GamesQuestions Ep.41 // 26.05.2023

Yeah, so FLYOS has just said that they received your list on 24 May and they just approved it. You’ve very specifically, and very likely disingenuously, made it seem like your hands are tied (and implying they have been for months) because you need data from them, when that doesn’t appear to be the case at all. You’re now losing the goodwill of your REAL customers (publishers) as well as the ones who pay your REAL customers (backers). Your window for managing this situation is rapidly closing.

I was one of the people that did call your company incompetent, and I must say that while I don’t agree with PERSONAL attacks, this still makes it hard for me to feel sorry for you guys. This is a non-update if you will. All I read here is that you are blame shifting to FLYOS and in the KS page FLYOS has said repeatedly that THEY are waiting for you guys and that the delay is on you. In fact there’s a comment that specifically said that they’d rather be a supportive partner in this then to try and rush you. And now you throw them under the Bus….
This could very well be accurate but I’m sorry if I don’t believe you because every single justification that you gave for the delays of VtM Chapters haven’t been congruent. First the packaging was done and moving to final admin checks, then it WASN’T done, then it was to start after Vindication was fulfilled, and now its because of FLYOS… I’m sorry but this just doesnt cut it. You guys talk about transparency and clean lines of communication and this is a prime example of neither of those.
And then there is the issue of the second wave, the translated languages. Are you waiting for it to start fulfilment? Is that your intention? at the very least do say so! NOTHING was said that you were trying to ship the first wave. This “update” was just vague enough to cast doubt on this whole issue!
Also I’d like to comment on that “you are not our client” BS. Sure, we are not directly paying you for this job, FLYOS is. but who funded this project? Who are the ones that are receiving your goods? who are the ones most impacted by the delays?? This is just sheer corporate BS.
I’m terribly sorry for the personal attacks, but you gotta roll with the punches on valid criticism for the way you are handeling this fulfillment.

Personal attacks are not cool, of course. But the criticism that most of us here, on social media, and on other Kickstarters are expressing should be taken very seriously. You’ve had the product for MONTHS. Of course you’re not just being lazy, and of course you want to move it, but the fact that you can’t isn’t just everyone else’s fault. Have you been on the phone with Flyos regularly for the last two months asking them for the missing information? How in your overall project management are you able to get to a stage where you are sitting on product for literally months with no information about how to release it? This is also not the first time that you’ve held on to a product for multiple weeks saying that you are missing information. Is it really always the publisher’s fault? There are clearly problems with your workflow that you need to address for your own benefit. Backers are already posting on KS pages, encouraging companies not to work with you and threatening not to back projects if they do. I genuinely only want your company to succeed and have your best interests in mind, but I encourage you to please take an honest look at your own operations, figure out how to stop these kind of extreme delays from happening, and communicate to publishers and backers what you’ve done to mitigate this.

While I do condamn personal attack and any kind of menace any of your staffs have been received in this turbulent times, I think that as backers we still deserve more details about the problem and what’s going on.

You can’t just say “Flyos has not given us all the info needed to fullfill the shipment” and then not give us which info do you need. Have you tried contact FLYOS? Has FLYOS not answered and if not, why waiting so much to call them directly and finally ask th3m what info are you still missing?

You said FLYOS is your client, but I don’t think that is a wise and reasonable thing to say in those circumstances. We the backers are the ones primary affected by your delays, not them. And I’m asking for some deserved explanations, so that we can finally being constructive (by reaching out FLYOS for example) instead of givin into our worst internet angry mob traits and threatening the company, especially if undeserved as you claim.

The real issue is that it takes 3-7 weeks to get most games from data analysis to the next stage. It does appear you run understaffed. Surely 90% of Analysis can be done in advance, picking lists address labels, documentation etc.
On the update status just have one that states awaiting data / some product or on hold.