Yes, Derek Smart was correct.
Yes, Derek Smart was correct.
Yea, I lived through the 3000AD era. It was rather awful, I wish someone had made a quality game of similar vein at some point to replace that crap. He's completely nuts, and beyond all reason. I'd rather CR takes the time to get things right for release, and I'm pretty confident SQ42 is basically ready; however every time they change they make changes to the flight model they have to hold back releasing it. It needs to feel the same and be good practice for the PU. And changes to the model will also require rebalancing, etc.
There’s a chance that significant adjustments to the flight model will keep happening long after SQ42 arrives. While I align with your view on how it should be approached, the current pace doesn’t allow enough time for meaningful testing or understanding. Eventually, the team will recognize the necessity of major overhauls and relearning, which will eventually lead to a more informed decision. Still, given my knowledge of CIG, I’d be taken aback if this shift happens before SQ42 is released.
The team is aware of this phase but keeps labeling it as alpha, meaning technical work is still ongoing. This should be where they focus their efforts. Most alphas aren't widely released or publicized. I believe the next major update will be the final large one, after which improvements will be more gradual enough to support shipping SQ42. I trust CR based on his previous projects, even though it might feel like a complex administrative situation right now.