I think just about every sprawling 4x game has its share of bugs, and imperfectly implemented mechanics. I have had no experience with bugs in any Amplitude game that has been so bad that its stopped me from pre-ordering.

I don't expect Humankind to be bug free at release. I expect there to be underpowered and overpowered mechanics. Just a part of 4x gaming to me. I actually consider playing a game through all the patches and balance updates as part of the gaming experience.

Though props to you for being a critical consumer. If I was to see lots of crashing to desktop bugs in other Amplitude games, or in previews,  I would be less likely to pre-order then.

From what we've seen from their previous games we'll probably have to live with some bugs, which could include major bugs. Since they usually don't happen too often it's not too big of a turn off for me. What worries me more is that some mechanics might be very unbalanced, which could lead to a lot of options not being viable to choose (especially in multiplayer). Which personally I would think is rather sad for a game like humankind as I hope the choosing a new culture every era will lead to many choices that can be made.
(As an example for unbalance mechanics in their past game I would have the Academy Fleet in Awakening)

In my heart I wish Amplitude to succeed, I believe that the more financially successful their games will become, the more support and development time they can throw at them.

I am very displeased at the state ES2 was in for so long, but I give them benefit of doubt if Humankind awaits for the same fate, after Romain's AMA on reddit.

One thing I know for sure is that at least for 2 years HK will be an excellent game that I will enjoy, that is why I still bought it.

I haven't noticed anything not working properly in EL/ES. Maybe after the last expansions? Awakening was kinda bad, but that had been the last real expansion and developed externally (I think).

DragonGaming wrote:

Mausklickmoerder wrote:

I haven't noticed anything not working properly in EL/ES. Maybe after the last expansions? Awakening was kinda bad, but that had been the last real expansion and developed externally (I think).

it was, most of awakenings development was given to a company in argentina.

Oh I didn't know that, hope they won't do so again, tried it a few times, but I basically always play with it disabled now...

PetroSpark wrote:

My opinion is: as long the bug is not compromising the integrity of the game rules (like +20k of any FIMSI out of nowhere) and I can solve most of them by reloading the previous round, I'm Ok with them.

That's true most of the time reloading fixes it

it is bitter irony that the greatest creative 4x force I've seen in decades is also plagued by technical issues, also stranger still that it doesn't prevent me from playing even when i know my joy will inevitably be cut short and that usually plays a big part in my decision to abandon games, but the rest is just so fantastic it somehow offsets it. I hope humankind can conjure up that sort of love, or, i dunno, just not have that many in flight object misses and unhandled exceptions :P

dustwhit wrote:
I don't think I would make a good developer. It would bother me too much to see something that I created need work, but have to walk away (financially) to the next project. The best advertising is the previous projects. I know what to believe about the new project from them. I'm glad that the recent DLC for ES2/EL exists, but there are additional problems in it (disappearing Zevalas, un-colonizable systems, Pug hero with incorrect skill branches?). Awakening had half the time in the oven. A pending turn bug that locks your game. Diplomacy where the AI won't sell you 5 potatoes unless you give up your life savings. It gets a little rough when looking toward HK.

Actually i think the trade problem is a symptom of almost every 4x game, sid meiers civ, master of orion, even stellaris has the same problem.

dustwhit wrote:
I don't think I would make a good developer. It would bother me too much to see something that I created need work, but have to walk away (financially) to the next project. The best advertising is the previous projects. I know what to believe about the new project from them. I'm glad that the recent DLC for ES2/EL exists, but there are additional problems in it (disappearing Zevalas, un-colonizable systems, Pug hero with incorrect skill branches?). Awakening had half the time in the oven. A pending turn bug that locks your game. Diplomacy where the AI won't sell you 5 potatoes unless you give up your life savings. It gets a little rough when looking toward HK.

From my experience in the open dev of HK, trading will not be an issue since trading is done in a completely different method from most 4X games. You simply sign a treaty then you can trade for fixed prices.