Multiplat AFL 23: Launch Thread (Xbox release date TBC)

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

STATE OF PLAY:

• The game is out for Steam and PlayStation. There have been issues with Xbox release and it is unclear when the game will be available.
• Big Ant are aware that there are playability issues & bugs at present.
• Content has been temporarily removed from the game to identify where the issues lie.
• This content will be re-introduced via patches in the coming days.
• Big Ant have released a summary of what is to be reintroduced, which can be seen below.

Spoiler: Features to be added

Spoiler: MOST RECENT PATCH NOTES

Issues & constructive criticism are best communicated to: support.bigant.com

Michaels Twitch video with QA from Ross(BigAntStudios) from 31:40

 

[Pickitt]

Info on when it is out.

Hard for them to estimate it I imagine

 

[BigAntStudios]

Notes for tonight's AFL23 Steam patch:
Balanced Tackles while sprinting
Improved Movement
Improved AI Loose Ball Chase
Improved AI Decision Making in Marking Contests (Spoil)
Improved Handball/Kick Mechanic while Tackled
Improved Stat Summaries, Player Stats added to summary screen
Improved Brownlow and Rising Star vote system
Improved Cut Scenes to correct player/coach/umpire (in progress)
Improved grapple animations in boundary throwins
Improved Stability

Introduced issues:
Congestion

Gameplay patch focus for tomorrow, apart from feature additions:
Ruck Clearance - tuning so that finding a target from the ruck and getting super clean hitouts is balanced
AI Congestion - too many players pulled around the ball
Tackles desync - animations not matching up and then strange ball disposals
Movement Improvement - turning rates for sprint and improved acceleration

Consoles shall receive all of the above in a patch on Monday evening.

 

[carn tigez]

Hard for them to estimate it I imagine

I edited my post. Thought it was clear enough but apparently not

 

[berisha]

Wait, you can only play quick match/randoms in online?

 

[MarcLocksCrustySock]

Notes for tonight's AFL23 Steam patch:
Balanced Tackles while sprinting
Improved Movement
Improved AI Loose Ball Chase
Improved AI Decision Making in Marking Contests (Spoil)
Improved Handball/Kick Mechanic while Tackled
Improved Stat Summaries, Player Stats added to summary screen
Improved Brownlow and Rising Star vote system
Improved Cut Scenes to correct player/coach/umpire (in progress)
Improved grapple animations in boundary throwins
Improved Stability

Introduced issues:
Congestion

Gameplay patch focus for tomorrow, apart from feature additions:
Ruck Clearance - tuning so that finding a target from the ruck and getting super clean hitouts is balanced
AI Congestion - too many players pulled around the ball
Tackles desync - animations not matching up and then strange ball disposals
Movement Improvement - turning rates for sprint and improved acceleration

Consoles shall receive all of the above in a patch on Monday evening.

Thank godddd, muchas gracias sir.

 

[BigAntStudios]

Hey Ross, just wondering what the process is like for you guys publishing patches on steam?

Is it an instant approval or do you submit and then wait for a steam approval?

Cheers and thanks for the help

Steam is pretty fast turnaround, it can still be rejected but on less grounds than the Consoles.

As we can roll it back, unlike the Consoles, it makes sense to go there first.

 

[carn tigez]

Notes for tonight's AFL23 Steam patch:
Balanced Tackles while sprinting
Improved Movement
Improved AI Loose Ball Chase
Improved AI Decision Making in Marking Contests (Spoil)
Improved Handball/Kick Mechanic while Tackled
Improved Stat Summaries, Player Stats added to summary screen
Improved Brownlow and Rising Star vote system
Improved Cut Scenes to correct player/coach/umpire (in progress)
Improved grapple animations in boundary throwins
Improved Stability

Introduced issues:
Congestion

Gameplay patch focus for tomorrow, apart from feature additions:
Ruck Clearance - tuning so that finding a target from the ruck and getting super clean hitouts is balanced
AI Congestion - too many players pulled around the ball
Tackles desync - animations not matching up and then strange ball disposals
Movement Improvement - turning rates for sprint and improved acceleration

Consoles shall receive all of the above in a patch on Monday evening.

This sounds great. Is it now out to Steam for approval/release?

Is the Brownlow/rising star a bug fix or was that just an issue spotted after release? Ie are you still fixing only bugs introduced in the day 1 patch or are you also fixing other things?

 

[BigAntStudios]

Wait, you can only play quick match/randoms in online?

That will be fixed very soon.

 

[Pickitt]

BigAntStudios Can you confirm whether the fast tackle when kicking by AI is intended or if it's a glitch that needs to be fixed?

 

[BigAntStudios]

This sounds great. Is it now out to Steam for approval/release?

Is the Brownlow/rising star a bug fix or was that just an issue spotted after release? Ie are you still fixing only bugs introduced in the day 1 patch or are you also fixing other things?

We are working on multiple patches at the same time, and bringing things in as we make sure the game does not become further unbalanced.

Tonight is an example, we've introduced too much congestion but think the things added are worth it for the short term.

 

[lmaohelp]

Why weren’t any of these issues tested before release ?

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Wait, you can only play quick match/randoms in online?

Will you be reviewing the version everyone got at launch or some other version?

These days it's hard to say "final" version because of continuous patching but yeah. I guess you have to bite the bullet at some point?

 

[Cheifkeith95]

Just played my first game of afl W the commentary flows so much better, underwood does sound like she would rather be anywhere else tho

 

[JNT BA]

Thanks for the messages about interest in getting Steam patch access to give additional feedback. Additional input is always welcome. I'll get replies out to them tomorrow.

On a side note, I did a whole bunch of online games against people today on PC I really hope at least one person was from here. Some of y'all are really good.

 

[Cryptic56]

Notes for tonight's AFL23 Steam patch:
Balanced Tackles while sprinting
Improved Movement
Improved AI Loose Ball Chase
Improved AI Decision Making in Marking Contests (Spoil)
Improved Handball/Kick Mechanic while Tackled
Improved Stat Summaries, Player Stats added to summary screen
Improved Brownlow and Rising Star vote system
Improved Cut Scenes to correct player/coach/umpire (in progress)
Improved grapple animations in boundary throwins
Improved Stability

Introduced issues:
Congestion

Gameplay patch focus for tomorrow, apart from feature additions:
Ruck Clearance - tuning so that finding a target from the ruck and getting super clean hitouts is balanced
AI Congestion - too many players pulled around the ball
Tackles desync - animations not matching up and then strange ball disposals
Movement Improvement - turning rates for sprint and improved acceleration

Consoles shall receive all of the above in a patch on Monday evening.

What missing features/content is planned to be added first up?

 

[mad_monkey_j]

Much clearer with a patch list. At least we’ll know what to look for and expect.

 

[MundysMum]

Will the AI still not be able to out mark you in a 2v1 or 3v1 after the patch or will that be fixed?

 

[Cheifkeith95]

Any chance of fixes to season mode, low crowds and inability to change line ups before matches

Notes for tonight's AFL23 Steam patch:
Balanced Tackles while sprinting
Improved Movement
Improved AI Loose Ball Chase
Improved AI Decision Making in Marking Contests (Spoil)
Improved Handball/Kick Mechanic while Tackled
Improved Stat Summaries, Player Stats added to summary screen
Improved Brownlow and Rising Star vote system
Improved Cut Scenes to correct player/coach/umpire (in progress)
Improved grapple animations in boundary throwins
Improved Stability

Introduced issues:
Congestion

Gameplay patch focus for tomorrow, apart from feature additions:
Ruck Clearance - tuning so that finding a target from the ruck and getting super clean hitouts is balanced
AI Congestion - too many players pulled around the ball
Tackles desync - animations not matching up and then strange ball disposals
Movement Improvement - turning rates for sprint and improved acceleration

Consoles shall receive all of the above in a patch on Monday evening.

 

[cottoneyeYeo]

when will we get the new academy features etc

 

[andy_c91]

Why weren’t any of these issues tested before release ?

Best guess is that the original day zero/one patch would have been extensively tested. As ba has mentioned previously they are breaking up that original patch into multiple smaller ones released day by day. The smaller ones which are technically new would need to be tested again before release I would assume.

 

[Treehill23]

We are working on multiple patches at the same time, and bringing things in as we make sure the game does not become further unbalanced.

Tonight is an example, we've introduced too much congestion but think the things added are worth it for the short term.

Sooo it’s not out yet orrrr ?

 

[berisha]

Will you be reviewing the version everyone got at launch or some other version?

These days it's hard to say "final" version because of continuous patching but yeah. I guess you have to bite the bullet at some point?

Yeah this is a tough one because I genuinely believe something has gone wrong right before launch, so I feel like reviewing it in this state isn't fair. On the flip side, this is a product that is out now and costs money to buy, so where do you draw the line? The industry in general can't just keep relying on the release now patch later approach. Players suffer with shoddy launch products (and I'm not referring to only AFL 23) and the studios suffer with extreme crunch to fix it and their reputation takes a hit. No one wins.
I think I'm gonna just keep playing and see where it's at in a week and go from there.

 

[ice444]

can i please ask a question about how the ruck/bounce is meant to work?

I push the right stick and i can never win it.

 

[Pickitt]

Sooo it’s not out yet orrrr ?

no

 

[RG16]

I also just noticed that the giants og blue kit isn’t in the game after being there at the launch event (I’m guessing that’s one of the things that will return eventually)

Same with the doggies 96' diamond dog kit