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Uber's Amazing-Looking New RTS Features Robots and Monsters That Devour Humans

The developer of Planetary Annihilation and Monday Night Combat has shown off its exciting new strategy game.

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Having experienced success with Planetary Annihilation, Uber Entertainment has once again turned to Kickstarter to fund its new real-time strategy game. And, much like the original pitch for PA, this new one looks extremely promising, too.

Human Resources is a new RTS built on the same engine as PA that pits huge robots against tentaculated monsters. In the pitch video, we see what looks like a Pacific Rim-esque setup (with robots protecting humans) discarded, as both the robots and monsters devour humans for use as resources.

No Caption Provided

Beyond that novel wrinkle, the game also seems to feature a huge scale. That should come as no surprise if you're familiar with PA or the previous strategy games Uber's staff have worked on, like Total Annihilation and Supreme Commander. The pitch video makes the game appear to take place in a city initially, but we later see that battles are set on chunks of land floating in space, which allows for those chunks (called Earthshards) to be cut in half. Destruction is a key point--both terrain and buildings are "fully destructible."

Uber is seeking $1.4 million through Kickstarter in order to develop the game. That's a good deal more than the $900,000 it asked for with PA--said to be because it "has a lot more content needs"--but it's quite a bit less than the $2.2 million that ended up being pledged to PA. (PA continues to be developed by a separate team at Uber.)

Discussing the decision to come back to Kickstarter, project director John Comes said, "This is a big opportunity for us to say, 'Yes, this is the staking ground, this is how we fund real-time strategy games now.' We crowdfund it. We work with our fans. We work with the people pledging and supporting us."

There are a variety of tiers you can pledge to that will entitle you to different rewards like beta access, alpha access, a real-world statue, or an in-game billboard that you help design. If you simply want a copy of the finished game, you'll need to pledge at least $20. The current estimate for the finished game's release is February 2016, and the only platform Uber is currently aiming for is PC.

As of this writing, the Kickstarter has raised $110,000 from more than 2,600 backers. The $1.4 million goal needs to be reached by November 4, or, as with all Kickstarters, Uber won't receive any of the money.

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blackace

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They are only at $260,000. I doubt they will reach their goal.

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bloody-hell

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As a Total Annihilation and Supreme Commander (1 and FA) fan, the 2 best RTS of all time, I am majorly enjoying Planetary Annihilation and will be backing this new one too as soon as it hits Early Access and there's a playable version available.

These developers are awesome and they deserve the support - Let's hope this new one turns out to be just as good.


My wallet is ready, now I'm looking forward to actual gameplay videos and then a playable version on Steam, but I'm in no hurry so I hope they take their time, but the concept sounds like a whole lot of fun already.

Since they're building this new one on the already existing engine tech they have in Planetary Annihilation it shouldn't take just as long though I think.


Also still waiting for the offline singleplayer and savegame implementation for Planetary Annihilation, but since this is a new and separate team working on the new one I'm confident that they'll deliver on their promises.

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Sefrix

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So right now PA is on sale for $15 and I think that's reasonable. The full $30 is a bit much. Here's my take on it. Kickstarter removes the need for Publishers right? A publisher pays for the game to be made - funding everyone's salaries, hardware needs, etc. Then when the game is made and it sells the publisher makes their money back and hopefully then some to fund a bigger and better game next time while the devs get bonuses based on performance. If Kickstarter now funds the salaries, hardware needs, etc. then when the dev makes money of selling the game they are making more than they would without a publisher.


I'm actually okay with devs making more money, but I believe the sale price should be lessened considering unlike the publisher they do not need to "make the money invested back." In fact, by going to Kickstarter for their next game they could have literally given PA out as the next game is again funded by people so no out-of-pocket is necessary for them.


Am I really the only one that's noticed this? I've never seen it voiced by anyone else.

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pizzaboyuk

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Am I wrong in thinking devs are exploiting Kickstarter? Sure, the promise of getting a game some fans want that would otherwise not be funded by a publisher, but doesn't this seem more like a no risk exploit on the devs behalf. No investment (financially - everyone gets their salaries etc.) with full returns (every product minus packaging, marketing goes to the devs)?

My, how businesses have changed! Strange that investors don't expect a return from their funding regardless of how successful the end product. And the devs just come back for more. I'd like a piece (and another) of that cake thank you!

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grbolivar

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Wow this looks really cool!1

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blackace

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PA got some mixed reviews.

<< LINK REMOVED >>

<< LINK REMOVED >>


Definitely not a game I would fund. They still have a team trying to fix all the bugs with PA. Looks like it was released before it was really completed. Not saying that HR will end up like this, but you never know. I've wait for the game to be 100% complete and then just it out on Steam if it turns out to be 10x's better then PA.

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DeathwachMarine

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love PA. I'm really looking forward to this

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legatosans

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The community sunk 2M into Planetary Annihilation and look how bad it was. I was so excited for PA... I just wish I could get my money back. Screw Uber.

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DanielL5583

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I need to play a bit more of PA at some point. It was pretty fun.

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deathwish026

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reminds me ALOT of universe at war. shall be keeping my eye out on this.

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Ereheru

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I went to the pizzeria last week and I paid for a pizza. They told me to pick it up this week.


I went to get my pizza today, and they gave me a slice and a half, but they told me that the rest of the pizza would be ready soon, it was just taking longer than they expected.


They offered to sell me another pizza that would be ready next week, but I shouldn't worry about the other pizza, they were going to take the money I paid for this pizza to hire a new pizza man, and he would work on this pizza, while the other pizza man finished the pizza I already had paid for.


I said cool, I really like the way you described how the first pizza would be, I'm sure the second one will be great as well.

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cptvincer

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<< LINK REMOVED >> you now that part of crowd FUNDING wich wasn't written 'buying'?
If you can't come to terms with that (and the manny hiccups involved) then just don't man. Stop funding and buy releases only, its that simple.

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RadecSupreme

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Don't think I'll be backing this. As much as I love RTS games, Uber really disappointed many of us by releasing a half-finished game and calling it a full release. The concept video of PA looked amazing just like this did, but the final product didn't.

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deactivated-5ce92612ab724

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Uber? Okay, you can have my money. Still playing and enjoying PA big time :).

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hitomo

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its called 'über' like in 'überzahl' ... english language is so limited

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DanielL5583

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Except, that the company's name is spelt without an umlaut with intention.

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nicolasetespqr

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That looks pretty amazing and seems to fill the -lack of- creativity gap uninnovative big companies are leaving behind.



That said, Planetary Anihilation also looked amazing and innovative and ended up being kind of a disappointment.

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Pyrosa

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Giant cube-monster-robots climbing VERTICALLY up buildings in an RTS -- and then destroying the building?!? Sign me up.

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Tiburon1186

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PA was such a disappointment that i'll be sure to ignore any more offerings from this company for the forseeable future.

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deactivated-5ce92612ab724

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Are you kidding me? It's one of the best out there, point out one reason why it isn't the best RTS out there?

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Rattlesnake_8

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> No save feature and no offline play like the devs promised. Go look at the games steam forums, there are so many people raging right now that initial promises weren't met and they released the game just so they could put up their kick starter for their new game.. they did the same thing with their previous games too. Lot of angry people over on steam right now.


Uber have said they will keep getting updates out for PA so hopefully they do put in the ability to save your game and increase server stability.

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wezkilla

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> they are selling it as a full release and complete, when in its current state it shouldnt even really be in early access

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deactivated-5ce92612ab724

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> You have a point mate, they want me to pay $40 to get alpha access, they even sell beta access separate. I'm sure it's a great game but I won't be joining them for a while.

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space_noodle

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> for starters: it's only an idea so far and not an actual product

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Slash_out

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I pledged right away when the KS campaign started.

I have an awesome time with PA. There are people complaining, sure, but there always are.


There is no problem with Uber working on both games at the same time. What studio only works on one game? That's how you have too much between releases and waste human "power".


Even if there was not another team working on each projects, the skill set required for PA and this project are just too different right now to conflict.

That's why the next game is ALWAYS worked on when the current one closes to the finish line, because artists, writers, engine coders, sound artists don't have much left to do on the almost finished one.

I sure hope this reach the plede level :).


Good luck Uber !


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bignick217

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<< LINK REMOVED >> For the record. People aren't complaining because Uber is starting a new game while continuing work on PA. People are complaining because Uber is starting a new game when they haven't fulfilled campaign promises made during PA's development. Entirely offline play, own hosted servers and DRM Free were all promised as Launch Features. Uber "Officially" launched PA last month and there is still no offline mode. Still no private own hosted servers. And still has always online DRM. These are major features that played a major factor in many peoples decision to back PA in the first place. Where are they? They're still not in the game. Yet the game has "officially" launched. And what happens when people demand an explanation? Silence! Are people getting silence now? Well that's a double question. In regards to telling everyone that they are just a bunch of complainers because they want our money to fund a new game, they are absolutely singing right now. In regards to a timeline when we should be getting those promised features. Still silence or at best cryptic remarks that beat around the bush instead of answering the question. And both Steam and their own store pages have been stripped of any reference to those promised features fueling the fires even more. And on top of all that, they are claiming on the HR kickstarter page that they have finished PA or "Has met with their vision" while claiming they can't afford an offline mode for HR, which is surprising for a game with a $1.4mil minimum price tag.


If Uber had made sure to release fully offline mode with saves, own hosted private servers and disabled the online requirement, very few people would be complaining right now. But they didn't. Instead they pushed this out and then made rude arrogant remarks to their own backers of PA on their own forums, who aren't happy about it. How do you expect people to react. Well this is probably going to become a PR nightmare for them.

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Slash_out

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> You have a pretty clear opinion on the situation, given the many posts you made on this and I don't really want to change your opinion or engage in a never ending argument either (I hate those ^^).


All I'll say is that the fact that they have not finished fulfilling their promises is not a problem to me. All developers starts on the next game while finishing their last game. You can't fulfill everything you have to do on a game until you finished it (unless you go in semantics to argue otherwise) and the game is not finished and the devs are still working on it, in September there were 4 patches (of varying usefulness) after all.

The needed human resources for an almost finished and a starting game are different. Not the same people will work on all aspect of the game, when the scenario is finished, writers have nothing to do, they move on the next game.

When the music is done, same thing. When the artists are done? Pretty much the same stuff. Offline play and Online DRM are pretty much the same thing, but those will not be worked on by visual and audio artists, by writers, by AI coders, and those people have to work on something.


I got what I wanted from PA, all the features that are needed (as far as I am concerned) are there (well most of them anyways) which is why I pledged for HR and will support it.


It is an interesting concept, gameplay wise and visually, I am interested.

As far as PR nightmare, I don't know, perhaps it will be, I just see mostly the same people posting a lot of negative comments, rather than a huge number of people posting one or two complaints. And it seems to be the opposite for the people and press interested. Time will tell.

I just hope we get to see HR financed, and developped.


I get your point though, I do take my stands against some game devs. Mostly against Ubi in the last few years. I'm just not part of this one.

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oflow

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Looks great glad rts games are getting a lot of love lately

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CrusaderForever

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Looks phenomenal! Please make a PS4 version!

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Too-DementeD

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[Was too late to edit my comment so I'll delete my last one and copy-paste it here along with the intended edit]
Original Comment:
I'm looking forward to more news on that "Grey Goo" RTS game which is in beta right now.
Sounds promising.

Edit: Well, that comment seemed kinda irrelevant, but what I mean is, Grey Goo looks promising and it should be out 'early 2015'. I'd rather focus on a game that is already in development, than one that's only in it's main funding stage and probably won't be out for a long time. The appearance and concept for this Human Resources game is cool though.

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SpLiTMaN

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Iv Been craving a new Cthulhu mythos game after The Call of Cthulhu this is definitely tickling my Lovecraft Bone!!!!!!

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sladakrobot

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Make real time for Pcs and round based for consoles...win win

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BldgIrsh

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I didn't ask for this, but now I want this.

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GIF

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Im going to wait and see on this as well. No single player offline means I wait and see for Planetary Annihilation and this.

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amdreallyfast

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Awesome. Brings a new meaning to "Director of Human Resources".

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PETERAKO

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ooh, lots of Bwaaas and dubstep

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bignick217

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They haven't finished Planetary Annihilation. Where is the fully offline, DRM Free mode they promised for Planetary Annihilation. Why on earth would I back them again when they haven't finished their first game yet? Why on earth would I back them again when they haven't kept their promises the first time around?


No. I won't back another one of their games until they fulfil their promises from Planetary Annihilation. Really bad move on Uber's part here.

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DarkSaber2k

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Uber have a track record of abandoning games in broken states to start a new cash grab. First they abandoned Monday Night Combat to make SUper Monday Night Combat, then they abandoned that to make PA, so I see no reason to think they'll do any different here.

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bignick217

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Yeah, and if you look at the new kickstarter, they claim that it will also be online only. They "claim" it's cheaper for them to make it online only. Sounds more like DRM to me with one of the dumbest excuses I've heard in a while. Also, when they "officially" launched PA, all references to DRM Free, offline mode and private hosting all mysteriously disappeared from their store and Steam pages altogether. They've pretty much ignored and refused to respond to anyone demanding explanation for why we still haven't received these promised features. And now all of a sudden, they have a new project that openly claims that it won't be offline. I'm sorry, but all trust as far as I'm concerned, is completely out the window at this point. No way in hell am I backing them again.

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mrblondex

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mrblondex  Staff

<< LINK REMOVED >> According to the Kickstarter, they're continuing to work on PA; Human Resources is being developed by a separate team.

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Rattlesnake_8

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> The video for HR has one of the team members state he worked on PA and on the kickstarter where it shows games the HR team worked on it shows PA. They do have a team working on PA, however they have transferred PA members over to the HR team. Thats a normal thing to do though, but to be clear, it may be a different team, but that team does include members of the original PA team who moved over. It's basically just PR talk.


Hopefully they fulfill their original promises for PA to keep people happy and the steam forums will quieten down and people will be happy. HR looks awesome and so far it looks like it will hit it's goal if it continues getting the backing it has the last couple days!

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bignick217

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<< LINK REMOVED >> That's beside the point. It doesn't matter that they claim it's another team. They still haven't come through on their original promises and are already asking for money for a new project. Why should I back them if I can't rely that they will keep their promises when they haven't thus far. I can't, and as such can't back their new game.

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mrblondex

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Totally don't blame you for not wanting to back them if you feel that way. What specific promises haven't they kept? I haven't gotten to play much PA yet.

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Rattlesnake_8

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> The ability to play offline and game saves. You have to be connected to their servers (as well as steam) to be able to play even the single player. People are also (justifiably) mad that there is no option to save your game.


There have been some stability issues with their servers and people are frustrated that their hour long game drops out and they aren't able to periodically save so they can continue if the server drops out.


Some people are also upset that they feel the single player was just tacked on and wasn't really something the team put much effort into.


And of course people are still complaining about the original cost of the game, the cost of the DLC etc. The main issues are the offline support and ability to save games. That was initially promised seems to have the most people frustrated.

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bignick217

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@MrBlondeX In case you're interested, you may want to have a look at their own forums. The uproar by their own backers and what feels like, Uber's, lack of respect to their own backers regarding these issues.


<< LINK REMOVED >>


I figured you might be interested since you wrote the above article. Just so I'm not misunderstood. We are not upset that Uber is starting a new game while continuing development on PA. We are upset because Uber is starting a new game while not having fulfilled their promises from PA. PA is still missing critical features (critical to backers and were originally deciding factor features of many backers) such as fully offline play (including offline saves), hosting own private servers, and entirely DRM-Free status. As it stands, the online requirement is DRM.


And yet, they claim on the HR Kickstarter page that PA is finished and delivered "to their vision".


If they had released these critical components to the game before announcing a new kickstarter, very few people would be complaining about it. But as it stands, they didn't, and they haven't been treating their backers (their bread and butter) with the proper level respect and have been downright rude to many backers on their own forums. So people are understandably, becoming even more unruly. This is not a good start to their new project. And they should have seen this reaction coming. Especially considering how much of a hot button issue these issues have been on their forums over the last month. And they have been far from forth rite with information regarding these issues. And the removal of all information regarding these features from the PA store page and Steam store page was highly suspicious at the time.

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bignick217

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Well, I listed 2 of them in my original post. Fully offline mode. No DRM. Also, hosting your own servers and several more things. They still have a lot of things they need to finish on PA. This is not the time for them to start an all new project.

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