accurate and full answer including you. I believe most of you are tired of hopeless waiting as well. Does Eric even care about these series and the fanbase anymore? Or, perhaps, should the remainings of us just leave the place, forget about it and move on in our lives?

Update 1: Yes, I know there is a conflict going on in his country, but it only started recently. The question is still legit, because the development of PB3 seems to be stuck long ago the recent events. The question refers to the whole time game is not having a release progress, not just current moment of history.

Update 2: I just realized it's been almost 7 years of development (based on fact that Eric started posting first tweets about PB3 in 2015). Does no one really care?

[Tortoise]

The country Eric lives in is currently being invaded by Russia so I'm guessing that's gonna set the production schedule back a little.

[curiosity]

-quote-

I understand. However it feels like the game production was stuck long before the mentioned events. The conflict perhaps won't last long as the difference between the armies size and equipment is too big, as well as methods both parties use in combat. Maybe it will end in a diplomatical way and the world will move on. Best of wishes to him though. I hope he will still respond to the question about development percentage he had reached before the recent events occured.

[wires memelord]

Check his patreon https://www.patreon.com/Eric_Gurt. He's getting really close, he's almost finished with the level editor and is currently working on multiplayer level editing or as far as I can tell, I can't read the entire thing cuz I'm broke.

He's also working on things like leaderboard and maybe other website UI. all that's needed after that is bug fixing polish and campaign.

I could be very VERY wrong, Eric said we might get a progress update when he's done with the level editor.

[curiosity]

-quote-

This feels wrong to force players to pay him to know the stage of game progress, just my personal opinion. If I was a game developer I wouldn't force the fanbase to pay me to keep them hyped for the game. I checked it, but I don't see much of a difference between what he posts on Twitter and what he posts on Patreon. Feels like typical up-to-date month updates a game developer would post to keep community interested in a project that's been in development for years. Does this really tell the game is almost ready? I would want to believe it's a sign the game release is close. Perhaps he could give an excact percentage of game readiness. That would be the best option. Perhaps the approximate release date.

[Stryde]

-quote-

This feels wrong to force players to pay him to know the stage of game progress, just my personal opinion. If I was a game developer I wouldn't force the fanbase to pay me to keep them hyped for the game. I checked it, but I don't see much of a difference between what he posts on Twitter and what he posts on Patreon. Feels like typical up-to-date month updates a game developer would post to keep community interested in a project that's been in development for years. Does this really tell the game is almost ready? I would want to believe it's a sign the game release is close. Perhaps he could give an excact percentage of game readiness. That would be the best option. Perhaps the approximate release date.

This is why he also posts updates on his twitter as well, and he doesn't force people to donate or sign up for his patreon either. As for the game progress, Eric is the lone developer of PB series, no one else works on the game, no one else has worked on the game, no one else will work on the game. Also take into consideration he has other projects he also works on (like Star Defenders, PB2), he still handles a lot of behind the scenes administrative things for PB2 (since he's the only one that can), etc

As for where is PB3, you basically answered your own question, "I understand that he has a job, and he is not a robot, and he has life, and there are problems in his country,"

My own take on the development: the fact that Eric is now working on the level editor is a sign that the majority of PB3 seems to already be done, as this is one of the last things I believe he's stated he would be working on - level editor, campaign, voice acting. He gives percentages in the form of something like this: https://twitter.com/Eric_Gurt/status/13 ... 25/photo/1 but I believe this is outdated, whether or not he has a newer one, I'm not completely sure

[Gashadokuro]

This feels wrong to force players to pay him to know the stage of game progress

Monetary support to Eric Gurt is not forced, for forcing entails people doing actions which go against their will. In this case, there can be varying opinions on whether investment is (or was) worth it, but it is completely optional.

If I was a game developer I wouldn't force the fanbase to pay me to keep them hyped for the game.

As stated previously, monetary support is fully optional. However, this use of language suggests that you resent the fact that Eric Gurt is paywalling development updates on his Patreon - possibly because you are underage and thus can't access paid content. Truth be told, I used to be like you, feeling a certain negativity towards artists who'd keep some of their content of paying platforms, or envy towards players who'd buy in-game currency in certain games and what not.
If you ever were to become a game developer, or a content creator in general, you will understand how all projects, be it art, games, music... run purely on passion. Few, if any will appreciate the years it took you to learn the skills making such ventures possible. A few dollars / euros are a great way to show gratitude and support.

Perhaps he could give an excact percentage of game readiness. That would be the best option. Perhaps the approximate release date.

The best option would be to take a step back and realize how slow development has been, without any hype or solid activity, and thus scale your expectations accordingly. Game readiness as well as release dates sound great, but also don't mean much. Why? Because games are very complex undertakings, where small changes can cause a cumulative effect (also known as a domino effect) and thus resulting in a slow and uncertain pace.

It is great that you are looking forward to PB3, like many others, but it is better to pace oneself - just like weightlifting, game development is a marathon, not a sprint. And when you think about it, there's many other games around you, be it on browser, free, indie, AAA, mobile, porn-themed, et cetera.

[curiosity]

the fact that Eric is now working on the level editor is a sign that the majority of PB3 seems to already be done

Wouldn't you say the same thing a year ago?

-quote-

So you think paying for pre-information of unreleased product is a good investment?

[Stryde]

the fact that Eric is now working on the level editor is a sign that the majority of PB3 seems to already be done

Wouldn't you say the same thing a year ago?

No because he wasn't working on the level editor a year ago...
kinda hard to release a game that has multiplayer done but no sound effects, no campaign, and no ability to make maps...

-quote-

So you think paying for pre-information of unreleased product is a good investment?

have you ever heard of pre-ordering videogames? or pre-ordering literally anything?

[Gashadokuro]

the fact that Eric is now working on the level editor is a sign that the majority of PB3 seems to already be done

Wouldn't you say the same thing a year ago?

-quote-

So you think paying for pre-information of unreleased product is a good investment?

Depends.

[curiosity]

No because he wasn't working on the level editor a year ago...

He did though (if you look at his tweets).

have you ever heard of pre-ordering videogames? or pre-ordering literally anything?

Pre-ordering videogames - yes. But pre-ordering information about videogames - no.

[wires memelord]

No because he wasn't working on the level editor a year ago...

He did though (if you look at his tweets).

True although he wasn't this close to finishing it, it wouldn't make sense to start implementing multiplayer level editing and leader boards for the best level editors if you hadn't nailed down everything else first.
You cannot build the walls of a house without scaffolding in place.

Also why would you finish the level editor before weapons, skins, grenades, ect. If you did you'd have to be constantly updating the level editor.

I think that the game is nearing completion aside from the campaign, polish, and bug fixing, and now things like website UI and stuff like that need to/are being worked on.

I could be wrong!

[curiosity]

-quote-

I used to be making guesses and thinking it's about to be finished, but it's never finished. Year by year - same thing. I hope Eric Gurt will clarify this so we don't need to build our expectations on guesses.

[Gashadokuro]

PB3 is inside Eric Gurt's PC.

[Eric Gurt]

To be honest, being required to pay for rent, taxes, food, bills is happening to everyone. Maybe it is something that younger people thinking of less frequently sometimes.

Development does go slower than it could since what I do get on my Patreon is below my spendings by a lot.

My spendings could have been lower if there was no war in 2014.

[curiosity]

-quote-

Hello Eric. Nothing is free in this world. It's not a secret. But the question was about the current state of PB3 development in percentage or any other reliable information that would make things clearer on when to expect the release of the game or should we even expect it to happen. And this question is still unanswered. The fact that development process is slow and you need money is something most of us already know. Perhaps you can name exact problems you meet in PB3 development so we can get to know what has to be worked on and maybe we can see and advice if there are ways to optimize and speed up the process. Do you expect the game to be finished in 2022/2023/2024? Is it 50%/70%/90% finished? Is development even moving forward or is it stuck? It would be great to hear your answers, thank you.

Development does go slower than it could since what I do get on my Patreon is below my spendings by a lot.

You should have started gathering money before majority of community left the game permanently. And I may be wrong but people prefer to pay indirectly through in-game premium buys (skins, guns - this type of stuff). Paying certain person directly and voluntarily just to help him buy food without getting anything useful is return is something most people don't do (sad but it's how it is). But what's done is done. Nothing can be changed now. But you should keep that in mind if you ever release PB3.

[PeacyQuack]

He might die what are you saying

[Gashadokuro]

We have to keep in mind that unlike the previous installments, Plazma Burst: Forward to the Past and Plazma Burst 2, Plazma Burst 3 (which will supposedly receive an alternate title) is not made with Flash, but brand new code from Eric's end. This probably meant (and still means) a fair bit of trial and error, along dead ends and what have you.

True @PeacyQuack#2800

[curiosity]

He might die what are you saying

Everyone might die. Anyday, anyplace. I do not deny that he may be in danger. But does this mean I or anyone else cannot ask a question not related to survival? If I asked my question 2 weeks ago it would be totally fine with you? He has internet, he has time to check and post answers on forum, he did not say he is in big danger right now. Perhaps you exaggerate. But let's see what he says.

We have to keep in mind that unlike the previous installments, Plazma Burst: Forward to the Past and Plazma Burst 2, Plazma Burst 3 (which will supposedly receive an alternate title) is not made with Flash, but brand new code from Eric's end. This probably meant (and still means) a fair bit of trial and error, along dead ends and what have you.

I would like to hear the issues he faces from him directly, because other people may base their opinion on unfounded guesses, don't know how things really work, and exaggerate the issues. Where did this title change thing come from? Is it not going to be Plazma Burst 3? 2.5?

[mrblake213]

I think one of the main reasons why PB3 takes too long to develop is that Eric doesn't really know what else to put or how 'completed' he wants the game to be. There might be some days when he has great ideas and is motivated to add more code while other days that are just slow and his main priority is keeping him from adding new stuff.

Basically,

unsure whether to release it now with a few updates or a possible better one with more features = longer release date
longer release date = more expectations
more expectations = more pressure
more pressure = more doubt whether the game will be good.

Because I think PB3 wouldn't survive in today's landscape of games. Most people who would just be playing it are either those who are playing for nostalgia or those who aren't capable of buying high-end gaming gear. So, if PB3 doesn't do well on the first expectations of players then the player base might go on a downward trend which would probably mean that years and years of Eric's efforts and the waiting of the community would just be wasted.

This is just a personal opinion and it does not mean that it is indeed Eric's reasons.